"What did he just say?"
Both Eren and Mikasa exchanged bewildered looks. They had heard Ryo Akira's declaration clearly, but it still felt surreal. He had said he was going back to fight the Titan?
It sounded absurd. They were all recruits, still undergoing training. They hadn't mastered even the basic combat techniques, let alone learned how to coordinate during battle or identify a Titan's weak spots. Facing a giant with no preparation felt like walking into certain death.
"Did he really say he's going back to fight that Titan?" Eren muttered, his disbelief evident.
Mikasa remained calm compared to Eren, but her expression betrayed her concern. "He did. But this is reckless."
Though Ryo always seemed capable, this was a Titan they were talking about. It was stronger and more imposing than any human. Even Mikasa, known for her level-headedness, couldn't fathom how Ryo planned to succeed.
Meanwhile, Armin hurriedly knelt beside Christa, who was attempting to stand despite her injuries. "Christa, stay still! You're injured. Let us get you bandaged first!"
Christa winced as Armin spoke. The head wound she had sustained was still bleeding, and the gash on her leg left her unable to stand properly. Pain shot through her with every attempt to move.
"But I need to help Ryo! He'll be in danger alone!" she argued, her voice trembling with fear.
Christa had assumed that Ryo's priority was getting her to safety. But after leaving her in the group's care, he had immediately turned around and headed back toward the battlefield. He hadn't hesitated to say he was going to fight the Titan.
She couldn't understand his decision. How could Ryo, even as strong as he seemed, face such a monstrous enemy alone? The thought of him being devoured by the Titan filled her with dread.
"You can't go back there!" Armin urged, his tone more pleading now. "Ryo asked us to protect you. If you go, it'll only distract him. He might stand a chance fighting alone, but if he's forced to protect you, it'll become impossible for him to win."
"But..." Christa hesitated. She knew Armin had a point. If she went back, she'd only slow Ryo down.
"Ymir! Have you seen Ymir?" she asked suddenly, her voice rising with worry.
The Titan had attacked Ymir earlier, and Christa had tried to shield her from harm. But now, Ymir was nowhere to be found, and the uncertainty gnawed at her.
Mikasa and Eren exchanged glances before Mikasa nodded. "I'll check the area for Ymir," she said, her tone steady. Without wasting another second, she activated her ODM gear and disappeared into the forest canopy.
Ryo, meanwhile, had already reached the battlefield.
Standing amidst the chaos, he got his first proper look at the Titan. Its sheer size was enough to send chills down his spine.
"So this is what a Titan looks like up close," he muttered, gripping his blades tightly.
The creature was massive, its proportions grotesque. If Titans possessed intelligence and agility, they'd be near impossible to defeat. Thankfully, this one appeared to be a regular Titan—lumbering and unintelligent.
Just as Ryo steadied himself to engage, a familiar sound echoed in his mind.
"Ding! System notification: Super-difficulty mission unlocked! Please check your status!"
Ryo's eyes widened in surprise. "A mission? Now?"
Curious, he quickly accessed the system panel.
"Mission: The First Battle of a New Recruit. Objective: Eliminate the 12-meter-class Titan. Reward: 100 experience points and a one-month supply of resources!"
Ryo's jaw dropped. "A hundred experience points?"
He couldn't believe it. Completing this mission would earn him more than ten times the usual reward. It was enough to propel him straight to level 4, and if he earned additional experience along the way, he might even reach level 5.
"Super-difficulty mission, huh? Looks like the system has faith in me," Ryo muttered with a smirk.
Though the task was labeled as challenging, Ryo felt confident. The Titan lacked intelligence and was too preoccupied with its current victims to notice him. He didn't need to understand why the system had chosen this moment; all he had to do was act.
Positioning himself, he strategized his approach. If he could maneuver around its neck and deliver a precise strike, the Titan would fall. With that single move, he could secure the reward and level up.
As the battlefield grew more chaotic, Ryo's determination only strengthened. The Titan's long arms swung with frightening speed, catching recruits off guard. Screams filled the air as it snatched soldiers effortlessly.
"Time to move," Ryo whispered.
Using the trees as anchors for his ODM gear, Ryo soared through the forest. The dense canopy worked in his favor, providing countless points for him to grapple onto. In an open plain, they would have been sitting ducks against the Titan, but here, Ryo had the upper hand.
"Alright, big guy," Ryo murmured, steadying his breathing. "Let's see how tough you really are."
With that, he launched himself toward the Titan's blind spot, blades gleaming in the dim light of the forest.