Chapter 78: Preliminary Ability Test
"Hange—"
Eren was a little flustered by Hange's sudden enthusiasm. He instinctively looked around, searching for the small white animal that had granted his wish.
"Huh? Where's… Kyubey?"
He only just realized that besides their small group, the only other sounds on the rooftop were the steady breaths of the still-sleeping Erwin and Armin. The little white creature was gone. When had it left? It was so quiet, as if it had never been there at all. A flicker of disappointment crossed Floch's face at the creature's disappearance.
Unable to find Kyubey, Eren had no choice but to try and explain it to Hange himself.
"Calm down, Section Commander Hange." Eren took a small step back, trying to gather his thoughts. He glanced at Armin's steady breathing, then at Commander Erwin, whose vital signs were also stable, and took a deep breath. "It was—that creature called Kyubey… it said it could grant any wish…"
He explained what had just happened as concisely as he could: Kyubey's appearance, the process of making a wish, and the resurrection of both Armin and Commander Erwin. He also mentioned the term "Magical Girl," which he himself didn't fully understand.
After hearing Eren's disjointed explanation, Hange's eyes were shining with an incredible light.
"Magical Girl? What's that? But it can grant wishes?! Does it use some form of energy we don't know about yet?! And the only price is changing clothes and getting a stone?! This is— but—"
Her scientific curiosity completely overrode all other emotions. "Unbelievable! Quick! Try out your new abilities! Do something! Let me get a good look!" she urged, like a mad scientist who had just discovered a priceless treasure.
Eren and Levi glanced at each other, both looking a little uncomfortable. This new attire was really… something else.
"Tch." Levi clicked his tongue in annoyance. He focused his mind, imagining the feeling of using his ODM gear.
WHOOSH—!
A faint, deep blue light instantly covered his entire body. The next second, his figure blurred, and he performed a short, sharp, zigzag movement across the small rooftop at a speed that far surpassed his previous limits, leaving only an afterimage behind.
The moment he landed, he drew the blades from his hips. A faint blue glow seemed to coat the edges. He casually swung at a nearby piece of a broken wall.
SHING!
The hard stone offered no resistance and was sliced open with ease.
"OH! OH! OHHH!!!" Hange let out a shriek of almost uncontrollable excitement. "A massive increase in speed! And your cutting power is enhanced too! The blades themselves haven't changed, right? Is it some kind of energy layer?! What about gas consumption?! Do you need to refill?!"
Levi frowned, feeling it out. The gas for his ODM gear hadn't been used at all. An invisible force was taking its place, providing a continuous supply of energy. Unlimited gas?
He tried to channel that strange energy into his arm.
PEW!
A thin beam of blue light shot from his fingertip. Though small, the beam was highly concentrated, and it struck another piece of rubble in the distance, leaving a small, scorched hole.
"It can even perform ranged attacks?! Is the energy form pure kinetic energy? Or thermal?!" Hange became even more excited.
Watching Levi's demonstration, Eren also tried to mobilize the power within his own body. He clenched his fist. A hot current rushed through him. He threw a punch. A faint, emerald-green light enveloped his fist.
THUMP!
With a dull thud, the air in front of him seemed to ripple from the impact. Even though he hadn't hit a solid target, the sense of power was real.
Following Levi's lead, he also drew his blades. Almost instantly, they were covered in a bright, emerald-green aura, as if burning with green flames. He tentatively swung at a larger piece of the broken wall.
SHIING—!
The blades passed through with little resistance, cleanly slicing the stone in two. The cut surface had faint scorch marks. The sharpness seemed to be just as good as Levi's attack. He even felt that if he concentrated, this green energy could not only strengthen his blades, but could also… be condensed? And change shape? Maybe into something like a Thunder Spear? A vague idea flashed through his mind.
"His power is amplified too! And his cutting ability is enhanced! His defense has probably increased a lot as well! And he can release the energy externally?!" Hange was now in a full-blown research frenzy, scribbling furiously in her small notebook and muttering to herself. "What's the conversion efficiency?! What are the limits?! Will it overheat?! Is the strain on the user's body significant?! Is the gas consumption zero for him too?!"
Eren instinctively checked, and indeed, his ODM gas hadn't been used either. It was the same as with Levi.
Eren: "…"
Levi: "…"
Both of them felt a little troubled. What was really behind this strange power? And these clothes were a real headache.
"Ahem," Jean cleared his throat, trying to interrupt Hange. "Shouldn't we… be taking Bertolt back now?" he asked, pointing at the still-unconscious man.
…
On the way back, the atmosphere was oppressive and strangely surreal. The remaining soldiers of the Survey Corps escorted the unconscious Bertolt, carrying the still-sleeping Erwin and Armin on stretchers as they began the long journey back to the Walls.
Bertolt was tied securely to a stretcher, his mouth gagged. He was awoken by a violent jolt. His consciousness was still hazy, and his body was extremely weak from the massive energy expenditure of his Titan form. He slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Eren's face, a mixture of anger, hatred, and a hint of confusion. Beside him were Mikasa's cold eyes, which held an undisguised killing intent that seemed to want to flay him alive.
"Awake?" Eren's voice was hoarse. "Bertolt."
Bertolt's heart seized. We failed… What about Reiner? He instinctively tried to struggle, but he was bound so tightly he couldn't move an inch.
"You… you devils of the island…"
"Devils?" Connie came over, his face showing a mixture of post-battle exhaustion and a grim smile. "Look at what you've done! Shiganshina! Trost! And everyone inside Wall Maria! Who's the real devil here?!"
Mikasa said nothing, just drew her blade and pressed the cold edge to Bertolt's neck, her killing intent palpable.
Bertolt's terrified gaze darted around. He saw Erwin on a stretcher… and… Armin?! Shouldn't Armin have been burned to a crisp?! How is he still alive?! And it looks like his injuries have completely vanished!
He vaguely remembered seeing two pillars of light shooting into the sky while he was half-conscious… was it that power?! A fear deeper than death instantly gripped Bertolt's heart.
These people… these devils of Paradis Island! Not only did they have the power of the Titans, but now… now they had mastered some unknown power he had never even heard of?! A power that could instantly heal someone on the brink of death?
Impossible! This has to be some new trick the island devils have developed!
Bertolt's eyes filled with fear and hatred. He squeezed them shut and began to breathe heavily, refusing to look at these "devils" and the miracles they brought.
The path ahead led to the basement in Shiganshina. There, the truth of this world lay hidden.
A secret that was about to be exposed to the light.