Chapter 27: Chapter 28: Mind
The battlefield grew even more intense. Eren, who had just transformed into a Titan, stood in the middle of the ruins, towering over everything. He was supposed to lift the massive boulder to seal the gate that the Colossal Titan had destroyed. But something unexpected happened—he remained still, not moving an inch.
From the rooftops, Adam, Mikasa, Armin, and the others watched anxiously.
"What is he doing?! Why isn't he moving?!"
Mikasa's sharp gaze locked onto him. "Eren… what's wrong with you?"
Suddenly, Eren's Titan form began to rampage! He turned and smashed his fist into a nearby wall with enough force to demolish an entire house. The sound of cracking stone filled the air as his body trembled, as if something inside him had gone completely wrong.
Adam narrowed his eyes, closely observing Eren's movements.
"No… This isn't an intentional attack. This is… wild, uncontrolled instinct."
Eren punched the ground hard, then let out a deep, guttural roar like a feral beast. His head twitched violently as if he was battling something deep within his mind.
"Damn it! He's completely lost control!"
"If this keeps up, he'll destroy us instead!"
The soldiers watching from a distance began to panic. Some higher-ups even considered firing the cannons at Eren immediately.
Commander Pyxis, observing the scene, turned to Adam.
"You were the one who claimed he could be controlled, weren't you? Well then, prove it now."
Adam clicked his tongue.
"Of course… I always did love a challenge."
Without hesitation, Adam launched himself toward Eren's Titan form using his ODM Gear.
Mikasa called out in concern, "Adam! Don't be reckless!"
But Adam didn't stop. He had no time to hesitate.
---
Inside Eren's mind, everything was in chaos. He felt as though he was drowning in a sea of memories, flashes of the past merging with pain and fury.
He saw his mother being devoured by a Titan.
He saw Armin, barely clinging to life.
He saw himself, powerless and weak.
"I have to kill them… kill all the Titans… wipe them all out!"
But suddenly, a voice cut through the storm in his mind.
"Eren! Are you just going to stand there and throw a tantrum like a little kid?!"
In the midst of his mental chaos, Eren saw someone standing before him—not a Titan, but a familiar figure in human form.
"Adam…?"
Adam crossed his arms. "Look, I get it. Losing control happens to the best of us. But seriously, are you really going to throw a fit here while we're all waiting for you to finish the job?"
Eren clenched his fists. "I… I can't control this…"
Adam stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Eren's shoulder, his expression relaxed yet firm.
"Listen, Eren. I know you have a grudge. I know you want to kill all the Titans. But this isn't about revenge right now. This is about saving the people who are still alive."
Eren froze.
"If you really want to destroy all the Titans, then the first step is sealing that gate. If you keep rampaging here, you'll just be another problem instead of a solution."
Eren's hands trembled, his mind torn between rage and clarity.
"I… I don't want to be a burden… I want to fight… I want to win!"
Adam smirked. "Then stand up. And fight with your brain, not just your emotions."
---
Back to Reality
Suddenly, the wild look in Eren's Titan eyes faded. He stopped his rampage. His muscles tensed, and he turned his focus toward the massive boulder.
From a distance, the watching soldiers fell into stunned silence.
Jean, still catching his breath, muttered, "Is… is he back?"
Mikasa's eyes lingered on Adam, admiration flickering in them. "He did it…"
Eren's Titan form grabbed the enormous boulder and began carrying it toward the broken gate. The soldiers erupted into cheers, rallying behind him.
From the rooftop, Adam leaned back against a wall, letting out a small sigh of relief.
"Good thing that worked… Otherwise, I would've been Titan food by now."
Their mission wasn't over yet, but for the first time, Adam felt like they had taken a huge step toward victory.