Levi Ackerman stared dispassionately into the crater that had drawn the Survey Corp out here, and he couldn't deny that it was an impressive sight. It was located nearly dead center between Wall Maria and Wall Rose, around a hundred yards wide and a hundred feet deep. He had heard rumors, back as a child, about how the stars sometimes fell. At the time, he hadn't ever seen the sky, but the idea of it had filled him with wonder. And now, he wondered if he was looking at the aftermath of one of those stars falling.
There was just one issue with that idea.
"There's nothing here," Levi remarked, a tightly bound chord of anger leaking into his voice as his grip tightened on his blade.
Spoiler: Levi AckermanOur 5'3 short king. Humanity's Strongest Soldier.
"That makes it all the more intriguing," Erwin, a freakishly tall man next to him, replied, sounding delighted with finding nothing. His blonde hair was pushed back into place from their frantic ride and detour from their planned route.
Spoiler: Erwin SmithCommander of the Survey Corps.
People died to come here. The Survey Corp was the most dangerous of the three branches of the military, as they were the only ones that dared to leave the walls. Every expedition incurred irreplaceable losses, often dozens of men gave their lives for the sake of progress and answering humanity's countless questions about the Titans and the world that lay beyond the walls.
And those dozen deaths were a marked improvment since Erwin took charge of the scouts, going from half to sometimes more than half their number, to only thirty percent for every expidition.
Each expedition was carefully plotted out. The loss of Wall Maria undid a hundred years of progress for the Survey Corp, but in the years since, every expedition served the purpose of building a supply chain and path back to Wall Maria. A task that more than a hundred people had given their lives toward.
And that pattern was broken because they saw something fall from the sky and the explosion that followed had the horses in a terrified frenzy. They made the decision, despite knowing that it would be paid for in blood and the lives of their comrades. They would divert their path to come to the landing site and hope desperately that what they found was worth the cost.
Levi had imagined a lot of things in the hours-long trip it took to arrive. Maybe it would be a titan, and they would learn that they fell from the sky. Maybe it would be a big rock made out of something that could kill titans. But, never once did he consider the possibility that there wouldn't be a single damn thing.
"How do you figure that, hm?" Levi grunted, curling his hands into a fist before he crossed his arms.
"Because it means that whatever landed got up and left!" A third voice interjected, answering his question. Levi swallowed a sigh, glancing at her from the corner of his eye to see her patting rocks and yelping when they proved too hot. Hange was another squad leader, like him, and one who specialized in investigating titans. Auburn brown hair, naturally tanned skin, with dark brown eyes. She was one of the best. It was just everything else about her that was questionable.
"We found signs of a fight nearby -- wood splintering that's consistent with a fifty-foot titan hitting a tree. Something hit it, and hit it hard. Hard enough to knock it off its feet," Hange continued before pointing at the center of the crater. "Whatever arrived, it came in the form of a ball. Roughly large enough for an average-sized human to fit in. Or two Levis."
Spoiler: Hange ZoeRegiment Leader of the Survey Corp. Titan enthusiast. Real golden retriever energy.
Levi just sighed at the joke, unable to feel anything more than exasperation at it. "So something that can send a titan flying. Sounds useful. If we could find it."
"Him! Or her!" Hange corrected, and that earned more than just a sharp look from Levi and Erwin. "We have tracks. Fresh ones. From the looks of things, they ran towards the titan, jumped up thirty feet, and used that tree to send themselves at the titan." She said, pointing towards where the bark was indented.
One thing was missing, however.
"No maneuver gear marks," Erwin voiced what they both noticed. "Whoever arrived, they possess inhuman physical strength. We may need to expand our search patterns."
"You think it might be a relative of yours?" Hange asked Levi, elbowing him in the shoulder. "Might lose your title, 'Humanity's Strongest Soldier.'"
"Hopefully," Levi admitted, his gaze flickering away from the tree and to the field beyond the crater. There, he saw them approach. titans. Three of them, one of each class. Fifteen feet, thirty, and fifty -- each had their own unique challenges to face. That was without considering factors like Abnormals, which behaved erratically. They could express themselves in a wide variety of ways, and even with Hange's hours-long lectures, Levi knew that she was no closer to discovering the answer.
Those three Titans, if left unchecked, and in poor terrain… would be enough to slaughter the entirety of the Survey Corp. All except for the best of them. That was the disparity of power between humanity and the Titans. That was the gap that Levi found himself trying to bridge, knowing that he was one of the very few who had any hope of doing it.
It was because he was looking directly at them that he saw what happened next. A brilliant blue light struck the Titans, striking each at the lower jaw and upper chest, hitting their nape. Their weakness. By the time he blinked, the three Titans were already collapsing, gaping holes torn through them.
"... What?" Levi breathed, his eyes narrowing a fraction, half wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him. Yet, sure enough, he felt a gentle breeze brush across his face and hair from the blast, while the Titans began to steam as they evaporated into nothing. Slowly, he began to lift his eyes up to the source, and there he saw something that made even less sense than three Titans being casually dealt with.
A man was flying down towards them. He was another freakishly tall giant, wearing strange blue armor with a black skin-tight undersuit that revealed defined muscles. He wasn't sure what the armor was made of, but it had taken a beating. His eyes were black, while his spiky hair was slicked back until it reached the nape of his neck, all except for a thick lock that drifted before an eye. He looked like he was in his teens, but there wasn't a trace of youth to be found on his face.
Spoiler: GalickGalick, our protagonist.
"Are you lot the Survey Corp?" The flying man announced his presence to the lot of them, his arms crossed, and he seemed rather unimpressed with them all. It was only as he lowered himself down towards the ground that Levi realized that he wasn't wearing a belt. It was a tail. "I'm here for some people named Erwin and Levi. You're presence is required for a meeting. Oh, and Trost was attacked by the Colossal Titan. I dealt with that, though."
Levi wasn't someone who was surprised easily. He was only thirty years old, but it was a life of hard living even before he joined the Scouts. His childhood was spent in the underground city, a glorified pit that everyone pretended didn't exist. He was a man by the time he saw the sky for the first time, and in those years, Levi genuinely thought that he saw it all. He had been wrong, of course, but in his years as a Scout? That felt like it filled up the few gaps left.
Not the case, it would seem.
Levi looked to Erwin, trusting him to take the lead on this, while Levi himself braced for a fight. Though keeping the new arrival in his periphery, he wasn't entirely certain what his options were. The guy was flying unassisted. That gave him complete control of his maneuverability in the open air, something that ODM gear couldn't accomplish. Erwin gazed up at the new arrival, his expression carefully guarded.
