The Empire of Titans Chapter 43 (The Clash of Titans) (Patreon)

Reiner launched himself at Eren, but in a swift and calculated move, Eren seized his opponent by the lower half, effortlessly hurling him over his own body. The force of the impact sent Reiner hurtling into a nearby house, causing it to shudder under the strain. Without wasting a moment, Eren swiftly rose to his feet, his eyes burning with determination. He unleashed a powerful punch aimed directly at Reiner's face. A blow meant to cripple his adversary. However, to Eren's dismay, the punch barely made a dent. Undeterred, Reiner retaliated, his fist hurtling towards Eren with blistering speed. Yet, Eren's reflexes were as sharp as ever, evading the incoming attack with grace and precision.

Tension filled the air as Reiner unleashed a barrage of furious fists toward Eren, their clash echoing through the battlefield. With lightning reflexes, Eren skillfully evaded each strike, dancing around Reiner's onslaught like a nimble specter. With a lightning-fast counterattack, Eren's fist connected with Reiner's face, delivering a satisfying blow reverberating through the titan-infested battleground. However, the tides swiftly turned as Reiner retaliated, his own fist finding its mark on Eren's jaw with bone-crushing force. The impact sent Eren hurtling through the air, crashing against a nearby house, the structure quaking with the force of their clash.

His every breath seemed to escape him as the relentless assault of the Jaw Titan prevented him from approaching Eren. Reiner's instincts kicked into overdrive as he desperately maneuvered, evading the flurry of attacks launched by his nimble adversary. Despite his best efforts, a single strike managed to breach his impenetrable armor, slicing through the protective layers and drawing blood from his exposed flesh. Determined not to succumb to defeat, Reiner mustered his strength, ready to retaliate with a powerful punch. However, before he could strike back, the agile Jaw Titan swiftly leaped away, creating distance between them, while simultaneously, the Female Titan emerged from Reiner's blind spot, delivering an unexpected and forceful kick directly to his face.

Mikasa, her voice trembling with urgency, turned to Armin and posed the pivotal question, "Armin, should we intervene?" Their eyes locked, the weight of the situation hanging heavy in the air as they stood side by side, their hearts pounding in synchrony.

They both saw Reiner locked in a fierce battle against two Titan Shifters. The deafening clash of steel against flesh reverberated through the battlefield, echoing the struggles of both sides. Both Armin and Mikasa had a cut in their palms in case they needed to turn into Titans.

With bated breath, Armin observed the relentless fight from a vantage point, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Eren had pushed himself to the brink of exhaustion, yet his indomitable spirit refused to falter. Amidst the chaos, Armin sensed a glimmer of hope, a flicker of certainty that victory was within their grasp. And yet, as the battle raged on, Armin's mind couldn't help but wander to Annie. Questions gnawed at his consciousness, demanding answers that seemed just out of reach. His eyes narrowed, a mixture of determination and curiosity flickering in their depths.

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As the sun was setting on the horizon, casting an ethereal glow upon the battlefield, Commander Pyxis stood resolutely atop the Wall Rose. His voice boomed through the air, echoing with authority as he barked orders to the soldiers manning the cannons, orchestrating a symphony of destruction against the relentless onslaught of the normal Titans that plagued the city below.

Amidst the chaos and thunderous blasts, a curious garrison soldier, his eyes filled with a mix of awe and confusion, dared to question the strategy. With a furrowed brow, he approached Commander Pyxis, his voice laced with both trepidation and curiosity and posed the burning question that lingered on his mind: "Commander, may I ask why are we not attacking the Armoured Titan?" As the words hung in the air, a brief moment of silence swept across the battlefield, punctuated only by the distant cries of Titans and the rhythmic beat of hearts pounding in anticipation.

The commander turned his gaze towards the soldier, his eyes filled with a mix of wisdom and resolve.

With a heavy sigh, Commander Pyxis turned towards the concerned garrison soldier, his eyes reflecting a mixture of wisdom and regret. "Unfortunately," he replied, his voice carrying across the expanse of the wall, "our Cannons can't do anything against him, and we take the risk of accidentally hitting our own soldiers. No, kill every normal Titan, you see." Silence hung in the air for a fleeting moment, interrupted only by the distant howls of the Titans.

