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Chapter 12

In the midst of chaos—in the screams of people fleeing the hell raining down from the sky—only two were running against the current.

Eren and Mikasa raced toward the district where Eren grew up... toward the home he had pictured in his mind every second since the wall began to fall.

People rushed past him—some carrying children on their shoulders, others collapsing from exhaustion or wounds, and some… were not so lucky—crushed by falling debris or consumed by terror.

Eren panted heavily, his legs moving frantically as the trembling of the ground grew louder behind him from massive footsteps.

"The rubble didn't fall on our house!! It must've survived!!"

He ran like a madman, dodging corpses, kicking through wood and stone, the only voice he heard was the one screaming inside his own head:

"When I turn this corner… our old house will be right there! Just like always!!"

But he wasn't ready for the truth that struck him.

As he turned the corner, his body froze. His steps slowed. His breath caught. His eyes widened with each passing second.

His home was gone.

Just rubble—splintered wood and crushed stones. Nothing remained but fragments and faint wisps of smoke.

"MOOOOOM!!!"

Eren screamed—a cry that awakened the entire street.

He ran. Fell. Crawled. Got up again.

He reached the ruins and began digging with his bare hands, with every ounce of strength he had left.

Mikasa followed close behind, her eyes scanning the debris, searching for something—someone.

Eren, choking on his sobs, the dust sticking to his tears, cried:

"Mikasa!! Help me!! She's here!! My mom is here!!"

They pulled planks, lifted beams—until they saw Carla, buried under the wreckage. Alive, but unable to move.

"Eren…"

She whispered faintly.

Eren's whole body shuddered at the sound of her voice, like life had returned to him for a moment.

"I'll get you out of here!! We'll get you out!! Just hold on!!"

As they struggled to lift the heavy beam—

A terrifying roar shook the shattered windows and chilled the blood in their veins.

A Titan's roar. Very close.

Eren gasped, eyes darting around:

"Mikasa!! Hurry!! It's coming!!"

But Carla, the mother who understood the situation instantly, screamed despite her pain:

"Mikasa!! Take Eren and RUN!! Don't waste time!!"

Eren shook his head violently, as if refusing to hear:

"No!! We're taking you with us!! This isn't goodbye!! Don't say that!!"

Carla looked deep into his eyes—with love, with sorrow, and with strength—and said firmly:

"Then at least grant me this… my last wish… Please, just run!!"

Before Eren could answer, a massive shadow loomed—

Her face appeared.

The female Titan.

Expressionless, yet something demonic lingered in her gaze. Her mouth agape, eyes devoid of emotion—only hunger.

She paused for a second, then began walking toward the rubble where Carla lay trapped.

Suddenly—a voice rang out:

"Step back!! I'll take her on!!"

It was Hannes, the soldier they had known since childhood. Sword in hand. A grim look on his face.

Carla screamed with every bit of strength she had:

"No, Hannes!! Don't go!! Take the children and RUN!! Please!!"

Hannes grit his teeth, trying to keep calm:

"Carla, don't underestimate me!! I won't leave you!! I'll handle this Titan!!"

But as he got closer… and saw the Titan's face—that mouth, those eyes, that steaming body…

He froze.

True fear struck his heart.

He couldn't move. His sword trembled in his hand. His body refused to respond.

Carla, tears welling in her eyes, whispered:

"Hannes… Please… Save my son…"

And so, he did.

Without another word, he turned and ran toward Eren and Mikasa, grabbed them both by the hand, and sprinted away from the wreckage.

Eren screamed, reaching out, struggling:

"MOM!!! NO!! MOOOOOM!!!"

As they fled, Carla remained in the ruins, watching her children disappear into the distance. Her voice, a tearful whisper:

"Thank you… Thank you, Hannes…"

Then, the Titan reached into the wreckage.

Eren watched… as her hand wrapped around his mother, lifted her into the air.

Carla was still speaking, trying to deliver her last words:

"Eren!! Mikasa!! Stay alive… Please!!"