"I see," Erwin began, and Levi was glad that he did because Levi sure didn't. "Then you have our thanks, and the thanks of humanity for protecting us from the Colossal Titan. I am Commander Erwin of the Survey Corp. Would I be correct in assuming that this crater is because of you?"
"The name is Galick, and yeah, this is where I landed. Didn't know that you lot were out here, though," Galick replied, sounding ambivalent about the whole affair. Levi glanced at Hange, curious why she wasn't interjecting and being herself. And he saw that she was -- she was staring up at Galick, jaw dropped, with a bit of drool starting to dribble down her chin. There wasn't anything remotely sexual about it, either. It was pure unrestrained curiosity. "Woulda stuck around if I knew that, but… well, it's probably best that I didn't. Trost wasn't doing so well until I arrived."
"I see," Erwin repeated, and Levi was starting to get the impression that he didn't and was just saying that. "With the Trost situation in hand, I cannot abandon my men in the field. I ask for your understanding… and perhaps your aid. It was a twelve-hour journey to this point, but without needing to change course for Titans, we could return in as little as six."
Galick tilted his head, and Levi knew that expression. He didn't know who or what Galick was, but he looked human, and Levi knew people. That was the expression of someone who was considering something troublesome, before deciding against it simply because it'd be too big of a pain in the ass. "Not through Trost. Kinda filled the gate with a big rock, and I can't be bothered to ferry you all up one after another."
"That won't be necessary. We have the equipment on the Wall to lift us over it. Will you help us?" Erwin questioned, and Galick shrugged his shoulders.
"Might as well. It'd give the rest of them some time to stop freaking out on what to do with me," Galick admitted, lowering himself to the ground. "Hurry it up, though, yeah?"
"Of course," Erwin replied easily, offering a bow of his head before he began to belt out orders. It was only at that moment that Hange managed to get a hold of herself, taking a quick few steps forward and invading the personal space of Galick.
"My name is Hange! A squad leader in the Scout Corps! Pleased to make your acquaintance!" Hange exclaimed, grabbing his hands and shaking it with both of hers. There was a mad gleam in her eye as she shook it vigorously. "How are you able to fly? Why do you have a tail? Why does your hair look like that? What did you arrive inside?"
Galick, to his credit, seemed unbothered by the questions. And by those around them pretending that they weren't listening. "Ki, because I'm a Saiyan, Saiyans are born with a hairstyle and it remains unchanged until we either die or go bald, and my spaceship."
"You landed in a boat?!" Hange blurted, like that was the most absurd thing he said. Levi stuck close to the pair, on guard as he communicated with his team with pointed glances. His team was handpicked elites, some of the very best that the Scouts had to offer -- Eld Jinn, his second in command. Oluo Bozado, Gunther Schultz, and Petra Ral as the only woman on the team. All of them exceptionally skilled.
Collectively, they had killed more than two hundred and fifty titans. More than the rest of humanity combined.
Spoiler: Levi's SquadFrom left to right: Oluo Bozado, Gunther Schultz, Eld Jinn, Petra Ral
Yet Levi felt powerless, as he knew they wouldn't be able to so much as draw Galick's blood if he attacked them. All he would need to do was fly directly upward and send whatever that blue blast was at them. That's all it would take. And, try as he might, Levi couldn't think of a single thing to do about it.
The Scouts departed, and that feeling of helplessness was only intensified as they began the journey back to Trost. The Titans that they had dodged out of the way of with their formation had been trailing behind them, and tried to attack.
Not a single one of them came close. Without fail, Galick shot them with a 'ki' beam, killing them instantly and with little fanfare. Hour by hour, he racked up kills, allowing them to charge full speed ahead with their horses and wagons. By the end of it, he'd killed twenty-four Titans. All solo kills.
Galick entertained Hange's questions during the trip, but he knew what he was doing. His answers lacked context or were deflections. He didn't give her much more information than he did at the start, and Levi found himself thinking that the whole thing made less and less sense.
He wasn't the only one. "Your thoughts?" Erwin questioned in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the 'Saiyan.'
"He's friendly. You better hope that he stays that way," Levi answered with honesty. Erwin wasn't surprised, but his expression did tighten. He liked living under someone's thumb even less than Levi did.
With that, the six-hour trip was relatively peaceful. The danger of the Titans was completely nullified by Galick's presence. Yet, they still carried a certain kind of tension, even as the walls came into view.
"Alright, brace yourselves," Galick said, darting toward Levi, and he found himself unceremoniously picked up by the back of his jacket with Erwin alongside him. Levi went rigged as they flew up, his body well acquainted with the sensation of flying through the air, but there was a fluidity to it that set his teeth on edge. It was very different than moving with 3D maneuver gear.
"You don't have a more dignified way to do this?" Levi asked, finding himself thoroughly annoyed as the wall swiftly passed by from underneath him. Trost, as promised, was a shit show. He could smell death from above. There was also that massive rock that the military hoped to move to block the gate but never got around to actually making a plan to pull it off, plugging the busted gate as planned.
Trost had been attacked, alright. Overrun. And they hadn't been there. Bad timing, or enemy action?
"This is the more dignified way," Galick replied, but Levi could hear the grin in his voice.
He tsked under his breath, "Just don't drop us." He glanced at Erwin, who wore his usual mask that made him hard to read. But he could hear the gears turning in his mind as they flew by Wall Rose.
And then Wall Sina. The third and final wall that protected humanity from the Titans. It was the smallest of the three districts, and the one where the uppermost nobility lived and the richest merchants. He hated it every time he was forced to come -- the luxury of the inner district was nauseating.
It wasn't the buildings that disgusted him so. Or how they threw a fountain up at seemingly every single intersection. It was how they wasted the single most valuable thing that humanity had.
Space.
Humanity, since it had first put up the walls, had a finite amount of space in which it could dwell. Every inch within the walls had been cultivated either as farm land or forests for game. It was why when Wall Maria fell, hundreds of thousands of people were forced outside in a vain attempt to reclaim the territory with nothing but sticks and stones. It was why there were still food shortages to this day, years later.
And the inner district wasted so much space. Wide open roads, flanked with well-manicured lawns. Every villa had a garden and a winding road leading up to the front door. Buildings that could house a dozen families were reserved for a single one and an army of servants. Naturally, the palace was the biggest offender of them all. A large building comprised of several wings, a long road leading to it with a tall gate separating it from the rest of the buildings around it.
