*opening 2 plays*

Petra: We're not finished yet!!!

The titan heard it and saw its beam sabers about to cross slash her. She covered her arms with the crystal as both attacks collided and created a massive shockwave that made the two Scouts almost lose their balance.

But it didn't hinder them as they continued on with the plan. Mikasa then distracts her with her ODM maneuvers and the Gundam's slash attacks which her protected arms were doing the trick on blocking it.

But she sensed Levi from afar as she knew he's going to hack her with his blades. Levi's eyes might be normal but behind that gaze is a slow arising lightning red gaze of a demon ready to demolish her.

He began to position his attack as he put his right blade sword in reverse grip. He saw the Gundam looking back at him knowing what it needed to do.

So the Titan tried to punch him with her fist but he evaded it as he spun his blades around her arm like a circular saw blade before jumping up high. 

Then Petra engaged her with her controls pushing through the cockpit to make the beam sabers pierce through its eyes.

He then attacks next by moving around it and worsening the damage on her eyes by throwing its blades at its damaged eyes. 

He then takes out a pair of fresh new blades from the scabbard in a blink of an eye.

He sliced her backhead making her sit upright to the ground and the 00 Barbatos appeared in front of her as it sliced the lower legs to make sure she never gets up.

Mikasa: He's fast! So fast that it doesn't have time to reinforce!

Mikasa watches in shock at how fast Levi is attacking its elbow and other parts of her body.

Mikasa: Even if Y/n's not piloting it, Ms. Petra is making sure it stayed down for him to make his attacks.

She saw how the Gundam's attacks are brutal to make sure she stays down by making a glaw Bracer punch through her torso. 

Then stabbing the hot pair of Beam Sabers through her thighs as it was deactivated immediately for it ran out of particles and let Levi rage it out.

Their attacks made the Female Titan put her arms down and exhausts her, exposing the nape. Mikasa saw its opportunity.

Mikasa: I can get the nape. She's exhausted now. I'm sure it can't move! Can kill it!!

She then goes on to kill it but Levi notices her eyes not healing meaning it's planning something.

Levi: Wait, stop!!

Before she could even strike, she saw the hand raise up and its crystal covering her nape skin. She sees the incoming right hand of the titan, but Levi pushes her away and he lands one of his feet on it making his ankle sprained.

Mikasa landed on top of the Gundam's head unit and held on to its V-Fin.

But he didn't care about the pain even though he felt that as he sliced the cheeks to make her jaw open but it saw it's not opening and Petra let out a scream to make it open.

Petra: Haaah!!!!

She controlled its hands and pulled the jaw out forcefully, exposing the mucus covered Eren.

Mikasa: Eren!

He then retrieves Eren as he gets him and talks to her.

Levi: Hey, we're getting out of here! We got what we needed!

Mikasa: Eren...

Mikasa saw Eren unconscious and being covered by her mucus in Levi's arms.

Levi: He should be fine. Alive, at least! *disgusted* Filthy though.

Petra: Don't worry about it anymore... We're retreating...

They saw the Gundam's movements wobbly and unbalanced. She was tired and the red glow on her eyes faded away and her grip onto the controls loosened and she's now unconscious because of her exhaustion.

But she was caught by Y/n who woke up and saw her awakening. He was clearly surprised when he heard her voice being demonic and venomous when she engages in combat to the Titan.

Levi: Petra?

Y/n: She's fine. Tired though, she must've let it all out from that battle. Mikasa, don't lose sight of the primary objectives. Do you want to let your desire to kill her take over your prioritization of taking Eren back? Besides, you told me he's a dear friend of yours, right? Let's go, we're falling back now!

Y/n & Levi moved out together with Mikasa coped over after blushing about her status to Eren.

Mikasa: I...

Mikasa just followed them and they retreated. Levi looked back to the Female Titan. But he silently gasped about her.

Y/n: What is it, Levi?...

He looked behind him to where he's looking and saw something strange about the female titan.

Tears... flowing down to her cheeks, and her eyes looked precisely at Y/n which it tries to reach out with her left arm but it limps to the ground.

Y/n: Why is she... crying? And those azure eyes...

Then, a realization hit him through his soul and heart.

Y/n: No f***ing way! It can't be...!

In Calaneth, they heard about the Scout's return from an expedition.

???: They're coming back already? What happened?

???: No idea. Bet they'll be back with a mountain of corpses again.

Outside the forest, all of the Scouts have rendezvous to the point to return to Calaneth. Eren is unconscious with bandages.

Other families of the Levi Squad expected them to return in good condition. One of them is Eld's aunt and mother.

Eld's aunt: It sounds like Eld's coming back.

Eld's mother: I see.

Another is Oluo's family.

Oluo's father: I wonder if Oluo will be able to swing by here.

Oluo's mother: It wouldn't hurt to make extra, just in case.

