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angstylittleguy · 4 months ago

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The Rift

Part 2 of "Broken." After Rory rescues Dalton from a too-curious Bennett, Dalton reveals his newly-formed opinion of him, which leaves a divide in the group. // Part 1

tw: anger, guilt, bruises

character context: Dalton is a size-shifter whose height is affected by his emotions. Bennett frequently gets stuck in time loops and the only way to get the loop to end is for him to survive the day. Rory is a mind reader that is unable to control her ability. The voices in her head are constant and the emotions of the people around her are often inflicted onto her.

word count: 2k

-> In Which Everything Goes Wonderfully Wrong masterpost link: Here

-> character introductions and moodboards: Here

Dalton stood on the bathroom counter, his shirt pulled up and back facing the mirror. He peered over his shoulder, staring at the marks on his skin.

Rory stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame with her arms crossed uncomfortably over her chest. Her skin was crawling with anger, sadness, confusion—all emotions coming from Dalton—and she couldn’t help the frown that decorated her lips.

When Bennett had called her, she was still in the library. She hadn’t even known that he and Dalton had left. And then Bennett said that there had been an accident. That Dalton had shrunken and they had to leave. That they were in Bennett’s dorm and Dalton was crying.

As she walked down the dorm hallway, her neck immediately pricked with regret and fear. It was emanating from Bennett’s room in harsh waves, and it didn’t take a genius to know that something was horribly wrong. She opened the door—it wasn’t locked—and she saw Bennett sitting on his bed in the far corner of the room. His knees were tucked close to his chest, back pressed against the wall like he was trying to make himself look small. His eyes cut to Rory as she entered. With a shaky finger, he pointed to the other side of the room.

Rory’s eyes fell upon Dalton, impossibly small, curled up on the surface of Bennett’s desk, laying on his side. His back was to the room, his arms gathered around his midsection. Strong feelings of mistrust made the hair on Rory’s arms stand on end.

She kneeled next to the desk. “Dalton?”

He rolled over on his back, turning his head to face her. His eyes were red and angry. “Can you take me home, please?” Dalton asked her, closing his eyes like he was fighting back more tears.

Rory glanced back at Bennett one more time before very carefully scooping Dalton into her hands. He groaned at the movement.

As Rory was leaving, she regarded Bennett. He watched her numbly. “I’ll come back later, okay?” Rory said, holding the door open with her hip.

Bennett just nodded.

Now at Dalton’s house, Rory wasn’t sure what to do for him. He was angry and upset, small and helpless. He wanted nothing more than to be left alone but Rory couldn’t bring herself to leave him in good conscience.

“I knew he was too reckless,” Dalton said, his voice hard and laced with venom as he stared at his reflection. “I knew it the moment I met him that something like this was going to happen.”

Rory was quiet, still watching his small figure examine himself in the mirror.

“And the worst part,” Dalton continued, “was that I let it happen.”

“This isn’t your fault,” Rory responded, sympathy twanging deep in her chest.

“It’s not,” was Dalton’s short answer. “It’s Bennett’s. He’s too unpredictable. Doesn’t know what he’s doing. He never thinks. This could have all been avoided if he would just use his stupid brain!”

Rory didn’t say anything. The air in Dalton’s house felt thick, suffocating almost. Rory could feel the weight of Dalton’s words, the sharpness of his anger—a heaviness she could practically touch as it settled between them. She had been in this position before, trying to soothe someone who didn’t want comfort. It never felt easy.

Dalton continued to stare at his reflection, his tiny form so vulnerable in contrast to the fury in his voice. He had a way of making everything seem like a disaster, as if the world was always crumbling around him. Rory didn’t know if it was his usual self-destructive streak or the aftermath of what had happened with Bennett. Probably both.

“Dalton, it’s not all on Bennett,” she said softly, her voice tentative but firm, hoping he could hear her through the layers of his anger.

Dalton scoffed, the sound small but biting. “You don't get it. He's dangerous. One minute he’s fine, and the next—” He stopped himself abruptly, his voice cracking. The vulnerability underneath the anger was hard to miss. “I thought I could trust him,” he muttered, his eyes drifting back to the mirror, his expression changing from rage to something quieter, sadder. “But I should’ve known better.”

Rory didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she just moved closer, kneeling next to him on the counter, keeping her distance but offering a presence, the kind that didn’t ask questions or try to fix things. Just someone to listen.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Dalton,” Rory said. “Bennett’s just... He’s still learning, just like us. You both are. This isn’t the end of the world. It’s just a moment.”

Dalton’s eyes flicked toward her, but his face remained tight, the corners of his lips pressed into a line of frustration. His small form seemed so fragile against the vastness of the bathroom counter, yet the intensity in his gaze was anything but small.

“Moment?” he repeated, his voice low and bitter, “This is more than a moment, Rory. He nearly killed me.” He sucked in a shaky breath, his fists clenched at his sides, the anger still simmering beneath the surface. “I don’t care if he’s learning, okay? I’m the one who pays for his mistakes.”

Rory felt a stab of helplessness as she watched him, wishing there was more she could do—more than just listen, more than just offer hollow assurances. She understood his anger, his frustration. It was so much easier to lash out, to blame someone else for the pain, especially when that someone was someone you thought you could trust.

She opened her mouth, ready to offer more words, but Dalton cut her off before she could speak.

“I shouldn’t have trusted him. I should’ve known better. It’s always the same with me—people get close, and then they—” He trailed off, swallowing hard. His voice cracked with the rawness of the emotion, but it wasn’t just about Bennett anymore, Rory realized. It was about the constant cycle that Dalton had somehow resigned himself to. Trusting people, letting them in, only to get hurt.

The air between them thickened with the weight of unspoken words. Rory’s fingers twitched, unsure of whether to reach for him or give him the space he so obviously wanted. Instead, she settled for her words.

“You deserve better than this,” Rory finally whispered. “Better than feeling like this... all the time.”

Dalton shifted slightly, the first hint of vulnerability flickering in his eyes, though he quickly masked it with a sharp inhale.

“Yeah,” he muttered, more to himself than to her. “I know.”

They sat in silene for a moment. Eventually, Dalton spoke again, his tone quieter now, almost apologetic. “I’m sorry, Rory. I don’t mean to be... this way. It’s just... a lot.”

“I know,” Rory replied gently.

Finally, she stood up from the counter. “I should let you rest. You’ve been through enough for today. But I’ll check in on you later, okay?”

Dalton gave a small nod, not quite meeting her eyes. “Yeah. Thanks, Rory.”

“Take care of yourself,” Rory said softly, her hand on the doorknob, looking back at him one last time before stepping into the hallway.

Dalton didn’t respond, but she knew he’d heard her.

…

Rory knocked softly on Bennett’s dorm room door, the sound a gentle tap against the heavy silence that seemed to hang over the hallway. She waited for a response, but there was nothing but stillness on the other side. She pushed the door open slowly, the hinges creaking as she stepped inside.

The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn tightly shut, leaving only a faint sliver of light filtering through the edges. Bennett was sitting on the bed, his face buried in his hands, his body shaking with silent sobs. The sight of him, so raw and vulnerable, took Rory by surprise. She had always seen him as confident, maybe even reckless, but never like this.

“Bennett?”

Bennett lifted his head slowly at the sound of her voice, his eyes red and swollen, the weight of his guilt palpable in the room. His face crumpled again, and he buried his face in his hands once more, letting out a muffled sob.

“I didn’t mean to hurt him,” Bennett said, his voice barely a whisper, thick with regret. “I didn’t mean to… I didn’t know, Rory. I didn’t know how fragile he was when he was that small. I thought I was just… But I didn’t realize how much I could hurt him.” His words were tangled in his grief, and Rory could hear the guilt twisting his insides.

“You didn’t know,” Rory said gently, her voice calm but firm.

Bennett shook his head, his hands still gripping his face as if trying to block out the shame. “I should’ve known better. I should’ve… I thought it was all fun, Rory. I thought—hell, I thought it was cool, you know? I’ve never seen anything like that before.” His voice cracked, and he lowered his hands to his lap, his eyes vacant as he stared at the floor. “I don’t know how to fix it. How can I fix it after everything that’s happened?”

“Maybe you don’t need to fix it right away,” Rory said after a pause, her voice thoughtful. “Maybe you just need to be there for him. Show him that you care. You don’t have to have all the answers, Bennett. Just listen to him. Let him know that you’re sorry. And don’t push him. Let him come to you when he’s ready. That’s how you can start.”

Bennett looked up at her then, his eyes still full of confusion and pain. It was as if the weight of her words was just starting to settle on him, too heavy to lift on his own. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Instead, he closed his eyes tightly, shaking his head again.

“I don’t know if he’ll ever forgive me,” he muttered, his voice strained and brittle. “I don’t know how to show him that I didn’t mean for any of this. I just wanted to—” He stopped himself, running a shaky hand through his hair. Bennett wiped his face with the sleeve of his hoodie, his chest rising and falling with the weight of his emotions. He let out a shuddering breath before speaking again, quieter this time, almost to himself.

“I don’t even know what to say to him. What if it’s too late? What if he hates me?”

Rory’s expression softened. “You don’t know unless you try. And if you don’t try, you’ll regret it.”

Bennett sat there for a moment, quiet, as if weighing her words. Then, slowly, he nodded. “I’ll talk to him,” Bennett said finally, his voice steadier now, though still threaded with doubt. “I don’t know what I’ll say, but I’ll talk to him.”

Rory smiled softly, her hand resting on his shoulder, grounding him. “That’s all you can do, Bennett. Just be honest. The rest will come with time.”

