I've always had high expectations for myself. Pushing myself to my limit. Trying to exceed the ever-growing limit. Yet, it seems so vast now as I've slowly given up hope. It feels odd, to be looking at that door and wish for death to phase through it and engulf me in his darkness. For death to tell me to forget my hope, to turn to darkness, and enter purgatory.

But this small heartbeat I feel in my stomach is what urges to keep my own heart beating. The occasional kicks I'd get from the purest thing in my world is what wakes me up from death's trance and to keep living.

Hope.

My body and mind may be weak but my heart remained strong. Maybe I could be considered as humanities' strongest. The past I've lived through, the present I endure, and the future that looms over me like an overseer is what shapes me to become who I am today. This thin thread reeling me out of the darkness slowly.

I was waiting. For that moment. The opportunity to murder the b*****d that trapped me in this godforsaken place. To finally bury the last burden of my past and to move forward towards a life where I wouldn't be surrounded by this trauma.

He will feel my wrath. For the pain he had inflicted on me in the past and the present.

I felt rage fill my veins at the thought of the suffering he put me through. Not having a father figure must've hit me more than I thought. Or, this rage was just enhanced by the serums he's giving me.

I heard footsteps approach the door and I prepared to defend myself and my child. I tensed as the door opened and I got ready to fight back with every ounce of determination I had left. But it all faded away as I saw familiar gray eyes stare back at me.

"L-Levi...?" I stuttered, my voice cracking a bit. The door opened wider to reveal Mikasa and Eren. Mikasa had tears in her eyes the moment she saw me and quickly went to my side to take off the chains bounding my torso to the chair. With a swift, powerful chop, the chains fell apart around us as she engulfed me in a hug. I felt blood pour down from the wounds I received from the chains. I felt relieved to be out of the constricting bonds.

"Mikasa...Eren...you came..." I breathed out. Mikasa started to sob into my shoulder as Eren hugged us both. I saw Levi come over and caress my head.

"Do I...look that bad?" I wheezed out a laugh. They stared at me before Mikasa started crying even more as Eren wiped a few tears away.

"I'm so glad you're okay..." Levi mumbled as he pressed his forehead to my temple. His warm breath hitting my cheek along with Eren and Mikasa's warmth from their hugs gave me a sense of peace.

Peace I should've known that wouldn't last.

"Wait! Watch out!" I yell once seeing the glowing blue eyes behind my dear friends. They didn't have time to react until Eren was thrown to the cement wall with such force that it created a dent in the wall. He sputtered out blood and was shortly stunned as Mikasa threw a punch at the intruder. They only caught her fist with a straight face before twisting it. She thankfully got out of their grip before they could really damage her arm. She threw another kick which was dodged and grabbed. Suddenly, Mikasa was pinned in a professional way. I concluded that only one person would be able to do that perfectly.

"Annie..." Levi and I muttered out breathlessly. Her eyes snapped towards Levi as she threw Mikasa's body to the wall. Levi and she got into a fighting stance until she darted towards him. She threw a punch that seemed to cut through the air effortlessly until he dodged and attempted to punch her torso. He was able to throw punches left and right until an uppercut threw her back. She lifted her upper body as her messy hair covered her eyes. She only smirked before her ring swiped open to reveal a small needle.

"S**t! She's gonna turn!" Eren yelled out but it was too late. Power surged through the air, Annie being the source. The force threw us all back, Eren and Mikasa being stuck at the wall while Levi quickly covered me from the blast. We both flew back but he turned to hit the wall while I hit his body. He coughed out blood before checking on me.

"You okay?" He asked breathlessly. My heart lurched as I realize he saved me and was injured but still cared for my wellbeing.

"I'm fine. Rest now, it's my turn." I muttered, getting up. Levi suddenly grabbed my wrist before coughing blood to the side.

"Y-You shouldn't." He said, his death grip becoming tighter. I leaned down and cupped his cheek.

"I'll be fine. Get rest for now while I stall her."