The soldiers, their loyalty unwavering, snapped to attention, their salutes a testament to their unwavering dedication. "Yes, sir!" they chorused in unison, their voices resolute and brimming with determination. With unwavering resolve, they aimed their cannons toward the horde of normal Titans, their fingers trembling with anticipation. And then, in a crescendo of deafening thunder, the cannons unleashed their fury.

Explosions erupted across the battlefield, illuminating the sky. The soldiers stood firm amidst the chaos, their expressions a mixture of fear and unwavering courage. With each blast, the normal Titans were met with devastation, their bodies torn asunder by the unyielding force of the cannons. Amidst the smoke and debris, Commander Pyxis watched with a mix of pride and sorrow. He knew that victory came at a price, and yet, he remained resolute in his duty to protect humanity. As the echoes of cannon fire reverberated through the dusk, the soldiers, their spirits aflame, continued their relentless assault, their determination unyielding.

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The tension hung heavy in the air as Mikasa anxiously sought reassurance from Armin. With a hushed tone that held a mix of confidence and caution, Armin finally responded his words carrying a weight of strategic wisdom. "No," he said firmly, his voice barely audible above the deafening sounds of destruction. "We are winning, Mikasa. There's no need for us to reveal our cards just yet."

Reluctantly, Mikasa nodded, her heart pounding in sync with the rumblings of the battle-scarred City. However, a thunderous roar reverberated through the air, momentarily silencing the chaos. All eyes were drawn to Eren, who had risen to his feet, his presence commanding attention. At that moment, his emerald eyes shimmered and flickered, mirroring the intensity of an untamed fire, igniting a sense of both awe and trepidation among his comrades.

His knuckles were crystallized, and with a thunderous roar that echoed through the battlefield, the Attack Titan surged forward with an astonishing burst of speed, closing in on Reiner. In a split second, Reiner launched a mighty punch toward Eren, who swiftly evaded the blow by skillfully ducking to his right.

Seizing the opportunity, Eren retaliated with a devastating strike, connecting solidly with the Armoured Titan's face. The impact reverberated throughout the surroundings, creating a shockwave that rippled through the air, and in a spectacular display of force, Reiner was sent hurtling backward, his face exposed as the armor protecting it crumbled away, leaving him vulnerable and stunned.

Tension filled the air as Reiner, fueled by rage and determination, swiftly rose to his feet. With a lightning-fast motion, he propelled his fist toward Eren's face, aiming to deliver a devastating blow. However, Eren's lightning-quick reflexes allowed him to evade the attack effortlessly. Undeterred and with unwavering resolve, Eren retaliated with a resounding punch to Reiner's face, causing even more fragments of his formidable armor to crumble away, revealing the vulnerability beneath his once-impenetrable facade.

The tension soared as Reiner, driven by a mix of desperation and determination, launched a vicious kick toward Eren. However, in a display of sheer resilience and indomitable strength, Eren swiftly seized Reiner's leg with an iron grip, his eyes ablaze with an unyielding fury that shook the very core of his being.

With an explosive roar that reverberated through the air, Eren summoned an extraordinary surge of power, propelling his entire body upwards with breathtaking force. In a cataclysmic clash that seemed to defy the laws of nature, Reiner's body became a weapon, hurtling towards a nearby house with unstoppable momentum.

The impact was nothing short of cataclysmic, as the formidable structure crumbled under the weight of the collision, sending shards of debris hurtling in all directions. But Eren's wrath was far from sated. Gripping Reiner's leg with unwavering determination, he unleashed a primal scream that echoed with a chilling intensity. In an act of brutal retribution, he exerted an unimaginable force, tearing Reiner's entire left leg from his body with an unyielding ferocity that defied comprehension.

Reiner, battered and broken, crashed against the unforgiving ground. With every ounce of strength left in his body, he fought desperately to crawl away, his eyes filled with equal parts fear and determination, fixated on the towering Wall standing nearby. The realization struck him like a lightning bolt - he knew that in order to survive, he needed to scale that barrier and make a hasty retreat.