For a long moment, the two of them sat in the stillness of the room. Bennett, his thoughts still swirling with guilt. Finally, Bennett stood up, wiping his eyes once more as if trying to regain some of his composure. “Thanks, Rory,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I… I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

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empyrealoasis · 3 months ago

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Scripting Guide to World Building for Shifters 𓍯𓂃𓏧☾

This guide is designed for individuals who find scripting challenging and are looking for a thorough, step-by-step approach to help bring their desired reality to life. It aims to cover a wide range of essential elements, providing detailed prompts and questions to encourage creative thinking and help you craft a unique, immersive, and well-rounded script. Whether you're a beginner or someone who wants to refine their scripting process, this guide offers plenty of ideas and suggestions to ensure nothing important is overlooked. *Character Design Guide

1. The Foundation of Your Reality

Name and Significance:

What is the name of your reality?

Does it have a deeper meaning?

Who named it—its creators, the first settlers, or an external observer?

Shape and Structure:

Is your world a sphere, a flat plane, or something unconventional (e.g., a ringworld, floating islands)?

Does it exist in a single dimension, or does it span multiple dimensions or planes of existence?

Existence and Origin:

How did your world come into existence? Was it created by a divine force, a scientific anomaly, or natural evolution?

What events or forces shaped its current state?

Purpose of This World:

Why does this world exist? Is it a sanctuary, a testing ground, a haven for life, or something else?

Universal Rules:

What are the governing laws of nature (gravity, time, physics)?

Are there any unusual or contradictory rules (e.g., time flows backward in some regions)?

How is reality itself maintained? Is it fragile or robust?

2. Geography and Environment

Global Layout:

How many continents or landmasses exist? What are their names, and what defines each one?

Are there unique planetary features (e.g., floating continents, endless oceans, underground realms)?

Terrain and Landscapes:

What are the major biomes (e.g., deserts, forests, mountains)?

Are there distinct geological phenomena like volcanoes, crystal caves, or floating mountains?

Weather and Seasons:

How many seasons does your world experience?

Are weather patterns predictable, chaotic, or controlled by external forces?

Are there unique weather events, such as glowing auroras, rains of gemstones, or storm systems with sentience?

Natural Resources:

What resources are available (metals, magical crystals, exotic plants)?

Are these resources renewable, or is scarcity a driving force?

Flora and Fauna:

What types of plants dominate different regions?

Are there bioluminescent forests, carnivorous trees, or crops that grow overnight?

What creatures inhabit this world?

Are they based on Earth animals or entirely new creations?

Do any creatures have unique abilities, like shapeshifting or teleportation?

Are any species sentient or capable of communication with humans?

3. Societies and Cultures

Civilizations and Nations:

How many civilizations or nations exist?

What are their defining characteristics (e.g., technological, magical, or cultural)?

Do they have alliances, rivalries, or a history of conflict?

Cultural Diversity:

How do cultures differ across regions?

What are the dominant values or ideologies (e.g., honor, freedom, progress)?

Traditions and Celebrations:

What holidays, festivals, or religious events are celebrated?

Are there seasonal or celestial events that inspire rituals or ceremonies?

How do people mark milestones like birth, coming of age, marriage, or death?

Daily Life:

What does a typical day look like for an average person?

How do people spend their mornings, afternoons, and evenings?

Social Hierarchy:

Are societies egalitarian, hierarchical, or merit-based?

What determines social status (birth, wealth, achievements, magical ability)?

Languages and Communication:

How many languages are spoken?

What are some common greetings, idioms, or phrases?

Are there unique ways of communication (e.g., sign language, telepathy, or written symbols)?

Economy and Trade:

What is the primary form of currency (coins, barter, energy)?

What are the main exports and imports?

How do trade routes function, and are they safe?

Art and Expression:

What forms of art are popular (music, painting, sculpture)?

Are there unique styles or materials used?

Are artists respected or marginalized?

4. Technology and Tools

Technological Level:

Is the technology futuristic, medieval, steampunk, or something else entirely?

Are there advanced machines, or is everything handcrafted?

Energy Sources:

What powers technology (electricity, magic, sunlight, emotional energy)?

Are energy sources renewable or finite?

Transportation:

How do people and goods travel? Examples: flying ships, teleportation gates, sentient mounts.

Are roads, waterways, or air routes the primary mode of transportation?

Weapons and Defense:

What weapons are used in combat (swords, plasma guns, enchanted bows)?

How do people protect themselves (armor, force fields, magical wards)?

Everyday Tools and Gadgets:

What devices simplify daily life?

Are there any tools unique to specific professions?

5. Conflict and Tension

Global Conflicts:

Is the world at peace or in turmoil?

What are the sources of conflict (land, power, ideology, survival)?

Factions and Alliances:

Who are the key factions (nations, guilds, rebel groups)?

What are their goals and motivations?

Are there neutral groups or individuals playing both sides?

Villains and Threats:

Is there a singular antagonist or multiple threats?

Examples: a tyrannical ruler, an ancient curse, a rogue AI.

What motivates these threats, and are they sympathetic or purely evil?

Natural Disasters and Catastrophes:

Are there global events like earthquakes, super volcanoes, or dimensional rifts?

How do societies prepare for or respond to these events?

Internal Tensions:

Are there class struggles, political corruption, or religious divides?

How do ordinary people cope with these tensions?

6. Magic or Unique Elements

Magical Laws:

What is the source of magic (nature, gods, ancient artifacts)?

Are there limits to its use, or does it come at a cost?

Unique Elements:

What sets your world apart from others?

Example: A sun that whispers secrets to those who listen at dawn.

Artifacts and Relics:

Are there legendary items with immense power?

What are their origins, and who seeks to possess them?

7. Geography and Aesthetic Details

Architecture and Urban Design:

What do cities and villages look like?

Are buildings made of stone, metal, wood, or unconventional materials like glass or bone?

Fashion and Clothing:

What fabrics, colors, and patterns are most common?

Are clothes purely functional, highly decorative, or symbolic?

Cuisine and Food:

What are the staple foods in your world?

Are there exotic dishes or drinks with unique effects?

How are meals prepared, and what utensils are used?

8. Time and Progression

Calendar and Timekeeping:

How is time tracked? Are there hours, days, weeks, or unique cycles?

Are there celestial events that mark time (e.g., eclipses, comet passes)?

Aging and Lifespan:

How long do beings live?

Are there rituals for different life stages?

Historical Eras:

What are the major historical periods?

Are there legendary figures or events still celebrated or mourned?

Future Vision:

How do inhabitants imagine their world will change over centuries?

Are there prophecies or predictions about the future?

9. The Metaphysical Nature of the World

Spiritual Layer:

Is there an afterlife or spirit realm?

Can living beings interact with the spiritual plane (e.g., through rituals, dreams, or certain locations)?

Are ghosts, spirits, or other ethereal entities common?

Soul Mechanics:

Do beings in your world have souls or life energy?

Can souls be transferred, trapped, destroyed, or reborn?

Are there beings without souls?

Fate and Destiny:

Is there a predetermined fate or free will?

Are there entities (oracles, gods, etc.) that oversee fate?

How do people view destiny—something revered, feared, or ignored?

10. Communication Across the World

Long-Distance Communication:

How do people communicate over vast distances (messenger birds, magical crystals, telepathy)?

Are there communication hubs or networks, such as magical relay towers or ancient devices?

Media and Information:

Are there newspapers, magical projections, or digital networks?

How is news spread—by word of mouth, official channels, or clandestine organizations?

Are propaganda or misinformation prevalent?

Secret or Forgotten Knowledge:

Are there lost languages, forbidden texts, or ancient knowledge hidden in remote places?

Who guards or seeks these secrets, and what are their motives?

11. Ecology and Environmental Balance

Ecosystem Dynamics:

How do species interact in your world? Are there predator-prey relationships?

Is there a balance between nature and civilization, or is one dominating the other?

Environmental Hazards:

Are there toxic zones, cursed lands, or areas where the laws of nature break down?

How do inhabitants adapt to or avoid these regions?

Conservation and Exploitation:

Do societies in your world care about preserving the environment?

Are there organizations or individuals dedicated to protecting endangered species or sacred places?

12. Entertainment and Recreation

Games and Sports:

What are the most popular games or physical activities?

Are there unique sports or competitions tied to the culture or geography of the world?

Storytelling and Literature:

What forms of storytelling exist (oral traditions, books, holograms)?

Are there legendary tales or epics passed down through generations?

Performing Arts:

What kinds of music, dance, or theater are popular?

Are there magical or technological enhancements to performances?

Leisure and Pastimes:

How do people relax—hot springs, meditation, board games, or hunting?

Are there communal spaces, like taverns or virtual reality lounges, for socializing?

13. Health, Medicine, and Healing

Healthcare Systems:

How do societies manage illness and injury?

Are there healers, clinics, or magical remedies?

Diseases and Cures:

What are the most common illnesses or ailments?

Are there unique diseases that require special cures, rituals, or sacrifices?

Mental Health:

How is mental health viewed and treated?

Are there unique psychological conditions tied to the world’s magic, technology, or history?

14. Cosmic and Celestial Elements

Astronomy and Sky Features:

How many moons, stars, or celestial objects are visible in the sky?

Are there constellations with cultural or religious significance?

Space Exploration:

Is the world aware of other planets or galaxies?

Do inhabitants explore beyond their world, or is it a mystery?

Celestial Beings:

Are there deities, angels, or cosmic entities tied to the heavens?

Do celestial events (eclipses, meteor showers) have magical or prophetic significance?

15. Economics and Labor

Workforce and Professions:

What are the most common jobs or careers?

Are there unique professions tied to the world’s magic, geography, or history?

Trade Networks:

How do goods and resources move across regions?

Are there monopolies, trade guilds, or underground markets?

Currency and Wealth:

What is the currency, and how is wealth measured?

Are there alternative economies, like magical exchanges or something unique to your world?

16. Education and Knowledge

Education Systems:

How is education structured (schools, apprenticeships, guilds)?

Is education accessible to all or limited to the elite?

