Chapter 49: The Giantess's Slaughter

As he looked at the giantess collapsed on the ground behind him, seemingly unable to make any move, a sudden thought flashed through Sikong Xu’s mind: to kill her right here and now. Yet the moment this idea emerged, Sikong Xu suppressed it. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to slay the giantess—after all, the main mission required her to be captured alive, so killing her was simply not an option.

Moreover, Sikong Xu was sure that if he turned back now, the giantess, who appeared as helpless as a small animal tortured and broken, would at once transform into a ferocious tiger and pounce on him without mercy.

He dared not take such a risk, especially since her ability to crystallize her body rendered his attacks futile. If he couldn’t even break through her defenses, how was he supposed to kill her?

No, it was better to retreat for now. Otherwise, Mikasa would surely circle back, and he had no desire for another encounter with the giantess. Pressing down his urge to strike, he spurred his horse and swiftly left the area, deciding all further plans could wait until they reached the Forest of Giant Trees—his home ground.

With Mikasa deliberately waiting for him, Sikong Xu soon caught up to her. Fearing that the giantess might give chase, he wasted no time and led Mikasa at full speed toward the forest.

After about ten minutes, the two arrived at the very edge of the Forest of Giant Trees. Only a few dozen meters more and they would be within its towering embrace. Sikong Xu felt a wave of relief on seeing those colossal trees stretching skyward. The plains had been stifling; the maneuvering gear was of little use, and every encounter with a titan was fraught with peril. Here in the forest, that would no longer be the case.

The roles of hunter and hunted seemed about to reverse. Sikong Xu glanced back—toward where the giantess would be coming from.

“Thank goodness, Xu, you’re all right!” Since their squad leader hadn’t returned, Armin and the others had been waiting anxiously at the forest’s edge. At last, seeing Sikong Xu and Mikasa arrive, Armin hurried forward with a greeting.

“We’re fine. But why are you all still here? Haven’t there been any orders from ahead?” Sikong Xu asked, pulling his horse to a stop.

“An intelligence officer came by a moment ago. He told us to stay here on standby at the forest’s edge. If any titans approach, we’re to take them down immediately. Oh, and Commander Erwin wanted you to head into the forest at once—apparently, there’s something important,” Armin relayed everything he’d just been told.

A flicker passed through Sikong Xu’s eyes. Was it finally time to begin the plan to capture the giantess?

Regaining his composure, Sikong Xu said to Armin, “Understood. I’ll head in right away. The squad is yours while I’m gone.”

“Wait—me? You mean—?” Armin stammered.

“That’s right. I believe in you. Good luck, Armin.” Sikong Xu clapped him on the shoulder, then turned to Mikasa. “Let’s go together. Eren’s still in there, and I’m worried about him.”

“Mm,” Mikasa nodded.

The two of them spurred their horses and charged into the depths of the forest.

By now, the giantess should have arrived, given her speed. Yet she was nowhere to be seen. Sikong Xu frowned, suspecting she’d deliberately avoided him. It seemed that display of strength earlier had at least unsettled her somewhat.

…

“Black smoke signals! More and more of them!” Deep within the Forest of Giant Trees, Eren, galloping hard on horseback, exclaimed. Though he wasn’t on the right flank himself, the steady stream of reports about entire squads being wiped out chilled him to the bone.

“I wonder how Xu and Mikasa are faring… What in the world is that monster on the right? To annihilate so many squads—the Survey Corps soldiers are all the best of the best—how could they be wiped out so easily…”

Watching the black smoke signals continuously rising behind him, Eren’s heart sank lower and lower. Even with the protection of the Special Operations Squad—the strongest team humanity had to offer—he could not quell his fear.

“It looks like the one who destroyed so many squads is coming…”

“And the target is Eren? We can’t let it succeed…”

The squad members shouted anxiously. Even among these elite soldiers, none could keep their composure in the face of such a terrifying foe—except Captain Levi.

“Draw your swords, all of you…” Levi’s cold voice cut through the tension. “If it shows itself… it will kill you all in an instant…”

Even Levi, humanity’s strongest, dared not be careless with such a formidable opponent. As he rode forward, Levi cast a glance behind. Somewhere back there lurked a dreadful demon.

Even that brat seems to have been delayed by this monster… Levi recalled the intelligence reports—how Sikong Xu had stayed behind to face the foe alone so his comrades could retreat. Now that the monster had reached them, did that brat survive?

The thought came and went quickly. Though Levi had his doubts about Sikong Xu, he could not believe for a moment that he would fall so easily.

“It’s here!” Suddenly, Levi sensed something and shouted a warning—but it was too late.

Just as a soldier launched himself into the air with his maneuvering gear, a massive hand shot out from the thick foliage, moving so fast that the soldier was crushed in an instant—blood spraying everywhere.

A pair of eyes, full of murderous intent, glared through the crimson mist at the Special Operations Squad racing ahead on horseback.

“Run!”

Levi shouted. Any thought of glimpsing the giant’s face was banished in an instant—the attack was so swift, he hadn’t even had time to look back.

Boom, boom, boom—

The giantess was indeed fast. With two enormous strides, she caught up to a soldier fleeing on horseback. Without so much as a glance, she stomped down with a colossal foot, and the soldier was reduced to bloody pulp.

“Don’t look back! Stay between the trees! Go!” Levi issued precise orders within seconds.

Boom, boom, boom—

The giantess’s speed was astonishing. At full sprint, she was nearly twice as fast as a military horse. Were it not for the frequent obstruction of the forest’s massive trees, she could have overtaken Eren in mere seconds.

Even so, she drew steadily closer. Some soldiers, unable to restrain themselves, attacked her—only to be slain instantly, just as Levi had predicted.

Of all the soldiers present, only the Special Operations Squad could face her without being instantly killed. Yet still, other soldiers kept interfering, sacrificing themselves to buy time for the squad’s escape—no, more precisely, for Eren’s escape.

Through careful analysis, Erwin had deduced not only that the giantess was an intelligent titan, but also that Eren was her target—hence the repeated efforts to impede her advance.

Eren kept running, and the giantess kept killing. Everywhere she passed, blood was left behind—a bitter testament to the soldiers’ sacrifice.

“Captain! Give the order!”

“Let’s attack! She’s too dangerous!”

Seeing their comrades slain one after another, even the Special Operations Squad’s nerves were stretched to the breaking point. The longer this stalemate lasted, the more their fear grew, and the more they yearned to strike out in self-defense. Even Eren was raising his hand to his mouth, prepared to transform at any moment.

But Levi still withheld the order.

He delayed, hoping to lure the giantess into the ambush Erwin had prepared—but neither of them anticipated just how relentless she would be.

Levi still did not give the order, and behind them, soldiers continued to die…

“Captain, stop trying to bait her—no ambush can contain this monster. Let me—let me be the one to capture her!”

Suddenly, a thunderous voice rang out from the woods. Levi and Eren both froze, and even the giantess’s pupils contracted.

That terrifying figure had finally arrived!