Chapter 56 All Out War

The fist that struck Marco across the face was beginning to get tired. It was the only bit of solace he could find in his interrogation as he weathered beating after beating from his position strapped to the chair.

"How many times am I going to have to ask you? Where were after you left your team? I know you did something to help those traitors!"

Marco wondered in his foggy and tortured brain if he had ever actually seen this man before. It seemed unlikely that he had, he felt he would have remembered someone of his size. The mans fists seemed like they were the size of Marco's skull, and they had certainly rattled it enough for that to be the case. Not that Marco could see those hands much anymore, his vision had gone blurry after the first hit, and he had long since lost count by now.

Another punch rattled his jaw, this time from the other side. He could almost consider it small mercies that it was at least being varied, but it of course brought no actual pleasure. Nearby, a man sighed and stood up from the chair where he had been sitting and watching. With a handkerchief in hand he waved off the brute in front of Marco and took his place.

"This breaks my heart Marco, truly it does." He wiped away blood with a gentle hand, careful not to exacerbate any of his numerous open wounds as he dabbed them. "I know you're a good kid. Want to do the right thing. Help protect people."

He looked at the handkerchief, tossing it aside as he saw just how blood soaked it had become. The man pulled over a chair and leaned back in it, sitting casually as he studied Marco carefully.

"Come on Marco. We already know you have friends in the Scout regiment. I know what happened seems hard to believe, I can't believe they did such a thing either. I don't know what they might have told you, or what they might have demanded from you, but those are bad people. If they threatened you, or someone you care about, we can help you. But you have to help us to do that."

He reached out, gently patting Marco on the shoulders as he seemed to plead with him.

"You're one of us, we know you're not a traitor, not really. Help us and we'll protect you. This whole will be just a big misunderstanding."

The man flashed a wide smile, one that could almost be considered charming. There was no snarky comeback or foul words that Marco could have said in that moment. He hurt so badly, and was just so exhausted, both physically and mentally. He wanted it to end so badly. Slowly, Marco leaned forward and opened his mouth.

Blood dribbled out and down onto the man's shoe. It was all he could do as Marco leaned back in his chair and said nothing.

The man's once friendly smile disappeared. For a split moment, the mask disappeared, and Marco could see the sneer and hate in his eyes. It was gone quickly, replaced a faux disappointment in him that Marco had once for a moment believed when he'd seen it before. He would not forget the eyes behind the mask though, and he would not break.

"I'm so sad to see that you won't listen to reason Marco." He stood, pulling his chair away as he waved for the giant to continue his work. "Perhaps soon, you will find your tongue."

The big man stepped forwards, taking a brief moment to stretch out and pop his knuckles.

"Unlike him, I actually enjoy this."

"I know." It was the first words Marco had actually said in quite some time, and he barely found the strength to move his jaw and mutter. It was enough though, and the big man smiled viciously as he reared back a fist.

The beam that tore through his skull was as surprising as it was welcome.

There was a brief moment where nobody moved. Not the faux kind officer, or the guards standing silently at the door, not even the giant with a hole through his head. Nobody moved until he fell over backwards and hit the floor dead.

The other interrogator scrambled to his feet as the guards drew swords and whirled about in confusion. A figure burst through the wooden door behind them, two blades in their hands as they whipped through the air. Slices across the guards' bellies dropped them down as the figure moved without slowing, racing up to the other interrogator and whipping out the blade in a single smooth cut.

The man fell back clutching his throat before he could say a word. His rescuer didn't pay them any mind as they walked away from the dying man, making a single slice that cut through the bonds holding Marco in place.

"Commander Erwin?"

The man bent down and inspected Marco, looking him in the eyes to check for signs of a concussion.

"You're okay soldier. Let's get you up and out of here."

To say Marco could stand would be an overstatement. His legs were like jelly, and it took a lot of effort from Erwin to haul him up enough to stand. He was almost carried from the room as the two made their way out into the rest of the MP headquarters.

Even to Marco's bloodied ears the difference in sound became readily apparent. The interrogation room he'd been dragged to had been sound proofed well, and even with the door broken in it wasn't until he was outside that he heard the full ruckus of everything that was happening.

