Time looper in AOT

Walking to the refugee area, the three of them talked about how Amaranth could be used—well, mostly it was Eren and Armin talking.

"I think we're forgetting something," Mikasa said, interrupting them.

"Huh?" Both Eren and Armin responded in unison.

"R-Right! The wood!" Armin exclaimed.

"Oh no! We should hurry and get it! I still want to keep my ears," Eren said with slight fear.

"You two wait here. I'll get it," Mikasa said before dashing off.

"Wait! Mikasa!" Eren called out, but she was too fast.

Eren and Armin chased after her, but by the time they reached the place, they only found a man lying on the ground, unconscious.

"A-Ah... where's Mikasa?" Armin said in panic.

Eren stepped closer to the man and kicked him in the stomach.

"Wake up."

The man groaned and opened his eyes.

Eren grabbed his hair and, with a blank expression, asked, "Did you see a girl with black hair and gray eyes come this way?"

"No, I don't know what you're talking about, kid," the man groaned in pain as Eren pulled his hair harder.

"Oh? Then what use do you have?" Eren tightened his grip around the man's neck, applying pressure.

"N-No! S-Stop... I-I know— cough!" The man gasped, feeling his life flash before his eyes.

Armin, though afraid, didn't intervene until the man finally spoke.

"Eren, calm down. Let him talk. We have to find Mikasa," Armin urged.

Eren snapped out of it and released the man, who coughed violently.

"Thanks, Armin," Eren muttered, realizing he had lost his cool. If not for Armin stopping him, he might have killed the man without learning Mikasa's location.

"Now, speak," Eren demanded, his sharp gaze sending chills down the man's spine.

"T-They took that oriental girl... cough ... to sell her. I can take you there, but please, don't kill me," the man begged, regretting his misfortune.

First, he had tried to kidnap a girl, but with just two hits, she nearly broke his bones. Then, his group abandoned him in a hurry, and now he was dealing with a devilish kid who nearly choked him to death.

Eren followed the man while Armin ran to call the soldiers for help.

"So, this is the place, huh?" Eren looked at the broken house deep inside the forest, pressing a sharp piece of wood against the man's neck.

"Y-Yes," the man stuttered.

Without hesitation, Eren stabbed the man in the back with the wooden stake. It didn't go in too deep, but he then used force to stab both of his legs.

"W-Why...?" the man gasped.

"Huh? Why? You should be happy I didn't kill you."

Eren smirked. "Of course, if no one stops the bleeding, you will die. Better hope the Military Police arrives in time to save your ass."

With that, Eren ran inside the house. However, he was unprepared when two men—one with a knife and the other with an axe—rushed at him in panic.

Before he could react, he saw his own body lying headless, his severed head rolling on the wooden floor.

1st Loop

"Huff... Huff..."

Eren gasped for air, looking around. The man he had stabbed was still there, crying in pain, and the broken house stood in front of him once more.

Calming himself, he cautiously stepped forward. This time, he was on high alert.

The moment the axe-wielding man swung at him, Eren dodged, stepping forward and kicking his leg. The man lost his balance and fell.

The second man lunged at Eren with a knife, screaming. Eren crouched, making him miss, then grabbed his legs, causing him to crash to the floor. Seizing the opportunity, Eren snatched the knife and slashed his throat.

"Hahaha! Son of a—"

Eren turned to see the axe-wielding man no longer on the ground.

'Shit, here we go again...'

Just as the axe swung toward him, the man suddenly stopped mid-attack, then collapsed in front of Eren, a long knife lodged in his neck.

"Eren, are you okay?" Mikasa asked, her face and clothes stained with blood.

"Mikasa!" Eren rushed to her, checking for injuries.

"Good, no wounds," he sighed in relief.

"Hmm, you don't have to worry," Mikasa said in her usual nonchalant tone but avoided eye contact.

'So those guys were running away from her?' Eren realized, sweat forming on his forehead. 'Doesn't that mean my death and loop were completely useless?'

Soon, Armin arrived with the Military Police. They asked a few questions, but thankfully, Armin had also called Hannes. Otherwise, the Military Police, who now looked at Mikasa as if she were a monster, might have caused trouble.

Mikasa had killed five men and injured two—whereas Eren struggled to kill just one.

Apparently, when she was collecting wood, some men tried to kidnap her. Since she was unarmed, they managed to capture her. However, they let their guard down. The moment she saw an opening, she struck down the one closest to her, took his knife, cut her ropes, and... well, the rest was history.

"I already knew she'd be fine," Armin said as they walked back—only to meet Eren's blank stare.

Mikasa suddenly stopped, making both of them look at her.

"...We seem to have forgotten something again."

Silence.

Then, realization struck.

Mikasa turned and ran back.

"Let's go," she called over her shoulder.

Eren and Armin looked at each other before bursting into laughter and running after her.

To Be Continued...