UNDER HEAVY CONSTRUCTION [BOOK 1] the daughter of a dying bloodline and humanity's strongest soldier find themselves entangled in a web of emotions they never expected to feel. but as the relentless fight towards freedom continues, they wonder if th...
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note: second half of chapter is really just a recap of what happens in the anime, for those readers who need a refresher
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Levi sat on the edge of a wagon, cradling a cup of tea in his calloused hands as he watched the Scouts pack up their supplies. They had set out from Trost on their expedition to reclaim Wall Maria that morning, earning a heartfelt farewell from the citizens. Little rest was taken, if any, but Erwin allowed them to pause for a quick dinner, before continuing on into the night. With any luck, they would make it to Shiganshina by morning.
Levi couldn't help but notice the unease that lingered in the air. The Scouts were nowhere near as strong as they once were, their ranks depleted and their morale shaken.
He could see it in the faces of the new recruits—the fear, the uncertainty that infiltrated the camp. They were untested, inexperienced, and ill-prepared for the trials that awaited them in Shiganshina.
Levi silently scoffed, his grip tightening around the cup in his hands. What was Erwin thinking? They were nowhere near ready for such a mission. Levi knew the odds were stacked against them, that they were marching toward almost certain death. Most of these kids would be dead by tomorrow night.
Levi's gaze remained fixed on the swirling depths of his tea, lost in a sea of thoughts. You crossed his mind, as you often did in these brief moments of reflection. It had been a while since he'd seen you, and the ache of your absence weighed heavily on his heart.
The sound of Erwin's voice cut through the silence, pulling Levi from his reverie. He stood beside Levi, his arm hanging by his side while his other sleeve blew gently in the warm evening wind.
"Adeline again?" Erwin's question hung in the air.
Levi offered no response, but the truth was already clear between them. Erwin understood all too well the hold you had over Levi's heart.
"Keep her from your mind, Levi," Erwin urged, his tone tinged with a hint of concern. "We have a mission to focus on, and distractions will only hinder our progress."
Levi knew he should heed his commander's advice, to leave you in the past where you belonged. But bitterness welled within him, a bitter resentment born from the memory of you.
You hadn't even said goodbye, hadn't offered him so much as a farewell. In fact, you had stopped writing to him altogether. You had simply vanished without an explanation, leaving Levi to wrestle with the thought of what could have been. It hardened Levi further, forcing him to grow cold again. He couldn't forgive himself for getting swept away in your encouraging words.
For now, he would bury his feelings deep within, focusing on the task at hand. But the gaping hole of your absence remained, a constant reminder of the void you had left in him.
Deep down, he silently hoped that you would come back to him and tell him it was all just a joke. But that hope was fading rather quickly now.
Erwin's gaze lingered on Levi for a moment longer, an action that Levi chose to ignore as he turned his attention back to the assembled Scouts. With a decisive nod, Erwin announced to the group that it was time to move out.
"We'll be traveling through the forest on foot," Erwin declared, "The cover of night provided by the new moon should give us an advantage. Stay alert, and be prepared for anything."
Levi kept his expression unreadable as he emptied the remnants of his tea onto the ground. He made himself ready, adjusting his gear and ensuring that his blades were sharp and his gas tanks full.
His mind lingered on you for a fleeting moment, but with a firm shake of his head, he pushed the thoughts aside, banishing you to the recesses of his mind.
There was no room for distractions, no time to dwell on it. The mission demanded his full attention, and Levi was determined to see it through to the end.
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The arrival at Shiganshina was shrouded in an eerie silence, the early morning darkness casting long shadows over the devastated landscape. They rode through the destroyed streets, the remnants of houses looming like silent echoes of the horrors that had unfolded within their walls.
A sense of unease settled over the Scouts as they looked over all the reminders of the grim history of the city. It was as if the ghosts of the past whispered through the empty streets, filling the soldiers with a gut wrenching fear.
Splitting into their respective sections, the Scouts moved swiftly as they set about their task. Plugging the outer wall was achieved almost effortlessly, but the absence of their enemy only served to heighten their sense of unease.
They wanted to celebrate their accomplishment, but they knew they were walking into a trap. The tension in the air was as thick as the morning fog as they braced themselves for an inevitable confrontation. But frustration gnawed at their resolve as their enemy remained hidden while they bided their time.
Then, in a sudden and violent eruption, their worst fears were realized. Reiner, the Beast Titan, and Bertholdt revealed themselves in a coordinated assault that left the Scouts reeling. Reiner's transformation within the city sent shockwaves through their ranks, while the Beast Titan's emergence on the other side of the wall sealed their escape.
Trapped between the two adversaries, with a line of Pure Titans forming a menacing half-circle around the city's gate, the Scouts found themselves facing an impossible situation. Escape was no longer an option as they stood on the edge of a battle that would test their strength, their courage, and their very will to survive.
The battlefield erupted into a bloody and violent display of endless screams and cries echoing through the air as the Beast Titan unleashed its fury upon the Scouts. Levi watched in horror as the downpour of crushed boulders rained down upon them, decimating their ranks, slaughtering their horses, and shattering any hope of escape.
The once orderly formations dissolved into disarray as panic swept through their ranks, desperation fueling futile attempts at resistance. While Eren and the others dealt with Reiner, Levi was ordered to stay behind, much to his dismay.
The battle continued on, but it grew increasingly clear that they were not going to win this. Scout after Scout met their grisly end, either by the mouth of a titan or by the spray of boulders ripping them to shreds.
Erwin, faced with the grim reality of their situation, made a decision born of desperation. With no other choice left to him, he resolved to lead his men in a death charge—a final, desperate bid to go down fighting, to let their names be remembered as heroes rather than cowards.
Levi remained resolute. Tasked with taking down the Beast Titan, he readied himself for the challenge. He watched as Erwin and the remaining Scouts charged forward, providing a fleeting distraction that would allow him to make his final move.
Would he make it out of this alive? He didn't know.
But nonetheless, as the charge advanced towards the enemy, Levi sprang into action.