Libraries and Archives:

Are there grand libraries, hidden archives, or magical repositories of knowledge?

How is knowledge preserved or restricted?

Teachers and Scholars:

Who are the educators and intellectuals in this world?

Are they revered, feared, or ignored?

17. Personal Identity and Expression

Names and Naming Conventions:

How are people named? Are there family names, titles, or unique traditions?

Do names have symbolic or magical significance?

Fashion and Appearance:

How do people express individuality through clothing, hairstyles, or accessories?

Are there cultural taboos about certain colors, patterns, or styles?

Identity and Status:

How do individuals define themselves (by lineage, achievements, or beliefs)?

Are there cultural markers of status, such as tattoos, jewelry, or magical auras?

18. Laws and Governance

Types of Government:

Are there monarchies, democracies, theocracies, or something unique?

How much power does the government wield over individuals?

Legal Systems:

What are the major laws, and how are they enforced?

Are there courts, trials, or magical truth-telling devices?

Crime and Punishment:

What are common crimes, and how are they punished?

Are there vigilantes, bounty hunters, or corrupt officials?

19. Dreams and the Subconscious

Dreams and Their Role:

Do dreams have significance in your world?

Can people share dreams or enter each other’s subconscious?

Nightmares and Fears:

Are there entities or forces that prey on people’s fears?

Can nightmares manifest physically?

Dreamscapes:

Are there alternate realities accessible only through dreaming?

Can dreamers control or manipulate their dreams?

20. Time and Memory

Perception of Time:

Does time flow uniformly or differently in various regions or dimensions?

Are there time loops, anomalies, or portals to other eras?

Memory and History:

How is history recorded or remembered?

Are there people or artifacts that preserve memories?

Can memories be altered, stolen, or erased?

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shiorihyugawrites · 17 days ago

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The Devil's Bride

Aurora Jaeger, Eren's long-lost childhood friend, was taken from him when they were children. After years of suffering under Marleyan control, Aurora is reunited with Eren while he’s undercover in Marley, igniting a bond neither of them expected. Despite her gentle nature, Aurora breaks her vow of pacifism to save Eren’s life, solidifying their deep connection. Secretly married before the Raid on Liberio, Aurora is swept into Eren's world of chaos and destruction. As the Scouts learn of her existence, tensions rise on the airship home. Mikasa’s heart shatters, and Levi demands answers. And Eren will stop at nothing to protect the only light left in his dark world—his bride, Aurora.

In this journey of love, loyalty, and war, Aurora must reconcile her innocent heart with the brutal reality of the man she loves, while Eren faces the truth of what he’s become. (Eren x OC)

Chapter Fifty One

A/N: I recommend listening to “Ashes on The Fire” from the Final Season soundtrack for this chapter.

The early morning light cast a pale glow over the towering walls of Shiganshina. A crisp wind swept in from the sea, carrying the foreboding smell of salt and steel. The Global Allied Fleet loomed on the horizon, an endless line of battleships bristling with cannons and soldiers prepared to end every life on this island. Even from a distance, the silhouettes of airships dotted the sky behind them, ready to unleash devastation from above. Paradis stood on the precipice of annihilation, but its defenders waited with grim resolve, determined to give their all.

The Attack Titan stood at the forefront. Steam curled around Eren’s enormous form, and both fists gleamed with hardened crystal, catching the faint sunlight as though they were weapons forged from ice. He did not move yet; he was waiting, as though every second of stillness was part of a plan. Around him, the other titan shifters were in position. Porco’s Jaw Titan crouched close by, its massive jaws glinting with lethal potential. Reiner’s Armored Titan, battered by past battles, flexed its plated limbs in anticipation. The Cart Titan, carrying armored plating designed by Hange on its back, belonged to Pieck. Her voice echoed occasionally, keeping everyone updated on positions or vantage points she could see. Each titan exuded a tense readiness, a unity that stood in stark contrast to the circumstances that had once pitted them against each other.

High atop the walls and scattered through strategic points along the city, the Jaegerists were poised with their newly crafted Inferno Blades and the more traditional thunderspears. Many among them were young recruits who had never faced a threat of this magnitude. Yet the determination etched on their faces told a story of courage fueled by desperation. They knew the cost of failure: if the Global Allied Fleet succeeded, there would be no survivors. The island, its people, and all they held dear would vanish into the pages of history.

Levi stood at a vantage point on the upper ramparts, scanning the horizon with icy calm. His hair whipped around his forehead in the gusting sea breeze. He spared no words for the Jaegerists behind him, only a silent nod that communicated his order. Everyone knew what it meant: hold your ground at all costs. Despite his calm exterior, Levi’s mind churned with memories of old battles, of times when the Scouts were outnumbered yet found a path to victory. This time, though, the entire world had mobilized, and the challenge dwarfed anything he had seen before.

Mikasa, stationed a short distance away, tugged on the straps of her ODM gear to make certain everything was secure. She shared a quick glance with Levi, an unspoken exchange that neither fully voiced. Her heart pounded as she stared into the distance where the ships advanced, their iron hulls cutting through the waves. She silently vowed to protect her friends, to protect Eren, no matter the cost. The red scarf that once carried a familial warmth around her neck now bore the weight of a soldier’s burden.

Hange paced along one of the elevated platforms, relaying final instructions to squads of Jaegerists. Her voice remained steady, but her eyes flashed with worry. She had studied the data Armin and the others had gathered about global forces, analyzing potential strategies the enemy might employ. Even so, no amount of research could quell the tremor of anxiety that lingered in her chest. This was it: the day of reckoning. Under her direction, the Jaegerists readied the flares and double-checked the Inferno Blades. She wanted every squad to be as prepared as they could be, though she knew it still might not be enough.

Connie, Sasha, and Jean were gathered in a small courtyard near the front lines, each weighed down by memories of simpler times. Connie let out a dry laugh as he gazed at the monstrous shapes of the allied navy, recalling the days when he used to complain about guard duty. Now, he would have traded anything to go back to those days. Sasha adjusted her maneuvering gear, determination burning in her eyes. She normally carried a cheerful spirit, but even she could not mask the gravity of this moment. Jean fiddled with a handful of flares, instructions from Levi fresh in his mind. He could sense the tension in the air, an electricity that crackled with the knowledge that many of them would not live to see another dawn.

Far below the wall’s ramparts, Eren’s titan let out a low, rumbling sound. It wasn’t a roar—more like a subdued growl, a sign that the wait was over. The horizon was alive with the movement of ships, columns of black smoke from their funnels staining the sky. Through the smoky haze, the glints of sunlight on metal bristled with artillery. The engines of airships rumbled overhead, casting ominous shadows as they drew closer to Shiganshina.

Porco’s Jaw Titan shifted restlessly, poised to lunge the second an order was given. Despite everything, he remembered the countless hours training side by side with these very people he once called enemies. Now, they were his allies in a battle against a global foe, a foe that had once been his own homeland’s partner. He tried not to dwell on the irony, knowing it would only distract him from the task at hand. He gave a short, sharp nod to Reiner’s Armored Titan, a silent reaffirmation that they stood together for the cause of this island’s survival.

Reiner, for his part, stood heavy and resolute. He had once infiltrated these walls as a spy, living among the very people he planned to destroy. Now, he was defending them with every fiber of his being. The knowledge that the world was at their gates, hungry for their annihilation, only solidified his resolve. A flicker of guilt tore through him—memories of how many times he had broken these same walls. But those regrets had no place here. All that mattered was that he stood to protect what had become home.

Pieck’s Cart Titan crouched lower than the others, fitted with a specialized rig Hange designed for her carrying munitions and extra weaponry for the soldiers near her. She was the sole titan able to communicate while transformed, and her voice carried a steadiness that helped calm those around her. “They’re close to landing,” she said, scanning the approach with keen eyes. “I see multiple landing crafts lowering from the largest ships.” Her words echoed across the war-torn district to everyone with ears to listen.

Levi, overhead, signaled to the squads to spread out. “Positions!” he barked. “We hold them at the shoreline. Nobody crosses into Shiganshina.” He pivoted to glance at Eren’s titan. Even from a distance, he could almost sense Eren’s tension, the single-minded drive that forced the Founding Titan’s holder to remain unwavering.

A shrill whistle cut through the air: the first shell from the allied warships. It screamed overhead and crashed into one of the abandoned blocks at the edge of town, blasting debris and dust high into the sky. An uproar of shattered stone echoed around the district, marking the official start of the assault. The next shells followed in rapid succession, some landing in open areas, others smashing directly into portions of the outer walls. Shiganshina’s ancient stone ramparts groaned under the bombardment, but still they stood.

“Now!” Levi shouted, hoisting his blades. The first wave of Jaegerists sprang into action with their maneuvering gear, hooking themselves onto the battered structures to get a vantage point. Thunderspears and Inferno Blades were readied, flares erupted in plumes of color-coded smoke to signal strategic movements.

Eren’s titan lurched forward with a thunderous stomp, his crystallized fists raised as he charged toward the crumbling remains of the outer gate. The vision of the fleet’s landing crafts touching the shore spurred him onward. He intended to meet them head-on before they could fully organize. Chunks of rubble crunched under his feet, leaving deep impressions in the streets as he advanced.

Porco bounded by Eren’s flank, leaping with impressive agility that belied its bulky form. He cut a quick path around the perimeter, ensuring no infiltration routes were left unguarded. His massive jaws clenched in readiness for any soldier or armored vehicle that dared approach.

Reiner took up a defensive stance behind Eren, plating glinting under the sporadic sunlight that filtered through clouds of dust and smoke.

Pieck maneuvered to an elevated position near some of the smaller stone towers. “We have multiple landing teams, heavily armed with artillery,” she called out, her voice ringing with tension. “They’re setting up large-scale cannons on the shore. I see at least five, no—eight squads disembarking.”