And then, is Gunther's family.

Gunther's maid: Gunther's coming back.

Gunther's uncle: I see.

The Scouts have picked up the dead bodies they can find while the rest are just squished to death by her so they couldn't find them on who's body part or personal belongings belonged to.

Eren is still recovering from the damage of his battle. Mikasa is watching him closely in worry. There are multiple bodies wrapped in bloodied cloth and rope. The results of this exploration hit their souls and feelings hard. Some covered it up by their stoic faces.

Levi looked at the bodies of the other Scouts and saw one of the scout's dead bodies, he saw its badge and grabbed it. The recruits such as Armin and Jean are helping to pick up the bodies.

Jean: I can never get used to this.

Armin: The same goes for everyone.

Jean: How my comrades are going to die... How I'm going to die... That's all I can think about.

Armin: I try not to dwell on that. Since if I were to imagine my end, I probably wouldn't be able to fight anymore.

Jean just looked at him and answered in agreement.

Jean: Yeah. It's just as you say.

Sasha and Connie are feeding the horses to replenish their stamina so that there's enough fuel to get back to Calaneth. Connie is now questioning his life's choices and Sasha is just thinking positive again.

Connie: I wonder how long I'll survive.

Sasha: You've pulled through for now, right?

Connie: Yeah, for now.

Sasha: Isn't that a good thing? I mean, you're alive.

Connie: Then, can you say that facing the bodies of those who died?

Sasha didn't answer anymore as her mood fell. Suddenly the voice of Y/n came to them.

Y/n: Sasha, I can't help but agree with his question. You may say that to yourself, but can you say the same for others?

Y/n referred to the people who have their eyes in trauma and frantic. They loss someone who has become part of their lives. Y/n understands that as he too, lost his family, but from a murder.

The criminal was arrested and jailed for life. He was then orphaned in an orphanage by the Kyoya family before he was adopted and became an official and legal by law a part of the Kyoya family.

But he still can't move on from that incident even though the criminal was jailed. His mother has been murdered in cold blood since he was a baby. Until today, he can't move on from it.

But he uses her mother's final wish from her death to be stronger as he faintly remembers his former mother's dying words to him.

flashback

M/n: Please, Y/n... Be safe... Be strong...

His mother was crying in tears as she was about to die. She cradled the baby on her bloodied arms as tears starts to fall onto his face. 

M/n: Y/n... I love you... *cries* I'm sorry... it took me so long... It wasn't a lie... all of it... Please, Y/n... let me touch... your precious face...

Her mother's fingers touched his face as the baby was making noises as he remembers it faintly in his memories.

M/n: At last... I can say it to you... with all my heart...

As he can see the mother's eyes became lifeless with her bright eyes that shines like a star before it dwarfs into nothing but emptiness. He starts wailing and crying as a baby.

His past never gets out of his head, it always comes back to haunt him until he becomes a 7 year old kid. He just isolates himself away from his friends in the orphanage as he likes to be alone even though they would like to invite him to play with them.

But then, the Kyoya family saw him and asked about his condition and his life. Then they decided to make him a part of their family. He remembered his mother's words looping inside his head.

He then decided to face his past and accept his mother's wishes when his life became so lonely and cold as his past still haunts him as he grows up.

He conquered his past and remembers that the past of his mother's dying words will always be a mark of his resolve in his heart.

Flashback end

He then snaps his thoughts back to reality as he pats Sasha's shoulders.

Y/n: Just... keep your mood and attitude in check during this kind of situation.

Y/n then leaves the two as he tends to the Levi Squad who's sitting on the palm of the Gundam 00 Core Barbatos. 

Oluo had a bandage on his body as he almost broke a rib, Petra's arm has a bandage on her forehead because of her berserk attack against the Titan, Eld had a bandage on his hand as it was dislocated form the impact when they were saved by him, and finally Gunther who has a bandage on his chin that made his jaw almost crack and broke.

Y/n: How are you feeling, guys?

Petra: Well... *checks her bandaged forehead* I'm fine.

Oluo: Fine?! I heard about what happened to you when you controlled this thing when he's knocked out!

Eld: We were troubled by that thought as well. Y/n, do you know anything about that incident...

Y/n thinks deeply about that phenomenon. A mental image of Petra in Barbatos limiter off is shown in his mind.

But he shrugs it off as he thought about it

Y/n: That glowing red lightning in her eyes when she got angry and fought that female Titan... There's no mistake about it... It's the same as the disabled Alaya-Vijñana limiter of Barbatos Lupus... But how? I couldn't unlock it even though I built its parts and the Gundam Frame system fused with the GN systems when it merged to my Gundam's [METAVERSE System]?

He then asked Petra about that incident.

Y/n: Petra... What exactly did you feel during the fight with the Titan when you pilot it?

