Return to Shiganshina(8)

Bertholdt could not believe what he was seeing. 

"Reiner! How is that possible!"

Through the holes in the barrel, he finally saw in his periphery the Attack Titan. Beneath the Attack Titan was the Armored Titan, who was completely crushed and locked underneath it.

He could make out the figure of his friend, unmoving on the nape.

"REINER!"

He watched as Reiner's body was tucked underneath one of Eren's arms and he flew away with it.

If only he was slightly earlier, slightly faster. He could have gotten to Reiner before the Survey Corps had retrieved him. He never imagined in his wildest dreams Reiner would be taken down that quickly. 

In the first place, it shouldn't even be possible to reach him. The Survey Corps did not possess weapons capable of piercing the Armored Titan's protection as far as he knew.

Should he transform?

But the risk was too great. It could kill the hapless Reiner who was right now as defenseless as a wild chicken. It would kill Eren as well. Their purpose was to capture the Founding Titan, not kill him. Who knew what would happen to them if they returned to Marley in this state losing the Female, Jaw, Armored and Founding Titan.

Or perhaps he should try to overpower Eren in a straight-up hand-to-hand fight. 

A 1 v 1 with Eren. 

He shook his head. Who was he kidding? He'd seen and heard of the brat's skills himself firsthand. Plus there was that annoying Mikasa that was buzzing around the boy like a fly. Just that dealing with that Ackerman would be a handful.

He was left with no choice. He would create some distance between himself and Reiner, and then safely transform without Reiner being caught up in the explosion. From there, he would slowly move towards them. It would be a war on two fronts for the Survey Corps. The Beast Titan from the front, and his Colossal Titan from the back.

Even though Reiner failed, victory would still be the-

*PA*

He heard the sound of flares being fired.

*PA* *PA* *PA*

Beyond the walls, streaks of Green Flares were fired into the sky.

Berthodt felt his guts twisted into a knot. 

Erwin Smith … just what is that man planning?

However, he no longer had time to be distracted.

"Get near Berthodt, Eren! With Reiner in your hands, he can't transform. That's your best chance to take him down!"

There was a huge yell that came. It was Armin. That annoying kid. He got him. 

If it was any other warrior, he probably wouldn't be so conflicted about the loss. But it just had to be Reiner, the person that he was so close with him. After all they had gone through together. 

Reiner had even fought with Zeke on his behalf to try and get priority to rescue Annie first - Reiner knew of his crush on the girl, but he lost to the War Chief, unfortunately.

He had to-

*CLINK*

Bertholdt raised his blades, blocking a strike from Eren. Steel singing against each other. The boy had already closed the distance, as expected of someone called the Flash Blade. 

But Eren was underestimating him if he thought that he could defeat him with only one hand. His other hand was holding Reiner firmly underneath his grip.

"Give Reiner back!" 

"Suck it, you mass-murdering bastard!" Eren yelled as he fired his hooks and held his only blade in a reverse grip, flying towards him as he was forced to parry again.

Mikasa followed up the attack with almost perfect synergy before he could reassume his defensive stance with his swords. One of her blades barely missed his arm.

Berthodt began to panic. This was bad, he needed to get away - to hell with saving gas. He just needed to create a safe distance where he could transform safely without harming Reiner.

But Eren didn't give him the chance.

The boy was already on top of him, this time using his momentum to slam hard into Berthodt and crash him onto the ground.

Berthold was left stunned by the power and speed of the blow. Eren was just too fast. He had never seen anyone at such a speed. It was as if the ODM gear was just an extension of Eren's body. Just how was he doing it? 

And what was with that ridiculous strength? He was overpowering him holding Reiner with one arm and using the other to attack. This shouldn't be humanly possible.

"Now, Mikasa!"

He turned his head sideways to see a girl aiming a gun right at him. The dart fired found its mark. Berthodt felt sleepy all of a sudden and the world turned black around him.