"Don't panic! Stay calm! Everyone, use your three-dimensional maneuvering devices to evacuate immediately!"
Instructor Keith gripped the reins of his warhorse tightly, his voice attempting to steady the rising chaos. His primary goal was to calm the students and ensure as many lives as possible were saved.
Yet even Keith himself couldn't suppress the panic clawing at his chest. Though he had faced Titans before, the rest of the instructor corps had never encountered one in their lives. They stood frozen, their fear mirroring that of the trainees. Expecting them to fight was wishful thinking at best.
If Keith went alone, he doubted his chances. His skills weren't what they used to be. Still, hesitation wasn't an option.
"Instructor Keith, fire a signal flare! Notify the nearby garrison for reinforcements!"
The shout from one of the students snapped Keith back to his senses. Of course! He still had emergency flares. Without delay, he loaded and fired a red flare high into the sky.
The crimson light blazed upward, reaching an altitude of nearly 200 meters—a clear cry for help. The garrison stationed a few kilometers away was bound to see it.
Two years ago, such a flare might have been ignored. Titans were only a threat beyond the walls, and no one had fought them in over a century. But the fall of Wall Maria had changed everything. Titans were now a present and undeniable danger, forcing the garrison to heighten their vigilance. Every flare was treated with the utmost urgency; any negligence could cost lives, and the responsibility would be unbearable.
---
At the Garrison Corps Outpost
Inside the outpost near the city wall, a group of soldiers lounged in the sun, playing cards and sipping drinks. Suddenly, one of them looked up.
"Hey, what's that? A red flare?"
Another soldier stood, peering through a telescope. The crimson burst was unmistakable—a Titan had appeared.
"Impossible. Titans inside the wall? That's near the training camp, isn't it? What are those rookies doing now?"
A third soldier dismissed it with a lazy wave. "Probably an accident. Someone panicked and fired it by mistake."
But the first soldier wasn't so dismissive. "We're on duty. If we ignore this and it's serious, we'll be held accountable. I'll go check it out."
"You go, then. I'm staying put," the lazy soldier muttered, reclining further into his seat.
---
At the Survey Corps Camp
The Survey Corps also noticed the flare. Its trajectory suggested it originated near the training corps, which initially puzzled the seasoned soldiers.
"Captain," one soldier reported to Erwin, "a red flare has been launched from the training camp's vicinity. A Titan might have appeared."
Erwin's expression darkened. "Levi, take your squad and investigate immediately. If you confirm a Titan's presence, use green flares to signal back."
"Understood," Levi replied, his gaze sharp as he watched the distant flare. The implications of Titans breaching Wall Rose were dire. Humanity had already lost a third of its territory and a quarter of its population after the fall of Wall Maria. Losing more land would be catastrophic.
Levi turned to his squad. "Prepare to move out. Petra, organize the team. I'll head out first. Once you arrive, assess the situation and formulate a plan. Understood?"
Petra snapped to attention. "Yes, Captain!"
Oluo, Eld, and Gunther nodded in unison, their resolve unwavering. To them, Levi was more than just a captain—he was a symbol of hope and strength. His orders were absolute.
---
As the Survey Corps mobilized, the tension in the air was palpable. The red flares weren't just a call for help—they were a harbinger of the chaos to come.