Meanwhile, Armin was at his vantage point near the coastline, just outside the city. He stood on a stone outcropping that overlooked the beach, scanning the horizon. On the signal from Hange or Eren, he would transform into the Colossal Titan. But for now, he had to wait. The timing had to be perfect to unleash such an overwhelming power. A single misstep could cause catastrophic damage to their own side.

Cannon fire intensified. The thunderous booms became nearly constant, each echo vibrating in the chest of every soldier on the wall. Shrapnel whirled through the air, burying itself into old stone or wooden beams. Smoke blanketed large portions of Shiganshina, turning the once-familiar streets into a hazy warzone. The Allies pressed forward, disembarking from their ships and fanning out along the shoreline. Armored vehicles rolled down ramps, troops marched with unwavering formation, and overhead, smaller airships adjusted their positions for potential bombing runs.

Jean grit his teeth from atop a partially ruined guard tower. “They’re setting up artillery in a semicircle,” he observed, using a hand to shield his eyes from the dust. “If we let them get too close, they’ll pound us into oblivion.”

Connie, hovering nearby using his ODM gear, glanced at Jean. “I’ll let Hange know,” he said, firing a flare that shot a red streak into the smoky sky. The color signified urgent intel for their field commanders.

Sasha, perched on a beam for a clearer shot, loaded bullets into her specialized rifle. She had insisted on it, wanting to maintain an element of stealth while also relying on her impeccable aim as a sniper. The first wave of Allied soldiers began to step foot on the stone piers that protruded from the shallow water. Sasha took a steadying breath and took a shot, hitting one of the lead officers in the heart. A ripple of panic spread through the men behind him.

Hange spotted Sasha’s opening shot and yelled, “Squads One and Two, follow up! Target their leadership!” Another volley of flares soared overhead. The clang of grappling hooks followed as the squads launched themselves into new positions for better vantage points.

Far below, the city’s winding streets erupted in the chaos of short-range skirmishes. Brave Jaegerists, some barely out of their teenage years, flung Inferno Blades with all their might. The small devices ignited upon contact with stone or steel, spraying arcs of fire that forced Allied soldiers to dive for cover. Not all of the blades found their mark; some bounced and fizzled or created pockets of random conflagration, setting deserted buildings alight. But many soared true, decimating entire squads that ventured too far into the district.

Up front, Eren’s titan slammed a massive crystallized fist down on a group of tanks rolling from a landing craft. The impact crushed steel and bodies alike, sending shockwaves that splashed seawater and shards of metal across the shoreline. Another tank angled its turret to aim at Eren’s nape, but Porco’s Jaw Titan lunged from behind a half-collapsed archway, clamping its jaws onto the turret and ripping it off. The tank exploded in a burst of flame, its crew incinerated inside.

Reiner advanced to the left flank, engaging an entire squad of soldiers armed with rocket launchers. His armor deflected the first salvo, though shards of plating chipped away under the concentrated blasts. Gritting his teeth within his titan, Reiner pressed forward, stomping down a line of barbed-wire defenses the Allies had hastily erected. Each step fueled his guilt-scarred determination: no one else would break these walls, not while he stood.

Pieck’s voice carried over the din of battle. “They have at least three more heavy artillery pieces on the southwestern shore!” She pivoted the Cart Titan, letting the Jaegerists on her back aim a barrage of thunderspears that took out the artillery at close range. The thunderous explosions sent towering columns of smoke and debris high into the sky, but the Allies kept coming, wave after wave of reinforcements pouring from the monstrous fleet.

Levi soared through the chaos, his dual blades flashing with lethal precision. He weaved around airborne shells, slicing through pockets of Allied soldiers who ventured too far forward. At times, he used the grappling hooks of his ODM gear to latch onto the frames of destroyed tanks, zipping through smoke so thick it was impossible to see more than a foot ahead. Whenever a soldier managed to line up a shot at him, Levi vanished, reappearing behind them in a deadly slash that sent their rifles clattering to the rubble.

“We can’t hold them at the shore forever,” Jean shouted from a rooftop, frantically signaling to Levi. “There are just too many!”

Levi recognized the truth in Jean’s words. The Allies were numerous and relentless, pushing deeper into Shiganshina’s ruins with every passing minute. “Hange,” he roared, scanning for her silhouette in the swirling dust. When he spotted the distinctive glint of Hange’s goggles, he called out, “Now might be a good time to let Armin know we need him!”

Hange landed beside Levi, breath ragged as they surveyed the countless landing crafts still disgorging troops. “Agreed,” they said, wiping sweat from their brow. “I’ll send a signal to Armin. But we have to time it so he doesn’t destroy half our own forces. We’re spread all over.”

Levi gritted his teeth. “Better half than all of us. Make it quick.”

Hange fired a bright green flare into the sky. Far off near the coastline, Armin spotted the signal, his eyes narrowing. His grip on the knife to cut himself steadied. He inhaled, preparing to let the colossal flames overtake him at the right moment. Not yet, he told himself. Another minute or two. He had to be sure the Allies’ next wave was in position, and that the lead squads from Paradis had retreated enough to avoid being vaporized by his transformation’s catastrophic heat.

Meanwhile, Mikasa and Connie launched themselves side by side through the scorched remains of a plaza near the gates, cutting down any Allied soldiers who slipped through the main line. Mikasa’s movements were almost otherworldly, a flurry of dark hair and sharpened steel. She severed limbs and shattered gear, ensuring that no soldier remained standing in her path. Connie provided support, using Inferno Blades that exploded on impact, setting entire squads ablaze. Screams of agony rippled through the Allied ranks.

In the midst of this mayhem, Sasha provided cover from a vantage point, picking off enemy officers and radio operators. Her arrows found hearts and necks with unerring accuracy, sowing confusion among the attackers. Any officer who tried to coordinate an assault found themselves shot to the ground within seconds, courtesy of Sasha’s lethal aim. Through the swirling dust, she glimpsed Eren’s titan grappling with a gigantic turreted vehicle. The thunder of steel crunching steel roared as Eren ripped it apart piece by piece.

Porco’s titan circled back to protect Reiner’s exposed flank when a wave of rocket-wielding soldiers advanced. “Porco, they’re on your nine o’clock!” a Jaegerist called from a battered rooftop. Porco whipped his titan around, lunging with razor-sharp jaws that snapped shut around the unfortunate soldiers. Screams cut short as the Jaw Titan crushed them. More rockets ignited upon the titan’s thick hide, forcing Porco to recoil and hiss in pain, but he pressed forward regardless.

Reiner, battered yet unyielding, roared as he barreled through a line of artillery. Explosions lit up the ground around his titan, chipping away at armor, but nothing could halt his onward march. “Don’t break,” he muttered to himself within his cockpit, recalling all the times he had let others down. “Not this time.”

“Reiner, watch your left!” Pieck’s voice warned from across the battlefield. She swiftly mounted an offensive, supporting Reiner by launching a volley of explosives from her Cart Titan’s rig. The blasts tore through an entire squad of Allied gunners who had been preparing to flank him. A wave of thick smoke and burning wreckage enveloped the area, but Reiner stood tall when it cleared, panting yet steadfast.

Eren, witnessing the Allies continue to come in droves, let loose a deafening roar. His mind was consumed by one singular objective: do not let them breach Shiganshina. He hurled a chunk of collapsed architecture at a cluster of Allied soldiers. They tried to scatter, but the debris crushed them in a cloud of stone and dust. Pools of blood seeped across the rubble.

Still, the Allied forces showed no sign of retreat. For each squad Paradis felled, another replaced it. For each artillery piece destroyed, two more rolled off a ship. The sea crashed violently against the beach, as though outraged at the carnage, yet it carried wave after wave of new enemies. Overhead, bombs began to drop from a pair of airships that had maneuvered into position. Levi spotted the glint of approaching ordnance and shouted, “Take cover!” A heartbeat later, bombs slammed into the southern portion of Shiganshina, turning entire streets into lakes of fire.

The blasts knocked many Jaegerists off their footing; some fell to their deaths from high walls. Others were buried under collapsing structures. Mikasa, clinging to a broken spire, coughed through the choking dust, searching desperately for Armin’s signal. If these bombs continued, they’d need the Colossal Titan’s intervention sooner rather than later. This was only the trump card.

Plus the Allies had yet to deploy their heaviest forces. And still no sign of Zeke. Eren’s suspicion had been correct: they would wait until the perfect moment to unleash pure titans. The entire battlefield braced for that possibility.

But then suddenly, an unsettling hush fell across the battlefield.

For a brief moment, there was only the low rumble of distant artillery and the uneven breathing of soldiers preparing for yet another clash. Then, seemingly from nowhere, came a new and unfamiliar sound—a droning hum that soared above the normal chaos of war.

Levi, perched atop a half-crumbled watchtower, lifted his gaze toward the horizon. Sunlight glinted off something moving in the sky. He narrowed his eyes, trying to discern the shapes. At first, it seemed like they might be small airships, but as they drew closer, the formation of twelve moved with unsettling speed. They flew in a tight triangle, their steel frames flashing in the early light.

Mikasa landed beside Levi, her maneuver gear hissing as she balanced effortlessly on a broken ledge. “Captain,” she said, her voice echoing faintly in the wind. “Do you see that? They aren’t airships… they’re too small.”

Porco suddenly went rigid. Reiner let out a low growl. Pieck’s Cart Titan peered around a shattered building, her voice carrying across the makeshift fortifications. “Airplanes,” Pieck murmured, her tone heavy. “They’re definitely airplanes.”

Jean, standing below Levi with a group of Jaegerists, raised his voice so everyone could hear. “Airpllanes? You mean some kind of flying boat?”

From her vantage point, Pieck tried to keep her composure, but her heart pounded. “Yes,” she called back. “They’re armed. Marley and other nations been experimenting with them for years. None of us expected they'd be fully operational so soon.”

