In a world where humanity cowers behind three great walls, the Survey Corps stands as the last, desperate hope against the man-eating Titans beyond. Among them is Captain Rivai Akkaman—a short-tempered, obsessive neat freak from the underground slums, rumored to be humanity's strongest soldier. Three years ago, Commander Eruvin Sumisu descended into the darkness to offer him a hand, and Rivai has fought by his side ever since. But on the eve of the 57th expedition—the largest and most dangerous
The Vow Beyond the Walls - Rock Bottom —If You Die, I Will—
The night beyond the walls was full of sound.
Far off, grass rustled. Wind moaned. And then—countless footsteps. Heavy, damp footfalls pressing into the earth, creeping closer from every direction.
Rivai Akkaman tightened his fingers around the reins. His palms were slick with sweat. A lukewarm wind carried the smell of blood, dirt, and sweat.
Day three of the 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, deep in the night.
The Survey Corps was in the middle of a fighting retreat. The long-range scouting formation had collapsed long ago; the surviving soldiers had barely managed to cluster around the main force and were struggling toward the walls. They had less than half the horses they'd set out with.
"Captain Rivai, status on the right flank?"
Petora Raru, riding beside him, called out breathlessly. Her orange-brown bob was plastered to her forehead with sweat. Her large amber eyes, even now, looked straight ahead. A small silver earring on her left ear caught a faint glint of moonlight.
"Still holding. But it could break any minute."
Rivai answered curtly. His sharp, gray-blue eyes scanned the darkness ahead.
(Too many Titans.)
(And their movements are strange. It's like they know exactly where we are.)
A dark mass swelled in his chest. The words Eruvin had spoken the night before echoed in his head.
*If there's a traitor among us, they'll show their tail eventually.*
And then—that man's face.
The unnatural smile he'd worn at the castle gate before they departed.
Gerugar.
A veteran of the Survey Corps, a soldier past forty with years of experience. Normally a quiet man who treated everyone with quiet kindness. But Rivai couldn't get that smile out of his head.
(That's the face of a man who's planning something.)
That was when it happened.
One of the soldiers running ahead suddenly flew into the air, horse and all.
"GYAAAAAAAAH!!"
A death scream.
Beneath the moonlight, a massive hand had crushed soldier and horse together in a single grip. Blood rained down.
"Titan!!"
"One ahead! No—two! I see a third!"
Shouts tore through the darkness.
Rivai clicked his tongue.
"Tch... what a mess."
He regripped the handles of his omni-directional mobility gear. The only weapon humanity had against the Titans, mounted on both hips. A device that fired compressed-gas anchors and used wires to propel the user at high speed.
"Petora. Don't leave Eruvin's side."
"But Captain—!"
"That's an order. Go."
Without waiting for her reply, Rivai engaged his gear.
*Thwip!*
The anchor buried itself in a nearby tree trunk. The wire pulled taut, and Rivai's body launched into the night.
Wind roared past his ears.
Below, he saw the horde of Titans.
Five. Six. No—more. From the depths of the darkness, massive shadows rose one after another.
(Too many.)
(But I've got no choice.)
Rivai drove his reverse-gripped ultrahard steel blade into the nape of the nearest Titan.
*Shhk!*
The sound of flesh tearing. The weak point at the back of the Titan's neck split open, and the massive body crumpled.
"One."
Rivai murmured and extended his wire toward the next Titan.
A spinning slash. The reverse blade carved deep into the Titan's neck.
"Two."
Three. Four. Rivai's movements were no longer human. He manipulated the wires of his gear with precision, read the Titans' movements, and delivered killing blows with minimal motion.
And yet—
The number of Titans wasn't decreasing. If anything, it seemed to be growing.
"Rivai!!"
Eruvin's voice rang across the battlefield.
Rivai launched himself onto a tree with his wire and looked toward the voice.
At the center of the main force, Eruvin rode hard, issuing orders to the soldiers. His blond, slicked-back hair caught the moonlight. His deep blue eyes calmly surveyed the entire battlefield.
"Rivai, get to my side! We're reforming the formation!"
