Beyond The Walls

Chapter 048

Attack on the Capital

The next morning felt like the world is not full of titans. People dancing and singing, planting crops and greeting each other a good morning. This is different on what they have experienced on thr past. Jiro and Amir are walking down the market, searching for some food they can afford. Although the king offered them free access to all the stuff inside the castle, they don't want to be a burden to him. "Jiro, how many coins do you still have?" Amir asked as he lookd at the pasty being sold infront of them. Jiro took out his coins, counting them before handing it to Amir. "You can have it. I'm not hungry anyways." He said as he waits for him. After buying, Amir offered a bite to Jiro, which his friend gladly took. They walked happily around the city as if their world is not full of problems. "Where's Yukan? I haven't seen him." Jiro asked as they seat besides the river canal. Amir sighed before shrugging his shoulders. "I don't know, I haven't seen hin either. Maybe he's with Commander Eric and Hanes." Amir said. Jiro just nod in response as they watch the flow of the river silently. "Jiro, I have a question." Amir said, breaking their silence. Jiro faced him before nodding. "Do you have any feelings towards the princess?" Amir asked. He expected Jiro to stand up and kick him, but the opposite thing happened. Jiro smiled before avoiding his bestfriend's curious eyes. "Well, I do find her pretty. Does that mean I'm falling for her?" He asked. Amir went silent before responding. "Well, you see. Yukan has a—" He was cut off when an explosion near the gates was heard. He and Jiro immidiately stood up to see what's happening. "How did he get in?" Jiro asked as they stared at the ape titan standing tall infront of the city. He is with Leone and the cart titan. Jiro was about to bite his hand when Amir stopped him. "They're clearly looking for you. Don't do it yet. Let's go meet up with the others." Amir said before they run back to the castle. Upon arriving, they all spotted everyone gearing up for the attack. "Jiro, I suggest you stay low until we said so. The same goes to you too, Rocco and Amir." Lev said while putting on his ODM gear. They all run outside the castle to battle the titans the ape titan just summoned. "Jiro, quit moving around." Amir said. Jiro just punched the wall as he grow impatient. "The princess. The king! We need to look for them." Jiro said before going out of the room they are in. Rocco looked at Amir before deciding to follow him. They arrived at the King's throne, but he and the princess is nowhere to be found. "Where are they?!" Jiro shouted as he looked around the room. The roofs suddenly collapses as a titan fall from it. "What?! Lev told you to stay inside that room!" Hanes said as she walks towarda them. Jiro suddenly went in between her and Amir. "We can't stay there. The princess and the king are missing." Jiro said. Hanes just sighed before telling them to look for them. They searched around the castle, trying to find where the two are. "They're still nowhere to be found." Rocco said as he returns from searching a room. Jiro was about to speak when Amir pointed at something or someone. They looked at it and the wave of guiltyness flows through their veins. It was the king, turned into a mindless titan. They found out that it was the king based on the beard the the birthmark on his righr arm. Jiro fell on his knees as he turns his fist into a ball. "I won't let them win this." Jiro said before biting his hand, transforming him into a titan. Rocco and Amir just got away in time before Jiro transformed. "Come at me, you freaks!" Jiro shouted as he charged towards Leone. "We meet again, Jiro." Leone said before blocking off Jiro's attack. The ape titan then smiled as he saw how desperate Jiro is in killing Leone. "He'll just waste his energy fighting him." He said, but little did he know that someone's already creeping behind him. With one swift move, Lev managed to cut open the cart titan's nape, taking the shifter out of the body. Lev looked at the ape titan with his face covered in blood. "Let's finish our unsettled business." Lev said before jumping on the titan's hand, slicing and dicing it easily like a mushroom. "This Ackerman is such a pain in the ass." The shifter inside the ape titan said as he tries to catch Lev with one arm. He commanded all the titans nearby to attack him, as he buys some time to regenerate. Lev, being the skilled soldier that he is, easily takes down a dozen of titans. He then turns his attention towards the ape titan, standing toe to toe with it. "Humans like you don't deserve to live." Lev said as he change his blades into a new and sharper ones. "You should said that to yourself." The ape titan said before taking a piece of concrete from a destroyed house. He threw it right towards Lev, but the lad quickly dodge it before cutting the titan's arm again. He landed on the side of the wall before targetting the ape titan's nape. But the titans seems to know his moves and proceeds to whack him off in to the air. He landed with a loud thud, hurting him at the process. "You see, if you killed me when I was on my human form, then this wouldn't happen. Your soldiers died because of your incompetency as a captain. But don't worry, you'll join them soon." The ape titan said before preparing to step on him. He smirked before chuckling. "Then bring it on, fucker." He said as braced from the impact. When he was about to geg stepped on, someone pushed him aside, causing that person to be stomped. He stood still as he watches the ape titan walk away with a smile. When the dust cleared off, it reveals the person who saved him. The sight of guts and bones scattered around doesn't bother him, but the person who sacrificed their life for him. "E-Eric, why?" He asked as he looks at the commander's dismembered body. He takes Erics badge before standing up, raging in anger. He just lost his bestfriend. And he lost him because of himself. He puts Eric's badge inside his pocket before chasing the ape titan. He latches on to his back, catching the titan's attention. "H-Huh? He's still alive?!" He was about to blocked Lev's attack when his blades penetrated him and decapitating him at the same time. Lev landed on the ground as he watches the ape titan fall without it's head. The cart titan then appeared and bites off the ape titan's foot, with the shifter emerging from it with a missing arm. "I will never forget you, Lev Ackerman! You should remember the name Damon Wilhelm!" He shouted as they left the capital. Meanwhile, on Jiro and Leone's battle. Rocco decided to join in the fight, making it hard for Leone to fight. Rocco bites his nape, ripping it off as it exposes Leone. Jiro quickly takes him away from his titan before throwing him on one of the mindless titan. "Ahh! Help me! Axel!" Those were his last words before being eaten by the titan. Rocco and Jiro went out of their titans as theu watches how the titan that ate Leone slowly evaporated. They helped the person to get out, with Conrad and John helping in taking him inside for a safe shelter. "Where's Eric?" Hanes asked Lev as he walks towards them. He handed the badge to Hanes before leaving them. "N-No, this can't be true." Hanes said as she starts sobbing. Natasha and Diana comforts him as Amir walks after Lev. He spots the captain sitting alone on the river canal. "Mind if I join you, captain?" He asked. Lev nods before Amir sits beside him. "I think there's no more reason for me to fight. I've lost a lot of people that is close to my heart." Lev said with a sad tone. Although he rarely cries, Amir can feel the sadness in his tone. "Captain, there are still a lot of reason to fight. You want to reclaim the land from the titans, right?" Amir said as he scoots closer to his captain. Lev looked at him before shaking his head. "Yes. But I want to do it with Hanes and Eric. Melodia was taken away from me, same as Sina. And now Eric? Who's next, Hanes?" He said as he throws a pebble across the river. Amir sighed before Lev stood up, placing his hand on Amir's shoulder. "You're an intelligent and brave soldier, Commander." Lev said before leaving him Eric's necklace. He was about to say something, but Lev's too far away. He sighs before looking up to the sky. "We'll take the land from the titans, Commander Eric. I promised you."