There was plenty of shouting and screaming in the background, along with the occasional gunfire that suggested some kind of battle was happening. It seemed fitting then that one of Marco's first sights was of a group of MPs on their knees with hands behind their heads. He'd expected a bunch of armed men, but instead there was only Eld, hand raised with an energy ball standing ominously at the ready.

"Marco will live, but he still needs to get to the medics outside." Erwin relayed, only taking a brief pause in the walk to address his subordinate.

"Yes sir." Eld didn't take his eyes off of his captives before he addressed them. "You heard the man, on your feet. We're all taking a nice stroll outside."

The anxious men and women shared short glances with each other before they all awkwardly began to stand, not willing to take their hands off their heads even to help them get up. Eld marched them out first, directing them down the stairs as Erwin and Marco followed.

"What… what's happening?"

"A change in regime." Erwin said simply. As they began their descent, Marco could see some other figures further ahead and waiting for them. Garrison soldiers, all armed with a mix of swords and rifles, stood directing off the surrendering MPs.

"MARCO!"

Two MP's saw him as they came down the stairs and ran up to grab his arms and assist with carrying him down the rest of the way. In his foggy brained state, it took him a moment to realise it was Marlo and Hitch.

"What's going on? Why are you two here?"

"They came to get us a few hours ago." Erwin said as he handed Marco off to his comrades. "After you returned late and were imprisoned, they were worried about you."

"How did you even know where they were?" He asked the two of them. Part of the reason he hadn't told them was to make it easier to deny.

Marlo blushed slightly as they continued to move. "I get delivered your mail by accident sometimes. One of the letters I got was from that Carla lady telling you her new address."

A single letter difference in their name had saved him from continued torture it seemed, how fortunate. Marco let out a small laugh at the situation, before breaking into rapid and pained coughs, wheezing as he felt the bruises on his chest from where they'd beat him.

"I had Levi and Eld scouting the Garrison and Military Police headquarters to determine their movements and see when our best chance to mount a rescue would be." Erwin didn't mention that there may have been the sad chance that no opportunity would present itself. If he'd had to choose between attempting to rescue Marco or ensure the remaining Scouts in the interior could escape… he was glad that he hadn't had to make the decision. "Whilst scouting the Garrison headquarters, Captain Levi overheard the arrival of new orders. Commander Pixis has ordered the end to all attempts on the Scouts, and the removal of duty of the Military Police. He is seizing control of the government as we speak."

Marco wasn't really sure how he felt about all of that as he was led free from the building. There was a crowd of onlookers being pressed back by the Garrison, but they still had a clear view of the MPs who were being arrested. As well as the bodies.

Some were Garrison, some were Military Police, but worst of some were familiar. He caught sight of one face that hadn't been covered up yet, the face of a woman he had seen a few times walking the hallways of the headquarters. Maybe she had resisted, maybe she had been caught by surprise, he didn't know. All he could remember in the brief moment he saw her face, was the passing friendly greetings they had shared.

Just day to day acquaintances, sharing simple greetings as they went about their day. All he could remember was the friendly smiles he had seen on her. All he could see now, was a pale white face, drained of colour by the blood that stained her chest. Face frozen in stunned surprise before a bullet had been fired through her heart.

He forced himself to turn away as a sheet was laid over her.

"What will happen now?"

Erwin was silent for a moment as he pondered Marco's question. It wasn't an immediate answer he wanted, and he wasn't referring to the next actions of the Garrison. Marco's eyes were distant, worried about the future and about his comrades.

"This district will be locked down, as will all in Wall Sina until the government has been removed from power. When the fighting has ceased and the new government installed, all Military Police personnel will be released. Their officers will be replaced by members of the Garrison for monitoring."

"And us?" Marco jerked his head towards his two compatriots, both of whom were anxiously watching the events around them.

"You shall be free to go. You have earned our trust, and I have given my word to the Garrison commanders here that you will not cause any trouble."

It wasn't a question of faith, not really. Marco could tell that from a practical standpoint, the three of them posed no threat to any sense of stability in the walls. Though he imagined that arresting those who had just helped them would crush any goodwill and cement any seeds of resentment that might linger. It was the smart move, not one that was done out of kindness.

