Ymir's predecessor was a regular Mindless Titan, lacking her own memories.
Alternatively, Zeke was the first human she encountered, and she didn't even know how to fight against it.
"Yes."
Ymir awkwardly nodded.
"As long as you assist me in acquiring the Founding Titan's power, I'll negotiate with the military upon my return and spare your life. You'll officially become the Jaw Titan's host."
Zeke wasn't concerned if the other party could comprehend him, but he spoke nonetheless.
As he finished speaking, Zeke averted his gaze and looked forward.
After the Scout Regiment escaped Titan pursuit and traveled south for dozens of miles, they took a day and a night to confirm their safety and temporarily halt their journey here to rest.
The entire team was fatigued.
Erwin also sent several cavalry squads to search for Lin Yi and Hanji, but he believed that the odds of rescuing them after being chased by so many Titans were slim.
The likelihood of saving them was low.
"Commander."
A vice-captain gazed at Erwin with a despondent expression.
"Go ahead, what's the casualty count?" Erwin had mentally prepared himself for this scenario when he chose to thoroughly investigate the situation.
He hadn't anticipated encountering such a setback right after taking the initial step.
Levi, who stood beside him, maintained a stern expression, squatting to regain his strength, silently polishing his blade until it gleamed.
Erwin understood that this was Levi's expression of intense anger.
"One squad suffered 3 deaths, 6 injuries; the second squad had 3 injuries; the third squad lost 1 member and had 2 severe injuries; as for the fourth... Captain Hanji's whereabouts are unknown, and 4 severe injuries..."
The vice-captain reported through clenched teeth.
Unlike the stationed regiments, the Survey Corps was composed solely of elite members prepared to face Titans, so their numbers were not large.
The entirety of the Survey Corps had fewer than a hundred members, making this the largest casualty count they'd ever seen.
"Understood. Allow everyone to rest briefly. Select some uninjured soldiers from each squad to form a guard unit. I will personally lead the patrol."
Erwin sighed, swiftly regaining his composure and giving orders systematically.
To grant the injured soldiers more time to recover, he had to participate in the patrol himself.
Levi was about to rise and follow, but Erwin halted him.
"You've exerted yourself over these past two days. We don't know what challenges lie ahead. Rest well." Erwin also sensed that something was amiss.
Why were so many Titans congregating? Why did they suddenly attack?
Everything seemed orchestrated by someone.
Erwin, as the Survey Corps' commander, possessed an exceptional intuition.
Levi nodded and withdrew to rest in solitude.
Erwin personally led the team on their patrol. Along the way, luck favored them with an uneventful journey, devoid of Titan encounters, allowing the soldiers to breathe sighs of relief.
The exhaustion from surviving the ordeal was overwhelming.
"Stay vigilant."
Erwin occasionally reminded, when suddenly a vice-captain pointed to the distant forest and exclaimed, "Commander, there are people over there!"
"People?"
Erwin was taken aback, looking in the direction indicated by the vice-captain. Indeed, there stood a figure at the forest's edge.
A tall, slender woman.
The woman's face bore no expression, her head slightly lowered. She didn't flee upon spotting them; instead, she stood motionless.
"Is it even possible for someone to survive beyond the walls?"
Amidst his astonishment, Erwin began to feel that this might be their chance to unravel the Titans' mystery. He quickly led the team closer to her.
"Hey, young lady, how did you end up here?"
The vice-captain also found it peculiar and approached the girl. However, she appeared neither to hear nor see anything.
He waved his hand before her eyes, but she remained unresponsive.
"It's odd, Commander. She seems unaware... Oops!"
The vice-captain was about to turn and report when he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of black blood. He looked down in disbelief, a dagger jutting from his chest.
The girl had concealed a dagger in her sleeve.
"Damn it, this woman is insane."
A nearby soldier seethed. This vice-captain had shown them kindness, treating them like a guardian. Yet, he'd fallen to an ambush by a young girl, dying so senselessly.
"Stop!"
A soldier unsheathed his blade and swung it at the girl.
Erwin snapped from his shock, wanting to intervene, but it was too late.
From the depths of the forest, Zeke calmly observed. Ymir, having transformed from a naive Titan into the Jaw Titan, had not yet mastered control over her Titan's power.
Only when facing mortal danger could she summon the power within her.
The long blade pierced the girl's shoulder; it seemed the soldier hadn't dealt a lethal blow.
Erwin let out a sigh of relief, about to speak, when a terrifying shockwave flung everyone, including himself.
Not far from the camp, Levi and the others detected the turmoil and readied themselves.
"Boom!"
Golden lightning struck from the sky, as if the fury of a god.
A surge of white-hot waves billowed out like steam, obscuring everyone's vision.
Many soldiers writhed in agony. Just as they managed to sit up, a dark figure abruptly flashed before them.
A soldier was hoisted off the ground before he could react, followed by the sounds of agonizing screams, sending shivers through them.
"Ah!"
People witnessed the spectacle.
Emerging from the steam was a Titan creature resembling a prowling beast. It possessed a large head, black hair, fierce jaws, and even while crawling on the ground, stood five meters tall.
And it was swift.
This enigmatic Titan devoured a soldier in its mouth, then struck again. Its palm bore sharp claws that effortlessly shredded another soldier's body.
"Bastard!"
Where had this monster come from? Why did it appear as it did? These questions ceased to matter to the Survey Corps soldiers at that moment.
Including Erwin.
Erwin, the Survey Corps commander, exceeded expectations in more than just command and strategy. Though his strength might not match Levi's, within the Survey Corps, he ranked among the top experts.
Erwin activated his vertical maneuvering gear, using the trees to swiftly navigate. His movements were swift, and in this instant, the Titan focused on attacking his comrades, seemingly ignorant of Erwin's presence.
It was the perfect opening.
~~~
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