27 Chapter 27

-[Liam]-

'Why didn't I think of it before? If I could be reincarnated, what's the guarantee that I'm the only one?' His eyes scanned the panicking scouts as he composed himself.

The expedition was successful but it was too soon for them to enter another fight.

Erwin entered the mess hall not a moment later. "There are multiple titans 500 meters to the south and they're coming right this way. Gear up!"

"But there's no time!" One of the scout veterans complained.

"Then we'll make time." He said before gesturing to three particular people to follow him. "They will engage the titans while the rest of you gear up."

Liam watched as the two boys and Annie followed the commander as they hurried out of the building.

As they all scampered out of the mess hall, Liam took out an invisibility potion, making an ice clone before downing the potion.

As he turned invisible, his clone went off to do its duty; waking Christa up and standing in Liam's place for the time being.

With a use of [Apparition], he appeared at the top of the headquarters. He watched as Erwin sat on his horse, watching Annie and Eren run forward.

After their individual acts of self harm, energy exploded out of the body as they transformed into the respective titans.

The last guy was some distance behind them, cursing. "You guys make this look so easy." Jean muttered to himself as he made a small cut on his finger with a knife.

Energy burst out of him as a titan body quickly formed around him. The transformation was quick as it was revealed to be the Armored titan.

Unlike Eren's first transformation, Jean seemed to be in control as he took his place beside the Female and Attack titan.

'They should be able to take care of this.' He thought, taking one look at the incoming mass of titans before quickly equipping [Mastema]. With a flap of the wings, he shot into the sky.

Even with the high vantage point, he didn't see the beast titan lurking around. 'Him launching this attack shows that he clearly sided with Marley.

If he's Zeke and he also knows the original timeline, then he should know that this won't be enough to deal with them.'

Liam's eyes widened before narrowing. 'He should have reacted after seeing the three titans here, which means he isn't here.'

Immediately, flapped powerfully as he tore through the air, flying north of the headquarters.

At the speed he was going, it didn't take him long to reach a village. He could see multiple villagers lying unmoving on the floors. More importantly, he saw the Cart titan just outside the village and in front of it was a bespectacled blond haired man with a beard.

Liam's eyes caught sight of numerous gas canisters scattered around the village, making it obvious what the reincarnator wanted to do. 'He's going to turn the people in Sasha's village into titans.'

Where the original Zeke used the people from Connie's village, this reincarnator wanted to add Sasha's village into the mix.

Zeke took in deliberate breath, opening his mouth to scream just as a feather cut through the air, tearing through his throat and vocal cord.

"Ackkk!" The man held his throat for a moment as a few canisters fell to the ground around the village, orange tinted gas spreading out of it.

At the same time, a stream of fire shot down from the sky, enveloping it. "I knew you'd be here." Liam muttered as a burst of energy occurred, Zeke transforming into the Beast titan.

"AAAAAHHHHHH!" The abnormal voice of the Cart titan screamed as it scampered and rolled around in an attempt to douse the flames.

Not wanting to face the both of them at the same time, Liam allowed himself to descend down to the burning Cart titan, calling on his magic as his foot touched the ground.

Large spikes of ice shot forward, rising high as they skewered the titan. It was effectively immobilized if not dead. He wasn't taking any chances with these two.

He shot into the sky as a large palm smashed into where he previously was.

*BOOM!*

"What the fuck is this?! I don't remember anything like this! That shouldn't be possible!" The beast titan screamed as it tried to swat him out of the air.

It was futile as Liam flew under the arm, feathers shooting out of [Mastema] as they tore through the beast titan's arm.

Flying towards its face, his palm was coated with fire as a large blast of fire shot towards its face.

"AAAAHHHHH!!!" It screamed.

Whether it was due to actual pain or the panic that it had lost its eyesight, Liam didn't know.

The beast titan raised its hand to its nape, covering it while hardening the limb. Liam gave a mocking laugh at that.

"You must be really dumb if you think that's going to help." Pulling on his magic, large arrows of ice formed above him.

With a gesture, the projectiles shot forward, tearing into the beast titan's large body and skewering it thoroughly. Forming another barrage of arrows, he allowed them to rain on his opponent until the beast titan looked like a pin cushion with ice arrows stuck in it.

