Chapter 32 - The Shifters 2

" We need to go back to the HQ to refill and refit our equipments, without them we can't scale back up Wall Rose. Some of you are already out of gas and the only thing that is keeping us from getting to HQ is that the titans are swarming the place. Now I know you guys are all afraid, that's totally fine, we are facing huge ass, n.a.k.e.d humanoid things, after all. I know I would be scared as hell seeing a n.a.k.e.d man running towards me, luckily they don't have genitals, imagine what it would be like if they do," said Asriel and shivered a bit which gain some chuckles from the cadets but still feeling down. Seeing this, Asriel smiled a bit and said,

" Look, I know that you guys are afraid and want nothing but go back home and sleep on that warm, cozy bed. I know I do, but in order to do that, we need to make it out alive, and in order to make it out alive, we need the supplies. It may seem hard but I know that if we work together we can easily make it to the HQ. Look at us, we have gears that enable us to traverse nearly every terrain with high speed and blades to kill nearly anything, now look at the titans, what do they have? Nothing. They are slow, huge, and ugly, only a few of them are abnormals. I'll take care of the abnormals, you have seen me easily beat them, so no worries. Now, let's go back alive! I'll treat you guys to all you can eat food and drinks if you do manage to survive haha," laughed Asriel.

" Food!? All you can eat food!??!!" screamed Sasha with stars in her eyes. " You can't go back on your words now Asriel!" (Sasha)

" *sigh* this idiot...is food the only thing all you think of?" said Jean with a wry smile while shaking his head. At first, he wanted to object that it was just a hopeless cause but decided not to when he saw Asriel smiling menacingly at him. He was scared out of his wits and kept his mouth shut while sweating like Jordan Peele. In the end, he decided to go along with whatever Asriel decided to do.

" Haha be prepared to lose all your savings!" laughed Connie.

" Are you sure Asriel?" asked Marco with worry.

" I'll avenge Eren and survive! It's the least I could do for him saving my life!" (Armin)

All the cadets had smiles on their faces and determination apparent in their eyes, all except one. The girls were just smiling happily behind Asriel while looking at him with love and affection.

" Ha! Don't worry about me losing my savings, cause I have enough to feed hundreds of people." (Asriel)

" Heh, yeah right," said Jean sarcastically.

" Alright here's the plan, we will proceed to the HQ with spearhead formation. Mikasa, Annie, Armin, take the left and take a few cadets with you for reinforcement. Jean, Connie, Sasha you guys take the right, and also take a few cadets. I'll be the tip of the formation, Christa, Mina, Bartholdt, and Marco follow my lead. The rest of you stay in the middle." (Asriel)

" Wait.....Bertholdt, you were searching for someone here for help right? I think we need to go help Bertholdt's squad before going for the HQ," said Christa with some suspicion in her eyes. When Christa mentioned that, everyone turned their heads towards Bertholdt for his confirmation.

" Is that true? Where is your squad located Bertholdt?" (Marco)

" I....I....hehe........I mean....they were....near the walls, so I don't think they need help anymore....oh...right they asked for help.....to.....umm....take back the HQ from the titans.....yes.....THAT'S RIGHT!" (Bertholdt)

" Dude, you ok?" (Jean)

" Huh, of course, I'm ok....what are you talking about!" replied Bertholdt with some anger.

" Are you really ok?" asked a worried Marco.

" I AM FINE! I SAID I AM FINE SO I AM FINE!!" screamed Bertholdt with anger.

" Woah dude, you don't need to scream like that man," said Connie while closing his ears with his finger.

" SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" (Bertholdt)

" Hey calm down, what's wrong with you," (Cadet) Hearing this and seeing that the other cadets are becoming wary of him, Bertholdt calmed down and a bit of his sanity returned.

" I'm fine, really.....let's go take back HQ, I'd feel a lot better there," (Bertholdt)

The other cadets were skeptical about him but dismissed it as him being afraid and wanting to get out of this hell quickly. Mikasa was extremely suspicious of his behavior and so was Annie and Christa. They looked towards Asriel to see what his reaction would be but saw him smiling at them with a mischevious smile while shaking his head towards them. Seeing this they knew he was telling them to ignore and that something was wrong with Bertholdt. They trusted their man and ignored Bertholdt but they didn't put their guards down. Armin was also suspicious but decided not to confront Bertholdt. Now was not the time.

Asriel then told the cadets to get into formation after things calm downed. Following Asriel's instructions, the cadets got to their positions and waited for the signal to go. The ones without gas were shared by others who had some and the ones without blades were put in the middle.

" Alright guys, let's survive! GO!" shouted Asriel and dashed forward. The rest followed suit and headed towards the HQ. Any titan on their path was quickly eliminated with extreme prejudice. Blood flowed but it was not the blood of the cadets but the titans who thought they could get a piece of them. Abnormals popped up along the way but was taken care of quickly by Asriel while working together with Christa, Mina, and Marco. They would cut the tendons on the legs or hands before either one of them go in for the kill. Bertholdt was at the back, creeping like a creep he is.

Like an unstoppable armored train, they bulldozed their way straight towards the HQ. The cadets' moral was climbing higher and higher with every titan's death. Their hope was reignited and burned ever so brightly, they felt like they could do anything right then.

*ROOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR*

Hearing the roar the cadets flinched a bit and slowed down. Asriel knew what this was, so he decided to use it like in the anime to clear out the rest of the titans at the HQ. Besides, they were already so low on gas and blades so a titan that kills other titans would be helpful. Asriel slowed down and landed on a nearby roof. Seeing that the head of the formation stopped, the rest of the cadets also slowed down and landed on the roofs. Looking towards the owner of the roar.

" Damn it, it looks strong, we might be in for a tough fight," said Jean while clenching his fists.

" No, look! It's killing the other titans!!" (Christa)

" Wha.......why would it kill its own species?" (Connie)

" Hmm....wait here guys, I'll go check it out." (Asriel)

" Wait, I'm coming with you!" (Mikasa)

" Me, too" (Annie, Christa, Armin, Mina) Asriel just nodded towards them and then looked at Jean.

" Jean, I want you to lead the other cadets towards the HQ if something happened," (Asriel)

" What!? Why me!?" replied a surprised Jean.

" Cause you have what it takes to be a leader if you weren't being so much of a cunt haha," laughed Asriel.

" YOU!!" (Jean)

" You would be a great leader Jean," said Marco with a smile.

" Right then, I'll be going, take care," (Asriel)

" Tsk....Don't get yourself killed out there, you still promised us for all you can eat food and drinks," (Jean)