Chapter 23: Nah Just Kidding
Bertholdt's colossal form towered ominously over the wall. His massive leg lifted, poised to deliver a devastating kick. Below, the people of Shiganshina screamed in terror, their voices merging into a symphony of despair.
As Bertholdt's foot began its descent, the force sent cracks rippling through the wall. The structure groaned and buckled under the immense pressure, fragments raining down in a cascade of destruction.
Niikaz narrowed her eyes, her breath steady despite the chaos around her. Her voice cut through the din, firm and resolute: "Like I'll let you do that!"
Her body surged forward as she leaped into the air, propelled not by any physical means but by sheer willpower. She soared towards the Colossal Titan, a streak of defiance against the towering behemoth.
Bertholdt's eyes widened in confusion as he caught sight of her approach. For a moment, his movements faltered. Niikaz didn't hesitate. With a fierce determination, she reached out, her right hand pressing against the Colossal Titan's forehead.
A blinding light erupted from the contact, illuminating the battlefield in an ethereal glow. The energy coursed through Niikaz as if the very essence of the Colossal Titan was being unraveled. Bertholdt let out an anguished scream, his voice reverberating like a mournful wail across the battlefield.
Niikaz clenched her jaw, feeling the immense strain as she absorbed the Titan's power. It was as though her body was being torn apart from within, but she didn't falter. She couldn't falter.
Bertholdt's screams grew weaker until his massive form began to crumble. The once-mighty Colossal Titan fell, his body dissipating into steam. Bertholdt himself tumbled from the dissipating form, unconscious and vulnerable.
Niikaz's body trembled as she pushed through the pain, diving toward him before he could crash to the ground. Her arms wrapped around his limp form, and with one last burst of strength, she landed safely on the broken ground below.
Dust swirled around them, the battlefield momentarily silent save for Niikaz's labored breathing.
Erwin descended swiftly using his maneuver gear, his expression a mix of relief and urgency. "Niikaz!" he called out, his voice breaking through her haze.
Niikaz turned her head toward him, but before she could reply, a sharp thump echoed from within her chest. She froze, her eyes widening in shock before a violent cough wracked her body. Blood splattered onto the ground, bright against the desolation.
"Shit," she muttered hoarsely, her voice barely audible. Her hands trembled uncontrollably as she stared at her bloodstained palms. "This... This is why I wanted to take it slow... Absorbing them all at once was too much."
Her vision blurred as she looked up at the wall. It was still partially intact, but a large hole, roughly one to two meters wide, gaped like an open wound. The structure groaned ominously, on the verge of collapse.
If the Titans outside caught sight of the humans beyond, the wall would fall completely with single push from 10-14 meters titan. Desperation clawed at her mind, but her body refused to move.