I took his hand off and turned just in time to dodge a punch. She hit the wall, cracking it in the process as her body surged with power. She swiftly turned and tried to roundhouse kick me but I grabbed her foot. She bent her leg, pulling me towards her as she punched my face. I recovered quickly and decided to use my legs as my offense since my upper body was weak from the restraints. I kicked multiple times and managed to get her torso. She drop-kicked me and pinned me to the ground, straddling me and wrapping her hands around my throat. I felt the air leave me as I tried to push her hands-off. Just then, Eren came in and tackled her, throwing punch after punch while she blocked her face. I coughed out and recovered to see Annie kick Eren away. Mikasa came in behind her and held her back while Eren got up and punched her torso. She suddenly grabbed Mikasa's dagger and swiped at Eren and Mikasa, causing them to back away.

"How'd she get it so quickly?" I muttered in confusion. Then everything clicked at once.

She was the titan in the fox mask. The one who shot Armin. The titan with super speed.

With this newfound realization, I began to carefully and quickly plan a way to subdue her. Levi came in from behind and tried to pin her but she swiped at him as well. Levi, Mikasa, and Eren came in all at once as I did the same. We all tried to take away her weapon but she managed to be quick and get us away. She then growled in what I assume was annoyance at the unfair fight. Mikasa and Eren lunged again as she prepared herself again, swiping a foot behind her and bending her knees. Her eyes seemed to glow as she grabbed Mikasa midair by her arm and mercilessly kicked her leg. We all froze as Mikasa screamed in pain and a sickening crack cut through the air. Annie then threw her to the side as if she was a forgotten toy. I saw Mikasa cradle her leg as tears streamed down her face. Must be an open fractured wound, as I saw her leg sleeve bleed with red. She soon passed out from pain and I felt my heartbeat with anticipation. I had to quickly devise a plan to finish Annie so Mikasa could get medical attention.

"MIKASA!" Eren yelled. He angrily turned towards Annie and screamed. "You'll pay for that!"

I lunged towards Annie with a yell in anger as well, managing to grab her hair and kneeing her in the stomach. I got 4 hits until she grabbed my leg and pushed me back. I quickly backflipped and landed in a crouching position. Eren bit into the spot between his thumb and pointer finger as a newfound strength surged through him. Intense power flowed through the air in smoke, temporarily blinding all of us. Soon the smoke cleared and in Eren's place was a stronger man, a titan. He roared as his taller frame faced Annie's more feminine one. Eren and Levi decided to take this moment to attack. Levi swiped under her legs, making her fall as Eren grabbed her neck with his forearm, putting her into a chokehold. His eyes were sharp and angry as blood dripped down from his finger and mouth. He opened his mouth and roared in her face as she kept a straight face. She struggled for a bit until her eyes flashed blue. I felt dread as she opened her mouth and let out an ear-piercing screech.

Levi and I were immobilized as our ears bled slightly. I knelt down to the ground as Levi stepped back until his back met the wall. Quick, loud footsteps were heard outside the room and a creature burst through the door. It was horrifying. It was a titan but an unusual one. Other titans still had a sense of sanity, this one looked like it didn't think about anything else other than blood. Sharp teeth smiled as it scanned the room. Everyone was frozen. Annie used this chance to escape from Eren's grasp and switched the positions. Her swift speed enabled her to hold Eren in a chokehold as she tipped her head towards us. The creature's gaze snapped towards Levi and me. It's gaze then trailed down to my stomach and I backed away in fear upon realization. The creature seemed to grin wider at my fear to which I cursed in my head for not remembering my training.

.

"Don't let your emotions show," Erwin yelled as I blew out a puff of air as each tennis ball was shot. One hit me in my side and I cried out in pain. As I was distracted, more balls hit me and I could feel them imprint my skin with bruises as each ball hit. Erwin waved his hand to stop the machine and strode over to my tiny body.

"On your feet, cadet." He commanded. I gathered all my strength and weakly pulled myself up off the ground. My thin arms were shaking with the force, screaming at me to stay on the ground. Erwin sighed as I tried to stay straight.

"At this rate, you wouldn't last a day out there," He pondered for a moment. "If you're tired from this exercise then I don't think you'll be ready to be an agent."