Galick dropped them off at the front door, and two members of the Military Police gaped at them. Galick paid them no mind, pushing the door open and striding into the palace like he owned the place. And for that alone, he felt a semblance of respect for the 'Saiyan.'
"Warrior Galick, welcome to the royal palace," a well-dressed man said, dropping into a practiced bow. A butler. "You as well, Commander Erwin and Captain Levi. His highness eagerly awaits your presence."
Ah… fuck. The king.
Levi straightened out his appearance as they walked through the decadent halls, leading to the throne room. The butler bowed before pushing the doors open, revealing who they would be meeting with.
He knew most of them by reputation and in passing. On one side was Commander Pixis, who was nursing a flask with a white haired woman by his side. Rico Brzenska. Skilled, ranking at 11th during her time as a cadet. She missed her shot at an easy life with the Military Police, so she settled in the Garrison.
Spoiler: Dot Pixis and Rico BrzenskaPixis: Commander of the Garrison. Rico: Elite squad leader
On the other hand was the Military Police. Nile Dok, another freakishly tall giant with dark hair and eyes. His gaze was filled with caution as he beheld not only Galick, but he and Erwin as well. Nile was joined by Djel Sannes, who ranked 1st during his cadet class some fifteen years ago.
Spoiler: Nile Doc and Djel SannesNile: Commander of the Military Police. Djel: Interior Military Police
Directly before them, however, was someone of more interest. Premier Dhalis Zachary, the Commander-in-Chief of the three military branches. His hair and beard were a silvery white, and he sat composed in a chair to the left of the king.
Spoiler: Premier Dhalis ZacharyThe highest-ranked military officer on Paradis. Seems like a straight-up guy. He is actually the most unhinged man in the series.
Sitting on the right, on the side of the Military Police, was Rod Reiss. A man of average height, black hair, and a neatly trimmed beard. He was the Duke in the kingdom and someone of importance. As far as Levi was aware, he wasn't the worst sort of noble who couldn't even tie their own shoes without someone guiding their hands, but that was the extent to which he was willing to acknowledge the man.
Spoiler: Rod ReissThe last legitimate member of the Royal Family within the Walls and the unofficial king of Paradis.
The King himself was an older man. With silver hair and beard, his head propped up by a hand as he stared directly at Galick, seemingly undaunted. He wore loose-fitting white robes, and, appearance-wise the guy was about what Levi would expect of a king.
Spoiler: 'King'The official king of Paradis.
"Welcome, Galick. Erwin and Levi. Please, be seated. I suspect that there is a great deal to discuss," Lord Reiss began, offering a tepid smile to get things started. Levi wordlessly refused the chair, choosing to stand beside Erwin. His blades hadn't been confiscated, which told him his role in the meeting. He was here in case Galick tried something.
Galick took the offered chair, and as a result, he sat before a half circle of people. The highest lords and military men within the walls. He seemed unbothered, simply crossing his legs as he locked eyes with the King. And tilted his head, blinking a few times, as if he realized something curious. And amusing, with how his lips quirked up.
Premier Zachary narrowed his eyes and chose to continue where Reiss left off. "Commander Pixis has conveyed your… expectations for your help with Trost. I will admit, it is being heavily considered, but before I render a verdict on anything, I would like… information. Context, if you will. You called yourself a Saiyan Warrior, but what exactly does that mean?" The man asked, leaning forward ever so slightly.
"I am not human," Galick answered without preamble. "Genetically speaking, we are similar. I'm not human, but I'm something like a human," he elaborated when he saw incomprehension on what he meant by 'genetics.' "I came from the sky above, beyond the stars in the night sky, in my ship, a one man vessel that's capable of traveling great distances, with the mission of repopulating my race."
Levi didn't blink, but he wanted to. It didn't seem to be news to the others, but it was to them. Which also told Levi why they bothered inviting the Scouts -- it was purely for Levi's presence. They weren't expected to have an opinion, and if they did, then it wasn't worth listening to.
"Because you are amongst the last of your race, correct? What happened?" Premier Zachary asked without an inflection, making a note on a piece of paper that Levi couldn't read.
"What you have experienced with the Titans is more or less what you can expect from space. There are countless species amongst the stars, some so close in nature that we can interbreed, while others are completely different. However, as a general rule, any species that's capable of reaching the stars does so because they are able to dominate their planet. Which tends to be more common with… aggressive species." Galick continued, and Levi fought to keep his expression blank.
The stars. He never paid much mind to them beyond admiring that they were pretty to look at. He'd never spared a thought for what might dwell in that sea of darkness. There never seemed to be a point, as they didn't even know what lay beyond their walls.
"My species came into conflict with another race. We fought. We lost. Now, the remnants have been cast out across the stars to worlds such as your own, with species we can breed with," Galick said, sounding rather uncaring about the near extinction of his species. That thought showed on the others' faces as he continued with a shrug. "We weren't strong enough to prevent our defeat. If you can't defend your life, then you have no right to it."
There was a noticeable change in the air at the remark, one that Galick seemed content to ignore. It was about as alarming as learning that there was something out there that could chew up people like Galick, who dealt with Titans as one might step on ants.
"Of course, for your aid in Trost, we will allow you to remain within the walls," Lord Reiss said, and Galick looked at the man with flat eyes and a cutting smile.
"Allow."
It wasn't often that Levi found himself impressed, but he was. With a single word, the room went from tense to suffocating. Reiss flinched like he had been struck, sweat forming on his brow and his mouth flapped uselessly as he tried to will the words back into his mouth.
Erwin interjected, paying the tension no mind. "From what I have witnessed of your abilities… retaking the Wall of Maria is possible, is it not?"
Galick's gaze slid to Erwin, and he offered a respectful nod. "Yeah, shouldn't be any trouble." It wasn't the words that set Levi on edge, but the ease with which he said them. He meant that. Dozens of people had given their lives for inches of progress, to take the steps necessary to retake the Wall of Maria. And Galick made it sound like a particularly dull errand. The worst part of it was that Levi believed him.
Galick could take Wall Maria today, if he felt like it.
"But I'm not the kind of guy who does unnecessary things without a reason," Galick continued, his gaze sliding to Reiss. Not the King. Galick seemed to have completely dismissed the monarch that was currently staring a hole through him.
