"Don't panic! Everyone, use the maneuver gear and evacuate immediately!"
Instructor Keith struggled to control his warhorse amidst the chaos. His voice boomed over the terrified cries of the trainees, but even he couldn't mask the unease in his tone. Giants had appeared within the walls—a nightmare none of them had truly prepared for.
Though Keith had faced giants before, the recruits—and even most of the instructor team—were utterly untrained for this reality. The sheer scale of the monsters left them paralyzed. Expecting them to fight back was nothing short of impossible.
"Instructor Keith, fire a signal flare immediately! We need to alert the garrison!"
The urgency in the student's voice snapped Keith out of his thoughts. Yes, the flares! He quickly pulled out the prepared red flare, loaded it, and shot it skyward.
The red streak rose high, reaching over 200 meters before bursting into a bright glow. Its meaning was unmistakable: **giants had breached the walls**.
Somewhere far away, at the garrison post near the city wall, soldiers lounging in the midday sun noticed the flare.
"Hey, what's that? A red flare?" one soldier muttered, sitting up and squinting through a telescope.
"Inside the wall? That's impossible. It's probably a drill or something," his comrade dismissed, taking another swig of his drink.
"Drill or not, we're on duty. If we ignore it and something's really happening, we'll be the ones getting court-martialed."
Grumbling under his breath, the cautious soldier grabbed his gear. "I'll check it out. You stay here."
Back at the Survey Corps headquarters, the mood was much more serious. When the red flare was spotted, murmurs spread through the camp.
"Red flare? Inside the wall? That's the training corps' location, isn't it?"
"Could be a mistake," one soldier speculated.
Just then, a second red flare pierced the sky.
Commander Erwin's sharp gaze narrowed. "That's no mistake. It's a distress call."
"Captain," a subordinate said, standing at attention, "reports indicate giants near the training corps!"
Erwin didn't hesitate. "Send Levi and his team to investigate immediately. If a giant is confirmed, signal back with a green flare."
"Understood!" The soldier saluted, pressing a fist to his chest in the Survey Corps' customary gesture of resolve.
Within moments, Levi and his squad were on alert. Despite their reputation as humanity's strongest, the mood was tense.
"Really?" Oruo muttered, tightening his gear. "I thought we'd get a break after the last expedition."
Levi said nothing, his sharp eyes fixed on the horizon where the flares had erupted. The possibility of giants breaching Wall Rose filled him with grim resolve. If Wall Rose fell, humanity's remaining territory—and population—would face devastating consequences.
"Get ready," Levi ordered. "Petra, lead the squad and follow me once you're prepared. When we reach the site, observe the situation first. Don't engage recklessly. Understand?"
Petra snapped a crisp salute. "Understood, Captain."
The rest of the squad nodded in unison, their expressions hardened. Levi's word was law—not just because of his rank, but because of his unmatched skill and unwavering dedication to humanity's survival.
As Levi leaped ahead, using his maneuver gear to propel himself into the forest, his mind raced with possibilities. The very presence of giants inside the walls was a breach in humanity's last line of defense. It was unthinkable—and yet here it was.
For now, his only priority was to confirm the situation and ensure the safety of the recruits. If giants had truly invaded, there would be no room for hesitation.