Petra: I... I felt like I couldn't control myself when I saw it and my rage to settle things with her took over me.

It disturbed them as she explained what happened.

Petra: My eyes, burning blood red and I felt monstrous as I attacked her. I piloted it with such brutality while assisting Captain Levi... Before, he ordered us to retreat and I lost consciousness.

Y/n wrote it in his journal about strange phenomena he's been feeling and saw in this world. Gunther noticed his journal but he shifted his focus to her.

Gunther: Whatever the case, I'm glad we're all fine. Although...

Y/n then sighs as he tells them, unknown to him, that Levi is watching him behind the Gundam.

Y/n: Even if you try to tell your families that you're alright, it won't convince them as the people of their neighborhood will only tell and care about the expedition results.

They were shocked about that but Levi's been on expeditions many times and they were the same as ever. Only cares about results and not even concerned about how their life in the Walls is much scarier than being out there seeing the cruel reality.

Y/n: They don't care about the reality that we've been doing for years just to preserve their lives in this cruel world. They are blinded to what their lives have become. But as for us out here, we're trying to find the meaning of this expedition and at the same time protect humanity.

Petra and his friends can hear and see it in the boy's eyes that he sees the dark side of the people in the Walls ever since he was born.

Unlike Eren, he was calm and collected yet it has that malice and dangerous persona of becoming a deterrent for the world to focus on and make them see and open their eyes for the cruel lie they lived.

Y/n: They should be glad that despite the expedition failures- they're still alive as other soldiers tried to do their best to protect humanity. Yet, here they are: The Wallists, Government and the people of the walls...

Levi then silently left as he felt his words compelled him. Y/n then looked at the injured Levi Squad. His mind is thought about the irony of him and other Build Divers or Fighters labelling as Creator by Eldora.

Y/n: The irony is that the Creators can also be Destroyers.

Erwin heard the report of the Scout Captain who was assigned his team to pick up the bodies of the dead.

???: We're just about done. There were about 5 bodies we couldn't recover though.

Erwin: Not even a part of them?

???: We could for the ones not near any Titans. But for those, I believe it'd be better for the families if we left them.

Erwin is still stoic but deep down he's frowning about his decision.

Erwin: Put them down as MIA.

???: Yes, sir. We spotted several titans near the forest, but there aren't any heading this way yet.

Erwin: We're moving out at once. Relay the order.

But some stubborn guy decided to intervene on Erwin's order.

???: I refuse to accept this, Commander Erwin!

???: *worried* Hey, you...

???: We should recover them! Ivan's corpse was right in front of us!

???: So was the Titan right next to him, remember? We could've lost another life.

???: If we attack, we can simply kill them, can't we?!

Another guy who was a friend of Ivan's pleaded to Erwin.

???: Ivan's an old friend that we grew up with. I know his parents too.

???: At the very least, I want to bring him home!

???: Don't be selfish!

Levi: Quarreling brats?

Levi appears from behind with an irritated mood on his face when he hears their quarrel.

???: Captain Levi...

Levi: If you've confirmed his death, that should be plenty, no? Whether you have the body or not, his death is final. Nothing can change that fact.

The two guys were shocked as there's nothing they can do about it.

???: No...

Erwin: We'll consider Ivan and the others MIA. That is final.

He then left with the guy trying to shout and ask them if there is any humanity left with them. To be honest for Erwin, there might not be from this expedition. All of the death mess made by their enemy, still lingers inside them.

They now began moving out to go back. Mikasa still worried with her eyes on Eren stuck like glue. But it soon removes when they hear a Scout on the wagon carrying corpses.

???: Titans from behind!!!

The two who're on the wagon recognize the two Scouts being chased as one of them carries a dead body of someone.

???: That's Dieter!

Dieter was carrying Ivan's corpse.

???: That idiot!

He fired a red flare and a Scout relayed the report.

???: The rear line has sighted incoming Titans!!!

Erwin: Continue at full speed!

Levi: I don't see any tall trees or buildings whatsoever. Y/n decided to put our faith in his plan and decision. So fighting here would be difficult.

Erwin: It'll be faster to run to the walls. '

The two Titans continue to chase after the two. One of the titans tried to grab Dieter and Ivan's dead body but as a result Ivan's body dropped to the ground. He was shocked and then saw his friend get grabbed by the other Titan. He began to turn back and tried to rescue him leaving the other Titan freely running towards the team.

The other Titan is dead chasing the team.

Amrin: At this rate, they'll catch us!

Jean: Is fighting our only option?!

Armin: ODM maneuvers only work so well on level ground and...

They saw three more Titans en-route to intercept them.

Mina: More Titans incoming on our right!

Jean: Then what should we do?

Armin looks at the bodies which darkened his face.

Mikasa saw the Titan ate Dieter's friend as Dieter's next when he was easily grabbed. But Mikasa intercepts it and returns back to her team leaving the alive Dieter.

