NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29: CHAPTER- 29:
It was already beginning to lighten. Today marked the last day of their mission—one that would determine whether they could eliminate all the Titans who had breached Wall Maria. The report had come through, confirming that approximately a hundred Titans needed to be eradicated.
Fighting Titans inside the walls provided a slight advantage in terms of survival, but today, there would be no time for hesitation. Yesterday, the priority had been saving civilians. Today, their mission was clear—take down the Titans. There was a nagging fear in the pit of Sana's stomach, though. She couldn't shake the feeling that they would lose comrades today.
Her entire squad had been sidelined from the main action. Only ten scouts had been permitted to fight, herself included. Isabel, Levi, and Farlan—her closest companions—were among those on her mind. Despite knowing their strength and experience, the thought of losing any one of them gnawed at her.
The current strategy called for operating in four-person teams, each squad assigned a set of coordinates. During their training, they had drilled these formations, preparing for just this kind of mission. Now, it was time to put their skills to the test. The goal was to eliminate at least four Titans per squad, though it was acceptable if a team only killed one or two. The elite squads, including Levi's, Mike's, Hange's, and Flagon's, would handle the remaining Titans.
The sky was clear today, offering perfect weather for the captains and their teams. Even Captain Flagon, who was not weak by any means, benefited from the ideal conditions.
Sana was assigned three additional members to her squad, while the child she had been caring for was with one of the rescue team members. Surprisingly, today she felt a calmness she hadn't expected. Perhaps it was the child. Something about her presence gave Sana a renewed sense of purpose.
Sana's team made their way to the Shiganshina District, where they had been tasked with eliminating the Titans in their area. Upon arrival, they found five Titans. The group was instructed to exercise caution, sticking strictly to the plan. The Titans in this area consisted of two five-meter-class, one two-meter-class, and one seven-meter-class, along with Dina Fritz, the 15-meter-class Titan.
Sana's eyes fixed on Dina Fritz. She had an idea—a risky one, but it could potentially turn the tide in their favor. What if they could use Dina's royal blood to their advantage?
"I need you all to stay put until I return," she told her squad, determination in her voice. "Do not let any other team engage the Titans. This is my responsibility."
Without waiting for a response, she dashed toward Erwin's position. She needed to speak with him about Dina and formulate a plan to capture her. She already knew which scouts would be involved, but she was certain that once Erwin understood the plan, he would support it.
When Sana reached Erwin, he was surrounded by a group of Scouts. His expression was as composed as always, his gaze sharp and attentive.
"Is there a problem, Sana?" he asked, his voice calm but authoritative.
Sana lowered her voice, the weight of the decision she was about to make settling heavily on her shoulders. "Yes, I sought permission from you," she said, almost inaudibly.
Erwin signaled for the others to leave, and the two of them were left alone on the wall, overlooking the battlefield.
"I think we need to capture a Titan," Sana began, her voice steady. "It could be useful for the future. We need to capture Dina Fritz, at any cost."
Erwin's eyes narrowed as he processed the request. After a long pause, he nodded. "All right. I'll form a team to capture her once the scouts finish their work. Leave it to me. And as for the five-meter-class Titans—don't kill them. We need one of them alive as well."
Sana felt a sense of relief at his approval, but confusion lingered. "Yes, sir," she replied. She wasn't sure why Erwin needed a five-meter-class Titan alive, but she trusted his judgment. He had always seen the bigger picture.
Sana rushed back to her team, eager to relay the orders. It didn't take long to find them.
"Erwin has given the order to capture two Titans," she explained quickly. "A five-meter-class and a 15-meter-class. We'll only deal with the five-meter-class for now. We need one alive, and the 15-meter-class will be captured."
She paused, the implications of their mission settling in. Dina Fritz was no ordinary Titan, and the secrecy around her capture made it clear that the plans were beyond mere research. Perhaps this wasn't just about studying her; perhaps it was something far more important.
Almost an hour had passed since they had begun their work. Sana's team had successfully eliminated three of the five Titans in their area. They were now resting on the wall, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings. They couldn't afford to let their guard down—not with so many Titans still out there.
Sana couldn't help but wonder how Levi's team was faring. They had been assigned to the most dangerous area, facing nearly all 15-meter-class Titans. Every time Levi was sent on a mission like this, it felt as if a part of her heart went with him. She knew he was the strongest of them all, but the danger still gnawed at her. Thankfully, Farlan was with him, and Isabel had been assigned to Captain Flagon's team.
Across the battlefield, squads were steadily completing their tasks, moving toward their designated locations. Erwin, she was sure, was already planning the next phase of the operation. She could only trust that his strategy would lead them to victory.
But there was still danger. Many Titans had retreated into the forest, and it was up to Mike and Captain Flagon to lead their teams into the dense woods. The forest was a completely different beast compared to the city. Killing Titans in the forest required a different set of skills, and Mike, with his exceptional ability to navigate such terrain, was the best suited for the job.
Now, all Sana could do was wait for further orders, praying that her comrades would make it out safely. The day's work wasn't over yet.