Lock knew he would be exposed.
But he didn't expect Kenny to truly disregard martial ethics, pulling out twelve men to gang up on him, regardless of whether the front line would be breached by the Survey Corps due to the reduced numbers.
Heh, Kenny really thinks highly of me.
Lock glanced at the dense cluster of muzzles above his head, then looked back at Kenny standing before him and smiled, "Captain, what if one of these many guns misfires and hits you?"
Kenny, gripping his knife, chuckled, "There's almost five meters between us. If these kids still manage to miss and hit me, then I've taught them nothing."
"Then what are they waiting for?" Lock asked, puzzled.
Seeing not a trace of fear in Lock's eyes, Kenny was surprised, and his face darkened: "Waiting for you to kneel and beg this great lord for mercy so I can spare you."
Lock's smile remained: "Why would I do that?"
He rubbed the ring from Annie on the base of his right index finger.
Waiting for Kenny's next move.
Kenny's face was grim. After a moment, he roared: "Fire!"
...
The Survey Corps had already rushed into the Underground Cavern, using the smoke created by fuel, gunpowder, and signal flares for cover. Levi and Mikasa led the charge, breaking through the first defensive line of the Anti-Personnel Suppression Squad.
Levi reached the enemy's rear, his gaze sweeping over the Soldiers standing on the simple wooden platforms behind the pillars: "24, 28, 32..."
Levi shouted in mid-air: "There are 35 enemies in total, all ambushed near the ceiling on top of the stone pillars!"
"Continue the operation! Wipe out all the enemies here!"
Knowing they were exposed, Traut immediately ordered, "Everyone scatter! Use small squads to surround the enemies individually!
The Survey Corps and the Anti-Personnel Suppression Squad officially began their engagement.
However, the Survey Corps Soldiers, who had richer combat experience and knew the weaknesses of the Omni-directional Mobility Gear, clearly held the advantage.
In the pervasive smoke, the threat posed by the Anti-Personnel Suppression Squad's guns was greatly reduced, making it easy for the opponent to close in and take their lives with blades.
The speed at which the two Ackermans harvested lives was even more terrifying.
Traut looked back at Mikasa rapidly closing in behind him, immediately leaned backward, narrowly dodging her blade, and the two crossed paths.
Mikasa didn't linger in the fight and retreated into the smoke.
No, I must at least reduce their numbers!
Traut looked at Captain Hange approaching from the side. He deliberately fired two shots, hitting space behind her.
Captain Hange, seeing him fire both shots, thought he was just another inexperienced, panicking recruit and immediately charged straight towards him.
Traut stopped on the pillar, raised his gun, and aimed it at Captain Hange.
"Bang!"
The launched Grappling Hook pierced Captain Hange's shoulder, and Traut forcefully flung Captain Hange away!
Captain Hange crashed into a crystal pillar, then fell heavily to the ground, losing consciousness.
"Captain Hange!"
Taking advantage of the enemy's distraction, Traut shouted: "Everyone retreat! Immediately leave the smoke and reorganize the defense line!"
Levi clicked his tongue: "Armin, Nifa! Captain Hange is in your hands!"
"The rest of you, immediately pursue the remaining enemies!"
Levi looked toward the depths of the Underground Cavern. That guy Kenny hadn't appeared, which kept him unsettled.
"Kenny, what are you hiding from?"
...
Rod turned his head, listening to the approaching gunfire, and said, "It seems the enemies are getting closer. We must hurry, Historia!"
"Mhm..."
Historia looked up at Eren, who was tied to the platform.
Eren struggled violently, his bloodshot eyes fixed intensely on Historia, emitting unpleasant, muffled sounds.
Historia frowned at the scene and said, "What are you doing, Eren, staring at me like that!"
Rod said, "It seems he has understood the fate that awaits his deeply sinful self."
"We must hurry, Historia!"
"The destruction of the Walls, the countless human lives lost, the foolish status quo of humans killing each other... None of these problems would arise if we could use Frieda's Power of the Titans."
"Even banishing the Titans completely from this world should be... achievable."
Historia asked doubtfully: "Father, if something like that can be done, why has the situation become like this now?"
"That is because..." Rod paused, then said: "Frieda's stolen Power of the Titans is currently inside Eren."
"Someone without our royal bloodline cannot truly unleash this power."
"As long as that Power of the Titans remains inside him, this Hell will be endless."
"Eh?" Historia vaguely felt that something was wrong.
Her sister's Power of the Titans was stolen five years ago, but what about before it was stolen?
Why did her sister... wait, not just her sister, why did all successive Titan Inheritors of the Reiss Family choose not to expel the Titans?
...
At this moment, a golden light illuminated the entire Underground Palace.
The ensuing wind pressure forced Historia to lower her head and disrupted her thoughts.
Rod stared blankly at the light, knowing it was the unique radiance of a Titan Transformation.
He muttered in shock: "How is that possible?"
The light gradually faded. He snapped back to reality, immediately took out a Syringe, walked up to Historia, and forcefully thrust it into her palm!
"Historia! Hurry! The person who possesses the Power of the Titans is coming! They are here to steal Frieda's power!"
"You must eat Eren before they arrive so you can defeat them."
"If they steal it, the world inside the Walls will be doomed!"
"Historia, the safety of this world is now entrusted to you!"
After giving his instructions, Rod immediately retreated far away to avoid the shockwave and high temperatures of the Titan Transformation.
Historia held the Syringe, her gaze constantly shifting between her father and Eren.
Rod anxiously called from a distance: "Historia, hurry! What are you hesitating for? The enemies will be here any second!"
Father is right. All of this is to save the world inside the Walls. This is the responsibility I must bear!
Historia steeled her heart, about to plunge the Syringe into her arm...
"Krista!"
This name caused Historia to pause.
Lock walked out alone from the Crystal Forest behind her.
The Omni-directional Mobility Gear on his body had disappeared, and the clothes underneath were heavily damaged.
The blood on his face had been roughly wiped, leaving a reddish residue, and much of his golden hair was damp with blood, sticking to his forehead.
In his right hand, he held Kenny's dagger, covered in the fresh, uncoagulated blood of countless people.
His left hand was holding a human head. Rod looked closely and realized it was Kenny!
Lock looked as if he had just finished a brutal slaughter, steam rising from his body.
This sight stunned both the father and daughter present into stillness.
Lock dropped the dagger and, carrying Kenny's head, walked up to Historia.
Historia's hand gripping the Syringe trembled uncontrollably. She looked up at the approaching Lock, her eyes filled with terror.
Lock grasped Historia's hand, holding the syringe, and moved it away from the skin of her arm.
Then he slowly said, "Have you forgotten what Ymir told you back then?"
Historia was still dazed, so Lock repeated the words to her, line by line.
[Krista, I certainly have no right to dictate how you live]
[Therefore, this is nothing more than my wish]
[Live your life with your head held high]
Lock's voice echoed throughout the cold Crystal Palace.
Historia felt as if Ymir was standing before her again... smiling and repeating Lock's words.
The fear in Historia's heart was replaced by a sadness that came from nowhere.
Tears streamed uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes.
Looking at her, Lock gently asked: "Historia, are you sure you want to sacrifice yourself to save the world?"
Historia, weeping, said in a trembling voice: "I don't know... I don't know..."
"I'm sorry... Ymir..."
"I'm sorry..."
The Syringe slowly slipped from Historia's hand.
With a crash, it shattered into pieces.
---
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