Unwanted Power: An Armin Arlert Love Story

16. The Female Titan

Lexie was quick to reach the forest. She knew where the weapons were set, so she left her horse tied to a tree next to Commander Erwin's and used her gear to climb the trees and meet with him.

"It came from the right wing. Female, blonde hair, no skin, 15 meters." She informed. Erwin and Hange nodded and continued setting up the weapons her father had designed for them. "We believe she figured out where Eren was in the formation"

"We?" Erwin asked. Lexie was surprised he picked up on that and cringed a little.

"Some fellow cadets of the 104th, sir. One of them is the smartest, he figured it out himself." She explained quickly. Erwin nodded.

"Levi's squad will guide her here." Erwin assured.

"I can smell her, she is close." Mike said.

Then they heard the sonic gun Levi had to fire. They got ready. Finally, the female titan was where expected.

"Fire!" Erwin ordered.

All the guns fired fast, latching to the female titan's body. Still, she managed to protect her nape with her hands. Soon, captain Levi joined Erwin and Lexie too.

"Looks like it's immobilized." Levi said.

"We can't let our guard down yet. At any rate, good work guiding it to this point." Erwin said.

"We were able to buy time thanks to the rear squad that gave their lives fighting. Without them, it wouldn't have been possible." Levi said, making sure to give the necessary credit to their fallen comrades.

"The right flank too, they all gave their life so we could reduce the number of suspects." Lexie added.

"Thanks to them, we can meet the one in this thing's nape. I just hope they're not pissing themselves inside."

Levi stepped ahead and drew a blade, preparing to attack the tian, but Erwin stopped him.

"Levi, wait." Erwin called. "Waves 2 and 3, fire!"

The titan was then better restrained. Levi and Mike kept trying to get the person on the nape out, but she kept crystalizing her hands.

"Prepare the explosives. Blow off his hands." Erwin ordered.

"Wait." Lexie stopped him. "Aim at her wrists. The hands will fall without damaging whoever is inside." she told Erwin. He nodded.

"You heard her. Aim for the wrists. At my signal."

Levi was on the titan's head, venting his frustrations and taunting her. Lexie looked at her intently. She looked... familiar. Suddenly, she roared, freezing everyone for a second.

"What the hell was that?" Lexie asked to no one in particular.

"Erwin, it stinks." Mike said.

"What direction?" Erwin asked.

"Multiple sources. From all directions at once."

"She called them." Lexie guessed. "That must be how she called the ones that attacked the right flanks."

"Ready the explosives!" Erwin tried to rush the operation.

"The first wave is coming, from the east." Mike said.

"Cart guard team, intercept." Erwin ordered.

They did. They tried. But the titans ignored them completely. A smaller one latched into the titan's leg and started eating her.

"They're... eating her." Lexie said.

"Everyone, engage, defend the female titan!" Erwin ordered. Lexie took a step, but he put an arm in front of her. "Not you." Lexie knew better than to argue in a time like that. Instead, she watched.