However, fate had a cruel twist in store for him as Eren, fueled by a relentless resolve, swiftly leaped onto him, refusing to let go of his prey. Reiner, driven by sheer desperation, attempted to kick Eren away, his survival instincts kicking into overdrive. But just as hope seemed within his grasp, the Jaw Titan landed with an earth-shattering thud on his lower body. The relentless beast wasted no time, her powerful jaws clamping down with savage fury, biting through his entire leg in one swift, bone-crushing motion.

Eren, fueled by determination and adrenaline, defiantly raised his fist with unwavering resolve. With a swift and forceful motion, he unleashed a powerful punch aimed directly at the Armoured Titan's menacing visage, causing a shockwave of impact. The raw power behind Eren's strike was so immense that it sent one of the Armoured Titan's eyeballs hurtling through the air. Undeterred by the grotesque sight, Eren's eyes gleamed with unwavering determination as he prepared to deliver yet another blow to the Armoured Titan's face, his fists poised for a merciless assault. However, just as he was about to unleash his fury once more, a voice resonated through the air, penetrating the chaos and bringing the battle to an abrupt halt and freezing Eren in his tracks and compelling him to slowly lift his gaze, curiosity, and caution intermingling on his face.

The air crackled with tension as Bertholdt's voice echoed through the chaos, "REINER!!!" Clad in his ODM Gear, he soared through the sky. Determination burned in his eyes as he closed in on Reiner's elusive location, his hand throbbing with pain and a billowing plume of steam ominously rising from the wound. Undeterred by the injury, Bertholdt's resolve intensified, fueled by a surge of raw energy. With a resounding burst of gas from his ODM Gear, propelling him forward with incredible force, he catapulted himself toward Eren and the rest of the group, ready to unleash his true power and transform into the Colossal Titan.

"Everyone! RETREAT. The Colossal Titan will Blow All Of Us!" his voice strained with urgency, bellowed his command to the remaining soldiers, their hearts pounding in their chests.

The soldiers, their eyes wide with fear, wasted no time responding to his call. With lightning speed, they deftly maneuvered their ODM Gear, a symphony of whirling blades and flying cables, as they sought to escape from the imminent danger.

Above them, Bertholdt soared through the darkened sky, his presence casting a sinister shadow over the battlefield. Reiner, battered and broken, lay sprawled on the ground, his face etched with pain and exhaustion. As Bertholdt's gaze met Annie's, a poignant moment of connection passed between them, a silent understanding of the gravity of the situation they found themselves in. Amidst the chaos and destruction, the soldiers frantically searched for cover, their hearts pounding in their chests. Their eyes darted from one building to another, seeking refuge in any nook or cranny that could shield them from the impending disaster. Fear and determination mingled in their eyes as they sprinted, their footsteps echoing through the war-torn streets.

Bertholdt found himself looking at Annie. The moment's intensity was palpable as he gazed into her eyes, his voice laden with remorse and regret. With a heavy heart and tears streaming down his face, he whispered, "I'm sorry, Annie. I-I really wish we could have had more time together." Every syllable carried the weight of missed opportunities and unspoken desires as Bertholdt's sorrow engulfed him, leaving him vulnerable in the face of impending doom.

' As Bertholdt lay sprawled on the lush green grass, basking in the warmth of the sun's gentle caress, a sudden interruption shattered the tranquility of his solitude. Startled, he swiveled his head to meet the gaze of a golden-haired Eldian who had moments earlier unleashed a torrent of anger upon Porco.

Curiosity piqued, the young boy posed a question that hung in the air like a delicate wisp of smoke, "Why are you so quiet?"

With nonchalance and a casual shrug of his broad shoulders, Bertholdt responded, his voice carrying an undertone of introspection, "I don't have anything to say,"

With a perplexed expression, the young blonde boy arched his eyebrow, his features contorting in a state of bewilderment upon processing the unexpected response. However, within the blink of an eye, a glimmer of realization danced across his visage, morphing his expression into a radiant smile illuminating his entire face.

It was as if a brilliant light bulb had suddenly flickered to life within the recesses of his mind, casting away the shadows of confusion. "Ohh, well, my name is Reiner Braun," he introduced himself, extending his hand towards the hesitant figure before him.

