I Love You... In Every Universe (AOT Alternative Universe)

54. Thunder Spears

AUTHOR'S POV:

A large group of Titans stood to the left and right of the Beast Titan.
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Up on the Wall, their hoods up, the soldiers stared.
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Levi came up behind Erwin. "Erwin, he's gonna climb up." He looked off to the side, Erwin and Armin doing the same.
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On the ground, the Armored Titan crouched, releasing steam.

White crystal appeared over his hands, lengthening into long, pointy fingernails over both his hands and feet.

Suddenly, he took off towards the Wall. Planting his foot into the wall, he began to climb.
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"All troops!" Erwin said to the soldiers as the Armored Titan's clawed hand dug into the Wall. "Avoid clashing with the Armored Titan! Stay away from him!"

"Roger!"
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Eren's group stood further along Wall Maria, watching Reiner's Titan scale it.

"Hange-san, why didn't he signal to attack?" Eren asked. "What's he thinking?"

"He's watching the enemy's movements,' Hange explained, staring out at the Beast Titan and his horde. "Because Reiner and his friends prepared some sort of grand welcome for us."
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Erwin noticed a Titan to the Beast's right. It was on its hands and feet. 'That quadruped type is carrying luggage on its saddle. It wasn't one of those that just transformed. In which case, is that the enemy's scout? If it took notice of our approach and informed Reiner, that must mean...' He imagined the small Titan spying on them in the forest.

Levi pulled up his hood.

"That quadruped type down there is an intelligent Titan," Erwin said, startling Levi and Armin. "No, there might even be others."

'That Titan... has luggage? Armin noticed two barrels on it's back. 'What could it be?'
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Bringing up his elongated arm, the Beast Titan roared as he brought it down on the earth, creating a fissure and causing birds to flee from the nearby trees.

On his signal, the smaller Titans began to charge.
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"They're moving!" Hange called out. "Multiple two- to three-meters approaching!"
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'It's just like the raid at Utgard Castle...' Erwin observed the horses below. 'They'll go after the horses first. Their primary objective is to capture Eren, but... To achieve that, they'll take away our only escape option. With Wall Maria still being deep in Titan territory, Erwin thought, we have no means to get back without horses. Just by killing our horses, it completely blocks our escape and severs our supply line. Whether it takes one week or a month, they can simply wait until there's nobody who can move. Without any of the risks of battle, they can waltz in and take Eren once he's too weak to resist.' He gazed at the taller Titans that stood immobile. 'Right now, the fact that all those larger Titans are staying in formation is proof that their only purpose is to cage us in.'

"Commander!" Armin said quickly. "The Armored Titan is close! And we still don't know where Bertolt is!"

"Yeah, I know." Erwin said, still deep in his thoughts.

'At this point, what I fear most... is that Reiner and Bertolt slaughter our horses unchecked. Therefore...' Erwin straightened.

"Are you finally ready to say something?" Levi asked. "I could've had breakfast during the wait."

"Dirk Squad and Marlene Squad! Protect the horses at the gate with Klaus Squad!" Erwin ordered and turned to his left and pointed his sword. "Levi Squad and Hange Squad! Take down the Armored Titan! Employ the Thunder Spears at your own discretion!"
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