Reiss, however, seemed to understand the message. "I'm sure his majesty will offer a suitable reward for your efforts. A dukedom seems most fitting, taken from the reconquered territory," he said, looking to the King. The man offered a single solitary nod, and that was the only indication that he had been listening. "As for the other matter that was discussed… am I to understand that your children would be… like you? They could do the things that you do?"
"They will," Galick answered shortly, not giving any reaction to the idea of becoming a duke. Nobility. Levi wasn't sure if he even understood what that was.
"I imagine that you would also be capable of handling the Titans beyond the Walls as well," Erwin continued, seemingly having his own private conversation with Galick, heedless of the audience he had. His blue eyes were intense as he interlocked his fingers and leaned forward, trying to look through Galick, who met his gaze evenly.
"Won't be that hard. There's only about a thousand of them left on the island," Galick said, and Levi saw how Reiss stilled at the words. It stole his attention away. Reiss looked like someone had heard something terrifying rather than good news. A thousand Titans.
That was… doable. It'd take years of effort and countless deaths, but it was doable in his lifetime.
"The island?" Erwin questioned sharply, a burning intensity in his eyes now that was borderline manic. "We are on an island? A body of land surrounded by water, correct?"
"Yeah," Galick replied with a shrug, ignorant of what the news meant to them. An island. All this time, they were on an island? It was a very strange thing to feel your world growing larger. First the stars, and now this…
"And the rest of the world -- is it overrun with Titans as we believe?" Erwin continued, but Reiss had had enough. He snapped out of his stupor and aimed a sharp glare at Erwin.
"Commander! I understand the purpose of the Survey Corps is to find these answers, but I will not allow-" Reiss started, his voice angry, but there was a sliver of fear that Levi could hear all too easily.
"Allow," Galick interjected, his voice flat as he turned a glare to Reiss. "Who are you to allow anything?"
Reiss looked to the others for support, licking his lips nervously. "I am Duke Reiss of House Reiss." He said the words like they were an explanation, and to everyone else in the room, it was. However, Galick crossed his arms and his brow furrowed.
"A duke? The same title that you offered me for the reclamation of thousands of miles of your lost territory?" Galick narrowed his eyes, "How insulting. You would dare to put us on the same level? You? A weak-willed man who can only hide behind the ability of others? What makes you my equal?" The Military Police tensed, starting to sweat a bit as their hands went to their weapons.
Dhalis saved Reiss from having to answer, "By what metric do Saiyans measure leadership?"
"Strength. Emperor Vegeta was the strongest Saiyan alive, and that is why he ruled over us. With a mere wave of his hand, he could destroy entire planets. The difference in power between him and me is the difference between me and you." His gaze slid to the king, "So, I find it quite… vexing that you would allow this man to lead you. He can't even be bothered to stay awake during this meeting."
What?
Levi couldn't resist looking over to see that the king was staring right ahead at Galick, his face not so much as twitching as everyone's attention shifted to him. His eyes were open, but his breathing…
"He's sleeping with his eyes open, which is admittedly somewhat impressive," Galick continued in a disinterested drawl. "But not so impressive that I will accept him as my king, or you as my equal. I have no equals. Not on this planet, at least."
He wasn't wrong, Levi could admit. But only Erwin had the gall to acknowledge it. "Then why not conquer us? You have the means to. At this stage, I don't believe that we could realistically resist you. You could take over the last remnants of the human race. Killing everyone in this room would decapitate our military, and a sufficient show of force would cow the rest into submission. The women you desire to restart your race could be taken as tribute."
"Because I don't need to conquer you," Galick replied, barely reacting to the observation. "You're right. You have no recourse against me. But I find you rather admirable -- the Titans are nothing to me, yet they are an existential threat to you. You fight all the same, venturing beyond the walls that the rest of your species cower behind. The Garrison impresses me less, but they still held their ground against the Titans."
Galick offered a humorless smile, "If I were to conquer your race, then you would resist me, no matter how outmatched you are. From there, I would either be forced to side with these sniffling pieces of trash to maintain a grip on the conquered territories and population or I would need to cull your numbers significantly to a more manageable level until the resistance is crushed."
"How benevolent of you," Levi remarked sarcastically in the wake of the loud silence that followed his words.
The Saiyan shrugged, unbothered by the fear that permeated the room. "I find such a thing unnecessary. Those of you who would resist me are the ones that I have any respect for. I'd much rather cut off the dead weight that seems to hobble your species."
"You would dare-" Reiss began to blurt, but Galick merely raised a finger and fired a thin blue beam of light that punched through his forehead. His head didn't even snap back from the impact -- he just collapsed like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
"My apologies. My anger got the best of me," Galick said, lowering the finger as the Military Police stared at Reiss' rapidly cooling corpse with expressions of mounting horror. Yet, they didn't move a muscle.
"... It happens," Pixis was the one to reply, taking a deep swig of his flask.
No one did a thing. Some wanted to, like the Military Police -- Nile and Djel both trembling with as much anger as they did fear. Levi couldn't care less about some noble getting killed for running his mouth. Rico, however, was somewhere in the middle ground. Levi could almost see her understanding that they really couldn't do a damn thing. He could kill them all, and the most they could hope for was that their blood stained his clothing.
"Thank you for your understanding," Galick replied blandly before his gaze slid over to Erwin. "But, to answer your question -- I could tell you the truth now, but I won't. How many of your comrades had died for the answers that you seek?"
"Hundreds," Erwin answered unflinchingly, a certain weight to the word that made it sound so much heavier than it implied.
"Is this really how you want to find out the truth?" Galick asked him, tilting his head. "A boring tedious meeting with someone who doesn't care about the answers that matter to you?" Yes, Levi wanted to say. How you gained the answers didn't matter, so long as the price for them didn't climb any higher. "Especially when the answers are already within your reach?"
Erwin leaned forward, "Shall I take that as an offer of assistance?" He asked, and that made Levi stand a bit straighter, watching Galick like a hawk for any sign of betrayal or ill intent. Instead, he saw amusement -- like he was laughing at a joke that they didn't understand.
"I can be persuaded," Galick admitted before his gaze shifted to Premier Zachary.
"As Premier for the military, it is my duty to shape the military in a way I believe would benefit humanity," Premier Zachary said, taking off his glasses and cleaning them with a cloth. "Do I have your consent to speak with your voice, your majesty?"
There was a long stretch of silence from the slumbering king, and Premier Zachary took that as an answer.
