Ymir Enters
"Hey, Ryo Carter, stay away from my Krista! Don't let me see you approach her again!"
Ymir had just gone to make soup for Krista, preparing to help her replenish her nutrition, but when she returned, she found her seat had been occupied. Not only that, but this guy was clearly trying to get close to Krista. Ymir's anger flared instantly!
Krista was her angel—Ymir's angel—and she would never allow anyone else to approach her so casually.
"Your Krista?" Ryo raised an eyebrow and smirked playfully. "You're a woman. Are you sure you aren't mistaken?"
Krista's face turned bright red. She quickly waved her hands, trying to explain. "N-No, that's not true!" She stammered, clearly flustered. It seemed she feared Ryo would misunderstand the relationship between her and Ymir.
"Hmph! What's wrong with being a woman? Can't women be together?" Ymir shot back, glaring daggers at Ryo.
Ymir wasn't just part of the training corps to become a soldier; she was here for Krista. Her sole purpose was to protect Krista, and she wasn't about to let anyone get close to her.
"Really? What a coincidence," Ryo said, grinning slyly as he stood up. "I also like Krista and want her to be my woman. Since you have the same idea, let's settle this with a fight!"
The tension between the two instantly drew everyone's attention. The cafeteria fell into stunned silence before erupting into excited murmurs. Ryo Carter had challenged Ymir to a duel, and no one wanted to miss it.
"As you wish!" Ymir declared, standing tall. "But don't blame me for beating you into the ground!"
Krista's eyes widened in panic. "You—You guys, stop! Don't fight! Can't we all just get along and be friends?"
Her plea went unheard. Ryo turned to Krista, his expression softening. "Don't worry, little angel. I'll be back soon. Just wait for me."
With that, he strode out of the cafeteria toward the open ground outside, Ymir following close behind.
---
The Duel Begins
The rest of the trainees poured outside, eager to witness the battle. Even Jean couldn't hide his curiosity. "What's wrong with these two? They just finished training, and now they're fighting over Krista?"
Nearby, Annie crossed her arms and quietly observed. "They're fools," she muttered, though even she couldn't look away.
Up on the second floor, Instructor Keith frowned as he watched the commotion. "These brats have too much energy," he grumbled. "But let them be. If things get out of hand, I'll step in."
---
Eren stood with Armin, watching from the sidelines. Armin looked worried. "Eren, shouldn't we stop them?"
Eren shook his head. "No, it's not our place to interfere. Besides, Ryo Carter… that guy's strength is impossible to read. It's better to just let this play out."
Mikasa, standing silently beside them, narrowed her eyes at Ryo. She was curious. Just how strong was he? Was he really more powerful than her?
---
Ryo vs. Ymir
Outside, Ryo stood casually, his expression relaxed. He crooked a finger at Ymir, taunting her. "What's wrong? If you're not going to move, I'll assume you're afraid."
Ymir scowled, gritting her teeth. "You asked for this! If you lose, you're never allowed to approach Krista again!"
With that, Ymir charged forward. Her speed and strength were impressive—far above an ordinary trainee. It was clear she wasn't holding back.
But Ryo barely reacted.
At the last moment, he sidestepped her punch effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. In a blur, he grabbed her outstretched arm, shifted his weight, and swept her legs with his foot. Before Ymir could react, she was flat on her back with a *thud*.
The entire crowd fell silent.
Ryo dusted off his hands and stepped back, smiling. "How about it? Do you want to go again?"
Everyone stared, dumbfounded. Ymir—who'd looked so fierce moments ago—had been defeated in seconds.
Jean clicked his tongue in frustration. "Unbelievable… that guy is insane!"
Mark couldn't contain his admiration. "Incredible! Ryo took her down so fast, I didn't even see what happened!"
Even Mikasa's eyes widened slightly. Ryo's strength and skill were undeniable.