Attack on titan: The Last Stand

Unable to push the giant away, Xu Shixiong groped the ground, pulling out an electric pole still rooted in soil. With a forceful swing, he slammed it against the giant's head, shattering the pole instantly.

The giant howled in pain, enraged. Rising to its feet, it clasped its hands and aimed a powerful strike at Xu Shixiong's face. Startled, Xu reached for Qingqiu's hip and found a blade resembling a katana.

Gripping the hilt, Xu Shixiong swung the blade vertically at the giant.

The giant, nimble despite its size, leaped backward, crushing an Ito-Yokado supermarket beneath its feet. Qingqiu seized the opportunity to rise from the ground. Xu Shixiong held the blade in both hands, assuming a defensive stance.

"Three minutes left," the female AI voice reminded him.

With a weapon in hand, Xu Shixiong felt more confident. He extended a finger toward the giant—a middle finger.

"Come on, baldy!" The giant's smooth, hairless skin reminded Xu Shixiong of a hideous, hairless Canadian Sphynx cat once owned by a neighbor. In his mind, he nicknamed the giant "Green Skin," reminiscent of creatures in Warhammer Fantasy.

Although eyeless, the giant appeared to sense Xu Shixiong's provocation. With a guttural growl, it picked up a fallen power cable, swinging it like a whip.

The giant lashed out. Unable to evade in time, Xu Shixiong endured the strike, sparks flying as the cable struck Qingqiu's armor. Pain coursed through his body—Qingqiu's sensory link faithfully transmitting the impact.

Gritting his teeth, Xu Shixiong retaliated, slashing at the giant's right arm.

"That's not how you use a katana," the old man's voice came through the comms.

"I don't care!" Xu Shixiong roared, slicing downward. The giant's right arm fell off with a wet thud. A flash of white light erupted from the severed limb, followed by a booming sound as dark red blood gushed out like a fountain, soaking Qingqiu in the process.

The giant screeched, but instead of retreating, it grew more aggressive. Wrapping the power cable around Qingqiu's neck, it tightened the noose, strangling the mech.

Choking, Xu Shixiong instinctively grabbed his own neck, mirroring Qingqiu's struggle. The giant pulled Qingqiu closer and bit down on its right shoulder.

"Countdown: 59 seconds… 58… 57…"

Hearing the timer, Xu Shixiong felt despair wash over him.

"Xu Shixiong, think of something!" the old man shouted anxiously.

"Would stabbing the mech kill me?" Xu Shixiong asked, noticing Qingqiu's blade clutched tightly in its hand.

"Technically, as long as the nutrient pod remains intact, you'll survive," the old man reassured him.

Xu Shixiong gritted his teeth. "Damn it… I'll be a hero again in 30 years!"

Raising the katana, he drove it into Qingqiu's abdomen—impaling both the mech and the giant together like a skewer.

"3… 2… 1…"

The blade pierced through Qingqiu's frame and slashed into the giant. A deafening roar filled the air as Xu Shixiong dragged the blade upward, cutting through both Qingqiu and the giant. The beast's cries faded, and its head slumped lifelessly onto Qingqiu's shoulder.

The two massive bodies collapsed together. Qingqiu lost all power, sinking into a half-kneeling position, the katana still embedded in its abdomen.

Inside the nutrient pod, Xu Shixiong screamed in agony. The mech's sensory link transmitted the pain of the stab wound to his own body, making him feel as if the blade had truly punctured his abdomen. Unable to endure, he lost consciousness.

"At least we took out 0.1% of the giants," the old man muttered, watching the battle footage. Qingqiu lay dormant, motionless on the screen. "Retrieve both the giant and Qingqiu," he ordered.

When Xu Shixiong awoke, he found himself in a sterile, disinfectant-scented room. An IV drip hung beside his bed.

Touching his abdomen, he realized it was unscathed.

The door clicked open. The old man entered, flanked by a team of researchers. Standing at the foot of Xu Shixiong's bed, he clapped. "Xu Shixiong, that was a spectacular battle."

"Explain yourself!" Xu Shixiong demanded, wincing at the lingering pain in his abdomen—a phantom sensation from the fight. He was furious at being forced into the nutrient pod and made to fight the giant.

"Before meeting you, I thought you were just an ordinary passerby," the old man said, his hands clasped devoutly. "By the grace of Amaterasu, I saw the marks on your back. You are the only one who can perfectly synchronize with Qingqiu."

Clenching his fists, Xu Shixiong resisted the urge to throttle the old man.

"But how can a simple birthmark determine compatibility with a mech?" he asked incredulously.

"What about Bai Li?" Xu Shixiong glanced around but didn't see her.

The old man smiled faintly. "Now is not the time for personal matters. The recent battle has attracted more giants. Though we're hidden underground, it's only a matter of time before they break through. We plan to evacuate."

"Evacuate? To where?" Xu Shixiong asked in disbelief. Staying underground seemed safer than venturing outside.

"To your homeland—China," the old man replied with determination.

Code-named "Dunkirk," the evacuation was inspired by Britain's historic military retreat. The old man assured Xu Shixiong that all questions would be answered after a successful retreat.

The evacuation began. Vehicles silently rolled out of the underground garage, headlights off. Giants crushed and pursued fleeing cars, explosions lighting up the chaotic scene.

In a black Humvee, Xu Shixiong sat in the passenger seat, the old man and researchers in the back. Bai Li was at the wheel, her hands gripping the steering tightly as they sped through rubble-strewn streets.

Buildings crumbled, debris falling like rain. A giant's saliva splattered across the windshield. Bai Li grimaced.

"Disgusting!"

"Annoying!" Xu Shixiong muttered, covering his ears as the giant roared thunderously, its deafening cries piercing the air.

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