A ripple of confusion spread through the Jaegerists. They’d prepared for monstrous warships and sweeping airships, but this was something else entirely—something swift and lethal, like a hawk diving for its prey.

Levi wasted no time. “Fire!” he commanded, pointing his blade toward the approaching machines. “Don’t let them get past us!”

In an instant, the Jaegerists sprang into action. They raised rifles, shot out thunder spears, and hurled Inferno Blades. Trails of smoke and sparks streaked through the sky, but the planes proved elusive, zigzagging with startling agility. One plane dipped low, the rotating barrel of its gun spitting out a relentless storm of bullets.

A horrific staccato of gunfire tore through the air.

Down below, half a dozen Jaegerists toppled in a flash, their bodies riddled with bullets. Others scrambled behind makeshift barricades, struggling to reload. The planes roared overhead, methodically thinning out Paradis’ defensive lines. The haunting echo of screams and the clang of metal against stone battered the senses of every soldier on the ground.

Eren, within the nape of his massive titan, felt rage boiling in his chest at the sight of his comrades falling so easily. Steam billowed around his titan’s shoulders as he swung an armored fist upward, but the planes bobbed and weaved above his reach, cutting back across the battlefield to unleash another barrage.

A pair of the flying machines turned toward Levi’s watchtower, unleashing a hail of bullets that shattered stone and sent debris raining down. Levi dove off the tower just in time, grappling to a safer rooftop with his maneuver gear. He landed in a crouch, adrenaline pounding in his ears. “Damn it,” he hissed, scanning for any opening. These planes were faster than anything he had ever encountered.

Mikasa, taking cover behind a fractured wall, saw a group of Jaegerists pinned down near a collapsed archway, bullets peppering their position. Gritting her teeth, she hooked onto a nearby spire and launched herself upward, hoping to get a shot at the plane’s underbelly. She fired an Inferno Blade in midair, but the plane darted off with a screech, leaving her projectile to explode harmlessly in the distance.

More Jaegerists screamed, ducking low as metallic shells rained down on them. Jean shouted at Connie and Sasha to help flank the next wave of incoming ground forces, though it was clear the real threat came from above. The swirling chaos grew more intense by the second.

Eren felt his fury spike to an unbearable pitch. He released a roar that shook the battlefield, a guttural cry that signaled one thing to the scattered defenders: Armin’s transformation. If they waited any longer, these planes would shred them all.

Armin stood amidst swirling dust. His heart hammered at the thought of using his Colossal Titan transformation here—so close to friendly troops—but he had no choice anymore. If he hesitated, the Global Allied Fleet would swarm them.

Armin clenched his fist around his ODM gear, inhaled sharply, then sliced his hand. Light blazed, painfully bright and hotter than the sun. Soldiers from both sides halted in horror or awe, and the planes veered sharply, trying to gain distance.

Then lightning struck and the Colossal Titan emerged, colossal in every sense of the word, filling the sky with a deafening roar. Armin’s transformation was like a nuclear detonation, sending out a wall of blistering heat. The oceanfront erupted in a plume of steam and flame, instantly vaporizing countless naval ships. The front line of the Global Allied Fleet disintegrated beneath the overwhelming blast.

A chorus of terrified cries echoed over the water. One plane flew too close to the inferno and its wings ignited, spiraling out of control until it crashed in a ball of fire. Four more planes were caught in the shockwave, their pilots losing control before slamming into ships or the choppy waves below.

For a moment, it looked like a miraculous triumph. The entire shore glowed red from the catastrophic heat Armin unleashed. Soldiers on Paradis let out ragged shouts of hope—maybe, just maybe, they had won.

But then Armin, peering from within the nape of his titan, froze. Through the dispersing steam, he spotted a second wave of vessels approaching. They were larger, more densely packed, and still heading at top speed. This was the real fleet, the one intended to strike after the Colossal Titan had blown its single, devastating attack. Armin’s massive form stood rigid, horror gripping him at how effectively Marley and its allies had predicted this move.

Levi swung over and perched on the gargantuan shoulder of the Colossal Titan, surveyed the distant ocean with a pained grimace. Another line of warships, easily double or triple the size of the first. “Son of a…” he breathed, tension radiating through every fiber of his body. “We took the bait.”

Below, Jean and Connie gaped at the sight. The battered remains of the initial fleet still burned, but now a fresh terror advanced, and the scattered remains of the planes in the sky had regrouped. Their mechanical hum rose again, and more bullets rained down, forcing the defenders into a desperate retreat behind broken walls.

Then came the parachutes.

Marleyan soldiers and their allies began descending by the dozens, darkening the sky with canopies. Gunshots crackled from all directions as these newcomers touched down, swiftly taking positions among the ruins of Shiganshina. Grenades exploded, thunder spears howled, and the pop-pop of rifles filled the air. The battle was no longer confined to the sea. It was everywhere.

Mikasa soared between collapsing rooftops, slicing at a cluster of disoriented enemy soldiers mid-air. Her blades reflected the dawn light in bright arcs. “Take them out before they land!” she shouted over her shoulder to the Jaegerists, who fired flares to signal their positions. Bullets zipped by, splintering the broken walls around her.

Hange, crouched behind a crumpled artillery piece, clenched her teeth. “These damned flying boats… we can’t fight them like normal airships. They’re too fast.” Her gaze lifted to the Colossal Titan’s massive silhouette. Steam was pouring off Armin in thick waves. She knew he needed time to cool down or the Colossal’s energy would leave him immobile. For a moment, she considered commanding Armin to keep pushing, but realized they still needed him for the final blow—whatever that might be.

As the new wave of enemy ships began shelling the coastline with large-caliber cannons, the entire battlefield trembled. Water erupted in geysers around the port, and one of the old watchtowers crumbled into the sea. Debris flew in every direction, peppering friend and foe alike with shards of stone and iron.

Eren’s titan let out another roar, deeper and more furious than before. He knew that if they didn’t find Zeke, the outcome here might not matter. Zeke’s scream had the potential to transform hidden Eldian soldiers among the Allied ranks into titans, turning the tide instantly.

But then Eren caught a glimpse of something overhead—one of those planes breaking formation, climbing higher, and veering off away from the battle. His stomach clenched when he recognized the path it was taking. It was headed inland, toward the heart of the island. Toward Capital Mitras.

Eren’s mind raced. Aurora was there. So was Historia. A wave of dread nearly overpowered him. He wanted nothing more than to break away, to chase that plane down, to ensure Aurora’s safety. But he steeled himself with a snarl, reminding himself that the only way to truly protect her was to finish this fight, to end the threat at its source.

Still, a nagging terror formed at the back of his mind. What if that plane had some hidden purpose? What if it carried a strike team meant to capture or harm Aurora in a more direct manner? He felt as though he was choking on panic, but he forced himself to stay the course. He roared again, signaling the Jaegerists to hold the line. This was no time to lose focus.

Porco bounded across broken rooftops, pouncing on clusters of enemy soldiers who’d managed to form a perimeter. He tore through them with razor-sharp claws. Even as bullets pinged off his hardened jaw, he pressed on, unwavering in his assault. Reiner took blows from anti-titan artillery, staggering backward but refusing to fall. He lobbed a piece of debris at a group of parachuting soldiers, knocking them out of the sky with brutal precision.

Pieck scurried along the base of the walls, providing covering fire from a mounted turret on her titan’s back. She called out status updates, directing the Jaegerists toward weak points in the Allied forces.

All around them, the battle raged with unimaginable intensity. Inferno Blades detonated in the midst of ground troops, their small explosive charges lighting the debris on fire and shredding armor. Thunder spears whizzed overhead, slamming into the hulls of landing crafts or the flanks of monstrous war machines the Allies had brought. An acrid smell of gunpowder, blood, and burning flesh filled the air.

Levi signaled to Hange from Armin’s shoulder, gesturing at the reinforcements flooding in. Hange responded with frantic hand signals: they would try to hold them off a bit longer but needed to conserve their thunder spears. The new wave of ships was still pressing forward. The advantage given by Armin’s initial strike was slipping away fast.

On the beach, Armin was forced to slow, the heat of his colossal form wavering. If he tried to push himself now, he risked collapsing altogether. The steam dissipated somewhat, revealing the devastation he had caused—scores of ships smoldering in the bay, a wide swath of shoreline reduced to blackened wreckage. Yet, the next formation of ships still advanced, brand-new muzzle flashes indicating they were already firing a new volley.

A thunderous series of explosions erupted along the coastline, showering the defenders with saltwater and twisted metal. Several Jaegerists were blown apart, their screams lost in the all-consuming din. Connie and Sasha, crouched behind broken crates, exchanged desperate glances as they witnessed the second fleet opening fire. Jean fired a flare gun overhead, though it seemed there was little left to coordinate—everything was madness, swirling into disaster.

Eren’s titan lunged forward, swinging a hardened fist that smashed one of the newly landed Allies’ tanks into scrap. He let out a savage roar, searching the battlefield for any sign of Zeke. Not a single glimpse. The Beast Titan was nowhere to be seen. Eren’s mind raced with the grim understanding that they were up against an enemy who had planned for every contingency.

Still, there was no time to dwell on strategy. Another wave of bullets from the sky hammered the streets, the planes swooping in to strafe the positions of the scouts. Mikasa dashed behind a wall, her breath ragged. One of the planes roared low overhead, threatening to clip her if she moved too soon. Her fingers gripped the hilt of her blade tightly, anger surging through her. This was a new kind of war, one she hadn’t trained for.

Levi, still near Armin’s shoulder, peered across the horizon. He spotted the plane that had broken off, climbing steadily higher, skimming the edges of the battlefield. Something deep in his gut told him that plane spelled doom for someone. But he was powerless to do anything about it. He ground his teeth, fury fueling his every thought. “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath. “I’ve got to find Zeke. This is wasting time.”

