The True Battle Begins

The dust settled around the crumbling remains of Reiner's Titan form. Steam billowed from his injuries as Eren's Titan stood over him, panting, fists clenched. The battlefield was silent for a heartbeat—then came the deafening BOOM from the inner district.

Akira turned sharply, his instincts screaming. The explosion wasn't just massive—it was catastrophic. A wave of intense heat radiated through the town, searing rooftops and sending a shockwave that nearly knocked him off his feet.

Then, a towering, skinless figure loomed over the district walls, its molten flesh dripping with raw heat.

Bertholdt had transformed.

Armin's face went pale. "The Colossal Titan…"

No one had time to recover. The battle wasn't just continuing—it was escalating.

The Shift in Battle

Akira's mind kicked into overdrive. They had planned for this, but seeing it unfold was different. Reiner was down for now, but Bertholdt's transformation had wiped out a huge portion of the area inside the walls. If they didn't act fast, the entire district would be razed to the ground.

Eren looked at the massive Titan in front of him, then back at Akira. His Titan body twitched with anticipation.

"What's the plan?" Eren grunted, cracking his knuckles, ready for a fight.

Akira took a quick glance at their forces. Levi was still finishing off the Beast Titan—hopefully—Jean, Connie, and Sasha were regrouping, Historia was securing the wounded, and Erwin was already shouting commands to the surviving soldiers.

"We can't let Bertholdt burn everything down," Akira said. "Eren, you need to engage him—keep him focused on you. But don't fight recklessly. Bertholdt's advantage is his sheer size and heat output. If you stay too close for too long, you'll get roasted alive."

Eren nodded, his Titan form flexing its fingers. "So, hit and run?"

"Exactly. Meanwhile, Armin—" Akira turned to the strategist. "We need a way to bring him down. You've analyzed him more than anyone."

Armin bit his lip, sweat forming on his brow. "He won't fall for the same tricks again… But I have an idea. I just need a clear shot."

Akira smirked. "I'll make sure you get one."

The Attack on Bertholdt

Eren's Titan charged first, his heavy steps shaking the ground as he launched himself at the Colossal Titan. But Bertholdt was ready this time.

A massive wave of heat erupted from his body, sending a flaming shockwave outward. Eren barely had time to shield himself before being blasted backward, crashing into a nearby building.

"Damn it," Jean cursed from a rooftop. "How the hell do you even get close to that thing?!"

Akira didn't hesitate. He activated Spatial Dash, appearing just above the Colossal Titan's shoulder before slashing downward with his long knife, infused with Reiryoku.

The blade met resistance—Bertholdt had hardened parts of his body in anticipation.

Akira clicked his tongue and flipped backward just as another explosion of heat erupted. He barely managed to reappear on a distant rooftop before the shockwave obliterated the spot where he had just stood.

Bertholdt turned his enormous head, eyes scanning for Akira like he was an annoying fly.

"He's learned to compensate for his weaknesses…" Akira muttered.

Armin, still on the higher ground, called out, "Akira! Can you distract him while I direct Eren?"

Akira grinned. "You mean play bait?"

"Basically."

"Say no more."

Bait and Strike

Akira launched himself forward again, dodging fiery explosions with precise movements. Each time Bertholdt tried to swat him down, Akira used Spatial Dash to reposition, slashing at any vulnerable points he could find.

"You're annoying," Bertholdt muttered, his voice booming.

Akira laughed mid-air. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Eren seized the opportunity. With a deafening roar, he dashed in from the side, gripping Bertholdt's massive leg and yanking him off balance. The Colossal Titan stumbled slightly, and that was the opening Armin needed.

"NOW!" Armin signaled.

Jean and Connie fired a set of Thunder Spears straight into Bertholdt's nape.

The explosion rocked the battlefield. A guttural scream tore from Bertholdt's throat as chunks of his Titan body were blasted away. His massive form swayed dangerously, his footing unsteady.

Akira took the moment to drive his blade deep into another weak spot, cutting further into the gaps in Bertholdt's armor.

Eren didn't hesitate. He ripped Bertholdt's Titan down with sheer force, slamming him into the burning ruins below.

The impact shook the entire battlefield.

Aftermath and Reflection

As Bertholdt's Titan collapsed, steam poured from his body. Soldiers scrambled to secure the area while Levi's squad rushed over to confirm his capture.

Akira exhaled, leaning against a broken wall. His clothes were tattered, his energy drained. His Reiryoku was dangerously low after so many high-speed maneuvers.

Jean walked over, panting. "Damn. That was insane."

Connie collapsed next to him. "I can't believe we survived."

Sasha grinned weakly. "I'm just glad I didn't get turned into roast meat."

Akira chuckled. "I dunno, Sasha. Bet you'd taste amazing."

Sasha gasped in horror. "HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT?!"

Jean facepalmed. "Akira, don't encourage her weird food-related trauma."

Historia, having helped the wounded, approached them. "We did it… We actually did it."

Akira nodded, looking at the captured form of Bertholdt. "Yeah… but it's not over."

Everyone turned to him.

Levi, covered in blood and wounds, walked over, his expression serious. "The Beast Titan got away."

Silence fell over the group.

Zeke had escaped.

Erwin limped toward them, his arm clutching his side. "We won this battle… but the war isn't over."

Akira looked at the horizon, where the remnants of the Titans had begun to fade. His hands clenched into fists.

Something told him this was just the beginning of an even greater fight to come.