"It doesn't count, come again, this doesn't count!"
Despite her hard fall, Ymir refused to admit defeat. In her mind, it wasn't that Ryo Akira was stronger—it was simply a trick, and she hadn't been fully prepared. As long as she adjusted and stayed focused, there was no reason she couldn't win next time.
"Oh? Still not giving up? Then keep going!" Ryo Akira's voice was calm, as he had been expecting this reaction. His focus sharpened. After all, they were classmates, and he didn't want to push things too far. Still, he couldn't deny that Ymir had strength, but lacked the finesse and awareness needed to compete against seasoned fighters.
"It's your turn to attack this time. If you can hit me, I lose!" Ymir said with resolve. She had learned from her mistake, and this time, she would be more cautious. The sudden fall had shaken her confidence, but now, she was determined to find a way to counter Ryo's moves.
"Oh? Have you found the key to the problem?" Ryo Akira raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by her change in approach. If she thought he would simply stand and defend, she was gravely mistaken.
Ryo moved in an instant, his speed almost making it impossible for anyone to follow. His body blurred with motion, creating an afterimage in the eyes of his audience. The speed, the precision—it was overwhelming.
"So fast!" Mikasa and Annie exclaimed almost simultaneously. Mikasa, known for her own strength and speed, and Annie, skilled in combat techniques, were both taken aback by how effortlessly Ryo seemed to combine all aspects of martial prowess. His speed, strength, and tactical mind were all on display, and they realized he was not someone they could take lightly.
Ryo's movement was almost imperceptible. In a flash, he appeared behind Ymir. Without warning, he struck lightly behind her knee, and with a swift motion, Ymir's body crumpled under her own weight, and she fell to the ground once again.
"Well, it took longer than I thought. I wonder if the food will be cold when we get back!" Ryo said with a smile as he reached out and helped Ymir back on her feet. Despite the earlier confrontation, his tone was light-hearted, almost as if nothing had happened.
He pushed through the stunned crowd, casually heading towards the cafeteria as if his victory was just another part of his day. Behind him, the group of onlookers was still in shock, struggling to process what they had just witnessed.
"This guy... is he really that strong?" Reiner and Bertolt exchanged glances, sweat dripping from their brows. Ryo was only twelve years old, but his power and skill made it clear that he was far from a typical cadet. What would happen if he trained for another three years, mastering various combat techniques? They shuddered to think how much stronger he'd become.
The two recruits exchanged a defeated look. It seemed their mission was going to be far more difficult than they had anticipated, especially with such a formidable obstacle like Ryo Akira standing in their way.
As Ryo entered the cafeteria, he rubbed his forehead in disbelief at the sight before him.
"Oh my god, big sister, you ate it all?" he exclaimed in mock frustration.
Sasha, who had stayed behind while the duel took place, had seen a number of plates unattended, and her hunger got the better of her. She had devoured most of the bread, including Ryo's portion, leaving the table empty.
But it wasn't all bad—Krista's bread remained untouched. It was clear that the bread wasn't from the camp's standard supply; Ryo had personally exchanged it from his system, specifically for moments like this.
Sasha, unashamed, looked at Ryo innocently. "Yeah, I heard you say that the bread wasn't tasty, so I just helped you finish it!"
Ryo couldn't even begin to scold her. With a sigh, he threw his hands up in defeat. Sasha's charm and innocence made it difficult to be upset for long.
Krista, noticing the empty plate, pulled out her own stash of bread. "Brother Ryo, I still have some left. Why don't you take it?" she offered, the kindness in her voice matching the soft smile on her face.
Ryo waved it off. "No, it's alright. You guys eat slowly. I've got something else I need to take care of." After all, it was just a piece of bread. He could get more from the system, and besides, his body was more in need of rest after the intense training session than food.
With that, he stood up and left the cafeteria, heading back to his dormitory. The morning's cross-country training had been grueling, and the afternoon's armed cross-country race had taken its toll on his body. Even Ryo, with his superior strength and stamina, felt exhausted.
He took a quick shower and then began preparing his meditation practice. The system had provided him with a method that allowed him to draw the energy from the world around him. Through meditation, he could heal his body and replenish his energy. If he mastered this technique, he wouldn't even need food or rest to sustain himself—his body would be powered entirely by the world's essence.
This was an invaluable skill, particularly in a world where the giants constantly tested humanity's limits. While humans could tire and suffer injury, the giants had no such limitations. To defeat them, Ryo knew he would need to push beyond human limits.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Armin stepped in, wrapped in a towel after his own shower. He had taken the bunk opposite Ryo, while Eren slept on the bottom bunk beside Armin.
Ryo glanced up, noticing Armin hesitating at the doorway. Armin seemed unsure, his mouth opening as if to speak but quickly closing it. Ryo's mysterious behavior and strength were intimidating, and Armin couldn't shake the feeling of awe and fear whenever he was around Ryo.
"Is there something you need, Armin?" Ryo asked, breaking the silence. His calm demeanor contrasted with the tension in the room, as if he were always at peace despite his abilities.
Armin, after a long pause, simply shook his head and muttered, "No, nothing." With that, he turned and left, though it was clear that he still had many questions about Ryo Akira and the enigma that surrounded him.
Ryo returned to his meditation, focusing his mind and body on the practice, knowing that the road ahead would be long and challenging. The giants were not going to wait for him to grow stronger, and he had to stay ahead of them, no matter what.