???: It's no good. They're catching up!

???: I'll swing behind it! While I draw its attention, you can-

Levi: Don't even try. Before that, toss the bodies. Or they'll catch us.

???: B-But...

Levi: There were countless soldiers who failed to recover corpses in the past too. It's not like these guys are special.

His assistant is frantically protecting the dead corpses like an absolute idiot not accepting the only solution left.

???: Are we doing it? Are we really doing it?!

Levi is impatient as the Titan is getting closer to them and touches his leg. He knows that his dislocated ankle lost his mobility to attack.

The two of them decided to throw them out.

???: What choice do we have?!

They began throwing them all behind their trail of where they are going as the Titan is slowing down.

???: Looks good! Keep moving forward!

Meanwhile in Dieter's position. Dieter just can't believe it and Levi arrived at his location

Dieter: Captain Levi... *looks down* I...

He picked up something in his pocket and gave it to his hands.

Levi: This is proof that they were alive. To me at least.

When Dieter looked at his hand and opened it, he saw the emblem of the Scouts.

Levi: That's Ivan's.

Dieter starts to have a breakdown as he calls Levi again. Levi soon left him as the other Scouts ordered.

???: We're leaving!

In the end, the Scout's 57th expedition failed. Levi suffered a sprain on his left ankle. Bodies are disposed to the outside. The financial and human cost of the expedition saw the Scouts lose much of its backing.

The people of the Calaneth just keep blabbering utter nonsense in their mouths about their comrades' death. Humans must be really born naive to see this expedition's purpose through.

Eren lost it and had a silent breakdown with Mikasa just gripping his hand, watching him. Other of my friends just looked down from this result.

Erwin and the others were summoned to the capital and it was declared that Eren must be handed over to a new supervisor.

As for me... Hehe I imagine that their reaction must be releasing their true colors now.

Next day (12 AM)

Y/n is staring intently at the slabs he specifically requested and the book of his Gundam armor. He remembers about Petra's condition

Y/n: Petra... Are you...

Oluo: Hey, Y/n.

He turn to his left and saw that the boys of Levi Squad except Levi himself are still awake and in their casual wearing. Y/n is just frowning while intently thinking about the recent events that have happened.

Y/n: I thought you're all asleep.

Eld: Don't worry about that. We were worried about you.

Gunther: We've been worried about you ever since you told us all about that people blabbering nonsense about our duties despite our failures.

Oluo: *stressfully sighs* I guess you're right. We just went to our families a while ago and guess what... They gave us a plea to return to our "normal" lives with them. My family almost threw a hot meal to our faces if Gunther didn't protect us by using the cloak to protect me.

Eld: That's how parents are. But sometimes they haven't seen the bigger picture of the world we live in. Petra just read the letter from his father too, Y/n. We want you to read it so you can understand what happened.

After reading the contents, Y/n just closed his eyes and sighs with what he read.

Y/n: So... He wants to return her to her "darling" in the family... Smells like a sexual harassment plea for me to make more money for himself.

All of their faces grew gloom as Y/n mentioned something.

Y/n: I heard about the capital stripping you all off of your duties. Typical MPs.

Just then a hand grabbed the letter and it was Petra. Petra looked at the guys with a resolved look. Her teammates looked at her in worry while Y/n looked at her without worries. Petra then places the paper into the candle light and burns it. After that, she just sits there beside Y/n.

Petra: I...

Petra's head was laid to Y/n's shoulder as he pulled her closer to him.

Y/n: If you're gonna let it out. Just do it.

Petra heard those words as she cried in tears as her teammates just watched there in silence as they just saw the partners in the Gundam cockpit from the recent events get her things right with him.

But behind the scenes are the recruits like Eren who's silently tearing up as he sits behind the wall. Armin and Mikasa just let them see Y/n do whatever he can do to make them resolve once again.

After a few minutes of her breaking down a little bit, they now saw Y/n. Who stands up and she asks where he's going as they can see that he's packing his journal and his hand weapon.

Petra: Wait, Y/n where are you going?!

Y/n: I need to check on my friend in the MP. 'I can't let you get involved in this as I needed to make sure if it's not who I think it is' *attaches a grapple attachment to his gun* I'll be fine.

Gunther: That's so far. You probably won't even make it there without a horse and you can't even ride your Gundam in the middle of the night.

Y/n: Trust my judgment, please.

They can't get him to convince as they just saw him get out of the HQ and hear its grapple gun fire as he went on his own to go to the MP alone to see someone. Or more precisely, some ones and things.

The rain falls down as his hood is on and he's riding his stealth bike to get to Wall Sina.

Y/n: 'Please... If you're her... don't make me destroy you!'

TBC

Chapter 24: Soldier's Serenity and Revelation