The sun bore down mercilessly on the training grounds, baking the rows of recruits standing stiffly under the scrutinizing gaze of Keith Shadis, the commander of the 104th Training Corps. His booming voice echoed across the yard, drilling fear and determination into their young minds.
"I am your instructor, Keith Shadis! For the next three years, you will train under my guidance. Your goal is survival! Your enemy? Titans, the devourers of humanity! Many of you won't make it to graduation, and those who do will face horrors you can't begin to imagine!"
Among the sea of fresh faces, **Ryo Akira** stood quietly, his heart pounding. He glanced to his left, where familiar characters from his past life's favorite anime stood. Eren Yeager's determined face burned with resolve, Mikasa Ackerman's calm demeanor concealed her deadly precision, and Armin Arlert fidgeted, lost in thought. The reality of his new existence was both thrilling and terrifying.
"I can't believe it..." Ryo thought, the surreal nature of his situation washing over him again. "I've actually been reincarnated into *Attack on Titan*."
Ryo wasn't just a spectator anymore; he was here, alive and breathing in this brutal world. The towering Walls he'd once admired on a screen now loomed around him, oppressive and real. His past life as an ordinary student felt like a distant dream. Now, he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the characters he once idolized, and survival depended on his ability to adapt.
Keith's gaze swept over the recruits like a predator sizing up its prey. His sharp eyes locked onto Ryo, who was unintentionally zoning out while scanning the crowd for more familiar faces.
"Hey, you! First row! What are you daydreaming about, cadet?" Keith barked, his voice like a crack of thunder.
Ryo snapped to attention, his spine stiff as a board. "Ah—nothing, sir!"
"Nothing, huh? What's your name, cadet?"
"Ryo Akira, sir!"
Keith stalked toward him, a sneer curling his lips. "Ryo Akira... Tell me, what makes you think you'll survive out there? Do you have a death wish, or are you just another Titan snack waiting to happen?"
"I want to become stronger, sir!" Ryo said, his voice firm despite the knot in his stomach. "Stronger than anyone else, so I can protect the people I care about."
A murmur spread through the other recruits. Keith's eyes narrowed, his sneer widening. "Protect the people you care about, huh? And who would that be? Your family? Your friends?"
Ryo hesitated, but before he could think, the words tumbled out of his mouth. "Mikasa... and Krista, sir."
The training ground fell into a stunned silence. Eren's head snapped toward Ryo, his eyes narrowing. Mikasa arched a brow but remained stoic. Krista's cheeks turned a bright shade of red as she looked down, flustered.
Keith's expression darkened, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Oh, I see. You think this is some kind of playground where you can impress the girls? Fine! Let's see how strong you are. Fifty laps around the field—*now*! And since you're so eager to 'protect' them, Mikasa and Krista can join you. Consider it a bonding exercise!"
Ryo's heart sank. "What? That's not fair—"
"Fair?!" Keith thundered. "Do you think the Titans will care about 'fair'? Start running, cadet, or I'll triple it!"
Without another word, Ryo bolted, his heart pounding as he began the grueling punishment. Mikasa followed without complaint, her expression unreadable. Krista hesitated, her face pale, but eventually joined them.
As the laps dragged on, Ryo's legs burned, and his breaths came in short gasps. He stole a glance at Mikasa, who ran with effortless grace, her stoic face betraying no sign of exhaustion. Krista, on the other hand, struggled to keep up, her small frame trembling with every step.
Guilt gnawed at Ryo. "This is my fault," he thought, clenching his fists. "I can't let them suffer because of me."
When Krista stumbled and nearly fell, Ryo caught her arm, steadying her. "You okay?"
"I... I'm fine," she said between gasps, though her legs wobbled beneath her.
"Don't push yourself too hard," Ryo said, slowing his pace to match hers. "We'll get through this together."
Krista gave him a weak smile, and for a moment, Ryo felt a flicker of hope.
The instructor watched them from a distance, a sly grin on his face. "Let's see if this brat has what it takes," Keith muttered to himself.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the training grounds, Ryo's determination only grew. This was just the beginning, a harsh initiation into a world where strength meant survival. He would endure. He would grow stronger. And one day, he would surpass even humanity's strongest soldier.