Caught off guard by this sudden display of confidence, M-my name is Bertholdt Hoover," his own name escaping his lips with a hint of reluctance. Nonetheless, he tentatively reached out and clasped Reiner's outstretched hand, his grip mirroring the newfound sense of triumph that adorned his companion's countenance.

Reiner, with a mischievous glint in his eye, swiftly interjected with a sly grin, his voice carrying a hint of triumph, "See, now you have a reason to talk," The perplexed expression that momentarily clouded Bertholdt's face gradually dissolved. Replaced by the warmth of amusement as his laughter cascaded through the air. '

Bertholdt's gaze swept across the faces of his fellow cadets, individuals he had shared a kinship with for an eventful three years. A pang of regret tugged at his heart as he yearned for a divergent path, one where circumstances had conspired differently. He really wished things could have gone a different way. Perhaps in a different world, they all could have been very good friends. A myriad of emotions flooded his mind, and amidst the turmoil, Bertholdt's thoughts whispered, "I'm S-So Sorry," his voice laced with a desperate plea for the forgiveness he knew he didn't deserve.

Bertholdt knew this transformation would harm Reiner, perhaps even kill him, but he knew this was Reiner's only opportunity to escape if he survived.

He unleashed a final burst of power from his ODM Gear. With the grace of a soaring eagle, he soared higher into the sky. With a fierce determination burning in his eyes, Bertholdt let out a guttural cry that echoed through the air, "This World is Cruel!!" His words, filled with anguish and despair, seemed to carry the weight of a thousand souls.

A bolt of golden lightning streaked down from the heavens, striking him with an electrifying force. As the blinding light engulfed him, a deafening explosion erupted, shattering the tranquility of the once-peaceful city of Trost. The sheer intensity of the blast sent shockwaves rippling through the air, causing every house in the vicinity to tremble violently. Debris flew in all directions, a chaotic symphony of destruction. In the blink of an eye, a hundred-meter radius of Trost was completely obliterated, reduced to nothingness by the sheer force of the explosion.

The destructive force unleashed upon the city was nothing short of cataclysmic. The houses nestled near Bertholdt became the unfortunate target of annihilation. With an explosive intensity, the dwelling was reduced to mere fragments, their shattered remnants soaring through the atmosphere like ethereal meteors before succumbing to gravity's grasp and showering the surroundings below. The shockwave generated by this explosion caused the towering Titans within the city to crumble under its relentless force, their forms toppling to the ground.

Armin's trembling hands reluctantly peeled away from his eyes, revealing a sight that sent shockwaves of disbelief through his very core. Instead of the Armoured Titan that had been looming before him just moments ago - instead, the Colossal Titan was there. However, something was undeniably different about him; its towering height had been reduced to a mere 35 meters, starkly contrasting its usual intimidating stature of 60 meters. The Colossal Titan appeared unusually emaciated, with its bony structure exposed in several places, the absence of muscular flesh painting a grotesque picture. Yet, amidst this perplexing transformation, Armin's sharp gaze quickly shifted to another astonishing sight unfolding before him. Reiner turned into the Armoured Titan a second time, and quickly started scaling the towering Wall, inching closer and closer to the pinnacle.

"The Armoured Titan is escaping, don't let him get Away!" Armin shouted before pointing at the Titan, slowly climbing Wall Rose.

"Eren, throw me at him!" Ymir suddenly shouted to the Attack Titan as she quickly came out of her Jaw Titan; the latter quickly nodded in agreement.

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Bertholdt found himself in a disorienting state, his surroundings blurring into an indistinguishable haze. Every fiber of his being throbbed with searing agony, rendering him on the brink of collapse, and his eyelids fought a losing battle to remain open. However, amidst this torment, a glimmer of hope emerged as he peered through the eyes of his Titan form, catching sight of Reiner valiantly scaling the towering Wall. The realization washed over Bertholdt that soon, his friend would find solace and security beyond the wall. Summoning a reserve of strength from the depths of his weary body, he mustered a feeble yet poignant smile, acknowledging that, at the very least, Reiner would be safe.