"You have my thanks." Marco grunted.

Erwin gave him an appreciative nod, excusing himself before he broke away to discuss with the other commanders in the area. The Scout Eld was polite enough to wait around, keeping a small distance from them but also waving away any Garrison soldiers who seemed to be giving questioning looks about why they weren't with the other prisoners.

"Thank you." Marco finally said. "Both of you."

"You're our leader, we couldn't leave you behind."

It was surprising to hear those words from Hitch of all people, though she refused to look him in the eye as she said them. Nevertheless, Marco was glad to have people at his side who would support him.

Gohan and Frieda met in the centre of the crystal cavern, fist striking fist as they traded blows once more. As they held against each other, another series of sparks billowed from Frieda's body as her muscles increased in size again, the sleeves on her shirt ripping as the fabric failed to contain her strength.

One of her hands slipped away and buried itself into his gut, breath driven from his lungs under the mighty force of her attack. Her next attack was faster but just as strong, striking Gohan across the face with a series of punches that he failed to block. As she reared back for the final hit, Gohan ducked underneath it and drove both feet into her stomach.

Both of them were flung away from the other, Gohan recovering his breath as Frieda gasped and wheezed.

"This is wrong." The words were hard to speak, but Gohan managed it with heaving breaths. "You can't really believe that these people must be held responsible for the sins of their ancestors? These people are innocent!"

"The blood of countless built the Eldian empire." She spat back, finally managing enough oxygen back inside of her to speak. "Their sins are too great to be ignored. The price must be paid."

"Not like this! These people had nothing to do with that, they're innocent! If a debt must be repaid then let them do it by helping people, don't murder them for what they didn't do!"

Her eyes raged at him, reflexive sparks of electricity flashing around her body. "Our sins are beyond repayment! Only blood can be given for blood taken! The descendants of countless victims lie beyond these walls, and they are owed justice for what was done to them."

"Done to them by others, by those long dead. These people's only crime is being born! None of them know of the world beyond, of what was done to those people. If you want them to atone for their ancestors' actions, then they must be allowed the chance to do so."

Frieda's snarl lessened slightly as she looked at him. Her eyes seemed to hold more pity for him than malice for a brief moment.

"They can't… I've seen how these people act, how they turn on each other in these walls. For a hundred years these people have had one enemy at their doors, the face of their evil reflection staring back at them. This land held all they needed, it was a paradise of opportunity for them and all they could want to be. But what did they do? They killed. Killed each other for food, for coin, for petty and small reason. They rape, enslave, steal and torture. I've seen a hundred years of what these people are truly like, I've seen their true face when you haven't. If they knew what lay beyond these walls, then it would be nothing but carnage. A returning empire from the ashes, one feeding on the blood of the innocent beyond. Can't you see it Gohan? These people are evil, they can't be given the chance to hurt anyone else!"

"They could prove you wrong!" He held his finger out in accusation, thinking over every person he had met in this world, all the pieces of good he'd seen. "Their chance to be better was stolen from them a hundred years ago when your ancestor blinded them to their past, to the world beyond. I have seen the good in them, I have seen the kindness. All you have seen is the pain of the helpless and the fearful, those who believe there is no future because of the manipulations of your past King. I can show them the world beyond and prove to you that they can be better, that they can do good!"

She was silent.

The two hovered quietly in the air as he waited for an answer from the Queen. Her head was hung low, and when she spoke it was so quiet he almost didn't hear it.

"I can't do it… I can't do it Gohan… I-… I can't let them, I can't let them risk anyone else's life." She looked at him with fresh anger in her eyes. Teeth bared and eyes fixed in a hateful glare. "I won't let them kill anyone else!"

Balls of Ki energy bloomed into life in her hands before she began hurling them at Gohan. Not just two, she kept throwing more and more, swarming him with blasts that he dodged as they exploded into the cavern around him.

Gohan dashed back and forth, leaving after images as he dodged blast after blast. Each explosion was close, but he kept out of the way by the skin of his teeth.

