"Too late!" Rein's gut sank. He scrambled back, putting distance between them.
The apocalyptic scene unfolding—he didn't want to stick around a second longer.
Yesterday, Reiner's single kick had wrecked him.
He was no match!
His brain screamed run almost instantly.
"So close…" Rein gritted his teeth, unwilling to let it go.
A split second faster, and he'd have nabbed Reiner, snatched the Armored Titan's power, and finished the task early.
But under the sun, the Armored Titan stood tall, transformation complete. That explosive frame declared Rein's chance gone.
Reiner, now armored, glanced at the fleeing Rein, then at the pile of tools on the ground. He froze.
"It's him!"
He recognized Rein—the Titan he'd crippled with one kick yesterday.
He'd thought it was just another mindless Pure Titan. Now? Not so ordinary.
Pure Titans didn't think. Beyond eating humans on instinct, they did nothing.
But this one? Gathering tools, showing fear, running—it had a mind of its own.
"Then…" A wild thought hit Reiner. "He's an intelligent Titan too!"
Of the Nine Titans, only the Founding, Attack, and Jaw weren't under Marley's thumb. So which was this?
"Doesn't matter—any of them needs to be reclaimed!"
Reiner crouched, leaning forward. His chiseled form and rippling muscles gleamed in the sunlight. He charged.
Rein sprinted ahead, glancing back—and nearly had a heart attack.
The Armored Titan excelled at short sprints and collisions. Taller by half, with longer strides, he closed in fast.
"Worst transmigration ever!" Rein laughed bitterly.
These past days, he was either chasing or being chased, running nonstop, exhausted.
Might as well call him the "Sprint Titan."
"Don't come closer!" he yelled at the Armored Titan behind him. His dry, raspy voice didn't slow Reiner.
Rein was screwed.
He'd planned to use slick moves and forest know-how to shake Reiner, banking on his stamina to wear the Armored Titan down.
Wishful thinking. Reiner's burst speed was insane, and his endurance? Top-notch. He'd once hauled people across the island without breaking a sweat.
Worse, any tree in his way—unless massive—Reiner just plowed through.
Rein zigzagged in a fancy S-curve; Reiner took a brutal straight line. The gap shrank fast.
He'd be done for.
Rein's mind raced for a way out.
A glint flashed in his eyes—he had a plan.
Five minutes into the chase, Rein could hear Reiner's cold snicker. Too close.
"Gotta risk it!" he shouted, slamming on the brakes and dropping flat.
Reiner didn't see it coming, still charging full tilt.
In a flash, Rein slid under him.
"Slide tackle!"
Rein roared, timing it perfect—a meteor punch to Reiner's lower gut.
Boom!
"Ow!"
His fragile hand met hard armor, like hitting a rock. It went numb.
But Reiner? Flipped ass-over-head.
"Forum bros don't lie!" Rein thought. "Slide tackle's the real deal!"
Effective, sure—but the Armored Titan wasn't hurt. No time to waste. Rein bolted to a tree, yanked it out by the roots—arm-thick—and stripped the branches.
A crude club.
"Hm?" Reiner eyed Rein with the tree, surprised.
"No surprise there—an intelligent Titan using weapons!"
He didn't take it lightly. Hands up—one forward, one back—fists clenched, ready to fight.
"Here I go!" Rein twirled the stick, channeling his inner Sun Wukong.
As a kid, obsessed with Journey to the West and black myth, he'd taught himself some staff moves. It looked legit—like he meant business.
A smooth combo later, he planted his feet, stick behind him in his right hand, left hand beckoning Reiner.
"Come at me!"
A low, taunting growl rumbled out, hitting Reiner's ears.
"This stance…" Reiner mused. "The Attack Titan?"
Lost to Marley years ago, data on it was scarce. The other Titans had clear powers; the Attack Titan's were a mystery.
Reiner tensed up.
"But why so weak yesterday?"
He'd floored Rein with one kick. An intelligent Titan shouldn't be that frail.
A fog of questions clouded Reiner's already shaky brain, turning it to mush.
After a beat, he couldn't wait—striking first.
His steel-clad body surged forward, armor glinting in the sun.
One punch.
The Armored Titan swung with full force, fist cutting the air.
Fast as hell.
"Damn, quick!" Rein marveled, focusing hard. He swung the tree to meet it.
Crack!
A sharp snap—the tree broke.
Against solid armor, wood didn't stand a chance.
Lucky it wasn't dry. Even split, it held together. Rein whipped the limp trunk down on Reiner's head.
Thwack! Another clash.
Reiner blocked with both arms, muttering, "That's it?"
Not quite.
As the trunk swung, Rein had already shifted—to a spot littered with palm-sized rocks.
He knew he couldn't match Reiner or crack his armor. With his smarts, rocks were the play.
Whoosh!
Scoop, lift, throw—all one motion.
A half-meter stone sailed at Reiner, smashing into him with a thud.
"That's it?" Reiner smirked, shattering it with a clean punch. Shards peppered his face.
It stung a bit, slowed him a touch—but that was all.
Crack! Crack!
Stone after stone splintered on the Armored Titan's armor. With each throw, Reiner grew cockier.
This meant the Attack Titan was weak!
Today was his shot to reclaim it!
"Heh heh heh~"
A creepy laugh rasped from the Armored Titan's maw, chilling the air.
Lose the Jaw Titan, gain the Attack Titan? Worth it!
Thrilled, Reiner dropped his guard, letting rocks hit him. Hands poised to grab, he'd nab Rein in one go.
"Die!" His voice roared, confidence surging—victory in sight.
He saw Rein freeze—scared stiff.
But…
Why no panic on that weakling's face? Was that… a smirk?