THIRD PERSON POV
Claw's world had faded into darkness when Astrid's sword plunged through his heart. He was certain he was dead and in the underworld, at least that's what his agonizing new friends had told him. He believed everything until he heard a feminine voice call out from the darkness.
"Claw, the invincible, come forth!" she commanded.
The next thing he knew, he was experiencing feeling in his limbs. He rolled and rolled in his sleep before forcing his eyes open to the bright sky of Flavin. Turns out everything that had happened was all part of a dream – or so he thought until he used his hand to wipe his face.
Claw felt a strange sensation; his hand, usually rock-hard and rough, felt soft and human-like. Even his face felt unusually smooth. A sense of disorientation washed over him as he realized he was lying on the ground.
Panic set in as Claw scrambled upright, staring down at his now human-like hands. He checked his feet and skin, and they were equally human. Claw's panic switched to anxiety in seconds. He ran to a nearby barrel of water to gaze upon his reflection, and his heart sank. A handsome man stared back at him – the same handsome stranger from three nights ago who had dared to insult his Astrid.
His heart skipped a beat as he fell to the ground, his legs trembling with disillusion. He had personally killed Eren, and the scars of his brutality were still evident on his skin. His head was a mess as he tried to piece together what had just happened. He was dead just a few seconds ago, and now he was trapped in the body of another.
"What in hell's name was going on?" he wondered, feeling a sense of desperation creeping in.
Before he could gather his thoughts, he spotted three of his undead friends a couple of meters away. Excited to see familiar faces, Claw took to his heels, rushing towards them.
"Guys, it's me! I'm so relieved to see you guys!" Claw confessed, a sense of relief washing over him.
But instead of a warm welcome, the living dead regarded him with suspicion and hostility.
"Stay away from us, human. We don't want any trouble. We're just searching for our master," one of them growled, pointing his sword at Eren.
Eren was taken aback by the look of disgust on their faces. He could sense the intent to kill emanating from them.
"But I am your master!" Eren protested, trying to force his way forward. However, the living dead attacked, swinging their swords violently. Eren dodged and weaved, but his human reflexes were slow and clumsy.
The living dead charged towards him, their swords flashing in the sunlight. Eren's instincts kicked in, and he reached for a nearby sword. But as his hand closed around the hilt, he realized his grip was weak and unsteady. The sword felt heavy and unwieldy in his human hand, and he struggled to lift it.
The living dead sensed his weakness and pressed their attack. One of them swung his clumb, a brutal-looking sword with a heavy, curved blade. Eren tried to dodge, but the clumb bit deep into his shoulder, and he cried out in pain.
The other two living dead joined in, striking Eren with their sticks and fists. He tried to defend himself, but his human body was no match for their undead strength. He stumbled and fell, his vision blurring as the living dead continued to beat him.
Just when it seemed like the living dead were about to deliver the final blow, a loud whistle pierced the air, followed by the thundering of hooves. Astrid, Lora, and two of Eren's servants rode into the scene, their horses' eyes blazing with fury.
Astrid leapt off her horse, her sword flashing in the sunlight as she charged towards the living dead. "Leave him alone!" she shouted, her voice commanding and fierce.
The living dead, taken aback by the sudden interruption, hesitated for a moment before attacking Astrid. But she was a skilled warrior, and with a few swift strokes, she dispatched the living dead, sending them crashing to the ground.
As the dust settled, Astrid rushed to Eren's side, helping him to his feet. "Hop on my horse, we're going back to base," she commanded, her eyes scanning his battered body.
Eren nodded, still dazed from the beating and the sudden electric shock generated by Astrid's touch. Astrid led him to her horse, helping him mount the saddle, and hopped on as well.
"Lora, let's go!" Astrid commanded with urgency, spotting a couple of living dead running towards them.
"We can't leave. Ride out of here, now!" Lora instructed, her voice firm. "I'll catch up with you later," Lora instructed, her voice firm. "We'll cover your escape," she said, drawing her sword. "Go!"
With a final glance at Lora, Astrid urged the horse forward, galloping away from the scene as fast as she could. Eren's servants and Lora stood watch, ready to defend them against any further attacks.
Astrid rode quietly into the forest, where it was just the two of them. Before suddenly gesturing to the horse to stop, Astrid's eyes seemed to gleam with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. The horse, responding to Astrid's command, reared up on its hind legs, throwing Eren off its back.
He landed hard on the ground, wincing in pain as he struggled to catch his breath. Eren's eyes blazed with anger as he glared up at Astrid.
"What the hell was that for?" he yelled, his voice hoarse with rage.
Astrid dismounted her horse and approached Eren, her sword drawn. She placed the blade against his neck, her eyes narrowing.
"Who are you, and why the hell are you not dead?" she demanded, her voice cold and deadly.
Eren's eyes darted back and forth, his mind racing. He knew that he couldn't reveal his true identity as Claw, the invincible. But what could he say instead?
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