Chapter 33: The Battle Plan

“To move that massive boulder? Something like that... Have humans finally become able to command giants?” Pixis’s words carried a certain authority; many soldiers instinctively trusted their commanding officer.

“Lies! Who would throw their life away for such an absurd reason? Just what do you take us for?” Yet not everyone was willing to believe Pixis, and discordant voices rose up.

“We’re not just blades to be tossed aside after use!”

“Treating us like human weapons—this is ridiculous!”

“Who would buy into such empty words? I don’t want to die, I’m quitting!”

“So am I!”

“I still have children; I can’t die here.”

The order that had just begun to recover quickly unraveled, and this time, the soldiers erupted in open revolt—even the captains could not contain them.

“Don’t you know desertion is a capital offense?”

“As deserters, we have the right to execute you on the spot!”

“This is a death sentence! I’ll execute you right now!” Suddenly, a thunderous voice sounded from within the crowd—it was Woermann, the man who previously tried to execute Eren.

He drew his steel blade and swung at someone attempting to leave, but before his blade had even descended, Pixis, standing atop the wall, spoke.

“I hereby order—!”

Though Pixis was an old man, his voice was formidable; his roar silenced every soldier on the field.

“I pardon those who choose to leave now.”

Pixis stood upon the wall, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed ahead. His face was cold, but in his eyes burned an unyielding will.

He spoke slowly: “Those who have once succumbed to fear of the titans can never again face them head-on. If you know the terror of the titans, you may leave. And those who wish their parents, siblings, and loved ones to know that terror as well—go, you too may leave!”

Pixis paused, his words hanging in the air. Below, silence had already fallen.

“Yes… my daughter… she’s all I have left.” A middle-aged soldier, sweating and trembling, spoke, clearly haunted by the thought.

“I still have my parents—I don’t want them to die…”

“My wife is carrying our child…”

“My son has always been proud that his father could fight titans. I don’t want to let him down…”

Pixis’s words, not thunderous but soul-piercing, awakened many.

“Next, I want to speak of the attempt to reclaim Wall Maria four years ago. I believe you all know the real purpose without me saying it. We called it a campaign to retake the wall, but in truth, the government merely sought to reduce the burden of the unemployed masses. The reason we never speak of it is because by driving them out of these walls, we could go on surviving in here.”

Pixis’s voice rang out once more.

“All of humanity, myself included, bears guilt. Because Wall Maria had fewer residents, the conflict did not spill out for all to see. But what about this time? If Wall Rose falls, it will not be as simple as losing twenty percent of the population—the remaining land cannot sustain all of humanity!”

“If mankind perishes, it will not be because of the titans, but because we destroy ourselves! We must not die cowering behind the innermost walls. If we are to die, let it be here—let us fall here, as sacrifices!”

First words that pierced the soul, then words that struck at the very heart—Pixis’s speech moved everyone present. They were not mere corpses; they possessed human dignity. Thus, all agreed with Pixis, including Sikong Xu.

“I’ve heard these lines so many times in the original story, but to hear them now, truly spoken, is stirring. Pixis is worthy of being the southern commander.”

Standing beside Pixis, Sikong Xu felt this most deeply. Even if he was not of this world, even if his great power kept him from feeling the same despair as ordinary civilians, Sikong Xu was human—and as such, possessed human dignity.

...

Armin and Eren had returned from the engineering team.

Perhaps because of Sikong Xu’s presence, Armin had not devised the plan from the original story to avoid direct combat with the titans. There was no other way—Sikong Xu had to step up.

“Commander, I have something to discuss with you.”

Seeing that the once-scattered soldiers had reformed into orderly ranks, Sikong Xu called out to Pixis.

“What is it? Are you looking to share a drink with this old man?” Pixis joked.

“Haha, I’d love to get drunk with you someday. But I’m here with a plan—a battle plan,” Sikong Xu replied.

“Xu, don’t cause any more trouble. The engineers have already worked out a complete strategy,” Armin, just back from the engineering team, quickly pulled at Sikong Xu, afraid he would upset Pixis.

“A battle plan?” Pixis folded his arms, looking at Sikong Xu. “The engineers already have a plan—I don’t want to disrupt it, but since it’s you, let’s hear it.”

With a wave of his hand, Pixis summoned two members of the engineering team.

“If the commander thinks so highly of me, then I’ll speak plainly. But first, I’d like to know the engineers’ original plan,” Sikong Xu said, turning to the two who had stepped behind Pixis.

One of them, at Pixis’s nod, stepped forward and said, “Our plan was to have Soldier Yeager transform into a titan, while the rest of the troops roamed the town to delay the titans. Unless absolutely necessary, we would avoid combat. Once Yeager transformed, more than ten elites would guard him as he moved the boulder.”

“A solid plan,” Sikong Xu nodded, then continued, “But actually, we can avoid fighting the titans in the city altogether.”

He glanced at Pixis, then at the two engineers. “Titans are drawn to where people gather. We only need to send a large number of soldiers onto the walls to attract their attention.”

The two engineers, prepared to argue, found themselves at a loss—this plan was superior.

“Of course, we can’t avoid fighting the titans that have already come through the breach, so we’ll still need a few elites to protect Eren,” Sikong Xu said, looking at Armin, who was now staring in disbelief.

Come on, you came up with this plan yourself—why do you look so shocked? Sikong Xu thought to himself, exasperated.

“But this plan only works if Eren can actually move the boulder,” Armin suddenly said.

“Isn’t the current plan based on that same assumption?” Sikong Xu smiled, then turned to Pixis. “Surely, Commander, you’re well aware this is the crux of the matter?”

“Haha! Yes, indeed. The fate of humanity rests on your shoulders, Soldier Yeager…” Pixis looked at Eren, who responded with a fist to his chest in salute.

“From birth, I’ve always lost to the titans… This time, I want to win, just once…” Pixis’s words echoed in everyone’s ears, leaving them deep in thought…