Shadows of Command-Erwin Smith

chapter-thirteen

The ground shook violently beneath Reign's feet, the deep rumble reverberating through the air like the sound of a thousand drums beating in unison. The Rumbling had begun. In the distance, she could see the colossal forms of the Wall Titans, their massive feet crushing everything in their path as they marched forward with relentless precision. The end of the world, as they had known it, was now upon them.

Reign gritted her teeth, steeling herself against the terror that gnawed at her insides. There was no time to panic, no time to think about what could be lost. All that mattered now was survival, fighting alongside her comrades to protect what little remained of their world.

Erwin stood at the forefront, his eyes scanning the horizon with cold determination. His voice, clear and commanding, cut through the chaos. "We need to move! Keep your formations tight! Stick to the plan!" He turned to Reign briefly, his gaze softening for just a heartbeat before it hardened once more. "Stay close."

Reign nodded, gripping her blades tightly. "I'm not leaving your side."

Around them, the rest of the Scouts were already mobilizing. Levi darted forward, his movements a blur as he cut down the advancing forces of Marleyan soldiers. Hange, eyes wide with exhilaration and fear, shouted orders while launching their ODM gear into the fray. Jean, Sasha, Connie, Armin, and Mikasa were spread out, each of them fighting with the desperation that came from knowing this might be their last stand.

The sky was thick with smoke, and the air reeked of burning flesh and blood. Titans roared, their massive bodies crashing through buildings and trampling the remnants of the city. The Marleyan military, desperate to stop the Rumbling, had deployed their forces to attack both the Titans and the Eldians, adding another layer of chaos to the battlefield.

Reign's heart pounded in her chest as she slashed through the neck of a Titan, the spray of blood misting across her face. She landed on a rooftop, panting, her eyes searching for Erwin in the sea of destruction. He was there, still at the front, directing the troops with unwavering resolve.

For a brief moment, her eyes met his, and despite the carnage surrounding them, the world seemed to pause. In that fleeting second, it wasn't about the war, the Rumbling, or even the Titans. It was just them—two people who had found something worth holding on to in the middle of the end. But there was no time for sentiment now. The battlefield called.

As the hours dragged on, the destruction only intensified. The Titans continued their relentless march, flattening everything in their path, and the Marleyan forces showed no signs of retreat. Explosions lit up the sky, and the earth groaned under the weight of death.

Reign's body ached from the constant fighting. Her muscles screamed for rest, but she pushed on. She couldn't afford to stop—not with so much at stake. Around her, the other Scouts fought just as fiercely. Jean had taken down several Titans on his own, his face grim but determined. Connie and Sasha worked together, covering each other's backs as they dodged attacks from both Titans and enemy soldiers.

But it was Armin and Mikasa who stood out the most. Armin, now wielding the power of the Colossal Titan, had transformed into a living weapon, using his devastating ability to unleash destruction on the Marleyan forces. Mikasa, fierce and unstoppable, tore through the battlefield with single-minded precision, her blades flashing in the dim light as she cut down anything that stood in her way.

And then, amid the chaos, it happened.

A Marleyan airship, packed with explosives, descended toward the battlefield, aiming directly at the Titans. The explosion that followed was deafening, a massive fireball that consumed everything in its path. Reign was thrown off her feet, the shockwave slamming her into the ground with brutal force.