Eren screamed—his voice splitting the heavens:

"MOOOOOOM!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!"

---

Five minutes earlier…

The sky was turning crimson, but this was no ordinary sunset.

Arya Stanz stood by the kitchen window, staring into the dark horizon. Her face pale. Hand over her mouth. Eyes locked on one thing:

Wall Maria.

Atop the wall… a giant hand. Steam pouring from it.

Then the face appeared.

A colossal, bald, red Titan—its body boiling with heat and vapor.

Arya's heart sank.

At that moment, Rio Ackerman was in the living room, sitting at the table, mouth full of pie, with a childlike grumpy face:

"Mom! Why didn't you add apricot jam to the pie?! Did you forget I love it?!"

Seconds passed. No answer. Strange.

He called again:

"Mom?"

Doubt crept into his heart.

He stood up slowly, approaching the kitchen, eyes widening with each step—until he saw her.

Arya stood frozen. Motionless. Her expression numb. A tremble in her limbs.

He approached her, stood beside her—and looked out the window.

Then… he saw it.

The Colossal Titan. The massive breach in the wall. Regular Titans flooding in through that dark void.

"What the…?!"

Rio gasped. But his heart didn't stop. His mind remained sharp—Ackerman sharp.

He grabbed his mother by the shoulder and said firmly:

"Mom!! Pull yourself together! We need to run now!"

She shook her head, as if surfacing from underwater. Then, realizing the danger, she began gathering herself.

She ran to the door—but he suddenly stopped her, his voice now deeper, urgent:

"Mom! Head to the river ship! Go now! I swear I'll catch up to you!"

Arya stared at him, stunned.

"I can't leave you alone!"

But when she looked into his eyes, she saw something new—resolve, maturity, and worry for her.

She silently cried, then ran out.

Rio wasted no time. He sprinted to his father's room, searched under the bed, then in the wardrobe—until he found an old bag.

Inside was the 3D maneuver gear. Along with his father's black, heavy, memory-laden satchel.

He took the gear, strapped it around his waist, fastened the locks with practiced speed. Grabbed a pouch of coins and tucked it into his trousers.

He also placed a few photographs from his father's room into the bag—one of them showed his father and Uncle Renji in their twenties, youthful and strong.

He stood still for a moment, looking around the house where he had grown up.

Took a deep breath.

"Goodbye."

Then he left.

But he didn't get far—the moment he stepped outside, he collapsed to the ground, clutching his head as if something pierced his brain.

"Ahhh!!"

Sweat poured down. Names tumbled from his mouth:

"Carla… Auntie… Why now?! Why am I thinking of her?!"

A vision. A strange inner pull. A threat approaching.

"I have to go to her!"

He got up, fired the maneuver cables, and soared through the air like a blade in the wind.

Titans blocked his path—he didn't stop.

One, two, five of them lunged—but he, having awakened his blood and with incredible speed, weaved through them like madness in the sky.

One Titan opened its mouth wide—another reached for him—but he fired a cable to the roof of a nearby house, launched himself like a rocket.

"Haaah!!"

He sliced the first Titan's neck cleanly.

Then dove toward the second, a circle of blood exploding around him.

He spun midair, hurtling toward the third, fourth, and fifth—like the wind itself carried him.

He finished them in ten seconds flat.

Landing on a rooftop, heart pounding, eyes scanning the horizon—until he saw her.

The female Titan—the one with golden hair.

Holding a woman's body…

Carla.

She was about to crush her.

"NOOOOOOO!!!"

Rio screamed, launching forward like a missile. He soared across five rooftops in four seconds, then dove with a clear target:

Her nape.

"Aaaaah!!"

He slashed

with a clean diagonal strike—blood exploded from her neck. Her body collapsed.

And just before Carla could fall from above—

He caught her.

Wrapped his arms around her. Held her close.

Looked into her eyes:

"You're safe now, Auntie."

To be continued…