"Understood."
Rivai headed for Eruvin.
That was when—
From behind the main force, screams rose.
"UWAAAAAH!!"
"What the—?! Titans from the rear?!"
"No! That's... a person! In black—!"
A cold chill ran down Rivai's spine.
(Here he comes.)
He landed in front of Eruvin and turned to look behind them.
From the darkness, a single man walked slowly toward them.
A black coat. Hood pulled low, face hidden. But the build, the way he walked—
Rivai was certain.
"Gerugar... it's you."
The man lowered his hood.
It was Gerugar's face. But it wasn't the Gerugar Rivai knew. The usual gentle expression was gone, replaced by a smile steeped in unfathomable malice.
"Well, well. Captain Rivai. And Commander Eruvin, too."
Gerugar's voice was eerily calm.
"To think you'd survive this long. Just what I'd expect from the Survey Corps' elite."
"Gerugar, you... why would you do this?"
Eruvin's voice was low and quiet. But in his blue eyes, a flame of rage burned.
"Why? You already know, don't you, Commander Eruvin? No—Eruvin Sumisu."
Gerugar walked slowly toward Eruvin.
"Your father, Mr. Eruvin Sumisu, was a fine man. Brilliant, with a strong sense of justice, and he never gave up pursuing the truth. And that's exactly why he was eliminated. Because he tried to expose truths inconvenient to the royal government."
Eruvin's expression froze in an instant.
"Your father was admirable. Which is precisely why you must be eliminated too. You carry his blood—someday, you will inevitably become an enemy of the royal government. So the bud must be nipped now, while it can be."
Gerugar's words carved into Eruvin's heart like a blade.
"You... my father..."
"I didn't kill him. But I know who did. That day, Jeru Sannes of the Central Military Police ran your father down with a carriage. It was processed as an accident, but it was clear murder."
Eruvin's fists trembled.
"And tonight, you'll meet the same fate. This ends now."
Gerugar pulled a small device from his coat.
"This is the trigger for the traps I set beyond the walls. Press this, and the horde of Titans I've lured to this area will converge on this spot all at once."
Rivai's eyes locked on Gerugar's hand.
(Like hell I'll let you.)
Rivai engaged his gear and launched himself at Gerugar.
*Thwip!*
The anchor buried itself in the ground right beside Gerugar.
Rivai retracted the wire and closed the distance in an instant, right into Gerugar's face.
"Too slow."
He swung his blade toward Gerugar's arm—and in that instant—
Gerugar smiled.
"Too bad, Rivai."
Gerugar's finger pressed the button.
*Click.*
A small sound echoed in the night's silence.
"What—?!"
Rivai's blade sliced through Gerugar's right arm. But the device had already been triggered.
"This is the end. The Survey Corps dies tonight. All of you."
Even with his right arm severed, Gerugar's smile never wavered.
"You'll become Titan feed. Out beyond the walls, with no one to mourn you, torn apart and devoured. That's the fate of those who defy the royal government."
With those words, Gerugar vanished into the darkness behind them.
"Wait, Gerugar!!"
Rivai moved to pursue.
But then—
The ground rumbled.
*Ddddddddd...*
The earth shook.
From every direction, countless footsteps came crashing down like an avalanche.
"W-what the—?!"
"Titans! A massive horde of Titans, from all sides! There's too many—I can't count them!"
Screams filled the battlefield.
Rivai clicked his tongue.
"Tch... that bastard. He actually did it."
From beyond the darkness, as far as the eye could see, the Titan horde surged forward.
Ten. Twenty. No—more. Normal types, Abnormal types, every kind of Titan, charging toward the Survey Corps like starving beasts.
"All units, battle positions! Protect Commander Eruvin!"
Rivai shouted.
"Petora! Don't leave Eruvin's side! Everyone else, form a perimeter around the main force!"
"Yes!"
Petora fell in beside Eruvin's horse.
Rivai launched himself onto a tree with his gear and surveyed the battlefield.
(Damn... there's too many.)
(But I've got no choice. I won't let Eruvin die. Not ever.)