"For the reconquest of Wall Maria, I will put forth the recommendation to his majesty that you be named the Duke of Maria. All retaken territories between Wall Rose and Maria will be yours to do with as you see fit," Premier Zachary said, returning his glasses to the bridge of his nose. The action was absurd. Even Levi understood that.
The space between Wall Rose and Maria was half of humanity's total territory.
Yet, none argued the decision. The only ones that could were either asleep or dead on the floor.
"Additionally, I will be putting forth the motion that female military personnel can consent to becoming a…joining a new branch of the military dedicated to the continuation of your species," Premier Zachary continued, and Levi swallowed a sigh. The thought of Hange having a kid with all her enthusiasm and Galick's power was the stuff of nightmares. "Commander Pixis informed me of your preferences -- skilled and talented warriors. Is that all?"
"I would prefer them to be around my age, but that is hardly an ironclad rule," Galick answered. "I am your equivalent to a teenager." That was about Levi's estimation, but it was bone-chilling to realize that your life was in the hands of a teenager. One who seemed as likely to save you as he would snuff you out.
"Understood," Premier Zachary replied, his tone decidedly flat.
"Good," Galick said, standing up. "Go ahead and start making preparations for resetting the exterior wall. I'll plug that hole in Wall Maria, and take care of the Titans within my border." He ordered them with ease, tossing a wave over his shoulder as he headed for the door. Levi watched him go, realizing that he was that uncaring about the mess he left in his wake.
It was a solid minute before any of them broke the silence that fell on the room, and it was by Djel turning to the side and puking from the tension.
Nile looked at Premier Zachary with a note of desperation on his face, "Premier! You can't be serious! You can't condone… this! He murdered a man in cold blood! He…"
Premier Zachary regarded Nile coldly, "Then arrest him." To that, Nile didn't move. His lips pressed into a thin line, and he was keenly aware of his own powerlessness. "No? That's because you realize you can't. As of this moment, humanity is effectively at the mercy of Duke Galick."
It was a hard thing to hear, but Levi didn't disagree. Neither did Erwin, "Unlike the Titans, he can at least be reasoned with. He sees value in us, the military."
"He was instigating a rebellion!" Nile snapped, proving that for all that he was panicking, he was still sharp. "He wants us to overthrow the nobility! The King!" He made a dramatic gesture to the man, who still stared ahead unblinking.
"Damn, he's a heavy sleeper," Levi noted, finding himself a little impressed. The man was still completely unaware of everything going on around him. And he wasn't exactly making a compelling case to keep the monarchy around.
"That reveals that he needs us," Pixis replied. "To a degree, at least. Industry. Infrastructure. He wants a society. He's not willing to just slaughter most of us to make us submit. Yet."
"He doesn't need to conquer us, just as he said." Erwin voiced. "No. It would be more correct to say that he already has." He pinned a sharp look on Nile, who flinched and looked away. "Galick is the hero of Trost. For the very first time in human history, we have pushed back the Titans. Do any of us have any doubt that he will be able to reclaim Wall Maria?"
Premier Zachary sighed, "I can't say that I do."
"He will be the hero who solved the overpopulation and food shortage issues we've had since the fall of Maria. Something that the people consider impossible at this stage," Erwin continued, his voice clinical and even. He was merely stating facts, but it was a damning picture he was painting. "His strength is a beacon for our citizens. In his shadow, none need to fear the Titans. As someone who has personally witnessed his power, I cannot imagine the Titans ever being a threat to him. When word spreads…"
Pixis let out an exhausted sigh, "That sounds about right. The smarter course of action is to consider ourselves as being ruled by Galick, for the time being at least. His children are the only chance we have of dealing with him. If we could subvert one of his children to overthrow him on humanity's behalf…"
"Provided that he allows one of his children to grow strong enough to challenge him. And even then, it would be… fifteen to twenty years before we could have a potential solution," Erwin pointed out, leaning back into his chair.
Nile looked between them, his eyes bouncing between each face, but they lingered on Erwin. "This is treason. You're talking about overthrowing the monarchy for some creature that we don't know and we don't understand."
"... Effectively, yes," Premier Zachary confessed. "At this stage, we can maintain a thin veneer of independence, but if we don't take prudent and practical action soon, then even that veneer will be worn away. We only possess the freedom that he allows us, and should we prove too troublesome, I do believe that he will follow through with his alternative strategy."
Nile slumped into his chair, finding that his will to argue was evaporating like smoke in the wind. "So we give him what he wants."
"In return, we get what we want," Erwin pointed out. "Humanity is no longer under the threat of extinction. Neither by the Titans, nor Galick himself, as he needs human women to breed with. We now know more than we ever did before -- beyond the walls, there is a body of water that surrounds us. Additionally, Galick confessed to having a ship capable of flying through the sky and to the stars. He likely has advanced technology that we may be able to convince him to share."
Nile breathed through his nose, his eyes going to the corpse that continued to spread a puddle of blood. "You make it sound reasonable."
"It isn't," Erwin swiftly denied. "But it is the situation that we've been dealt. We make plans. We prepare. We take everything that he's willing to give us and maintain our independence for as long as we are able. But denial is a luxury that humanity has never been able to afford."
Nile closed his eyes, mulling it over for a long moment before a sigh escaped him. "For humanity, then."
"For humanity."
…
"No," Annie replied, her voice flat as she looked between Reiner and Bertholdt. Both of them were pinning intense looks at her for very different reasons.
Spoiler: Annie LeonhartThe Female Titan.
"You have to, Annie," Reiner stressed, his lips pressing into a thin line while his hands curled into fists. "Can you imagine what the Devils will be capable of with his power? It could lead to the restoration of their evil empire. They could conquer the whole planet once again!" He stressed in a loud whisper, glancing over his shoulder as he spoke to make sure that they weren't overheard.
Spoiler: Reiner BraunThe Armored Titan
"Then you fuck him and get knocked up," Annie shot back with a low hiss.
"Annie, I wouldn't ask this from you if I could," Reiner replied, and he genuinely meant it. And Annie hated him for it. Deeply and from the depths of her heart, she hated Reiner. He understood what he was asking of her. "But I can't. Only you can do this. We haven't found the Founding Titan, and worse, we don't know if the Devil King will carry out his threat because Galick arrived to save them."
Annie looked away, clenching her jaw as she gazed out at the gathering cadets, a week after Trost. Their assignments for the military branches had been delayed because of the attack. Because of the attack they did. If she looked at Reiner any longer, she'd shatter his jaw and knock out every tooth that he had.
