Clash of Wills

The Beast Titan staggered, its shoulder torn open by Akira's strike. Blood gushed from the wound, but Zeke Yeager was far from defeated. His piercing eyes narrowed as he quickly reassessed the situation.

"Impressive," Zeke muttered, rolling his shoulder. "But not enough."

With a powerful swipe, he attempted to swat Akira away like a mere insect, but the system-enhanced warrior was already moving. He activated Spatial Dash again, reappearing on the Beast Titan's opposite flank. Another slash, another wound carved into its massive form.

The battlefield below was a chaotic dance of life and death. Levi and his squad had thinned the Titan numbers considerably, but more kept flooding in. Jean's team had secured the northern passage, and Sasha's expert instincts kept the advancing Titans at bay, using her agility and well-placed strikes to distract and delay them.

But Erwin's situation was dire.

A massive Titan had broken through the defenses, its gaping maw inches away from the Commander. Erwin barely had time to react when a streak of steel severed the creature's nape. Akira landed beside him, breathing heavily, his long knife slick with steaming Titan blood.

"You're still in one piece," Akira said with a grin.

Erwin chuckled, unfazed by the near-death experience. "Thanks to you."

A sudden, deafening impact shook the battlefield. Zeke, tired of Akira's interference, had hurled another boulder—but this time, straight at Akira and Erwin's position.

Akira grabbed Erwin and propelled them both off the rooftop with his ODM gear just as the boulder crashed into the structure, reducing it to rubble. They landed roughly on another rooftop, rolling to absorb the impact.

"This Beast Titan is a problem," Erwin said, dusting himself off. "We can't keep fighting on two fronts."

Akira nodded, his 180 IQ already formulating the next move. He turned to Levi, who had just finished slicing through another Titan.

"I need you to finish him," Akira said, pointing at Zeke. "I'll clear the field."

Levi met Akira's gaze, his expression unreadable. He had already considered taking out the Beast Titan, but this was different—Akira was buying him an opening.

"Don't die," Levi muttered before vanishing in a blur of movement, heading straight for Zeke.

Akira turned his attention back to the remaining Titans. He flipped open his system menu.

[Inventory]

[Hardened Titan Bone Shard] [Explosive Kunai (x3)] [Strength Booster (3 minutes)]

Perfect.

He activated the booster, feeling raw power surge through his body. His muscles tensed, his speed increased, and his knife gleamed with newfound lethality. He threw the explosive kunai at the largest group of Titans still advancing. The resulting blasts sent them reeling, creating a momentary gap in the chaos.

Akira dashed through, his knife severing napes with terrifying efficiency. Every kill granted him more experience, every Titan that fell making their victory more certain.

Then, a chilling roar pierced the air.

The Armored Titan.

Reiner had arrived.

Akira landed on a rooftop and locked eyes with the behemoth standing at the far end of the battlefield. The Armored Titan cracked its knuckles, its intent clear.

"I was wondering when you'd show up," Akira muttered.

He had already weakened the Beast Titan, and Levi was closing in for the kill. If he could keep Reiner occupied, this battle could finally turn in their favor.

Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and the rest of the main squad had regrouped, fighting through the carnage. Eren, already in his Titan form, engaged the Armored Titan head-on, grappling with him in a brutal clash. Mikasa was on the move, her blades flashing as she cut down Titans trying to flank Eren. Armin, positioned at a higher vantage point, was analyzing the battle, directing soldiers to reinforce weak points.

"Eren! Hold him down!" Akira shouted as he launched himself towards the battlefield.

Eren roared in response, driving his fists into Reiner's hardened plating. Cracks formed, but Reiner retaliated, slamming Eren into a nearby structure. The impact sent debris flying, nearly crushing Historia and the injured soldiers in the center.

"Move!" Jean yelled, dragging Historia away just in time. Connie provided covering fire with a set of Thunder Spears, forcing the Armored Titan to step back momentarily.

Akira took the opportunity to rush in, slashing deep into Reiner's exposed leg joint. Sparks and steaming flesh filled the air as his blade bit into the hardened armor, cutting through a weak point Eren had created earlier.

Reiner bellowed in pain, stumbling as his balance faltered. Eren seized the chance, throwing a devastating punch that sent Reiner crashing to the ground.

Meanwhile, high above the battlefield, Levi had reached Zeke. The Beast Titan barely had time to react before Levi's swords tore into his flesh, slicing tendons and muscle with surgical precision.

Zeke roared in agony, attempting to counterattack, but Levi was relentless. Akira could hear the unmistakable sound of steel cutting flesh as Levi struck again and again, blood spraying in every direction.

Akira turned his attention back to the battlefield. The Titans were thinning, but victory was not yet secured. The Colossal Titan was still unaccounted for.

Then, a massive explosion erupted from the inner district.

Armin's eyes widened in horror. "It's Bertholdt."

The Colossal Titan had transformed.

The battlefield was far from over.

Akira clenched his fists, his Reiryoku flaring around him in a dark, swirling aura. He had been holding back, but now wasn't the time for restraint.

He shot forward, his body vanishing in a flash of spiritual energy, reappearing just behind the Armored Titan. With a single slash infused with his Reiryoku, his blade carved deeper into Reiner's armor than any previous strike.

Reiner howled in pain, his Titan body trembling from the sheer force of Akira's attack. Eren, seizing the moment, wrapped his arms around Reiner's torso, locking him in place.

"Do it, Akira!" Eren roared.

Akira raised his knife, his Reiryoku condensing into the blade's edge. "Let's end this."

With a final, devastating strike, he brought his weapon down, cutting straight through the Armored Titan's weak point.

As Reiner's Titan form crumbled, the battlefield fell silent for a brief moment.

But they couldn't celebrate yet.

The true battle for Shiganshina had only just begun.