A groaning noise emerged from it. Its throat was also pierced, making it hard for the titan to make sounds. Even with his barrage, Liam was careful to avoid the nape.

At this point, the arm covering the nape had fallen due to the shoulder of the arm being torn through by an ice arrow. The limb was dangling on its own as the Beast titan began to fall.

*BOOM!*

Falling face flat, the ice arrows dug even deeper through the beast titan. He could see the steam emitting from the titan, urging him to act immediately.

Now standing above its nape, he formed two ice swords, slashing out a precise cut as a chunk of meat was excavated and the titan shifter inside revealed.

Not bothering with being gentle, Liam pulled Zeke out of the titan. "I guess I wasn't as careful as I thought." Liam muttered, seeing that Zeke lacked both of his arms.

"How is this po- Aahhhhhh!" Before Zeke could finish his question, Liam had sliced off his legs from his knees. "What the fuck was that for?!"

"Better to be safe than sorry." He answered casually as he dispelled one of the ice swords, letting fire dance on his palm.

Facing it towards Zeke, a stream of fire shot out, engulfing the man's lower half.

"AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" His scream was of pure pain as his body from his waist down was being scorched.

Stopping his attack, the smell of burnt flesh wafted around as Zeke's face twisted in pain, tears threatening his eyes.

Liam's foot rose to rest on his chest, a layer of frost slowly spreading out of it. "Now, start talking."

"How many others are there?" He questioned as Zeke gave him a look of hate.

"Go to hell you discount Todoroki!" He spat out, causing Liam to frown.

The ice suddenly spread, encasing Zeke's entire body, the intense cold causing him to let out shrieks of pain.

The ice spread until only his neck wasn't covered in ice. "Here's the thing. I don't need to torture you to get my answers, I was just being polite."

"T-the fuck…are y-you t-t-talking about?!"

Reaching into his inventory, Liam pulled out a vial with a blue liquid.

"W-what th-mmmmphhhh!!!" Zeke tried to speak but his mouth was forced open and the liquid dumped down his throat. "Fuck you!!!"

"I'm trembling in fear." Liam retorted sarcastically. "Now you're going to tell me what I want to know, starting with one simple question. Who are you?"

Zeke's face looked reluctant and in agony but he couldn't stop the words that spewed out of his mouth. "I'm Anthony Collins. I was driving to work when a truck crashed into me and I woke up here as Zeke ten years ago!"

The hateful look on 'Zeke's' face got even more intense but Liam was barely moved by it.

"Do you know about any other reincarnated person in this world?" Liam asked.

"N-n-no!" The cold was clearly affecting him as Liam could hear the clattering of his teeth.

"Other than Zeke's set of abilities, do you have any other special abilities?" He questioned.

"N-no!!"

'Quite underwhelming if you ask me.' Liam thought to himself before going for the final question.

"What is your goal?" As he asked that, a glint appeared in Zeke's eyes.

"T-to save t-the w-w-world and b-b-build a h-harem!" Even with the dangerous situation he was in, the passion behind his voice was hard not to notice.

"Really?" Liam gave him a dry stare, causing the hateful to return.

"F-fuck you!!!"

He spent the next few minutes interrogating his fellow reincarnator. He didn't get anything really useful from him in the end.

"Alright. That brings our session to an end." Liam said as he took his foot off Zeke's chest.

"S-so y-y-you're letting me g-go?" Zeke asked with a hopeful look on his face.

Liam pretended to consider it for a moment. "No."

His hand shot forward, letting a wide blast of fire emerge from his palm, enveloping the man. The layer of ice immediately melted as the flames scorched the man.

"Aaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!" The screams of pain continued as Zeke's regeneration failed to keep up due to the already present injuries.

Liam didn't let up, continuing the onslaught of fire. He didn't even want to consider transferring the beast titan to someone. Zeke's memories would eventually become known to them along with knowledge that they shouldn't know.

'There's only room for one reincarnator here.' He thought as he increased the output, Zeke's screams dying out.

•••

[*Ding!*]

[You have killed a Hero Faction candidate! You have offended the Hero Faction!]

•••

'What?'