They could have had a peaceful life but for his obsession with the damn mission…
"They can conquer the world, Annie," Reiner stressed. "You've heard the rumors, just like I have. Wall Maria has already been retaken. Galick has killed every Titan inside. How long is it before they reach the shores of Paradis? Before they realize that there is a broader world out there? They'll beg him for protection. To slaughter their enemies. Slaughter us, and our families."
A refusal sat heavily on her tongue because she couldn't deny what he was saying. The situation behind the Walls had been completely upheaved. Galick, in the span of a day, had not only stopped their attack on Trost but reclaimed the territory they lost to Titans. In the six days since, all across the bastion of Eldians, people were rushing to resettle the lost land.
It wouldn't be long before the military asked him to secure the island, if they hadn't already. And it would be then that the Devils of Paradis would learn a truth that they had forgotten.
There was a world out there, and it wanted every single one of them dead in the most horrific way possible.
"But we have a chance. If you have his child, then we could raise it in secret to challenge him," Reiner finished. There were so many things she wanted to say to that. The words were in the back of her throat, weighing heavily on her tongue.
Would it really be so terrible to help them? It wasn't like the boot on the Eldians' throat was a kind one. They were kept in camps, forced to wear badges that made it clear to everyone what they were. They were treated as less than human by the world, all because of the actions of their ancestors. Why not help them?
But, like every time before, Annie swallowed what she wanted to say because of a simple fact.
They had broken through the Walls. Bertholdt kicked it down. Reiner broke through the inner gate. Annie had led the Titans to a feast of innocent civilians.
They had been ignorant then. Children. They didn't understand that the Devils of Paradis were completely ignorant of their history and the world abroad, their memories stolen with the power of the Founding Titan. That they were ordinary people just trying to survive, thinking that they were the last of humanity.
But they had known at Trost. And they still did it.
They were mass murderers. It was too late to change sides.
So, all she could do was carry out the mission that they were sent here to do. To find the Founding Titan and take it back from the Eldians of Paradis. To remove the bullet in the gun that they had pointed at the rest of the world for more than a century called the Rumbling. If she did that, she'd get to see her dad again. She could live out the rest of her miserable life in peace, right up until the curse took hold of her and some other sorry bastard had to eat her to become the next Female Titan.
Something in her expression must have given because Reiner relaxed ever so slightly. "For the mission, Annie. For our home," he stressed.
"Regiment One-oh-Four! Take positions!" A member of the Garrison called out, and Annie took the chance to elbow Reiner in the diaphragm as she passed him by. All the plans they had made were going up in smoke. The plan had been to split up from here -- Reiner would go to the Scouts, Bertholdt to the Garrison, and Annie would go to the Military Police. It was why all of them had scored in the top ten for the cadet class.
She took her place at fourth, and there was a gap at her right for Eren Yeager. She supposed that it wasn't that much of a shock that he had been killed during Trost. He was skilled, but too hot-headed. Too filled with hate, he couldn't act calmly and rationally. Yet, her heart squeezed at his absence, knowing that his blood was on her hands. She had been determined to keep her distance from everyone, but when he demanded lessons on how to fight…
However, she was hardly taking his absence the worst.
Mikasa took her position at first in the class, and while Mikasa had always been cold… the air around her now was frigid. She stared ahead with a flat gaze and an apathetic expression, her hands clasped behind her back. If Mikasa ever found out that Annie was the Female Titan, that she had taken part in the attack on Trost… Mikasa would see to it that she died screaming, no matter what her intentions were.
"Cadets Mikasa Ackerman, Annie Leonhart, Sasha Blouse, Krista Lenz, and Ymir! Please approach the central tent! Your presence is required by Premier Zachary," the same member of the Garrison shouted out, and Annie swallowed a sigh. She could feel eyes on her back as the five of them stepped forward.
She followed behind Mikasa, followed by Sasha, Krista, and Yimir. It was Ymir who made a remark once they were out of earshot, "So, the rumors were true."
The rumors being that the military was building Galick a harem.
It was hard to hide given that Galick openly stated his intentions before a crowd. But, following that, a transfer here and there from the Scouts, Military Police, and Garrison? All of them female? It was pretty clear what was going on behind the curtain. It was only a question of how they were chosen and whether they made the cut.
They marched to a building, and in the lobby of it, behind a desk, was the senior-most military leader within the Walls. Premier Zachary.
He was one of their potential leads on who inherited the Founding Titan. Early on during their stay behind the Walls, they learned that the ruling family was a puppet. A mask for the real royal family. They had a list of possibilities, but Premier Zachary was at the very top of that list. It was a position of extreme power, and from the other rumors going around about how the military was taking power…
"Cadets," Premier Zachary greeted them, his hands interlocked as he glanced at each of them. On command, they saluted him -- offering their hearts to humanity. It was a sick and twisted joke, and she thought it every single time she gave the salute. "I suspect you know why you have been called here."
"Because you want us to fuck an alien?" Ymir voiced after a beat of silence, none of them wanting to be the ones who spoke up.
Spoiler: YmirJaws Titan
To his credit, Premier Zachary inclined his head to her, and his expression didn't change. "Essentially, yes." He lowered his hands and looked each of them in the eye, "A new branch of the military is being created, and you have been selected as potential recruits. All of you are placed in the top ten of your class, which is the cut-off point for recruitment. And, like all branches of the military, you have the option to refuse and select another branch."
That was a very fancy way to describe military prostitution.
"Duke Galick requires women to prevent the extinction of his species. As such, this branch of the military will be dedicated to the preservation of his species," Premier Zachary continued, and it didn't sound lost on him what he was describing. "Should you accept this invitation, it comes with numerous longstanding benefits."
He adjusted his glasses, meeting their flat stares. "Your salary shall be doubled outright, with potential for promotions determined on various factors that will be revealed at a later time. Moreover, should you produce a child with Galick, you shall be ordained as nobility. A barony of your choosing will be allocated to you, with additional plots being offered the more children you have with him. These are a standard, and will be retained should you choose to retire or transfer to a different branch."
Annie had to give it to him -- he was really trying to sell this as a legitimate branch of the military and not government-sponsored prostitution.
"... What about the children that we have with Duke Galick…?" Krista questioned in a soft and uncertain voice.
Spoiler: Kriasta Lenz/Historia ReissBastard daughter of Rod Reiss.