Rivai reset his blades in reverse grip.
"Let's go."
He dove into the horde of Titans.
---
The battle was hell.
Rivai fought like a demon.
He wove through the Titans with masterful wire work, flying between them, cutting down nape after nape with his reverse-gripped blades.
One after another.
The death cries of Titans echoed through the night.
Rivai's body was soaked crimson with spray. But he didn't stop.
(Protect him. Protect Eruvin. I won't let that man die.)
That thought alone drove Rivai's body.
But against so many—
The number of Titans wasn't decreasing. It kept growing.
Screams rose from every direction.
"GYAAAAAH!!"
"Help me! Someone! Help—"
The voice cut off.
Rivai gritted his teeth.
(Damn... damn it!)
He cut down a nearby Titan and looked toward Eruvin.
Eruvin was still alive. Still on his horse, still calmly issuing orders.
But the Titan horde was closing in around him, too.
"Eruvin!"
Rivai flew to Eruvin's side.
"Rivai, I'm sorry. I'm putting too much on you."
Eruvin looked at Rivai and said it.
"What the hell are you talking about. Protecting you is my job."
Rivai stood in front of Eruvin and raised his blades.
"Rivai. Leave me and go."
Eruvin's voice was quiet.
"Hah?"
"Alone, you can survive. Leave me and return inside the walls. And then pursue the truth. My father's death—the royal government's conspiracy—expose it all."
Eruvin's blue eyes looked straight at Rivai.
"You're the commander. If you die, the Survey Corps is finished. You think I could leave you behind and survive on my own? Like hell I could."
Rivai rejected Eruvin's words with anger.
"Don't give me that crap! If running meant leaving you behind, I'd rather die!"
Rivai's shout echoed across the battlefield.
Eruvin's eyes widened.
"Rivai..."
"I'll protect you. I won't let you die. If you die, I... I..."
Rivai's words caught in his throat.
(If you die, what reason do I have left to live?)
That thought never became words.
But Rivai's resolve reached Eruvin all the same.
"...Understood. I trust you."
Eruvin nodded quietly.
"But I can't just be protected. I'll fight, too."
Eruvin dismounted and readied his own gear.
"Commander! It's too dangerous at the front line!"
Petora tried to stop him.
"Petora, you fall back. This is my fight, too."
Eruvin's voice left no room for argument.
"But—"
"Petora, gather the other soldiers and head for the walls. Eruvin and I will buy time here."
Rivai gave Petora the order.
"Captain...!"
Petora's amber eyes wavered.
"This is an order. Go."
Rivai looked into Petora's eyes and spoke quietly.
Petora bit her lip and lowered her head.
"...Understood. But please—both of you—stay safe."
With that, Petora spurred her horse, gathered the other soldiers, and rode toward the walls.
Rivai watched her back for just a moment.
(Forgive me, Petora.)
(But I need you to survive.)
Rivai stood beside Eruvin.
"Eruvin. Don't push yourself."
"Same to you."
The two stood back to back, facing the oncoming horde.
"Rivai."
"What."
"If I die—"
"I won't let you."
Rivai cut him off.
"I'll protect you. I won't let you die. Not ever."
Rivai said it again, firmly.
Eruvin gave a small smile.
"Yeah. You're strong."
At that moment, an especially large Abnormal charged at them.
"Here it comes!"
Rivai launched himself up with his gear, aiming for the Abnormal's nape.
But the Abnormal's movements were incomparably faster than a normal Titan's.
Rivai's blade only grazed its neck.
"Damn it!"
The Abnormal swatted Rivai aside and reached a massive hand toward Eruvin.
"Eruvin!!"
Rivai screamed.
Eruvin barely dodged the Abnormal's hand with his gear.
But not completely.
The Abnormal's fingers grazed Eruvin's left leg.
"Guh—!"
Blood sprayed from Eruvin's left leg.
"Eruvin!"
Rivai flew to Eruvin's side.
Eruvin clutched his leg and collapsed to the ground.
"Rivai, I'm sorry... just leave me..."
"Shut up! I told you I won't let you die!"
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