Beyond The Walls (AOT x OC Fanfic)

Against The Dying Light

Pixis walked along the wall, his gaze fixed on the horizon as he moved with a quiet but resolute demeanor. His soldiers followed closely behind him, their steps heavy with the knowledge of the sacrifices they'd already made. Gustav approached, his face drawn with exhaustion and concern.

"We somehow managed to lure the majority of the Titans to the corner of the town," Gustav reported, his voice tinged with regret. "But even after avoiding combat to the best of our ability, we ended up losing about a fifth of our troops."

Pixis stopped, his eyes narrowing as he looked out over the battlefield. "We didn't lose them," he said, his voice steady and unflinching. "Soldiers don't go off and die on their own. I let them die on my command." His words hung heavy in the air, the weight of leadership pressing down on him like an invisible burden. He paused, letting the grim reality sink in. "Mankind's fate rests on this critical moment. I'm not opposed to being called a murderer... if that's what it takes."

Meanwhile, near the large boulder in the city, chaos erupted. After Jeiden had risked herself to push Mikasa out of the path of Eren's Attack Titan's wild punch, she was thrown back, crashing into a chimney with a painful thud.

"Ugh..." Jeiden groaned, feeling the sharp pain spread through her side.

Mikasa, still reeling from the close call, gasped as she saw Jeiden lying amidst the rubble. "Ah...!"

Ian, Mitabi, and Rico spotted the scene from a short distance and rushed toward Jeiden, their expressions a mix of fear and desperation as Eren's Attack Titan readied another powerful punch.

"Ackermann!" Ian shouted, his voice filled with urgency.

The Attack Titan let out a fierce roar, "Urahhh!" as it swung its fist with unrestrained power. Mikasa, acting on instinct, dodged the punch, her movements fluid and quick. Without a second thought, she shot her 3D Maneuver Gear hooks, propelling herself close to Eren's face, hoping to reach whatever fragment of humanity was left within him.

"Hey! Stop, Ackermann! Get away from him!" Ian yelled, trying to bring her back to reason.

But Mikasa wasn't listening. Her voice cracked with desperation as she shouted, "Eren, don't you recognize me?! It's Mikasa! Your family! You have to seal the hole with that boulder!" Her words echoed, raw with emotion, as she tried to reach the brother she'd known her whole life, the one who was now lost somewhere within this monstrous form.

Meanwhile, Mitabi helped Jeiden to her feet, his grip firm but gentle. Jeiden, though dazed, managed to nod her thanks, her eyes never leaving Eren's towering form. She could see the inner struggle in the Titan's erratic movements, the wavering of his fists, the brief moments where it seemed as though he might regain control.

Rico, standing a short distance away, watched the scene unfold with a heavy heart. She felt the creeping despair settle in as the realization hit her. The plan had failed. I knew that we never had a secret weapon to begin with, she thought bitterly, raising her flare gun with grim resolve.

She fired a red flare into the sky, its ominous glow signaling failure to the troops scattered throughout the city.

Mikasa, undeterred by the red signal, continued her desperate plea. "Eren, you're human! You're..." But her words were cut short as she noticed Eren's Attack Titan's fist clenching, shaking as though preparing for another punch.

"Mikasa!" Jeiden's voice rang out, filled with panic. "Dodge!"

Mikasa barely had time to react, swinging herself away from Eren's face just as his fist came crashing down—on himself. The Attack Titan's punch landed squarely against its own face, a strange, self-inflicted blow that caused a deep, guttural growl to escape its throat.