Armin turned his colossal head slightly, as if sensing Levi’s agitation. But there was little he could do. If Armin tried to chase that plane, it would be a colossal target—too slow to catch anything that moved so fast, too drained to pull off another transformation. He remained still, steam pouring from cracks in his titan’s vast frame, grimly scanning the scene for any way to help.

Below, the ground quaked as Porco tore into a squad of Allied soldiers, but several more took his titan’s legs out with heavy artillery. He let out a roar, staggering to keep balance. Reiner shielded Porco’s titan with his own armored body, bullets ricocheting off reinforced plates. Both shifters locked eyes for a moment in shared desperation, each understanding how close they were to defeat if these attacks continued.

Pieck scuttled around the far side of the battlefield, a swarm of bullets pinging off her Cart Titan. She focused on giving covering fire to the Jaegerists, but the difference in technology overwhelmed them. Several squads retreated deeper into Shiganshina, trying to lure the Allied soldiers away from the coastline and into narrow streets where close-quarters combat gave the scouts a better chance.

It was a small relief but hardly enough.

And all the while, Eren’s glare kept drifting toward that single plane that had changed course. It gained altitude, streaking away from the chaos of the harbor. Even as he fought off wave after wave of enemy soldiers on the ground, even as he smashed through an Allied tank that had slipped past the perimeter, his every thought lingered on that rogue aircraft headed inland.

Capital Mitras. Aurora. A spark of terror ignited in him, sharper and colder than the fury of the battlefield. He slammed another fist into the ground, sending debris into the air, roaring like an animal caught in a trap. He wanted to break away, to chase after that plane with every fiber of his being, but the unstoppable flood of soldiers and war machines tied him down. There was no way to abandon this front—no way to protect Aurora if he lost the fight right here.

Steam poured from his titan’s mouth as he released a howl of frustration.

Somewhere behind him, Levi and Mikasa regrouped, each breathing heavily as they reloaded Inferno Blades. Hange caught up to them, panting, her hair singed by the earlier blasts. They exchanged quick glances.

“More warships are docking on the eastern shore,” Levi muttered through clenched teeth. “We have to hold them off.”

Mikasa glanced toward Eren’s titan, seeing the distress in his every movement. She suspected what tormented him. “We can’t go after that plane,” she said softly. “We just have to trust the Jaegerists that are guarding Mitras.”

Hange swallowed, her eyes flicking to Eren. “Focus,” she insisted, gripping her blade. “We hold Shiganshina. If we fail here, there won’t be a home left for them to return to.”

All around them, the battle continued to escalate. The second fleet, unscathed by Armin’s initial blast, began a relentless artillery bombardment, their shells whistling across the water. Anti-titan projectiles hammered the walls of Shiganshina. The jagged remains of buildings collapsed under the relentless pounding, sending clouds of dust and sparks skyward.

Jean and Connie led a squad of Jaegerists in an attempt to flank the newly arrived infantry, but they were forced to take cover as yet another pass from the warplanes shredded their formation. Sasha and a few marksmen tried to snipe the planes from a distance, but their bullets were too weak against the reinforced hulls of the flying machines.

Through it all, Eren raged, scanning desperately for any sign of Zeke. But the Beast Titan didn’t appear. Armin loomed in the distance, a silent sentinel unable to move swiftly enough without risking his colossal form’s collapse. Pieck, Porco, and Reiner scrambled to keep the front line from disintegrating entirely.

As the sun rose higher, the world drowned in explosions and blood. The Allied forces advanced in a flood of brutality, determined to eradicate the devils of Paradis once and for all. Yet, the defenders of Shiganshina refused to surrender an inch.

Eren’s gaze flickered again to the plane vanishing into the horizon, fear and rage tangled in his heart. Aurora was out there, vulnerable, trusting in him to protect her. And he was trapped in a maelstrom of steel, fire, and death, powerless to stop the danger coming for her.

Still, he pressed on, teeth clenched behind his titan’s snarling mask. Whatever it took, he would end this battle. He would destroy the Allied forces. He would find Zeke, make contact, and unleash the Founding Titan’s power. It was the only way to ensure Aurora’s safety—and the future he had promised her.

His heart pounded with a savage mix of devotion and despair, and he roared into the sky, the sound echoing over the flaming wreckage and the thundering cannons.

The fate of Paradis—and the life of the woman he loved—hung in the balance, perched on the knife’s edge of a war that showed no mercy.

…

The low hum of the plane’s propeller underscored every uneasy breath Gabi took. She sat near one of the small windows, eyes trained on the horizon that stretched before them, a hazy line separating the rolling sea from the sky. The engine’s vibrations coursed through the metal floor, and each tremor prickled at her nerves. Her rifle lay across her lap, an ever-present reminder of her mission. She had never been in a plane before, never expected to be airborne. The entire experience felt unnatural, yet her resolve outweighed any discomfort she felt.

Falco was strapped into the seat beside her. He kept glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, his face tight with anxiety. He held his own weapon, though his hands often shook as he cradled it. Occasionally, he would clear his throat, as if wanting to speak, but the oppressive tension silenced him. The interior of the plane was cramped, the walls lined with strapped-down cargo and extra ammunition. The other soldiers aboard, seasoned Marleyan operatives, remained focused on the flight controls and on small technical adjustments to ensure they reached their destination safely.

The plane hit a patch of turbulence, causing Gabi to grip her seat and grit her teeth. Her heart thudded in her chest. She wasn’t afraid of heights or even the possibility of crashing; she was consumed by her hatred for the island devils that waited below. That hatred, fierce and uncompromising, fueled every fiber of her being. She had lost so much—her friends, her home, the life she once knew. Eren Jaeger had torn it all away, and Aurora Jaeger, in her eyes, had stood by him in silent approval.

Falco swallowed hard, casting a sideways glance at Gabi. “Are you alright?” he asked softly. His voice was gentle, almost hesitant. He felt it was better to break the silence than let the tension crush them both.

Gabi let out a bitter exhale. “I’m fine,” she snapped, though her voice quavered. She hated the shaky edge she detected in her own words. “We’re almost there. At least, that’s what they said.”

Falco’s gaze drifted down to his boots. “Gabi,” he said after a moment, “I… I don’t like this plan.” His words trembled with sincerity, and he steeled himself for her reaction. “Kidnapping a pregnant woman—kidnapping anyone—it feels wrong.”

She stiffened, glaring at him as though he were a naive child. “We’re not in the business of liking or disliking the plan,” she retorted. “We do what Commander Magath ordered. That’s our duty.”

Falco frowned. “But Aurora—”

Gabi shook her head, frustration boiling inside her. “She isn’t some innocent bystander! She’s complicit. She knew Eren Jaeger was going to attack Liberio, and she did nothing. She married him, she’s carrying his child. That baby is just another devil waiting to be born.”

Falco winced at the venom in her voice. He remembered the ruin that had befallen Liberio, the screams and terror as the Attack Titan rampaged through the streets. Yet, part of him still believed not everyone on that island was guilty of such horror. “Still,” he murmured, “is it really right to call a baby a devil?”

She didn’t answer at first. Her shoulders hunched with pent-up emotion, and she let out a ragged breath. “It’s war,” she finally said. “Nothing is right or fair.” She glared at her reflection in the scratched window, noting the fleeting shape of the coastline in the distance. “We do what we must.”

The pilot’s voice crackled through a small speaker. He announced that they would reach the oenter of Paradis, where the presume to capital to be, in less than half an hour. Gabi’s stomach twisted with anticipation, a swirl of dread and ferocious determination. Magath had made it clear: they needed to snatch either Aurora Jaeger or Queen Historia Reiss. Both were of royal blood, a fact that made them invaluable to Marley’s ambitions. If forced to choose, Gabi knew Aurora was the priority—especially given the rumors that Zeke was strangely wary of her. That alone spoke volumes.

Falco pursed his lips, staring at the seat in front of him. “Do you think we’ll succeed where Porco and the others failed?” he asked softly.

“Porco, Reiner, and Pieck are traitors now,” Gabi hissed. “They had their shot to kill Eren Jaeger and they blew it. We won’t.”

He didn’t respond. Instead, he gazed at the small cargo hold where parachutes and gear were stored. They were just kids, yet here they were, on a top-secret mission that put them in the direct line of fire. His heart hammered at the thought, but he nodded to himself. They had no choice but to follow orders.

Outside, the plane dove beneath a bank of clouds, revealing the island’s interior. From above, Paradis seemed quiet, almost peaceful—far more tranquil than the storm of violence raging at Shiganshina’s shores. Rolling hills, thick forests, and farmland stretched as far as the eye could see, culminating in the distant sparkle of a sprawling city: Mitras.

Gabi’s pulse quickened at the sight. “There it is,” she muttered, voice tinged with grim resolve. “That’s where that woman is hiding.” She patted her rifle, ignoring the surge of guilt that Falco’s downcast eyes stirred in her. “We’re not leaving empty-handed.”

Falco’s grip tightened on his own weapon. He said nothing. He wished, more than anything, that this war would end. But here he was, about to plunge deeper into the conflict.

The pilot angled the plane toward a wooded area outside Mitras. Their objective was clear: land discreetly, slip into the city, and locate Aurora and Historia. The plane’s engine shifted to a lower pitch as the pilot aimed for a rough clearing, hoping to avoid detection. Gabi felt her stomach lurch as the plane descended, bouncing roughly on the uneven ground.

Her heart pounded at the sudden jolt, but her sense of mission overrode the fear. The door slid open, flooding them with fresh air. Soldiers poured out first, scouting the perimeter. Gabi and Falco followed, squinting against the morning sunlight. The pilot immediately began prepping the plane for a quick getaway. In the hush of the forest, birds scattered, startled by the intrusion.

