Chapter 49: Ferocity
"Spread out... quickly."
Lena's face twisted as he roared, simultaneously bringing his thumb to his mouth, ready to bite it off to transform into the Armored Titan.
A flash of blade light streaked past, and Lena's vision went black as he lost consciousness.
Pfft.
A gush of blood sprayed onto 'Bertholdt,' whose mouth fell open, his expression shifting from surprise to terror.
After killing Lena, Su Xiao's movements didn't pause for a moment. He spun around and drove his blade straight through Bertholdt's head.
Bertholdt collapsed limply, dead before he could even transform into the Colossal Titan.
Su Xiao's actions remained relentless. He withdrew his blade, flicking off the bloodstains, which dripped onto the verdant grass. In two strides, he reached Eren.
"What the hell is—"
Pfft.
Half of Eren's head was sliced off, and he thudded to the ground, lifeless.
Su Xiao's gaze shifted to Annie, Ymir, and the other two.
Annie's face was filled with terror. Su Xiao's attitude had shifted too abruptly. Moments ago, he had helped them fend off the Survey Corps, and now he was swinging his blade like a reaper.
Su Xiao charged toward Annie. The only remaining fight on the field was with her.
Lena was too weak to resist, and Bertholdt hadn't even had a chance to react.
Killing Eren first prevented any unknown variables. Annie was farther away, as she hadn't approached Su Xiao earlier.
Su Xiao lunged forward, reaching Annie in an instant.
In that split second, Annie bit down on her pale index finger.
Boom!
A golden lightning bolt struck down, sending a shockwave rippling outward.
Su Xiao's eyes were calm and unreadable. He had fought Annie before and knew she was no match for him.
A massive foot stomped down from above. Su Xiao sidestepped to dodge.
Bang!
Mud and grass clods flew everywhere, and a blade light flashed within.
Pfft.
Two giant toes were severed, and the Female Titan stumbled back a few steps.
Only now did Annie realize they had been deceived. But why would this man do this?
Her mind raced through the journey, and she suddenly recalled Su Xiao rummaging through the basement of Eren's house.
This man wanted to find that basement through them.
Annie's judgment was correct. Su Xiao had cooperated with them to locate that basement.
In the Titan world, there were few places to gain benefits, and that basement was an excellent choice.
The humans in the Titan world weren't particularly strong, so the entire world's plot revolved around the Nine Titans.
Su Xiao had orchestrated a plan to gather most of the Titans within the walls and help them escape.
Reaching the Marley Empire would have been ideal, but if that failed, these Titans would compensate for the loss.
The Titan world had nine intelligent Titans. Through his scheme, Su Xiao had gathered five, with one more coming voluntarily, totaling six.
After successfully escaping the Survey Corps' pursuit and realizing they couldn't reach Marley, Su Xiao chose to kill the inheritors of the Titan powers directly.
Boom. Bang.
Su Xiao clashed with the Female Titan, mud flying across the grassland, the sounds echoing far and wide.
A Titan's arm was sent flying, and Annie's situation grew dire.
Ymir had witnessed the entire scene. With her higher intelligence, she understood that this man was behind everything.
Scanning the surroundings, she spotted a small puddle in the grass nearby.
Struggling to crawl to the puddle, Ymir didn't care how murky the water was. She plunged her head in and began drinking greedily.
Having been dehydrated for a long time, Ymir gulped down the dirty water and felt some strength return to her body.
Trying to stand, Ymir walked slowly toward Historia.
"Historia, listen. I'll have Annie take you away first. Farewell."
Historia, tied up, understood what was happening. Tears welled in her eyes as she shook her head repeatedly.
Ymir took a deep breath and shouted.
"Annie, take Historia and go. I'll hold off this monster."
The Female Titan, locked in combat with Su Xiao, turned her head to look at Ymir. That brief distraction nearly cost her a leg.
Annie hesitated for less than a second before nodding. A smile of joy appeared on Ymir's face as she bit her palm.
Boom!
Another Titan figure emerged. Ymir still had the strength to transform.
The Jaw Titan, about seven meters tall, appeared. Due to insufficient stamina, it hadn't even formed skin—only muscles and bones, without arms.
The Jaw Titan lunged at Su Xiao, its massive, fanged mouth aiming for him. The Female Titan seized the opportunity to disengage, grabbing Historia from the ground.
"Run... now."
A hoarse voice came from the Jaw Titan's mouth. This Titan could actually speak.
Su Xiao tightened his grip on Dragon-Slaying Flash. The long blade whistled as he severed the Jaw Titan's lower leg.
Given the Jaw Titan's current state, it was clear it wouldn't last long. Su Xiao ignored it.
That was why Ymir hadn't fled with Historia—she couldn't run far.
Annie knew how terrifying Su Xiao's blade was. After grabbing Historia, the Female Titan turned and ran.
"Don't think you can escape."
Su Xiao's burst speed was faster than the Female Titan's. He could stop her before she built up momentum.
In a few strides, he reached the Female Titan's feet. She had only run about five or six meters, not yet gaining full inertia.
Su Xiao held his blade with one hand, his gaze locked on the Female Titan's Achilles tendon.
"Ptoo!"
A loud spitting sound came from behind. Su Xiao's hairs stood on end. He halted his swing and twisted his body sharply.
Whoosh.
A white object whizzed past his ear, its kinetic energy rivaling a cannonball, flying out of his sight.
Su Xiao dodged the unknown attack from behind, but the Female Titan had already run several meters with Historia.
Worse, she was now at full speed, and Su Xiao couldn't catch up.
He turned to look behind him. The Jaw Titan lay sprawled on the grass, too exhausted to move.
One of its fangs was missing. The attack had been the Jaw Titan spitting out a tooth with all its might.
Was this one of the Jaw Titan's abilities?
The tooth's power was formidable; being hit by it would be no better than taking a cannonball.
Ssss.
Steam rose as the Jaw Titan's body rapidly vaporized. Ymir crawled out from the Titan's remains.
"Cough, cough, cough... Hahaha."
Ymir lay on her back, laughing loudly. Su Xiao walked up to her.
"Lena, Annie, those three are truly foolish. If it were me, I'd never trust you, no matter how much you know about Marley or their mission."
Ymir had given up resistance.
"Heh. Do you still think their mental state is normal? They desperately needed a 'hometown person.' I prepared many ways to earn their trust, but I barely used them. For your cleverness, I'll give you time for last words."
Su Xiao placed Dragon-Slashing Flash against Ymir's neck.
Ymir's expression was calm, with no fear in her eyes.
"Historia escaping is enough for me. No last words. Losing to a terrifyingly strong, scheming bastard like you—I have nothing to say."
"Admirable."
Dragon-Slashing Flash sliced across Ymir's neck. After about ten seconds, she bled out and died.
The grassland fell silent with several corpses. Three of the four had dropped treasure chests: one blue, two green.
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