Shadows of Command-Erwin Smith

chapter-fourteen

The rumbling roar of the Colossal Titans shook the earth beneath their feet. The battlefield was a twisted wasteland of rubble and corpses, the sky blackened with smoke and ash. The Scouts, their bodies beaten and broken, fought with the last remnants of their strength against the onslaught of Marleyan forces and the looming terror of the Colossal Titans.

Reign's eyes stung from the acrid smoke that filled the air, her vision blurring as exhaustion threatened to overtake her. Every swing of her blade felt heavier than the last, her muscles screaming in protest, but she pressed on. She had to. For the world she fought to save, for her friends, and for Erwin.

A wave of Marleyan soldiers charged forward, their weapons raised in a final, desperate push. Reign tightened her grip on her swords, ready to meet them head-on, when a figure streaked past her—a blur of motion that sent the soldiers tumbling to the ground. Levi, as precise and deadly as ever, cut through the enemy like a knife through butter.

"Don't fall behind," he barked, eyes sharp as he twisted mid-air, landing gracefully beside her.

Reign managed a tired grin, despite the chaos. "Wasn't planning on it."

With a nod, Levi darted off into the fray once more, leaving Reign to focus on the next wave of enemies. Her gaze swept over the battlefield, catching sight of Mikasa and Armin battling fiercely against a group of Marleyan titan shifters. Jean and Connie fought side by side, their blades flashing in the dull light as they cut down soldiers. Hange's maniacal laughter echoed through the chaos as they lobbed explosives, wreaking havoc among the enemy ranks.

Despite the carnage, the Scouts fought on, their movements fluid and determined. But the Colossal Titans loomed ever closer, their thunderous steps sending shockwaves through the ground. If they didn't stop the Rumbling soon, it would be the end of everything.

Reign pressed a hand to her abdomen, wincing as the pain from her previous wound flared. She couldn't afford to falter now. Her friends needed her. Erwin needed her.

The battle raged on, hour after grueling hour, until the once-clear skies were choked with the smoke of burning buildings and the bodies of fallen soldiers. The Colossal Titans, those gargantuan instruments of destruction, continued their relentless march, crushing everything in their path.

But the Eldians were unyielding. For every Marleyan they cut down, for every Titan that fell, they took one more step toward victory.

Eren stood at the center of the battlefield, his power as the Founding Titan radiating around him like a force of nature. He had unleashed the power of the Rumbling to protect Paradis, but the world had retaliated with everything they had. Now, only the strongest remained. The enemy was desperate, their forces dwindling, and victory was within reach.

Reign spotted Erwin amidst the chaos, leading a charge with his usual stoic resolve. His coat was torn and blood-stained, but his expression was as unflinching as ever. The mere sight of him gave her strength, a reminder of why she had to keep fighting. She pushed forward, carving a path through the enemy until she reached his side.

"Reign," Erwin's voice was hoarse but steady, his eyes locking onto hers. He reached out, briefly brushing his fingers against her arm before turning his attention back to the battle. "We're close. The Marleyans are falling back. Just a little more."

She nodded, panting heavily as she wiped the sweat and grime from her brow. "Let's end this."

The final push was brutal. The Marleyans, in their desperation, threw everything they had at the Scouts, but it wasn't enough. Slowly but surely, the enemy forces began to crumble, their numbers thinning as the Eldians pressed forward with unrelenting fury.

Reign fought beside Erwin, their movements in sync as they cut down the last of the enemy. A Colossal Titan stumbled and collapsed nearby, sending a shockwave that nearly knocked them off their feet. But it was the sound of silence that followed—an eerie, unexpected silence—that made Reign pause.

She looked around, her heart pounding in her chest. The battlefield was still. The last of the Marleyan forces had fallen. The Colossal Titans stood motionless, their destructive rampage finally halted.

It was over.

The war was over.

Reign's breath hitched in her throat as the reality of their victory settled in. She turned to Erwin, her chest tightening with a mix of disbelief and relief. His eyes met hers, and for the first time since the battle had begun, she saw the weight lift from his shoulders.

"We did it," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Erwin reached out, his hand cupping her cheek as his thumb brushed away the grime and blood smeared across her skin. His touch was warm, grounding her in the midst of the devastation around them. "Yes. We did."

The days that followed were a blur of rebuilding. The once war-torn landscape of Paradis began to heal, brick by brick, as the remaining Scouts and civilians worked together to restore what had been lost. There was still so much to do, so many lives to mourn, but for the first time in years, there was hope.

Reign stood atop a hill overlooking the sea of rubble, the wind rustling through her hair as she watched the workers below rebuild their shattered city. Her friends—Jean, Sasha, Connie, Mikasa, Armin, Hange, and Levi—had all survived the battle, though each bore the scars of war in their own way.

Despite the destruction, there was a quiet sense of peace in the air. They had won. They had survived.

Erwin appeared beside her, his hand slipping into hers as they stood in silence, watching the world begin to heal. His presence, solid and steady, was a constant source of comfort, a reminder that she wasn't alone in this new world they were building together.

"We'll make this right," Erwin said softly, his voice carrying a promise that felt heavier than the world they had just fought to save. "For them. For everyone we lost."

Reign turned to face him, her heart swelling with a mix of love and gratitude. It had been three years since they had first acknowledged their feelings for each other, and now, standing on the edge of a new future, they finally had the freedom to live without fear.

She smiled, squeezing his hand gently. "We will."

Erwin leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. His lips lingered there for a moment, a silent promise of all the tomorrows they would have together.

"I love you," Reign whispered, the words carrying with them the weight of everything they had been through.

Erwin pulled back slightly, his blue eyes soft as they met hers. "I love you too, Reign. Always."

They stood there for a while longer, hand in hand, watching as the world they had fought so hard to protect began to rebuild itself. There was still work to be done, still battles to be fought—but for now, at this moment, they had each other.

And that was enough.

As the sun began to set on the horizon, casting a golden light over the ruins of the battlefield, Reign's gaze shifted to her friends. Jean was laughing with Sasha and Connie, their tired faces lighting up with the first genuine smiles she had seen in days. Mikasa and Armin stood off to the side, deep in conversation, their expressions thoughtful but hopeful. Even Levi, stoic as ever, seemed a little lighter, his gaze focused on the horizon.

They had all made it through the storm, and now, together, they would face whatever came next.

The future was uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, it didn't feel hopeless. There was a new world waiting for them—a world they would build with their own hands, one brick at a time.