Paradis Island.
At the foot of Wall Maria.
No one dared stand atop the wall to watch the repairs. Everyone—including Levi—stood a kilometer out on the plain, either on foot or in the saddle, watching the wall being mended by the Titan Roger had become.
No one knew who had built the Walls—except Roger.
He knew the Walls' composition was nothing more than a host of Colossal Titans hardened in place.
That was why, when Marley developed its anti-Wall tactics, they had the Colossal and Armored Titans strike the Walls' weakest point—the "gate"—with precision.
The Armored Titan's plates kept it from being hurt ramming the gate.
The Colossal Titan, thanks to its size, could boot the gate open without hindering its follow-up.
But if you kicked into the Titans inside the Wall, that was different.
Aside from the hidden Tybur family, Marley didn't know whether something might "go wrong" with the Titans within—whether those Colossals might, on exposure to sunlight, cascade into a runaway frenzy and bring disaster on the world.
So kicking and ramming the gate was the best choice.
But that also meant the Armored and Colossal couldn't inflict broader damage—couldn't make a bigger, taller breach. A gate is only so big; smash or punt it away and the gap is still only that size. Try to go bigger and you risk involving the Titans inside the Wall—more trouble than it's worth.
A breeze slid by as Roger, controlling his Titan, stood in the breach of Wall Maria.
On the ground, the scythe in his hand faded. The Jaw-Armored Titan turned its head and looked into the distance.
He waited.
Waited for a signal.
For reasons unknown, Roger's War Hammer power couldn't produce an enormous crystal seal in an instant to plug the breach; it would cost huge stamina and time.
He could pop out a crystal instantly, but given the dimensions, it would be paper-thin and useless.
With a special reagent—the hardening serum Marley made for Titans—one could gain much stronger hardening than before. What once sealed only the shifter could become large enough to encase an entire Titan:
A giant-sized, ultra-hardening crystal shell.
Right now, it was the hardest substance in the world. Aside from the Jaw Titan's fangs and claws, even the Armored Titan's plating could do nothing to it.
But it took a long time to make.
A human-sized hardening crystal? Fine. A Titan-sized crystal? Far too long, the time cost astronomical.
Given there was only one way through the Wall at present, any Pure Titans roaming outside who wanted to get inside and feast would have to come through here—and if they did, they'd end up wounding Roger mid-creation.
So someone had to keep watch—someone had to lure and thin the Titans outside, or the consequences would be worse.
Roger wasn't afraid of Pure Titans; however many there were, a single sweep of the scythe would do.
But even that one sweep would chew up time and break his focus on crystallization.
Drag it out long enough and sealing the Wall would become a joke.
At last—fwip!—a signal shot up. Green smoke blossomed in the sky.
No Titans within several kilometers.
With that, Roger stopped hesitating.
He clenched both fists, channeled the War Hammer's might, and a blaze of white light poured off his body.
Everyone held their breath and watched.
The sight made them imagine their ancestors. Perhaps this was how the Walls were raised.
If so, then Roger was a true savior.
Whatever misgivings they had toward Titans, Roger had worked for the people of the Walls all along. Even in the fight with the hundred-meter giant, he hadn't thought of himself—only of killing it.
"Rrr—"
Roger let out a low growl and pushed the War Hammer's power to its limit.
Slowly, ice-like crystals began to bud from his body and spread outward.
A strange mist drifted up around him; the crystallization quickened, starting to fill the breach.
Just then—
A red flare climbed in the distance, a warning to everyone within the Walls.
"Titan!"
Someone shouted.
The Scorpio Corps, already set, moved at once and charged toward the approach.
Cavalry thundered forward, unwavering.
"Don't let any Titan near the boss!"
"Understood!"
They fanned out and moved to encircle.
Levi stayed put—and caught Tours by the arm.
"Let the men handle it. Do everything yourself and you'll be dead from overwork."
Levi's tone was offhand.
Tours looked back at Levi's hand on his arm, then toward the distant Titan trudging nearer, and nodded.
It was only an eight-meter Titan, and the Scorpio riders quickly drew it away in another direction.
Roger kept crystallizing.
He didn't know how long it took, but at last the breach was sealed completely—leaving behind a crystal statue of the Jaw-Armored Titan, fierce and imposing.
A long breath went out of every chest.
Eyes wet, they cheered—the great advance of mankind.
Roger slipped free of the Titan, dropped from the nape, and took a few strides to the ground.
"Boss—"
Tours galloped up leading a spare horse.
Roger beckoned, swung into the saddle he'd brought.
The two headed back inside the Walls together.
The others, including the Scorpio detachments outside culling and diverting Titans, would return by other gates per plan.
"Boss, you're amazing!"
Tours chuckled and draped a coat over Roger's shoulders.
"Enough. Less talk. We've got work."
"Right."
They spurred on.
And then—
BOOM!!
An explosion shattered the air—so vast it rivaled the Colossal Titan's stomp!
"No way—!"
Roger's eyes flew wide. He and Tours snapped their heads back—
Right before their eyes, the freshly cast, breach-sealing crystal statue blew apart into glittering dust.
Smoke billowed. The Wall was broken again.
Who?!
Who did that?!
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