"For all intents and purposes, they shall be considered Saiyans -- Duke Galick's species. They will be his to raise in accordance to his people's ways… however, he has been very receptive to the idea of the mothers of his children having a connection to them." There was a way that he said that which made Annie's hair rise. She could almost see his intentions, as if they were bare before her.
They were planning on using Galick's kids against him. Clever. But, just like Reiner, Annie got the strong impression that they were underestimating Galick.
As there was simply no way that he didn't understand that this was their one way to deal with him. Humanity couldn't hope to fight him, but another Saiyan?
He'd see it coming a mile away.
But admittedly, Annie was uncertain what other card they had to play.
"So, we can pop a couple of kids out, then walk away as a baroness, huh?" Ymir remarked, sounding rather casual about it. "And if he takes a liking to us, he might even put a ring on our fingers. How about that, Duchess Krista," she said, bumping her hip against the tomato red Krista. She was far more at ease with the idea than Annie expected.
"Question!" Sasha blurted, raising her hand up. "If we go to this branch of the military, will we have to fight Titans? Will there be banquets?"
Spoiler: Sasha BrausProfessional Glutton.
Premier Zachary blinked at the question. "You will not be expected to fight Titans, no. And I suspect there will be banquets almost every day. According to Duke Galick, Saiyans require a great deal of food, and I have personally seen him consume a feast fit for twenty men and call it a snack." That was certainly an image.
"I accept!" Sasha declared, taking a step forward with a dignified expression on her face. As if she were thinking with anything other than her stomach. Annie sucked in a sharp breath because of it, her hands curling into fists behind her back.
She had half hoped that no one would accept. That way, she wouldn't stand out if she refused.
"Premier Zachary? Is this… I… is this how I could best serve humanity?" Krista asked, and that made him close his eyes for a moment. Like he had to brace himself to give the answer.
"It is," Premier Zachary confirmed, opening his eyes once more. "With Duke Galick, humanity has the potential to expand beyond the Walls. The Titan threat is mitigated with his mere presence. There will never be another Trost or Shiganshina. There can't be, because of him."
"Beyond the Walls?" Mikasa whispered under her breath, and Annie only heard her because they stood next to each other. Something hardened in her gaze that Annie saw. Then, louder, she spoke up. "Is the military looking to leave the Walls behind? To expand?"
Premier Zachary offered a single nod of his head. "Yes, it is. While we are not yet ready for it -- the reclamation of the lost territory will need to come first, but within five years, it is our intention to expand beyond the Walls for the first time in our history." Damn Reiner. Damn him for being right.
"I accept," Mikasa voiced and that was a gut punch that Annie hadn't at all anticipated. Everyone knew that Mikasa was obsessed with Eren. She wore that red scarf in the height of summer just because he gave it to her when she was a kid. She was the very last person that Annie expected to agree to this, and she had really counted on Mikasa refusing so she wouldn't be the odd one out.
"I accept too!" Krista swiftly followed, snapping off a picture-perfect salute as she did so.
Ymir offered a small shrug, "If my Krista is going, then I'm going to."
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it all. She could refuse. It wasn't like it would be suspicious that she'd rather go to the Military Police and kick up her feet for the rest of her career rather than be treated as a broodmare.
Yet, all the same, Annie understood the risks. The costs. It wasn't enough that she was demanded to become a mass murderer. She was being made a whore as well.
"I accept," Annie agreed, keeping how she truly felt out of her voice with practiced ease. The five of them gave the affirmative. Galick's harem would gain five more members. She tried to convince herself of the positives. The barony wouldn't be worth a damn thing. But, in a month, they would be due to meet with Zeke, the Beast Titan, for an update on their progress.
Annie would be snuck out of Paradis… and then she could go home. She'd have the brat, and hopefully she'd never have to see it before she'd be free to live out the remainder of her life in peace.
Premier Zachary stood up and, wordlessly, he snapped off a salute with his fist over his heart. He didn't say a word simply because there was nothing left to say.
…
"So Jean and Marco went to the Military Police?" Sasha asked, kicking her feet back and forth inside the carriage the five of them were squeezed into. Annie managed to get a window seat, so she could watch the terrain go by with a dull expression. Already, Wall Rose was long out of sight as they approached what would become their home.
Already, she saw signs of people pushing back the years of neglect. Roads were being rebuilt, weeds cut away, and buildings were being reclaimed. The Eldians within the Walls had sent out more than a hundred thousand people in an effort to stave off starvation from the loss of territory, but they still had a large population to refill the regained territory.
The entire thing was happening so fast that most people didn't really believe it was happening until it was.
"So did Bertholdt," Krista replied, her hands in her lap as she was forced into the center of the carriage with Ymir's arm draped around her shoulders.
Ymir snorted, "Did anyone go to the Scouts?" She asked, and next to Annie, Mikasa answered as she too gazed through a window.
"Armin did," she said, sounding a bit sad about it. Eren used to go on and on about joining the Scouts, and Mikasa probably planned on following him. In contrast Armin didn't really seem like he was made for it. It felt like a cruel twist of fate that he was the only one of the three that would actually be joining the Scouts.
"Connie and Reiner did too," Krista added. Connie was a surprise, Annie could admit. She figured that he'd join the Military Police, too. But, then again, the Scouts were suddenly a lot safer with the idea that Galick would be joining their expeditions. Reiner however, was taking his place as planned.
They were still hunting for the Founding Titan and the true royal family. The Military Police was the best lead in general, but the Scouts seemed to be picking up a lot more power with Galick's support.
"What do you think he's like?" Sasha asked, pursing her lips. Annie couldn't quite swallow the sarcastic bark of laughter that escaped her, earning the others' attention.
"A little late to be wondering that," Annie pointed out, making Sasha shrug.
"I mean, I know what we're going to be doing," Sasha defended. "And I've heard all about what he can do -- he's super strong, he can fly, and so on. But no one seems to know what he's actually like? Like, is he funny? Smart? Stupid?" That was… a fair point, Annie could admit.
Still a little late to consider it though. "I suppose we'll find out," Annie replied with a small shrug, swallowing her own nervousness. She had a few days to prepare herself for it, but she wasn't the only one finding herself with cold feet as the mood immediately turned at her words.
At least until Sasha caught a glimpse of the place where they would be staying, and she half climbed over Krista to look through Ymir's window. "Ohh! That's a really big house! It's a total palace!" She noted, and Annie felt curiosity getting the better of her. Mikasa stared out her window, her expression not so much as twitching as they approached, but Annie had to wait until they arrived to look at it.