One Marleyan officer nodded at Gabi, handing her a map with the city’s layout they gathered from their intelligence. “We’ll stay hidden here. Your mission is infiltration.” He pointed at Falco. “Both of you, remember—Commander Magath wants Aurora Jaeger above all else. Secure Queen Historia if possible, but Jaeger is your priority. Understood?”

Gabi clenched her jaw, nodding. “Yes, sir.”

Falco mumbled a quiet acknowledgment, though his stomach churned with apprehension.

With that, the two parted from the soldiers. They navigated through thick foliage, heading toward the city’s outskirts. Every step took them closer to the capital. Neither spoke, the weight of the mission an invisible chain drawing them forward.

Meanwhile, in the palace at Mitras, Aurora lay on a plush bed in the grand guest suite. She clutched at her abdomen, her face pale. War and tragedy swirled in her mind, but none of that compared to the immediate worry that gnawed at her. She was experiencing intense cramps, and the possibility of going into labor so soon terrified her. The doctor hovered close, checking her pulse and temperature, murmuring reassuring words that felt hollow in the echoing corridors of her mind.

Historia sat near the edge of the bed, stroking Aurora’s platinum-blonde hair gently. “You’ll be alright,” she whispered, though her own anxiety was evident in the tremor of her voice. “Try to breathe. Relax. The stress can’t be helping.”

Aurora swallowed hard. “I know,” she managed, blinking back tears. “I’m just so worried. Eren is out there, and everything is on the line. He’s fighting for our home, for me and the baby. I can’t do anything but wait.”

Historia’s gaze flickered with her own brand of grief. “Porco is out there too. Along with all our friends.” She took Aurora’s hand and squeezed it. “I feel so useless.”

From the ornate windows, sunlight streamed in, illuminating the room’s regal décor. Silk drapes, polished floors, and the faint scent of fresh lilies might have offered a sense of peace if not for the knowledge that a massive battle raged on the far side of the island. Instead, it all felt like a veneer of safety, a fragile illusion that could shatter at any moment.

One of the Jaegerists guarding the hall outside poked his head in. “Everything alright, Your Majesty?” he asked Historia politely, though his eyes flicked with concern toward Aurora. “Any new developments with her condition?”

Historia shook her head, forcing a thin smile. “She’s stable for now. We’ll call you if anything changes.”

The guard nodded, stepping back out. The thick door closed, leaving a heavy silence behind. Aurora shut her eyes, trying to ignore the rolling discomfort in her abdomen. Her mind wandered to memories of Eren’s face, the warmth of his arms, and the steadfast promise he had made to protect her. She whispered a silent plea: please be safe, please come back.

Historia brushed Aurora’s hair out of her eyes. “He’ll come back,” she said softly, as if reading Aurora’s thoughts. “He promised.”

Aurora nodded, tears glistening. “He has to. This war has taken so much from us already.”

Outside the suite, the corridors of the palace were strangely quiet. The squads of Jaegerists patrolled in shifts, their rifles ready. The tension was palpable even here—everyone knew that if Marley broke through Shiganshina, if their forces found a way around, this palace would be the next target. But no one anticipated an infiltration by plane. Not in Mitras, so far from the primary battle lines.

In a shadowy alley on the city’s outskirts, Gabi and Falco crouched behind crates, scanning the guard rotations. The capital had once been bustling, but now, with so many civilians evacuated underground in anticipation of the war, the streets felt eerily empty. That made their infiltration both easier and more treacherous. Fewer people to blend in with, but also fewer prying eyes to raise an alarm.

Falco glanced at the stone architecture, awe mingling with dread. “This place is huge,” he whispered. “Any idea where the palace is?”

Gabi held up the small map the Marleyan officer had given her. “It’s the largest structure near the center, heavily guarded. We get inside, find Aurora, and get out.” She looked him dead in the eye, her voice hardened by her mission. “No mistakes.”

He nodded, though his face betrayed how uneasy he felt. “Alright.”

They moved through deserted streets and quiet squares, staying out of sight whenever possible. Occasionally, they spotted a few armed Jaegerists in the distance, patrolling. Gabi found her hatred boiling up again, her grip on her rifle tightening. She could almost see Eren’s face superimposed on them—a reminder of the devils who had ravaged her home. Meanwhile, Falco’s eyes darted from shadow to shadow, always cautious, always searching for a hidden threat.

At one point, Gabi paused, pressing her back against a brick wall. She peered around the corner and spotted a pair of Jaegerists blocking a wide street that led toward the palace gates. “We need a distraction,” she muttered, scanning their surroundings.

Falco chewed his lip. “Maybe we can slip around them. I see some stairs leading down that side alley.”

She followed his gaze. Indeed, there was a narrow passage between two tall buildings that might let them skirt around the main thoroughfare. The only question was whether there were more guards stationed in that direction. Still, they didn’t have many options. “Okay, let’s try it,” Gabi agreed. “Stay low.”

He nodded. Together, they inched along the alley, footsteps silent on the cobblestones. The city’s grand architecture loomed overhead—tall spires, elegant balconies, and thick walls originally built to withstand titans. They advanced carefully, hearts pounding, each swirl of wind or clank of distant armor setting them on edge.

Meanwhile, in the palace suite, Aurora’s pains had eased slightly, but a dull ache persisted. She sat up with some effort, leaning against a headboard embroidered with royal crests. The doctor hovered, checking her pulse again. “Try to stay calm. Breathe deeply. Your baby isn’t quite ready, but your body is under immense stress.” He offered a comforting smile.

Historia perched on the side of the bed, offering Aurora a cup of water. “Drink,” she urged. “You need to stay hydrated.”

Aurora sipped, forcing down the lump in her throat. “I hate waiting,” she whispered. “I hate feeling powerless.”

Historia pressed her lips into a thin line. “I understand. But Eren and everyone else are counting on us to stay safe. We can’t help them if something happens to us here.”

The two women exchanged a solemn look. Their fates intertwined, both holding royal blood, both bearing responsibilities that weighed heavily on their shoulders. Historia was queen, Aurora was carrying a child who might shape the future in ways neither fully grasped. They drew strength from each other’s presence, even in the face of mounting dread.

Outside the room, footsteps echoed in the hall—a quick, light tread. The Jaegerist guard stationed at the door stiffened, raising a hand in caution. Another guard approached, quietly relaying some updated instructions about perimeter checks. Even though no immediate threat was expected, they refused to be lax. The capital was a fortress of sorts, but all it took was one breach.

Gabi and Falco pressed themselves flat against a stone wall, hearts pounding so loudly they feared the guards might hear. They had managed to slip around the main gates, finding a small side entrance presumably used for deliveries or discreet visitors. A single guard stood there, half attentive, occasionally glancing around.

Falco’s breath caught in his throat. “Gabi,” he whispered shakily. “We can’t just shoot him.”

Her eyes hardened. “We have to get in. We have a mission.” Yet, something twisted inside her at the thought of killing another person in cold blood, even if it was for the sake of her homeland. The memory of how quickly she had once pulled the trigger filled her mind, and she shook her head as if to banish it.

But then they spotted a chance—two more guards called out to the lone sentry, pulling him away. Gabi took the moment to dart forward, beckoning Falco to follow. They slipped past the doorway, creeping down a narrow corridor that led inside the palace’s outer structure.

The corridor was dimly lit by torches set in metal sconces. The marble floors had a faint shine, and tall windows were draped in thick curtains. Gabi led, gun at the ready, Falco close behind, praying they wouldn’t stumble upon more soldiers. Each step echoed in their ears like thunder. They navigated winding hallways, searching for signs of a platinum-haired, blue-eyed woman. Their plan was to find someone who might lead them to the suite.

In the upper levels of the palace, Aurora tried to rest again, but sleep wouldn’t come. She felt the back of her neck prickle, as if some invisible force loomed nearby. A sense of foreboding washed over her. With a shaky breath, she forced a small smile at Historia, who was polishing a rifle the Jaegerists had left behind.

“Thank you for staying with me,” Aurora murmured, placing a hand over her belly. The baby stirred slightly, a reminder of how real this all was.

Historia nodded. “Of course. I’m in no mood to be alone right now.” She let out a weak chuckle, but her eyes remained clouded with worry.

Just then, a commotion sounded from somewhere below—subtle, but distinct enough to draw the attention of the two guards stationed at the end of the corridor outside the suite. One guard stepped away to investigate, leaving the other to keep watch.

Aurora’s heart picked up speed. “What was that?” she asked, voice tight.

Historia shook her head. “I don’t know. Could just be the soldiers reshuffling their posts or checking on something. Try not to worry.”

But Aurora couldn’t help it. Her hand hovered protectively over her abdomen. Something felt off.

In the silent halls below, Gabi and Falco crouched behind a pillar, having nearly collided with a pair of guards rounding a corner. The guards chatted in hushed tones about the latest directives from Levi. Gabi pressed her back against the stone, praying they wouldn’t be discovered.

To her relief, the guards soon turned the opposite direction. She let out the breath she’d been holding. “We need to move faster,” she whispered to Falco. “We’ve lingered too long.”

He nodded. “Do you have any idea where we’re going?”

She lifted her map, though it wasn’t entirely accurate. “The top floor. The largest suite. That has to be where they’re keeping them.”

Falco’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. “If we can’t do this discreetly, we could be killed.”

Gabi steadied herself. “We’ll adapt. If we fail, we lose more than our lives. We fail Marley, and everything we’ve fought for. Remember Liberio, Falco. Remember the families we lost. Udo. Zofia.”

He closed his eyes, recalling the nightmarish scenes. Then he opened them, jaw set. “Let’s go.”

They ascended a spiral staircase, footsteps so light they barely made a sound. Distantly, a door opened. A scuffle of boots and a voice calling instructions reverberated through the corridor. The children flattened themselves against a wide statue, hearts pounding, waiting until the footsteps faded.