The cavern shook with each hit, deep cracks forming along the walls and floor as it was rocked by the attacks. It wasn't long before one of Frieda's blasts hit the roof of the cavern, bringing down a large chunk of the ceiling.

It was the blast that brought the whole cavern crumbling down. Piece by piece the roof cracked apart as boulders rained down upon Gohan. He blasted apart the first, punched the second in half and even kicked away the third. But the fourth, fifth, and more and more were too much as he was dragged down under their weight.

As his feet hit the ground it was too much to bear, as Gohan finally snapped.

"I WILL NOT LET THESE PEOPLE DIE!" The crystalline boulder exploded away from him, shattering into tiny flakes as Gohan blasted himself up to his full power and his aura bloomed into life. "RAAAGGGHHHHH!"

He rocketed towards Frieda, crashing into her as he drove her upwards into the crystal. They smashed into it but didn't slow as Gohan drove her through the roof and dirt.

"RAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!"

They exploded out into the open air, Gohan flipping them both through the air before he kicked her away with an explosive boom.

Frieda roared back, charging back towards him with power flooding her body. He met her in the middle, fists raining down on the both of them as they attacked, dodged, and blocked in turn. Each hit sent a ripple through the others body, but neither of them stopped, the cracks and pops in the air as Ki radiated off of each other.

Frieda kicked at Gohan, but he slipped out of the way and grabbed her by the leg instead. Spinning her around, he flung her away before he dropped into a well-practiced pose.

"Ka-me-ha-me-HAAA!"

The bright blue beam pierced the air towards Frieda, who dodged away at the last second. The beam whistled on, pulled upwards and into the sky as Gohan wrenched it away from the ground.

She charged back at him, purple balls of Ki spewing from her hands as she flew. He batted each one away, aimed carefully at the uninhabited ground or sending them soaring harmlessly into the sky. With his focus on where to send the blasts however, he was too slow to react as she sent a vicious kick into his chest that sent him flying backwards and towards the ground.

He stopped some distance off the floor as he recovered, seeing her racing towards him to keep up her offensive. She was strong and fast, and she had some skills to back it up, but she had no experience or fighting wisdom. Gohan let her come to him, before moving quickly to grab her before she could strike. He used her momentum against her as he hurled her over his shoulder and straight into the dirt.

She was buried deep, even in spite of the massive crater that she made with her impact. Her body disappeared from sight, but he sensed her Ki easily. He felt it spike, saw the thick lighting bolt that struck from the heavens and into the ground.

The earth exploded out with a bright pillar of purple energy. Frieda rose up from the ground, Ki billowing from her even stronger body. Her sleeves were now fully gone, her pants ripping too as her muscles increased again, her Ki spiking upwards in kind. Her snarl was unrelenting, and she let out a howl of anger as she raced towards Gohan.

Once more he threw his energy as high as it could go, slamming into the barrier in spite of it and bringing his body to full potential. With focused practice, he charged right back towards her.

The cavern was crumbling. The quaking of the ground had not relented since it began, and the cracking of the ceiling had proven that it would not be stopped. Historia and Ymir had been the first to move, breaking away from the Reiss family who were too distracted to try and hold them prisoner.

They made their way into the central cavern where light now poured in from the opening in the roof. More and more pieces were breaking away as the structure caved inwards. Some of the larger boulders had landed by the stairs leading to the entryway, blocking the path to escape under far too much weight to move.

"Ymir, can you move those boulders?"

Historia's question was one she had started asking herself. Sadly, she shook her head as she looked over them.

"They're too heavy. My Titan isn't like Eren's, I can't do what he did in Trost."

She was the Jaws Titan. She could dance through the trees and rip out a Titans nape in one swift bite. She could not hope to use her strength to lift things though.

Historia paced on the spot, hopping from one leg to the other as she anxiously looked about. She froze as she pointed upwards. "Ymir, can you carry us up there?"

Historia's finger wasn't just pointed upwards, she was marking a small trail where the cavern had collapsed inwards in a way that seemed like it might leave enough of a path to travel up. Not for any normal person of course, but for an especially agile Titan…

Ymir grimaced. It would be a long shot, but they didn't exactly have much else of a choice. The cavern was beginning to crumble at an exponential rate since Gohan and Frieda's battle had started here. From the sounds of their battle outside, things weren't anywhere closer to slowing down.