Sasha wasn't wrong. When Annie exited the carriage, she realized the building was a palace. Probably one inhabited by the former duke. The house was less a house and more of a full-scale castle -- it was made out of marble stone with several wings, and there were several lesser buildings that were framed around the main one that stood at six stories tall. The grounds were already carefully groomed with trimmed bushes and trees, and flower gardens planted…
It didn't seem like a bad place, Annie thought to herself. It looked like something ripped right out of a storybook, if you ignored the more subtle signs of neglect that were being tended to steadily. Before a large wooden double door were two members of the Garrison. Annie noted that they were both female.
Out of habit, they delivered a salute, which the two guards returned before one of them stepped forward. "My name is Maria," the woman in her mid-twenties introduced herself. Annie didn't recognize her, and the name couldn't be assumed. Sina, Rose, and Maria were the three most popular names for girls in Paradis, after all. "I will be your commanding officer during your time in the Relief Regiment."
Annie had to resist snorting when she heard that. They really were trying to make it sound like a proper support regiment. Easier to swallow, Annie guessed.
"Follow me, soldiers. I'll give you a tour of the grounds and explain your duties along the way," Maria said, pushing the door to the castle open and leading them inside. The interior was cleaner than the exterior, if a bit bare, with the lavish decorations that Annie would expect either tossed out because of neglect or in the process of being cleaned. "Physical conditioning will be maintained and combat readiness is demanded -- training times are up to you, but you will meet the mandatory twenty hours a week."
As they walked, however, Annie thought she heard a distant echo through the halls.
*Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap*
She didn't think she was the only one that heard it, but Maria continued as if it wasn't happening. "We are the guards of Duke Galick's home, as well as the mothers of his children. However, as of now, we have no children to protect. Our duties will be expected to change at that time, but every child of Duke Galick will be assigned a personal guard."
They were led through a ballroom, a dining room, and a library. The echo faded at that point, but she wasn't the only one with reddening cheeks.
"A basic rotation of partners will be provided to ensure rest and optimal chances of inducing a pregnancy. Your ovulation times are to be recorded, as well as your periods. Once you're pregnant, you will be put on light duties. Physical exercise will be regulated to ensure optimal births, with doctors on site to monitor your health and that of your baby." That was about what she expected-
*Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap*
The echo was back, and it was louder. Maria, almost to counter it, spoke louder. "After childbirth, and your recovery time expires, you will be taken off the rotation list for a minimum of one year. If you want more of him, then take it up the ass. From there, you can fall into more child rearing duties, or you can become a full time guard of one of the other children. Or a mixture of both, if that is what you desire. Additionally, after your first child, you can take yourself off the rotation list entirely with your performance being subject to review every three years."
*Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap Plap*
The echo wasn't exactly faint anymore. The harsh sound of flesh on flesh rang out through the barren hallways as Maria led them to the back of the castle, to a balcony with glass windows. An open door allowed the sound to travel through the castle, and Annie's breath hitched in her throat.
She saw a white haired woman laying naked on a table, her legs spread wide with a river of white cum dripping out of her vagina in such volume that it not only formed a puddle that she sat in, but it dripped over the edge of the table. Her legs twitched and clenched, telling Annie that she was still recovering from a leg-shaking orgasm. Cum was spattered over her breasts and abs, and as Maria led them onto the balcony, Annie saw her face was covered in cum as well.
The source of the echoes, however, was an auburn-haired woman whom Galick had by the ponytail, yanking her head back until she was looking up at the ceiling with a similarly cum covered face, her naturally tanned breasts bouncing with every powerful thrust that made her moan into her hands.
Annie got a full view of Galick himself then -- her eyes flowing over the lines of powerful muscles that defined his body. She was used to seeing muscular men, but Cadet training cultivated a certain type of body on the leaner side. Galick's muscles looked like they were trying to rip free of their confines. His back and arms were well defined, as were his calves and thighs. He was all muscle. Notably, however, a brown furry tail protruded from the small of his back. It was a particular sight to see.
Nice butt too, Annie could admit, watching as it moved to pound at the woman's quivering body as she came on his pistoning cock.
Then, with a final thrust, Galick slammed his hips forward and came inside of her with a primal grunt. Annie watched as the woman twitched once, then again, and a third time before cum erupted from the seam her vagina had around his cock and began to pool at her feet. With a groan from her and a sigh of contentment from Galick, he let go of the woman, who collapsed on the railing of the balcony that she had been fucked on. "S-s-saiyan... hybrid... babies..." The woman whispered with a shiver of delight before going limp.
"That- oh. When did you get here?" Galick started, reaching for a pitcher of water before he noticed them behind them. Out of the corner of her eye, Annie saw Krista covering her eyes with her hands while her face was crimson. Even Mikasa wasn't immune to the sight that was put on display.
Galick was a powerfully built guy. Annie didn't get a particularly good look at him back during the Trost incident, but he was handsome. An angelic mixture of masculine and pretty boy, which was further highlighted by a jagged scar on his chest that went up to his collarbone. He was completely unbothered by his nudity, which gave them a full view of him.
His cock glissened with a sheen of cum, both his own and that of the two women that he seemed to have fucked into a comas. Their poor internal organs. No wonder Maria mentioned the rotation for rest. It was the size of a club, and even as it softened, it looked like something you could use to beat someone to death. Or fuck them to death.
There were worse ways to go.
"They just arrived, and I was giving them the tour, Duke Galick," Maria answered, presenting him with a towel that he used to wrap around his waist.
"Ah. My bad -- it's a pretty day, so staying indoors seemed like a shame," Galick replied, his tone casual and without any of the arrogance that Annie had prepared herself to deal with. "I thought you were arriving later. This wasn't exactly how I thought the introductions would go… but I'm Galick. A Saiyan Warrior. And Duke, I guess. But, I'd prefer it if you just called me Galick," He offered a lopsided smile, and it seemed strangely charming on him.
This was the man who completely upheaved everything. Who shattered every single plan that they had ever made.
It was irritating that she thought he was attractive.
...
I know that I threw a lot of characters at you this chapter, so I tried something with the images to help introduce them if you aren't familiar with them, or remind you if it's been a while since you watched or read AoT. Let me know what you think. Like Quote ReplyReport Reactions:Twisted, AJ(Regend), CelticMonk and 710 others