Eventually, they reached a long hallway adorned with lavish paintings and ornate doors. Gabi’s gaze danced from one door to the next, searching for any sign of the two women. The tension in the air was suffocating, each second ticking by with excruciating slowness.

Above them, in the suite, Aurora gripped Historia’s hand. The doctor had quietly reentered, checking Aurora’s symptoms again. “Still irregular,” he murmured. “Try to remain calm.” Aurora nodded, though her anxiety was through the roof.

Historia studied Aurora’s face. “Do you need anything? Another pillow? Some water?”

Aurora shook her head. “No, I’m just… on edge.” She exhaled shakily. “I can’t help the feeling something bad is happening.”

Historia forced a small smile. “We’re safe here. Four squads of Jaegerists are guarding the palace. If there’s any trouble, they’ll handle it.”

Neither woman realized how close that trouble was.

Moments later, Gabi and Falco spotted two Jaegerists posted outside a grand double door at the end of the hall. The door was carved with intricate designs, golden trim shimmering in the torchlight. That had to be it. Gabi nodded to Falco, then gestured for him to circle around. They quietly approached from opposite sides, steeling themselves for a confrontation they weren’t certain they could win.

Their plan was simple: take down the guards before an alarm could be raised. Falco’s hands trembled. He didn’t want to kill them. He hoped they could incapacitate them somehow. But Gabi’s expression was grim, unwavering in her determination.

As they prepared to strike, the guard who had left earlier returned, leaving a single soldier by the door. Gabi locked eyes with Falco, an unspoken question in her gaze. He gave a slight nod. They had to act now.

They lunged forward, Gabi smashing the butt of her rifle into the guard’s temple. Falco grabbed the second guard’s weapon, wrestling it away. The guard struggled, but Falco managed to trip him, pressing his muzzle against the man’s chest. A single shot rang out, echoing down the corridor. Gabi’s heart pounded. The bullet lodged itself in the stone floor as the guard jerked aside, but the noise was enough to raise an alarm if anyone was close by.

They had no time to lose. Gabi shoved the door open, gun in hand, Falco right behind her. Inside, Aurora startled so violently that she nearly cried out. Historia leaped up, reaching for a rifle of her own, but her shock at seeing two children was evident.

Gabi’s gaze zeroed in on Aurora’s swollen abdomen. Anger and adrenaline fueled her every breath. She barked, “Don’t move!”

Falco stood at her side, lips parted in horror. The scene felt surreal: Aurora Jaeger, pregnant and pale, clutching the sheets, and Queen Historia Reiss, just as startled, eyes darting between these strangers.

Historia’s weapon trembled in her grasp. “How did you—”

“We’re taking her,” Gabi snarled, jerking her head at Aurora. “And if you resist, we’ll do whatever it takes to finish this.”

Aurora’s heart hammered against her ribs. Painful cramps flared, her entire body tensing. Historia bit her lip, trying to remain calm. “She’s pregnant,” she said, desperation creeping into her tone. “She can’t travel. You’ll harm her—”

“She should have thought of that before spreading her legs for the devil,” Gabi spat. She advanced, rifled aimed at Aurora. “Now get up. We’re leaving.”

Falco swallowed, seeing Aurora’s fear. She was trembling, holding her stomach in obvious pain. Something about it made him hesitate, but Gabi’s rage overshadowed any second thoughts. He could almost see her finger tighten on the trigger if Aurora refused.

Historia, her own rifle in hand, stepped forward defensively, eyes flashing. “I won’t let you take her.”

Gabi glared at her. “If you try to stop us, I’ll shoot.”

For a moment, no one moved. Aurora felt tears sting her eyes. She thought of Eren, of the war he was fighting, of how powerless she felt here. Another cramp tore through her, forcing a small whimper from her lips. Gabi’s gaze flicked to her, a mixture of fury and uncertainty crossing her face.

The door behind them rattled—someone outside must have heard the earlier commotion. Falco tensed, turning his head. “We need to move, Gabi,” he urged quietly. “They’ll be here any second.”

Gabi pushed aside the swirl of guilt in her chest and set her jaw. She advanced on Aurora, gun raised. “We’re leaving. Now,” she demanded.

Aurora’s breath hitched. She tried to stand, but her body trembled with the strain of her possible labor. Historia angled her rifle, but Gabi jerked her own weapon toward the queen, forcing Historia to freeze.

“I said no tricks!” Gabi shouted.

At that instant, the door burst open. The second Jaegerist guard, battered and furious, lunged in with a shot fired blindly. Falco yelped and shoved Gabi aside to avoid the bullet. The shot ricocheted off the marble floor, and Gabi whirled around, returning fire. The guard slumped with a grunt, dropping his rifle, but the noise was now deafening. Surely more would arrive soon.

“Enough!” Gabi hissed, turning back to Aurora. “Get up, or I’ll drag you out.”

Historia, trembling, tried once more to raise her weapon. But Gabi swung her rifle butt, striking Historia’s arm. The queen cried out, dropping the gun. Aurora gasped, feeling tears trickle down her cheeks. She attempted to push herself off the bed, but another contraction seized her, leaving her panting with anguish.

Falco glanced between Aurora and Gabi, horror evident on his face. “She can barely walk,” he pleaded in a shaken voice. “How can we—”

“Shut up!” Gabi snapped, though her own voice wavered. She grabbed Aurora’s wrist, pulling her to her feet. Aurora staggered, breathing raggedly. Desperation clouded her eyes as she leaned on Gabi for support, a surreal alliance formed out of pure intimidation. Historia watched helplessly, clutching her throbbing arm.

Bootsteps pounded in the hallway. More Jaegerists were coming. Gabi’s gaze darted around the opulent room, searching for any exit besides the main door. A large window glinted with sunlight, but it looked like a dangerous drop to the courtyard below.

Falco clenched his jaw. “Gabi, we can’t—” He couldn’t finish. Gabi’s glare silenced him.

In the tumult, Aurora let out a strangled cry, another wave of pain coursing through her. She steadied herself against the bed, eyes wide and tearful. “You don’t have to do this,” she whispered desperately. “I never wanted—”

Gabi cut her off, voice cold. “Save it. You married the devil. Now you pay the price.”

Falco moved toward the window, drawing back the thick curtains to reveal a drop that made his heart plummet. “This is insane,” he muttered, glancing back at Gabi. “How are we—”

An explosive bang rocked the corridor door. The Jaegerists were already forcing their way in. Gabi and Falco exchanged a frantic look. Aurora trembled, leaning heavily on Gabi. Historia clutched her injured arm, tears of frustration gleaming in her eyes as she watched the scene unravel.

“Let’s go,” Gabi hissed, her voice strained. She guided Aurora toward the window as Falco swung it open. The courtyard below was two stories down, a dizzying drop. Faint shouts from below indicated that more soldiers patrolled outside. But it was the only way out.

Footsteps thundered behind the locked door. Someone slammed against it, splintering the wood. Gabi gave Falco a nod, then looked at Aurora, her gaze fierce. “Hold on,” she snapped.

Barely able to think through the haze of pain, Aurora complied, too terrified and weak to argue. In the next instant, Falco slid over the windowsill, dropping onto a narrow ledge. Gabi shoved Aurora after him, the pregnant woman letting out a choked sob as she gripped the stone to avoid tumbling.

They balanced precariously, hearts hammering. Historia lunged for them, ignoring her own injury, but Gabi kicked the window closed with a resounding thud, blocking her path. The door finally cracked behind them, allowing Jaegerists to rush in. Historia’s shout of alarm was drowned out by the splintering wood and the clash of boots as the soldiers arrived too late.

Outside, clinging to the palace’s ledge, Falco and Gabi helped Aurora inch along, tears streaming down her face, each movement a new wave of agony. The courtyard below swarmed with Jaegerists, but none had noticed them yet, their attention fixed on the commotion inside. Gabi signaled Falco to drop first, and with a controlled slide, he landed in a flower bed. Gabi followed, then turned to catch Aurora.

Aurora let out a shaky breath and, with no other choice, eased herself off the ledge. Falco and Gabi both tried to break her fall. They half-caught, half-dropped her onto the grass, Aurora stifling a scream as her body jolted with pain. The smell of crushed flowers and soil surrounded them.

“Move!” Gabi growled, hooking an arm under Aurora’s shoulders. The pounding footsteps and raised voices inside the palace echoed through the open window. They had only seconds to vanish into the maze of garden walls and hedges.

Falco led the way, scanning for a clear path. Every step Aurora took was an ordeal, her tears mixing with sweat, but fear drove her forward. Gabi’s heart thundered with a toxic mix of determination and dread. Her mission was almost successful—she had Aurora in her grasp. But the horrifying possibility of failure loomed, and Falco’s anxious glances kept gnawing at her conscience.

As they slipped deeper into the royal gardens, soldiers raced around the palace perimeter, alerted by the uproar. The garden’s thick hedges and winding paths offered fleeting cover. They could hear Historia yelling from the suite above, heard the barked orders of Jaegerists mobilizing. But for a brief, terrifying moment, Gabi, Falco, and Aurora were alone, caught in a swirl of confusion and pain, forging a twisted alliance that none had truly wanted.

Aurora whimpered softly, her cramping intensifying. She felt the child stirring, her body nearing its limit. Gabi grit her teeth, forcing aside her conflicted emotions as Falco motioned for them to slip behind a tall hedge.

Somewhere in the distance, an explosion thundered, a grim reminder that war raged on two fronts—Shiganshina and now here, in the heart of Mitras.

The fate of Aurora and her unborn child now lay in the hands of these two warrior candidates from Marley, each of whom wrestled with guilt and desperation. The dreadful hush of the garden closed in on them as they vanished from sight, the palace behind them erupting into shouts and frantic searches for the missing queen and the pregnant woman who had just been torn from the safety of her guards.

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