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138 The Titan of Fate
🕑 Added 2026-01-14 06:01:01 +0000 UTCLooking at her former companions, Annie felt a faint trace of guilt in her heart, but there were things she had no choice but to do.
Yago activated the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment and flew to Annie's side. Seeing the conflicted look on her face, he gave her shoulder a reassuring pat.
Turning his gaze to the despondent Bertholdt, Yago let out a soft sigh and said,
"Bertholdt, I'm sorry. The mistake you made is too grave. I hope you understand that you can still do your best to make amends."
Bertholdt gave a bitter smile, shook his head, and said,
"Sorry. I can't betray Marley. My father and family are still in Marley. If I betray Marley, my family will only be left waiting for death."
Bertholdt's words struck a chord with Annie. She immediately thought of her father far away in the Eldian internment zone.
A hint of worry appeared on her small face. Yago raised his hand and gently rubbed Annie's head, saying softly,
"Don't worry. I'm here."
...
Suddenly, a cloud of dust rose in the distance down the street. Looking closely, the four-limbed Cart Titan was charging madly toward them.
Yago's expression tightened. He didn't know whether the captain had captured Zeke. If Zeke had been captured, then at this moment the Marleyan Warrior unit would be left with only Pieck, the Cart Titan.
"Annie, don't show yourself yet. Keep an eye on Bertholdt!" After giving his instructions, Yago leapt from the rooftop and charged toward the Cart Titan below.
At this moment, the Cart Titan had clearly noticed the situation as well. A seven-meter-tall Titan was holding Reiner, whose life or death was uncertain—and that Titan looked very much like the Jaw Titan.
Beside the suspected Jaw Titan, a group of island soldiers were gathered around an unconscious soldier.
"Warrior Chief, that unconscious soldier seems to be Eren Yeager. Should we move now to seize him?"
Looking closely, a figure was seated on the Cart Titan's neck—it was Zeke, the Marleyan Warrior Chief who had escaped death.
"Pieck-chan, at a time like this, what do you think I should do? Reiner and Bertholdt have clearly failed. But you're right—acting now to seize Eren is indeed the best opportunity. How to choose is up to you."
Zeke's words actually left the decision to Pieck?!
Hearing this, Pieck hesitated inside the Cart Titan's nape. She didn't understand what the Warrior Chief meant, but why was he letting her decide? As the Cart Titan's inheritor, she had always been in a support role.
"Warrior Chief? I don't understand what you mean."
Zeke replied calmly, "My Beast has temporarily lost its power. I don't have the strength to make a decision. Whether to recover Reiner's lost Armored Titan or seize the Founder within Eren—this will be decided by you, the one who still has strength."
Pieck fell silent. No matter how she looked at it—whether from mission requirements or the situation on the ground—taking Eren was the more important and simpler option, wasn't it?
Did this even require a decision? What exactly did the Warrior Chief mean? Pieck couldn't figure it out no matter how much she thought.
But the Cart Titan had already quietly changed direction, charging toward a group of new recruits, its gaze fixed on Eren lying on the ground.
Such an obvious objective naturally drew everyone's attention.
...
Mikasa suddenly accelerated to meet the Cart Titan head-on.
"Don't even think about taking Eren in front of me!"
"I'll help! Armin, take Eren away!" Jean also drew his blades and followed Mikasa.
Armin, his expression grave, hoisted Eren onto his back and prepared to leave at the right moment.
The female Jaw Titan on the side also noticed the Cart Titan. Historia understood the importance of the Founder. After a brief moment of stunned hesitation, the Jaw Titan grabbed Reiner with one hand and charged toward the Cart Titan with the other—she was going to stop it.
Just as the Cart Titan was about to collide with Mikasa, it suddenly made an unbelievable leap, twisted around, and pounced straight at the Jaw Titan.
This sudden change shocked everyone. Historia clearly hadn't expected the Cart Titan to pull such a feint, and she collided head-on with it.
Crunch! The Cart Titan's massive jaws clamped down on the arm with which the Jaw Titan was holding Reiner.
Enraged, the Jaw Titan retaliated—playing teeth, was it? Its counterbite was even fiercer, clamping down on the Cart Titan's neck.
"Pfft!" As the Cart Titan tore at her, the Jaw Titan's grip on Reiner unconsciously tightened. The barely conscious Reiner immediately spat out a huge mouthful of blood. Poor Reiner.
Crack! At last, the Jaw Titan's entire arm was torn off—and with it, Reiner was rescued by the Cart Titan.
But compared to the Jaw Titan, which had lost an arm, the Cart Titan was in even worse condition.
A deep wound ran from its neck all the way to its abdomen, steam pouring out in great volumes. If the Cart Titan weren't famous for its endurance, any other intelligent Titan would have already fallen.
This was Pieck's choice. What she placed first had never been Marley—companions and family were what mattered most to her.
In truth, Pieck also harbored a bit of wariness toward Zeke. She had subconsciously believed that Zeke would prioritize seizing Eren and abandon Reiner, something Pieck couldn't accept. Yet Zeke's actions greatly surprised her.
"Warrior Chief Zeke! Aren't you going to stay and chat?" The voice from behind made Zeke's expression change.
Yago was rapidly closing in, maneuvering with the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment.
"Go. Bertholdt can't be saved anymore."
Although Pieck also wanted to save Bertholdt, it was clearly impossible now. The Cart Titan turned and fled, its unhealed wounds still dripping with searing blood.
Click. Yago sheathed his blades and watched the Cart Titan disappear into the distance. In a low voice, he said,
"Having lost the Colossal Titan… will you give up?"
