Smoke and steam billowed from the battlefield as the remnants of Eren's massive Titan body began to disintegrate. The boulder, massive and cracked, now sat firmly in place, sealing the breach in Wall Rose. For the first time in what felt like hours, the ground no longer shook beneath the cadence of Titans.
Mikasa knelt over Eren's unmoving body, pulling him out of the steaming wreckage with trembling hands. His face was slack, pale with exhaustion, and blood streaked his cheeks.
"Eren," Mikasa breathed, her voice soft yet desperate. She cradled his limp form, pressing two fingers to his neck—a pulse. Relief flooded her for the briefest moment. "Armin, help me get him out of here."
Armin stumbled toward them, his body bruised and clothes torn. His knees nearly buckled in exhaustion, but he reached for Eren's arm to help lift their unconscious friend. "We need to get him to safety… now."
The two of them began dragging Eren's lifeless form through the rubble-strewn streets, the ruined Trost an unrecognizable graveyard of stone and ash. But they had no time to dwell on the horrors around them—two Titans had noticed their movement.
The grotesque creatures lumbered forward, their massive forms blocking the scant rays of sun that pierced through the smoke.
"Damn it," Mikasa hissed, positioning herself in front of Eren and drawing her blades with her good arm. The adrenaline coursing through her veins masked her exhaustion. "Armin, protect Eren!"
The Titans' mouths opened, eager to consume, their footsteps thundering as they closed in. Armin clenched his fists, torn between terror and the desire to act.
But before either Titan could reach them, a blur of motion swept through the air.
In an instant, the first Titan's nape exploded, blood and steam erupting like a geyser as its towering body crumpled. The second Titan turned just in time for a spinning figure to sever its weak point with terrifying precision.
Captain Levi landed softly on the broken cobblestones, flicking blood from his blades.
Mikasa and Armin froze, stunned as the stoic figure turned to face them. Levi's sharp eyes swept over the scene—the unconscious boy, the two exhausted cadets, and the battlefield littered with Titan corpses.
"What the hell is going on here?" Levi's voice cut through the smoke, calm yet biting, demanding an explanation. "Why is a brat like him in that mess of a Titan body?"
Mikasa opened her mouth to speak, still shielding Eren's motionless form, but the words never came.
A sudden, unnatural chill swept through the square.
It was as if the world itself had gone still. The smoke seemed to pause in the air, and a suffocating pressure descended on them all. Levi's expression tightened, his instincts immediately sharpening as his hand reached for his blades.
From the corner of the ruined square, a shadow emerged—stepping through the lingering steam with deliberate, measured steps. The figure was cloaked in black, their hood pulled low, and their presence sent ice down Mikasa's spine.
Levi's gaze narrowed. "Who the hell are you?"
The figure ignored him entirely, their hooded head tilting slightly as their focus fell on Eren's limp form. "So… this is the one," they murmured, their voice smooth yet chilling. "You've caused quite the stir, Jaeger."
Armin stiffened. "Who—who are you talking about? Eren didn't do anything wrong!"
The stranger didn't respond to him either. They began moving forward slowly, as if Levi and the others weren't even a threat.
"Stay back," Mikasa snapped, stepping between the figure and Eren, blades ready.
Levi's hand shot out, stopping her. "Don't be reckless." His gaze was locked on the figure, his instincts screaming that something was horribly wrong. "Who are you? State your purpose."
The figure finally stopped, just a few yards away. "I'm here for him." They gestured lazily toward Eren. "He's important to someone, and I've been tasked to collect him."
"Not happening," Levi said flatly, his tone edged with steel.
The figure sighed, as if inconvenienced. "You misunderstand, Captain. This isn't a request."
Then they moved.
The figure was on Levi in a blink—too fast. Levi's reflexes were unmatched, but even he barely managed to parry the first strike, their cloaked hand colliding with his blades with such force that it sent Levi skidding backward. The air around them crackled.
Mikasa lunged next, driven by pure fury, her blades slicing in a precise arc. The figure dodged effortlessly, catching her wrist mid-swing. With a single, brutal twist, a sickening snap echoed through the square. Mikasa's scream tore through the air as she hit the ground, clutching her shattered arm.
"Mikasa!" Armin cried.
Before Armin could react, the figure struck him in the gut with a palm strike that sent him flying into a nearby wall. He crumpled, coughing blood.
Levi returned with frightening speed, his movements blurring as he aimed for the figure's nape. But the enemy shifted again—inhumanly fast—sidestepping Levi's assault. Their open palm met his chest, sending a shockwave of force through his body. Levi staggered, his vision momentarily flickering as his chakra—or energy—drained away.
The figure turned back toward Eren, closing the gap in an instant. They crouched beside his unconscious form, drawing a seal-marked tag from beneath their cloak.
"No!" Mikasa rasped, trying to rise despite her broken arm.
The figure slammed the tag against Eren's gut.
Black markings exploded outward across his skin.
Eren's body convulsed violently, his back arching as a raw scream tore from his throat. Mikasa watched in horror as steam erupted around him—not from his Titan powers but from something far worse.
The figure rose, their voice calm yet venomous. "This seal will lock his power away… and without it, he'll suffer a slow, agonizing death."
Eren's body finally went still, his chest barely moving. The stranger lifted him effortlessly, draping him over their shoulder.
Levi staggered to his feet, blood running down his temple. "You're not taking him," he growled, his blades trembling in his hands.
The figure turned slightly, as if amused. "You'll want to focus on your wounded, Captain."
And then, in an instant, they vanished in a blur—a shunshin—leaving only dust and devastation behind.
---
The aftermath was silent.
Mikasa knelt on the ground, cradling her hurting wrist as tears spilled silently down her face. "Eren… they took him…"
Armin stirred weakly, blood staining his lips. Levi stood frozen, staring at the empty space where the figure had vanished. His fists clenched tightly at his sides.
And all around them, Trost lay in ruin once more, the fragile victory now overshadowed by a crushing loss.