Shadows of Command-Erwin Smith

chapter-eight

You might wanna listen to this as you read this chapter.

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The battlefield stretched out before Reign, chaotic and unforgiving. She had seen many battles before—faced countless titans and watched comrades fall. But this fight was different. This was the war for Wall Maria, the culmination of years of struggle and loss. And for the first time, Reign felt the weight of what they stood to lose—not just the lives of their friends and allies, but the hope they had fought so desperately to cling to.

She stood alongside her comrades, blades drawn, heart pounding in her chest. The walls loomed in the distance, but all she could see were the massive forms of titans swarming the battlefield, their grotesque bodies lumbering toward the Scouts with horrifying intent.

Her friends—Jean, Connie, Sasha, and even Reiner—had all taken their positions, ready to defend what was left of their world. But Reiner and Bertholdt were no longer by their side. Betrayal had left a gaping wound in their ranks, and now the former allies fought against them, standing in stark opposition as traitors.

Reign's eyes scanned the battlefield, catching sight of Bertholdt transforming into the Colossal Titan, his massive form casting a shadow over the landscape. The ground shook beneath her feet as the sheer force of his transformation sent waves of heat and destruction through the ranks of the Scouts.

But Reign couldn't focus on that. Her mission was clear—protect her comrades, fight to the last breath, and reclaim Wall Maria.

The battle raged on around her, the air thick with the stench of blood and sweat. Titans fell as the Scouts deployed their ODM gear with precision, but the price was steep. Bodies littered the ground, and Reign knew that victory would come at a cost—one she wasn't sure any of them were truly prepared to pay.

Her blades sliced through the neck of a titan, its body crashing to the ground with a sickening thud. She didn't have time to catch her breath before another titan was upon her, its gaping maw inches from her face.

"Reign!" Jean's voice cut through the chaos, and she twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the titan's jaws. Jean soared past her, landing a clean strike on the titan's nape. The creature fell, and Reign shot him a grateful nod.

But there was no time for relief. The battle pressed on, and with it came the brutal realization that no one was safe—not even her.

As she fought, her thoughts drifted to Erwin. She knew he was somewhere on the battlefield, leading the charge with the same unwavering determination he always displayed. She admired him—respected him. But there was something more beneath the surface, something she had been struggling to suppress ever since that night in his office.

Her mind flickered back to that moment—the quiet intimacy of shaving him, the unspoken tension that had lingered between them. And now, as she fought for her life and the lives of those around her, she couldn't help but wonder if she would ever get the chance to confront those feelings.

A scream tore through the air, and Reign snapped back to the present. Connie was down, a titan bearing down on him. Without thinking, Reign propelled herself forward, her blades ready to strike.

She reached Connie just in time, landing a devastating blow to the titan's nape. The creature collapsed, and Connie scrambled to his feet, his face pale but determined.

"Thanks, Reign," he panted, his voice shaky.

She nodded, pulling him to his feet. "Stay close. We're not out of this yet."