My eyes widened at the thought.

"N-No! I can do it! I-I just need to practice more. Please...teach me, sir!" I begged him with wide eyes. I needed this. This was my second chance at another life. Not one I imagined but one I couldn't be more content with.

"Teach you what?" Erwin gave me a glare. I glared back but with more determination.

"I want you to teach me to be a Double-A..."

"The deadliest one out there."

.

Eren and Levi quickly comprehended what it was looking at. Eren bit into Annie's forearm to which she let go suddenly, screaming. Eren charged at the creature right when it was about to lunge at me. He tackled it to the ground and roared in its face. The creature held its arm up against its face, blocking it whole Eren was holding them tightly. It simply sat there with a sinister smile. Levi quickly grabbed me and pulled me back just in case it tried to do anything to us. It instead retracted claws. Growing inhumanly to about a foot's length.

"Get out of there Eren!" I screamed. But his larger body made him move slower. In a swift movement, the creature titan plunged its long nails into Eren's arm. As Eren was momentarily startled, the creature got out of his grasp and plunged its other claw into his side. Eren's eyes widened and he roared out a powerful roar, one of pain and agony. It seemed to dig for something until Annie stomped. It quickly stopped and snapped its eyes towards us. Eren knelt down to the ground breathing heavily as blood poured out profusely from the claw wounds. Annie stalked towards him and that's when I focused on the creature in front of me.

"Levi..." I breathily warned. His grip on my arm became tighter.

"We need to move," I said. I focused my eyes on the creature as it slowly stood up straight. It used its nails to move back its long, matted hair. The blood-red titan uniform in tatters. I got a closer look and gasped in horror.

"It's..." He whispered out.

"Furland..." I finished. His eyes were blank and bloodshot, wide as if he's seen all the terrors in the world at once. As he heard his name he screeched and darted towards us. Levi and I dove to opposite sides and he skidded and turned towards Levi before he could hit the wall. He screeched and I felt tears well up at my fallen friend in such a state.

Furland charged towards Levi in an inhuman way and tried to swipe at him with his claws. I panicked, knowing that we were too weak to defeat Furland and Annie right after him. This anxiety seemed to build-up to the point where I was hyperventilating. I tried to focus my vision on someone. Something. Anything.

I looked at Mikasa, feeling the anxiety rise at her unconscious state. I tried looking at Eren but he was being smashed into the wall by his head repeatedly by Annie. I looked at Levi only to see him get scratched and almost got into a chokehold. The claws reached far enough to break the skin in his neck, causing him to bleed. I finally trailed my eyes down to the baby growing in my stomach. The stomach was showing quite a bit. Thoughts raced through my mind.

How long had I been here, trapped and helpless? Why was I so useless in this situation? What could I do? If only I had strength like Eren-

Strength.

My eyes trail down to my trembling hands.

"Every hour we will inject a dose of our substances into you."

I had taken 5 doses of each substance.

"You will become an ally of the Titans and together, we will conquer this godforsaken world."

The anger within me seemed to flare at the memory. My hands clenched into fists and I could feel blood drip down from the indents.

"I will make you the best and most powerful person on the planet."

Levi was tackled into the floor. He was struggling and definitely losing strength as Furland started to overpower him.

'If I pushed myself through that torture. Through the pain I had endured...'

I narrowed my eyes at Furland. Feeling power overcome my being.

'Through every heartbreak, death, and agony life has thrown at me...'

I brought my hand to my mouth, my canines aiming for the skin between my thumb and pointer finger.

'Then I would sure as hell push myself to save my friends...'

Then I bit into the tender skin, breaking the skin instantly and drawing blood. Power instantly overcoming the pain.

'Even if it means losing myself.'

-----

A/n: We are nearing the end. I predict at least 2-3 chapters plus an epilogue until
this story is finished. This book has been going on for a long time so I want a satisfying ending for my readers out there. Maybe I'll do a spin-off, not sure yet. I'm being very articulate with the ending so chapters may vary. Thank you for your patience.

Hope you enjoyed.

Published: November 3, 2019
Edited ✔️