Chapter 20: Disqualified from Humanity... Victory

Annie had failed...

That much was obvious... a clear, undeniable outcome that left Haruya with nothing but bitter resignation.

Winners always preached that "hard work brings success..." But in truth, that was just bait to lure the defeated into serving them.

Most effort was worthless...

A person's true worth wasn't determined by effort, it was measured by how they 'elevated themselves' through any means necessary.

Haruya knew he was being toyed with by this damned world, by its cruel script. But instead of complaining, he chose to 'rewrite it'...

Eren and the Survey Corps had pinned down the Female Titan, ready to drag Annie from her nape. To stop them, Haruya charged forward at full speed.

With most pursuers left behind, he swiftly navigated the maze-like streets, his Titan form trampling over an open field as he closed the distance.

.....

The ground trembled violently.

Having anticipated Haruya's advance, Eren halted his actions, leaving the others to extract Annie while he moved to intercept.

This time, Haruya wouldn't hold back...

Not because Eren was weak, but because he was strong.

His unbreakable will, combined with the combat skills Annie herself had taught him, made him a lethal opponent. If Haruya got caught in a drawn-out fight, he'd lose.

Eren dropped into a fighting stance, eyes locked onto Haruya with razor focus.

Haruya lunged, his right fist rocketing forward.

Eren dodged to the side, seizing Haruya's arm with his left hand before locking it with his right, twisting violently to snap it in half.

But the moment Eren applied pressure, Haruya's arm turned pitch black.

Not just his right arm, his left fist now hardened, shot toward Eren's skull like a cannonball.

Eren barely jerked his head aside, the sheer force of the blow tearing through the air like an explosion.

Haruya pressed his advantage, unleashing a relentless assault under the Armamentʼs protection.

Eren released Haruya's arm to evade, only for Haruya to close the gap, wrapping both arms around Eren's torso in a crushing bear hug.

Haruya's Titan form was larger and stronger, but slower.

"ROOOOAR–!!"

The vice-like grip shattered ribs, and ruptured organs. Blood gushed from Eren's mouth as he roared in agony.

Desperate, Eren hammered his right fist into Haruya's skull, caving in his left eye and fracturing his skull.

Haruya ignored the pain, tightening his hold. Eren's Titan body buckled inward, bones snapping under the pressure.

"GRAAAAAH!!"

Aiming for Haruya's throat, the Titan's weak point, Eren's jaws slammed shut.

But Haruya smashed his forehead forward, shattering Eren's teeth in a spray of blood and enamel.

Undeterred, Eren clawed at Haruya's mouth, trying to rip it apart, but he was too late...

His Titan body had already been crushed beyond repair, Haruya's blackened arms reverting to normal.

And then a blur shot past Haruya's vision.

"EREN!"

It was Mikasa...

She soared through the air, her ODM Gear carrying her at breakneck speed.

Eren's Titan was in ruins, his lower torso severed, steam gushing from the wreckage.

Haruya, now without Armament, shielded his nape with his left hand while kicking rubble toward the Survey Corps still trying to extract Annie.

The debris struck the Female Titan's back, forcing a momentary pause.

But Haruya couldn't relax... Mikasa was here. Even Armin had joined the fight.

*Slash!*

Blood sprayed as Haruya's left arm tendons were severed, his hand going limp, exposing his nape.

The attacker? Mikasa...

'Damn it… Of course it's her...'

The fan-favorite waifu who never knew when to quit...

Haruya let his arm hang uselessly, feigning injury while his right hand guarded his nape. He just needed to stall until his Armament recharged.

Mikasa struck again...

Haruya spun, his foot shattering a flagpole mid-kick, sending it flying like a javelin.

The open terrain made sneak attacks harder, but he still had to protect Annie.

The original plan had failed. Now, his options were:

- Fight head-on...

- Let fate decide...

"DON'T LET HIM REACH THE FEMALE TITAN!" Hange's voice cut through the chaos, "HE'S AFTER HER! THREE TITAN SHIFTERS IN ONE PLACE... UNPRECEDENTED!"

Haruya advanced whilst scanning his surroundings. The artillery wouldn't fire recklessly, not with their own soldiers swarming the area.

*Crack!*

His foot split the ground, forcing nearby troops back.

Then, the whir of ODM Gear.

Haruya spun and headbutted blindly...

*Thud!*

A soldier was sent sprawling, coughing blood.

Mikasa seized the opening, diving from above, her blades aimed at Haruya's eyes.

But Haruya hadn't forgotten her.

His gaze had never left her or Annie.

And now, she was his first target.

With Levi absent, Mikasa was the greatest threat.

'Sorry, Mikasa. But this world… is cruel...'

Her blades flashed down, but Haruya's 'severed' left arm suddenly moved.

"—?!" Mikasa's eyes widened.

Haruya had faked the injury. Armament had reinforced his tendons internally.

Unlike the Haki from 'One Piece', the Supreme Deity's version was far more versatile.

His left hand snatched at Mikasa...

She twisted mid-air, but Haruya anticipated it, his right hand abandoning his nape because the Armament's cooldown had ended.

He grabbed Mikasa, but her gaze flicked behind him to Armin...

While Mikasa distracted Haruya, Armin had lunged for his nape...

*Clang!*

Armin's blades shattered on impact while Haruya's hardened skin remained unscathed.

Haruya yanked Armin's wires, pulling him into his grip.

Now, he had both of them.

And then...

"ROOOOAR!!"

A fist crashed into Haruya's jaw, tearing through muscle and bone.

It was Eren...

His kick followed, snapping Haruya's arms, forcing him to release Mikasa and Armin.

Before Haruya could react, Eren headbutted him, their skulls colliding with a sickening crunch.

Blood and flesh exploded outward, Eren's face caving in as he collapsed.

But not before landing one last punch, shattering Haruya's ribs.

Haruya staggered, his body falling apart... Yet he forced himself forward, lunging for Annie.

His jaws clamped around her nape, yanking her free as soldiers scrambled to stop him.

His eyes locked onto the Wall.

Without hesitation, he slammed his fingers into the stone, climbing even as his flesh ripped and his bones splintered.

But he wasn't fast enough.

The top was still so far away.

The once blue sky now looked crimson... 'Is it the blood in my eyes?'

Suddenly, Mikasa sliced through his left hand's fingers, forcing him to stop.

His right hand's fingers were next...

Haruya plummeted...

'Of course… I can't defy this world...'

The script was fixed.

All deviations were corrected.

'How cheap...'

'How boring...'

As he fell, Haruya laughed.

To onlookers, the black Titan was smiling. His grin grotesque, with muscle and teeth exposed through torn flesh.

Mikasa noticed too late...

Haruya had severed her wires..

Then, using stolen ODM Gear, he shot upward, Annie in tow.

He'd hidden the gear after devouring a soldier earlier.

Now, standing atop the Wall, he glared down at the stunned soldiers below.

"If you want to die… chase me."

As his Titan body dissolved, it revealed a mass of corpses in its wake.

Then, Haruya leaped off the Wall with Annie clutched tightly.

'Anyone who follows…I'll kill them all.' he resolved in his heart.

"So, is it mission success ...?"