"It doesn't count, come again, this doesn't count!"
Although Ymir fell heavily, she didn't admit in her heart that Ryo Carter was stronger than her. She just thought that it was a trick played by Ryo, and she wasn't fully prepared, so she had been fooled. This time, as long as she was serious, she felt there would be no problem!
"Oh? Still not giving up? Then keep going!"
Ryo was originally ready to head back. After all, they were classmates—there was no need to beat her too badly. He had already seen from the previous exchange that Ymir had solid strength but lacked refined skills and vigilance, similar to Eren. Against experienced veterans, she'd certainly suffer.
"It's your turn to attack this time. If you can hit me, I lose!"
Ymir hesitated this time and didn't rush to attack. She still couldn't figure out why Ryo tripped her so easily earlier, making it unwise to attack blindly.
"Oh? You found the key to the problem?"
Ryo smirked knowingly. It wasn't difficult for him to understand Ymir's hesitation, but if she thought he would only defend himself, she was gravely mistaken.
Suddenly, Ryo moved. The speed was so terrifying it made the spectators' scalps go numb. His figure seemed to blur, moving faster than anyone could process.
"So fast!"
Mikasa and Annie both gasped inwardly at the same time.
Mikasa excelled at speed and strength, while Annie had unmatched combat skills. But Ryo's display of strength, speed, and technique all at once left them shaken. This guy's abilities were well-rounded, making him an exceptionally difficult opponent to deal with.
Ymir barely saw a blur before Ryo reappeared behind her. He didn't need to do much—just a tap at the back of Ymir's knee. Her legs buckled instantly, and she collapsed forward.
"Well, that took longer than expected. I wonder if the food will still be warm."
Ryo extended a hand, helping Ymir up before stretching his arms casually. He passed through the stunned crowd and headed back toward the cafeteria.
Behind him, the crowd remained in a state of disbelief.
"This guy… is he really that terrifying?"
Reiner and Bertolt exchanged nervous glances, sweat beading on their foreheads. Ryo Carter was only twelve years old, yet his strength was already monstrous. If he trained for three years and mastered combat techniques fully, wouldn't he become completely unstoppable?
The two shivered slightly. The tasks assigned to them back home seemed impossible now, not with someone like Ryo blocking their path.
---
"Oh my god, big sister, you ate it all?!"
When Ryo returned to the cafeteria, his expression turned speechless.
While Ryo had been dueling outside, Sasha had stayed behind. Seeing most people leave their food untouched, she was drawn to the leftovers like a moth to flame. By the time Ryo returned, his plate had already been cleared.
Even his own bread was gone.
Luckily, Krista's bread was still intact.
"Yeah, I heard you say the bread wasn't tasty, so I helped you clean it up!" Sasha said, completely guilt-free, as if she'd done Ryo a favor.
Ryo rubbed his forehead helplessly. After a moment, he sighed and gave up on scolding her. There was no winning against someone like Sasha.
" Ryo, I still have some bread left. Would you like to take it?"
Krista, who had been comforting Ymir nearby, kindly offered him the bread Ryo had previously given her.
Ryo waved his hand. "Forget it. You eat it. I'll grab something later."
Without waiting for anyone to respond, Ryo stood and left. It was just bread, after all. Worst case, he could trade for more through the system. What he needed most now was rest. After running over 30 kilometers in the morning and another 15 kilometers of armed cross-country training in the afternoon, even his body felt fatigued.
Once back in his dormitory, Ryo showered quickly, retrieved some dried fish from the system, and began meditating.
The system had provided him with a unique meditation method. By following its techniques, Ryo could absorb energy from the world around him to repair his body. If he trained hard enough, he could even reach a state where eating and sleeping became unnecessary, as the energy sustained his physical needs.
This ability was incredibly useful—especially for fighting Titans. Many soldiers were killed simply because they ran out of stamina. Humans had physical limits, while Titans could regenerate quickly and overwhelm their prey. If Ryo wanted to surpass them, he needed to make himself far stronger.
The door creaked open, and Armin entered, rubbing his hair with a towel. Armin shared the upper bunk opposite Ryo, while Eren slept below him.
Seeing Ryo meditating, Armin paused as if he wanted to say something. But after opening his mouth, he hesitated and decided against it. Something about Ryo made him wary. Perhaps it was Ryo's extraordinary strength—or the mystery surrounding him—that left Armin feeling cautious.
Ryo, focused on his meditation, didn't acknowledge Armin's entrance. His breathing remained steady, and his mind became clearer with every moment.
Armin quietly lay in his bed, occasionally glancing toward Ryo with mixed curiosity and unease.