She broke away from Historia, making her way a short distance from her so that she would be safe. With no knife in her possession, she had to go the Eren Jaeger route. Distractedly, she cursed him and his bullheadedness that made it look so easy.

She bit down hard on her palm, blood spraying as lightning cracked around her. Bones, muscles, and flesh all flashed into life as her Titan form returned to existence. As her body was lifted from the ground in its form, she felt her nerves stretch, her senses reach out as her body became one with the larger Titan form.

As her fingertips touched the ground, she felt the transformation finish. She didn't waste any time as she moved towards the path that Historia had spotted. It first required some small rocks moved out of the way, and she set to the task quickly as the rumbling grew stronger.

From behind them, the rest of the Reiss family came sprinting down the tunnel towards them.

Historia hesitated as she saw them coming, unsure as to how she felt about them. They were in a sense, her family. Yet also, her enemy.

Her decision was made for her as they came running towards her all too slowly. The tunnel that they ran down cracked again, and one chunk of crystal fell and hit one of her half-brothers on the head.

"DIRK!"

The older brother turned in horror as the younger slumped to his knees in an instant, blood seeping from his head as his eyes rolled back. They stared upwards at nothing, lifeless. The older brother, Ulklin, tried to shake him awake. Their father, Rod, tried to pull him along, to have him move from the tunnel and away from the danger.

The collapse began as the two men started to tearfully argue, their last words to each other being pleas for help before they were cut off by crumbling crystal and rock.

The youngest girl Florian was pinned by one such rock, her leg being crushed as it landed and tripped her up. She had barely begun to scream for help when another crushed her body beneath it, taking her from sight with only a blood stain escaping from beneath.

Only the mother and the eldest sister, Abel, made it out and into the main expanse. The mother was shocked into a stupor, frozen with hand to her mouth in horror as the sudden deaths of her children.

"This way!"

Historia cried out to them as Ymir finished clearing the first part of the path. Abel grabbed her mother and pulled her along as the three of them were plucked up by Ymir and lifted up onto the first main ledge.

Ymir moved past, clearing out the second ledge when another quake shook the room. Ymir heard the scream, turned to see Abel pointing upwards as another series of boulders fell down from the ceiling. Ymir lunged to shield Historia, throwing herself in the way of the debris.

One of the rocks soared past and smashed into their ledge. The foundation beneath Ymir's feet cracked, splitting in half as the floor fell out from beneath Abel's feet. Her screaming form fell away, being crushed by rocks as the others smashed against Ymir's Titan back.

"ABEL!"

Marti watched helplessly as her daughter was crushed by the impact. In just a few short minutes, almost the entirety of her family had been torn away from her. She was frozen, leaning over the edge as she looked down upon her now dead daughter.

"Ymir! We can't stay here, we have to move!"

It was easy to say, but Ymir was entirely unable to move under the weight of the rocks of her back. She was straining just to hold the rocks clear of her lover, her back was steaming as her body fought back and tried to heal the damage that was being wrought upon her.

Historia moved towards the second ledge, jumping up as she tried to make her way up. Her fingertips just brushed against the crystal ledge, but just as she tried to pull her way up, she was wrenched backwards.

Marti grabbed her from behind, an arm grappling around her throat as she struggled against her.

"My family… dead. All dead but my Queen, and all because of you. Because of my husbands bitch from a whore." Marti choked her tighter as Historia gagged and sputtered. "You killed my family. If it wasn't for you, Gohan would never have come here. Murderous bitch, why didn't you just stay on that farm and die!"

There was a flash of steel and glass, glimpsed from the corner of Historia's eyes before it was too late.

The needle was sunk into her neck. A vial of Titan spinal fluid was injected straight into her body, and within moments her body began to spasm. With one final strain of effort, Marti hurled Historia off the side. The small blondes body fell through the air towards the ground as sparks of electricity flashed around her.

Just as her back touched the ground, a bolt of lightning struck her body and steam exploded from her body. Vengeful eyes watched as Historia was transformed into one of the largest Titans to have ever existed.