The Counterattack Begins

The moment the sun dipped beneath the horizon, the march to Shiganshina began.

The eerie silence of the abandoned town loomed over the advancing soldiers. It was supposed to be empty—long since abandoned after the fall of Wall Maria—but the tension in the air suggested otherwise.

Akira rode with the main force, keeping close to Levi and Erwin. The streets were in ruins, weathered by time and neglect. Windows were shattered, doors hung loose on their hinges, and vines crawled over what remained of buildings.

For a moment, it seemed like they had time to breathe.

Then the first scream shattered the illusion of calm.

The Ambush

A Titan exploded from one of the ruined buildings, catching a soldier off guard. Its massive hand crushed him before he could react, blood splattering across the broken stone. More Titans emerged, their grotesque forms blocking the main street.

"Form up! Defensive positions!" Erwin's voice boomed through the town as soldiers scrambled into formation.

Akira's mind worked at lightning speed. The attack was too coordinated. These weren't just stray Titans wandering into the area—someone was guiding them.

The Beast Titan.

And sure enough, from his vantage point, Akira saw the massive ape-like figure standing atop the outer ruins, his piercing gaze surveying the battlefield like a commander overseeing his troops.

The Strategy Unfolds

Levi was already moving, his squad tearing through Titans with surgical precision. But they were outnumbered, and the Titans kept coming.

Akira activated his system interface, mentally sorting through his available resources. He had to make sure Erwin survived. The thought of the charismatic commander dying here? Unacceptable.

A strategy formed in his mind almost instantly.

Step one: Cut off the Titans' advance.

"Levi! Take Squad A and clear the east side! Erwin, we need to set up a defensive perimeter around the central plaza! If we let them push us into tight spaces, we're done for!"

Levi didn't hesitate. He trusted Akira's judgment, and within seconds, his squad veered toward the east, tearing into the Titans with brutal efficiency.

Meanwhile, Akira led a small team toward the rooftops, his long knife flashing as he slashed through a Titan's nape mid-air. The system registered the kill instantly.

[Titan Eliminated: +500 EXP]

[Loot Acquired: Hardened Titan Bone Shard]

Interesting. But there was no time to check the inventory.

From his elevated position, he could see the battlefield more clearly. The Titans were funneling in through three key entry points. If they didn't act fast, they'd be overrun.

"Jean! Take five soldiers and collapse that building to block off the north passage! Sasha, Connie—cover them! Historia, keep the injured safe in the center!"

Orders flew, and the soldiers moved with precision. The battle was shifting in their favor.

But the Beast Titan wasn't done playing.

The Beast Titan's Response

A loud CRASH shook the town as a massive boulder slammed into the ground near their defensive line, crushing several soldiers instantly. The Beast Titan had begun his assault, launching debris with terrifying accuracy.

Akira's eyes narrowed. If he kept that up, they were going to get wiped out.

Time for Step Two.

"Levi! Change of plans! I'll handle the Beast Titan's throws. You take out the Titans still flooding the streets!"

Levi hesitated only for a second before nodding. He understood. Akira had a plan, and there was no time to argue.

Akira pulled a special item from his inventory—a Smoke Signal Flare he had looted from a previous dungeon. He fired it straight into the sky, drawing the Beast Titan's attention.

"You want a challenge? Come get me, monkey!" Akira taunted, his voice carrying over the battlefield.

The Beast Titan's head turned, and for a brief moment, Akira swore he saw curiosity in those animalistic eyes.

"Fine," Akira muttered under his breath. "Let's see if I can outplay a war general."

The Final Stand

Using his ODM gear, Akira propelled himself at breakneck speed, dodging another massive boulder by mere inches. He needed to close the distance fast—if he could get in range, he could disrupt the Beast Titan's attack pattern.

Below, Levi and his squad continued to tear through the Titans. Jean's team had successfully collapsed the north building, limiting the enemies' entry points. Erwin was holding strong, rallying the remaining soldiers.

Akira landed on a rooftop just as the Beast Titan prepared to throw another boulder. Too slow.

He activated his newest skill, one he had been saving for a moment like this.

[Skill Activated: Spatial Dash]

In the blink of an eye, Akira vanished and reappeared behind the Beast Titan's head, his blade already swinging.

A deep slash tore through the Titan's shoulder, making it stumble forward.

For the first time, the Beast Titan looked genuinely surprised.

Akira grinned. "You didn't see that coming, did you?"

The battle wasn't over yet.

But the tide had turned.