Chapter 77: Levi, Make a Contract With Me and Become a Magical Girl!
On the rooftop, the dead silence was broken by Eren's suppressed sobs.
Floch's mouth hung open, the fanatical obsession on his face replaced by utter shock. His eyes darted back and forth between the resurrected Armin and the newly-outfitted Eren.
Levi's pupils violently contracted and dilated.
What were they seeing? Light? What was that light? What happened to Eren's clothes? What was with that skirt?! And that green stone… Most importantly—Armin! The body that had been burned almost to ash was regenerating in a way that defied all common sense.
This wasn't Titan regeneration. That required consuming a Titan shifter and was a violent, lengthy process. No, this wasn't right… this was completely beyond anything he could comprehend.
Did Eren do this? When did he get this… this kind of power? Did that white creature give it to him? But… magic?
These incomprehensible things didn't matter for the moment. What mattered was that Armin was alive, and Eren… just seemed to have changed clothes. Did this mean… he could use this "magic" to save Erwin, while also preserving the single, precious syringe?
The thought flashed through Levi's mind. The value of the Titan serum was immeasurable; it was the key to turning the tide of battle and giving humanity new strength. If Erwin could live, and they still had the serum and Bertolt… they would have much more time to consider who was best suited to inherit the Colossal Titan.
Levi's gaze instantly locked onto the white creature. It was still sitting there, its red eyes calmly observing everything, completely unfazed by what had just transpired.
"Hey," Levi's voice was sharp. "Was that your doing?"
Kyubey sat on the edge of the roof, tilted its head, and replied in a voice that sounded innocent but was utterly devoid of emotion. "Eren Jaeger made a wish. I simply helped him grant it."
"Then, can I do it too?" Levi stared at it, his words coming fast. "Can you make him," he gestured to Erwin, "live again, like Armin?"
"Of course," Kyubey said, its tail swaying gently. "As long as you make a wish."
Levi was silent for a moment, his mind racing. Eren was fine. Armin was alive. The serum could be saved.
Floch was practically jumping with anxiety beside him. "Captain Levi! The Commander is fading fast!"
After confirming Armin was out of danger and just seemed to be sleeping, Eren also looked up at Levi. "Captain! What are you waiting for?! Do you want the Commander to die?!"
Save the serum for a future crisis. Save Erwin and preserve humanity's hope. This "magic" didn't seem to have any negative side effects so far. And besides… how much worse could things possibly get?
Levi no longer hesitated. Time was running out. With his usual decisiveness, he made what he believed to be the most "rational" choice in that moment—and the only choice that could save both Erwin and the serum.
"Save Erwin!" he said, his voice firm and resolute as he stated his wish to the white creature.
[The contract is made.]
This time, Kyubey's voice echoed directly in Levi's mind.
Light erupted once more, this time from Levi himself. A deep blue radiance, sharp as the finest blade. His uniform, a symbol of his identity, also transformed. It became a simpler, more practical… deep blue tactical short skirt. Paired with black compression shorts and the straps of his ODM gear, it outlined his taut, agile form. It was a look that was both sharp and fast, yet undeniably strange.
A gem the color of a deep night sky materialized on his chest.
And before him, Commander Erwin's broken body was rapidly healing in the miraculous light. Ruptured organs mended, torn wounds closed, and color returned to his pale face. His life… had stabilized.
[Non-Human Chat Group]
SpongeBob SquarePants: [Pointing_at_screen.gif] WHOA! Another one! A blue light! That serious-looking guy with the dead fish eyes is wearing a skirt now too!
Squidward: [Scrubbing_clarinet_furiously_with_a_tentacle.jpg] Enough… this is really enough… one after another… This vulgar aesthetic and all these pointless light effects… my artistic soul is wailing…
…
Mikasa's gaze had been fixed on Eren and Armin this whole time. Armin had miraculously recovered. Eren seemed unharmed. The immense relief almost made her collapse. Only now did she have a moment to take in the change in Eren's appearance. That dark brown dress? It was weird, but… as long as Eren was okay, that's all that mattered. Her expression was a complex mixture of relief, joy, and deep confusion about his new outfit.
What is going on? That little white thing…
"Captain Levi! Eren!!"
Hange's urgent shout, accompanied by the sound of ODM gear, cut through the air as she, Jean, and Connie landed on the roof. They had just had Reiner snatched away by the Cart Titan and were still covered in grime and exhaustion. Seeing that everyone on the roof—Erwin, Armin, Levi, and Eren—was still alive, despite the heavy atmosphere, they all breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"Thank God… you're all okay…" Jean gasped, nearly collapsing. As long as they're alive… But then his gaze fell on Bertolt's remains, and he remembered the moment the Armored Titan had been rescued. If I had just been a little more decisive… if I hadn't hesitated… He clenched his fists, his eyes filled with regret and self-blame.
Connie was also relieved, patting his chest. "That scared me to death! I thought—well, at least everyone's okay—" His eyes then scanned over Eren and Levi. The look of relief on his face froze. The outfits looked similar to their uniforms, but also… different. His eyes widened.
Is that… a skirt? Is Eren wearing a skirt? Is Captain Levi wearing a skirt too?!
A feeling of extreme absurdity welled up inside him. Connie almost burst out laughing, but he immediately realized it was not the time. He forcefully suppressed his laugh, but his mouth wouldn't stop twitching, making his expression incredibly strange.
Hange's reaction was completely different. Although she was still reeling from the tragedy, her eyes now blazed with an irrepressible, fanatical curiosity.
"WOOOOAH!!!" she yelled. "What is this?! Did you guys change into new outfits after the battle?! Levi! Eren! What is the material of these clothes, and what are these little glowing stones?!"
She rushed over to them in an instant, ignoring Levi's icy glare. Her eyes wide, she tried to touch their new clothes and their Soul Gems.
"Were you the ones who made those two pillars of light just now?! And where's that little white animal?! I think I saw a flash of white from a distance! Where did it go?!"