Even if it was only false peace, even if it was the tranquility of livestock penned in like animals, it was still the finest portrayal of enduring survival in this cruel world.
However, the false peace maintained within the Inside Wall Area for a hundred years did not mean it could continue for the next several centuries.
The Wall of Maria, which had seen no abnormalities for a hundred years, did not mean it would not be breached someday.
"What is that...?"
The ground and wooden buildings were trembling. Those who had hurried into the open finally realized the source of this small "earthquake."
Looking toward the Wall of Maria, their expressions froze completely. Like wooden chickens, they stared blankly at the towering crimson figure above the wall.
Perhaps "towering" was not even an appropriate description. Yet aside from towering, gigantic, a Titan among Titans, no one could properly describe the overwhelming shock brought by the Colossal Giant that had suddenly appeared beyond the wall.
"How is that possible? That wall is over fifty meters tall..."
Someone opened their mouth unconsciously and muttered blankly, then fell silent.
(Gobbit: How is that possible? That wall is two meters tall...)
(King Yao: Emoji-style smile...)
The Colossal Giant was so enormous it made one suffocate. Its exaggerated presence caused everyone who noticed it to hold their breath. For a moment, they could do nothing but stare dumbly, utterly unable to react.
But time did not freeze at that moment. No matter how stupefying the anomaly was, the Colossal Giant's actions would not halt simply because everyone was stunned.
With a height that utterly surpassed the Wall of Maria, the Colossal Giant gripped the edge of the wall. The muscles across its body bulged as though it had transformed into some demonic muscleman, unleashing terrifying Monstrous Strength as it violently shoved the Wall of Maria.
A true wall-fucking maniac. This fetish was even stranger than that of a tree-fucking maniac—honestly, even Lianye had to admit that the Colossal Giant was a terrifying man♂.
Bracing itself against the wall's edge, the Colossal Giant raised a leg. With the impact force granted by its massive body, it kicked apart the Wall of Maria—the defense once known as the Wall of Sighs, a barrier no Titan could breach.
"BANG—!"
A thunderclap-like roar and shockwave swept through the entire Shiganshina District. Small tremors rippled across the town once more, and amid the chaos, the stunned residents finally seemed to realize reality as they scattered in panic.
"The wall... there's a hole in it?"
"The Titans are inside!!!"
The edge of town near the Wall of Maria crumbled under the force of the Colossal Giant. The districts farther away would soon be overrun by Titans entering through the enormous hole at the base of the wall.
In the blink of an eye, Shiganshina District would be occupied by countless wandering Titans.
Whether they had realized this or were merely panicking instinctively, Shiganshina District's survivors fled frantically toward the inner wall, toward the second wall.
Titans possessed overwhelming advantages in size and strength. Even ordinary Titans entering the town were terrifyingly large and powerful enough to crush human houses and buildings with ease. Thus, faced with the Titan invasion, the people of Shiganshina District could only flee for their lives.
Amid the panicked crowd, one person did not retreat with the masses toward the Wall of Rose, the second wall. Instead, he slowly walked toward the shattered Wall of Maria.
He began with slow, steady steps, then gradually accelerated, breaking into a run faster than a cheetah. Then, his figure absurdly vanished into thin air.
—But the terrified townspeople, too distraught to think straight, had no mind to notice such an anomaly.
"I can sense it... a valuable prey."
The one who moved against the fleeing crowd, advancing toward the first wall at the heart of the chaos, was naturally Lianye. He had activated Rhythm of the Hunt and entered stealth.
By now, he no longer feared Titans in the slightest. Rather than wetting himself in terror, Lianye felt an uncontrollable thrill rise within him at the sight of suitable prey.
Before you continue