CHAPTER - 19 { Female Titan }

"If it goes like this, we will be entering the Forest of Giant Trees…"

Rose gazed at the horizon before her where she could see the outline of a huge forest.

From here, she couldn't really make out any difference between it and other forests.

But as they got closer to it, she guessed that the trees there were almost 20 times the normal size.

A Forest of Giant Trees, is composed of tall trees (generally around 80 meters tall), which have enormous trunks, large branches, and can grow larger than most titans.

Due to their enormous sizes, humans could stay atop the upper branches of the trees and remain safe from titans, which do not possess the intelligence to climb trees.

"Mike, go behind and ask Commander Erwin if we need to enter the forest with the front line."

Vlad slowed his horse and turned to look at Mike at the back of the squad.

"Okay…"

This was an order unlike request so Mike nodded his head and changed his direction towards the center of the formation where Erwin was commanding.

"Let's go!"

Mike sped up his horse as it kicked the ground and rushed away from the squad.

"Rose, Vector, it's likely that we will have to fight the incoming titans in this Forest of Giant Trees."

Said Vlad as he steer the horse to return back to its original speed. Rose and Vector agreed to his guess.

The distance between the Forest of Giant Trees and their formation was decreasing.

From the front line, a soldier came to Vlad's squad and passed on a message whether to enter the forest or not.

Fortunately Mike had returned with new orders from Erwin, and one of these orders was that only the centerline of the formation was to enter the forest.

The soldier went back to his squad to relay the message of order from Erwin.

"Our squad is ordered to stay behind and stop any titans from entering the forest with the rear squads."

Mike explained what he was told by Erwin. Vlad didn't give any reaction as he had guessed it already.

"We are going to enter the forest soon, get your ODM gears ready."

Rose said loudly as the wind was pushing the voice and making it difficult to hear.

The left and right squads of the formation detoured around the forest while the front line headed straight.

As Vlad and his squad entered the forest, they stopped immediately and tied their horses near a giant tree.

Press.

Vlad shot the hooks at a high tree branch and pulled the strings back.

His body was slowly lifted up as he climbed the tree as quickly as he could without the help of the high pressure gas.

Rose, Vector and Mike also did the same but on different trees.

"I can see them! It's the commander!"

Vector, who had his hand over his eyebrows to block the sunlight, said.

Erwin and his squad with the carriages came close to the forest and entered.

He looked up at Vlad's squad and nodded his head to signal them.

"Now stay alert."

Said Vlad as he stood at the edge of the tree branch and looked down on the ground.

"It's Eren! Why are they in this position? Weren't they supposed to be in the front line?"

Asked Vector as he crouched down on the tree branch while staring at the approaching squad.

This squad was Levi's, and Eren was in the middle protected from all sides.

"You still haven't found it? They are just lying to us. No, not just us but maybe all the other squads about their exact position."

Rose said as she crossed her arms over her chest and sighed at Vector's intelligence or simply stupidity.

"Even I knew about it. Tch, tch."

Mike mocked Vector as he licked his tongue and shook his head in disappointment.

Vector's face turned red in anger and embarrassment but he controlled himself.

They were on a mission, he couldn't let his focus be distracted by their little comments.

Levi and his squad with Eren entered the forest behind Erwin's.

"Do you hear it?"

Suddenly, Rose tightened her brows and concentrated her hearings on a sound.

"Yes, I hear it. See that."

Vlad pointed his finger on a figure far in the green horizon which was coming towards the Forest of Giant Trees.

Or specifically, the humans in the forest.

The rear squads were yet to come so Vlad, Rise, Vector and Mike, they were on their own.

"It's a Female Titan! Never seen one before."

Vector pulled out the blades and held the handles tightly. Mike cracked his neck and took a deep breath to calm down.

"Colossal Titan, Armored Titan, Eren's Titan… this Female Titan should also be a human if my observations are correct."

Rose adjusted her shirt and bent slightly forward in an attacking pose.

'So this is why I was feeling weird!'

Vlad realized the reason for his uneasiness and felt somewhat satisfied. His black eyes then looked past the Female Titan.

"There's more titans behind this bitch!"

Vector stared at the small army of titans following behind the Female Titan.

"Women really are manipulating nature, be it humans, animals or even these titans…"

Rose glared at Mike who was just on the next tree to her. Mike smiled bitterly at Rose regretting what he just said.

"Ambush!"

Ordered Vlad as he swung on another tree a little deeper in the forest.

Rose, Vector and Mike also hid their figures in the shadows of the branches and leaves.

Boom… Boom!

The footsteps were like thunder roars as it only became louder and louder.

Boom!

The Female Titan entered the forest. It was running with all its might trying to catch up with the centerline.

Wuss!

The Female Titan couldn't notice the four shadows behind the trees which swung in silence.

!!

Sensing danger, the Female Titan first covered her nape with her right hand.

"This…"

One of the four shadows stopped his launch and swung back to hide his figure in the shadows.

The Female Titan slowed down, ultimately stopping in its track. All its senses were screaming and alerting it of something.

Wuss!

A black shadow flashed before the Female Titan's eyes.

Slash!

Two blades in a V-shape with the tips joined together, ripped through its eyes.

The Female Titan held her face with her left hand as it had turned completely blind.

Then, the Female Titan felt multiple cuts on her body. Most were concentrated on her right arm's tricep muscles.

"The legs!"

The Female Titan heard a shout which it recognised as it jumped and dashed forward without any direction.

On the way, it would slam on trees or fall down on the ground but still continued to run.

"It heard you."

Rose looked at the Female Titan which was making a run towards the centerline.

"Sorry…"

Vector lowered his head. Mike consoled him for being a fool and telling the enemy about their next move.

"It's no time to talk!"

Vlad said with a serious voice as he swung faster between the giant trees towards the Female Titan.

"Vector! Mike! To the left!"

Rose shouted while she followed behind Vlad quickly on the right side.

Vector and Mike swung towards the left side of the Female Titan.

The gap between the Female Titan and their squad was decreasing drastically.

'No where can you run!'