As if out of thin air, he catches a faint echo, a distant but unmistakable sound that sends shivers down his spine - the hiss of gas canisters being ignited. A surge of adrenaline courses through his veins as he realizes that the soldiers, equipped with their ODM Gear, are closing in on him with unparalleled swiftness. Panic seizes his heart, his mind racing to find a way to defend himself. In a desperate bid for survival, Bertholdt frantically tries to summon the immense power of his Titan, hoping that its ability to emit scorching steam will shield him from imminent danger....but there was no Steam!!!

Bertholdt found himself trapped in a web of panic, his eyes widening with a terrifying realization. The Colossal Titan lacked the necessary mass to devour and transform it into steam. As this realization dawned on him, a surge of dread coursed through his veins, causing his heart to beat frantically against his ribcage, threatening to burst forth in sheer terror.

His mind raced, desperately seeking a lifeline amidst the impending doom. "R-R-Reiner, please help me," Bertholdt silently pleaded within the confines of his own thoughts, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and desperation.

A vengeful voice echoed behind the Colossal titan. "Got You!"

An icy sensation coursed through his body as a razor-sharp blade stealthily severed his arms from behind, leaving him stunned and silenced, robbed of the chance to release even a single scream. Amidst the turmoil, a forceful grip seized his shirt, yanking him forcefully out of the Colossal Titan's nape and exposing him to the sun's blinding rays.

As his disoriented vision cleared, Bertholdt's eyes met the seething gaze of Eren Yeager, whose emerald orbs burned with uncontrollable fury, a glaring testament to the deep-rooted resentment harbored against him. Despite the excruciating pain that engulfed his entire being, Bertholdt's lips curved into a bittersweet smile, a glimmer of satisfaction dancing in his eyes, for he knew that his comrade, Reiner, had managed to escape...

Reiner, driven by determination, clenched his fists around the edge of the towering wall. However, just as his fingers grazed the rough surface, a sudden apparition materialized from the heavens, descending gracefully before him. It was none other than Ymir. Reiner's eyes widened in fear. A surge of icy coldness coursed through his veins, chilling him to the core, while a blinding bolt of lightning crackled ominously, almost stealing away his vision.

The Jaw Titan, with a graceful yet deadly swing of her arm, sliced through the very essence of Reiner's strength, severing his left arm in a swift and merciless motion. As the Armoured Titan's limb fell to the ground, crashing atop a towering Titan, Reiner found himself clinging perilously to the edge of the towering wall, his survival relying solely on the strength of his left hand.

"Next time we see each other, I will be the Hero of the World. And all three of Us will Live Happy Together."

Helpless and defenseless, Reiner found itself at the mercy of Ymir's swift and calculated strike, which ruthlessly cleaved off its right hand. With that decisive blow, his grip on Wall Rose was relinquished, and it plummeted down towards the unforgiving earth, a descent that seemed to stretch into eternity. As the Armoured Titan descended, the passage of time itself appeared to slow, allowing Reiner to bear witness to the dwindling distance between itself and the towering wall it once stood atop. In an act of resignation and acceptance, Reiner's heavy eyelids closed, bracing for the inevitable collision with the unyielding ground below.

Annie swiftly leaped onto the Armoured Titan. She unleashed a devastating blow upon the titan's head, obliterating it into a gruesome spectacle of shattered bone, gushing blood, and scattered fragments of flesh that scattered through the air like macabre confetti. Undeterred by the chaos, Annie's hand hardened, her fingertips now capable of piercing even the toughest defenses. With calculated precision, she thrust her hand deep into the Armoured Titan's neck. In a display of extraordinary strength, she seized Reiner within her unyielding grasp and forcibly extracted him through the very neck that had become his vulnerable gateway.

Everyone watched as The Female Titan opened her hand, showing Reiner Braun; his arms were sliced off, and the stumps left were steaming as his body tried to heal; the female titan placed him on the ground before everyone else.

Reiner felt his consciousness slipping away like sand through his fingertips, but he heard a Garrison soldier walking closer before aiming his sword right at his face. "Armoured Titan, for the crimes against Humanity, you shall be punished."