Attack on Titan: A Blacksmith's Tale

Chapter 77: When Heavens Divide

(Two weeks before Dillon's escape)

Ymir was really starting to question her judgment in going after Dillon. Reaching the shore was an easy task. Getting across the ocean to reach Marley was another thing entirely. She had decided to use her Titan form so that she could swim faster. It also guaranteed that she would live since Titans can only be killed if the nape is cut; therefore, she couldn't drown. After five long days of doggy paddling, she was so exhausted that her limbs felt like they were about to fall off. She heard rumors of Shifters permanently bonding with their Titan forms with no hope of transforming back to a human. That would suck. On the other hand, her body could disintegrate into steam and THEN she would drown. Neither option was very appealing.

"You'll owe me big time for this, Dillon," she said to herself, "and I'm going to collect."

Just when steam began clouding her vision, a foghorn sounded in the distance. She caught sight of a rectangular shape with dark smoke billowing from the top. It was some type of advanced boat. Did the Marleyans have those sixty years ago? She couldn't remember. There was a high chance that there were Marleyans onboard. Once they saw her, they'd deliver her straight to Marley as an offering for the next Titan Shifter. Her only option was to seize the steamboat for herself. Granted, she had no clue how to steer a steamboat... or any boat for that matter. So much for having her luck turn around.

By this point, the steam coming from her body had blinded her completely. The Titan practically melted off of her, descending into the depths below. The last thing Ymir saw was the shape of the boat pushing through the fog towards her. Then, the ocean claimed her.

Upon regaining consciousness, the first thing Ymir felt was a repeated pattern of pressure pressing down on her chest. It felt like hands. What? Then, her mouth was enveloped by another mouth. The fuck!? Suddenly, a gust of air passed from this person into her own body. That caused her eyes to pop open and started coughing out the water in her lungs.

For a moment, she was seeing spots, but she could see the shape of a man standing above her. Clearly, he was the one who did those weird things to her. "Fucking perverts," Ymir managed out once the water was out of her body.

The man that "accosted" her rolled his eyes. "It's called CPR, dumbass. I just saved your life."

"Right. I bet you say that to all the girls," she hissed.

"Ma'am, requesting permission to throw this bitch overboard!" he exclaimed to someone nearby.

"Request denied," a stern voice answered, footsteps approaching. "The bitch stays... for now."

Ymir turned her head towards the source: a blue-eyed, black-haired woman. "You the one holding his leash?"

"I'm the one trying to keep you alive despite your crass attitude," she answered, looking down at her with disdain. "Be grateful that we fished you out of the water. Letting you drown was, and is, an option."

Ymir forced herself into a sitting position, a wave of nausea hitting her hard. Thankfully, she held it in while she asked, "Who are you people?"

"My name is Yvonne Walermann," the woman responded. "Officially, a spymaster for Marley." Seeing her tense up, she added, "Unofficially, a mediator between the Eldian Restorationists and the Mid-East Allies. In short, young lady, we are on your side."

Ymir glowered at her in suspicion. "Why should I believe you?"

"Hmm. Good point. The Jaw Titan is a valuable prize. The rewards I would receive for delivering one of the 'Titan Devils' are larger than life. I could retire in any country I want." Yvonne knelt to her level. "You have nowhere else to go. A transformation in your condition would resemble a malformed glob of flesh if you're lucky. You don't have the energy to swim, and you're too weak to take us all on. Your only options are to trust us or die." She gestured to the group of well-armed soldiers that had her surrounded.