"What?"
"7.45… Chen Si is with the Titans?"
"Could he be a spy?!"
"Impossible! He's done so much for humanity—how could he be on the Titans' side?!"
"Then how do you explain the lightning he released? Can you explain that?!"
The crowd erupted in an uproar. The soldiers who wanted to argue fell silent, unable to find words.
"Shut your mouth!"
Miche lammed Sawano Kawa into the muddy ground, stuffing his face full of dirt. Sawano Kawa struggled desperately but was knocked unconscious with a chop to the neck.
Winyaad frowned slightly upon hearing this.
Annoying.
Erwin, standing nearby, furrowed his brows—not because he doubted Chen Si, but because he thought of trouble from the royal government.
"Not good! Levi, come with me—we're going to the headquarters military hospital immediately!" Erwin ordered.
Hange looked puzzled but didn't dwell on it. She followed the Survey Corps as they withdrew, dragging Zeyechuan to the detention cell at their base. Having successfully captured two Titans, she was extremely excited and couldn't wait to begin experiments.
Garrison Headquarters – Military Hospital
Historia sat beside Chen Si's bed, crying uncontrollably. Her tears seemed endless; her face was flushed pale red, her breathing uneven from sobbing.
Chen Si's body was in a horrific state—burned black all over, with both arms and legs blown apart.
"Historia…" Sasha supported her, full of worry. She clenched her fists as she looked at Chen Si's miserable condition.
"How did he end up like this…" Armin stared, trembling, before collapsing to the ground.
At that moment, Jean and Connie pushed the door open, their faces dark with grief.
"Marco… is dead…" Jean said, as if the words drained all his strength. He staggered and was caught by Connie.
"How… how could this…" Sasha whispered, her pupils shaking.
"How could this happen… everyone…" Armin's eyes filled with tears.
As the bad news piled up, Eren began trembling.
"I'll wipe out every last Titan! Not a single one will remain!" he shouted through clenched teeth, tears in his eyes—before suddenly stumbling and collapsing unconscious.
Armin rushed to help him onto another bed.
Mikasa stood silently, her expression blank, her eyes like still water. She remained by Chen Si's bed, unmoving, as if lifeless.
A doctor—reportedly hired by Commander Pixis after cutting 20% of the military budget—had just arrived. After examining Chen Si, he declared him beyond saving and left.
Pixis and his aide Anka knocked on the door.
No one responded.
"Come in," Armin said quickly.
"Excuse us," Pixis nodded, surveying the room filled with despair.
"Where's the doctor?" Anka asked.
"Doctor Joseph (OC) examined Chen Si, said he couldn't be saved, and left," Sasha replied anxiously.
"What?! That useless doctor! Taking money and not doing his job! I'll go find him right now!" Anka said angrily, turning to leave.
"No need," Pixis said calmly, walking to Chen Si's bedside.
"Thank you, soldier Chen Si," Pixis said, looking at him.
"Humanity will not forget this painful day. The Corps will not forget your sacrifices," he declared solemnly to everyone.
Jean clenched his teeth and said nothing.
Suddenly, the floor cracked—and a blade was pressed against Pixis's throat.
"It's because of your orders that Chen Si died! It's all your fault! You heartless commander—die!" Mikasa roared, her killing intent surging.
"Mikasa! Don't do this! Chen Si did it for us—and the commander had his reasons too! Both of them are fighting for humanity!" Armin grabbed her arms, trying to stop her.
"Ackerman!" Anka stepped in front of Pixis, drawing her sword.
"Stop," Pixis said calmly, opening his eyes.
"Mikasa Ackerman, I swear to you—victory will belong to humanity. We will not let Chen Si's sacrifice go in vain. We will not betray any soldier's sacrifice.
For decades, I have watched my loved ones and friends die before my eyes. I understand your pain. But we all share one goal—to fight for humanity!"
Mikasa collapsed to the ground, her blade falling from her hand.
"Ahhh!!" She broke down, sobbing uncontrollably over Chen Si's body. The intense grief she had suppressed now poured out completely.
Tears fell onto Chen Si's charred arm.
Something strange happened.
Her tears turned into faint arcs of electricity, slowly repairing his wounds. Chen Si's finger twitched slightly.
Her immense grief reached his mind.
Chen Si opened his eyes.
He found himself in endless darkness, with only a faint light in the distance.
Feeling the emptiness of energy in his body, he sighed. The explosion of the Colossal Titan was simply too powerful.
"Ah!!!"
A heart-wrenching scream reached his ears.
"Mikasa!" Chen Si panicked.
"System! Can you wake me up?!" he shouted into the darkness.
"Ding. The player will awaken in three hours," came the cold, emotionless reply.
"Can you wake me now? I don't care if my energy is gone!"
"Ding. No."
"Damn it! If anything happens to Mikasa, I'll destroy you!" Chen Si roared, struggling desperately to move—but he couldn't.
"Mikasa…" He felt her pain and suffered with her.
"Ding. Unknown energy detected. Player will awaken in 5 seconds. Recovery period extended to six hours. Abilities will gradually return afterward."
"What? Unknown energy? Doesn't matter—Mikasa! I'm coming!"
Elsewhere, a ragged little girl looked up at the stars, her eyes shining—before the light faded, returning to lifeless darkness as she lowered her head and continued playing in the sand.
"What… is this…" Historia sensed something unusual.
"Mikasa!"
Chen Si suddenly woke up.
Everyone was shocked.
"Thank goodness!" Mikasa cried in joy, throwing herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Historia was also overjoyed—but felt a slight pang of jealousy. The first name he called was Mikasa's.
Seeing Mikasa safe, Chen Si relaxed—but his heart suddenly ached intensely.
What was happening?
Why did it hurt so much?
"Brother!" Mikasa looked up at him tearfully.
"I'm fine, Mikasa," he said, struggling to raise his arm to wipe her tears.
She finally smiled.
Only then did the pain in his heart begin to ease.
Was it because of Mikasa?