The sun had barely risen when the shrill sound of a whistle ripped through the training grounds. I groaned, rolling off my cot as Eren bolted upright, wide-eyed and alert as if he'd been expecting a Titan to burst through the barracks.
"Up and out, maggots!" Shadis' voice thundered through the camp. "You have two minutes to be in formation, or I'll personally throw you over the Wall!"
"He's too energetic for this early," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. "Someone should slip sleeping powder in his tea."
Armin gave me a horrified look. "That's... uh, kind of illegal."
"Only if you get caught," I shot back with a grin before grabbing my uniform.
[System Update]
Achievement Unlocked: "Surviving Shadis' Screams"
Reward: +1 Mental Fortitude (Because listening to this man daily is torture)
I chuckled under my breath as I sprinted outside, falling into line beside Eren and Mikasa. The 104th Training Corps had been grueling, but the intensity had only made me sharper. Stronger. I had to be because the weight of what was coming pressed heavily on my shoulders.
I was living inside Attack on Titan. The story was progressing exactly as it should, and soon enough, humanity would face the devastation of Titans once again. I couldn't stop what was coming, but I could prepare.
And so could the people around me.
Mastering ODM Gear
"Today, you'll be working in teams to navigate the obstacle course using ODM gear," Shadis announced. "If you can't coordinate, you die. If you hesitate, you die. If you whine, I'll make sure you die before the Titans can!"
Beside me, Jean let out a long, suffering sigh. "Why does it feel like he wants us to die?"
"It builds character," I replied.
Eren grinned. "Like hell we're failing. Let's go, Akira!"
We launched ourselves into the course, and the rush of air against my face was exhilarating. The ODM gear was still the best part of training—there was something almost addictive about swinging between the trees, controlling the momentum, and adjusting my trajectory midair.
"You're improving," Mikasa noted as she kept pace beside me, her movements effortlessly precise.
"Was that a compliment?" I teased.
"Don't get used to it," she deadpanned before shooting ahead.
Armin struggled slightly, his movements more hesitant, but he was learning. Jean and Connie were ahead of him, while Sasha had somehow detoured towards the kitchen barracks.
"Sasha, get back on course!" Shadis barked.
"I swear I smelled bread!" she protested before launching herself away.
I snorted. Some things never changed.
[System Alert]
New Skill Acquired: "Tactical Awareness"
Allows for faster reaction time in combat scenarios. Improves ability to predict enemy movement. Can now instinctively tell when someone is about to do something really stupid.
I tested the new skill immediately, subtly adjusting my movements as I zipped around the course. It felt natural, as if my body was responding to things a fraction of a second before they happened.
"Alright, I can work with this."
"Akira! Heads up!" Eren shouted.
A flash of movement in my peripheral vision signaled someone losing control. Annie. She had miscalculated a turn and was about to slam into a tree.
I reacted before thinking, angling my body midair and colliding with her just in time to push us both into a controlled spin.
We landed with a heavy thud, rolling onto the ground.
"Ow," I groaned.
Annie blinked at me, her expression unreadable. "You had time to react to that?"
"Skill," I said with a smirk. "Or maybe I just like saving cute girls from faceplanting."
She rolled her eyes, but there was the faintest hint of amusement in her gaze as she stood up. "Don't get used to it."
Mikasa, watching from above, narrowed her eyes slightly.
Eren landed beside me, grinning. "That was awesome! I swear you saw that coming before it even happened."
"Maybe I did," I muttered under my breath, glancing at the system screen only I could see.
Months passed, and we finally reached the day of our graduation. The top ten were announced, and to no one's surprise, Mikasa ranked first. I placed decently well, though I hadn't exactly tried to outshine anyone. Eren was pumped about getting into the Scout Regiment, while Jean looked bitter about his placement—despite ranking well, he still wasn't sure about his future.
"Alright, you brats!" an officer barked. "You've graduated, but don't get comfortable! You'll be assigned to different units soon!"
We celebrated that night with some stolen food (courtesy of Sasha) and some banter about what was to come.
"The Garrison seems safe enough," Connie mused. "But the Scouts... man, that's where the action is."
"Exactly why I'm going there," Eren said firmly.
Jean scoffed. "You're insane."
"Insanity is relative," I quipped, sipping my drink. "Give it a year. Maybe you'll be the crazy one."
Jean shot me a look but said nothing.
But
The peace didn't last.
The moment the Colossal Titan appeared over the Wall, everything went to hell.
The explosion sent debris flying, and the shockwave knocked several people off their feet. The air filled with screams, dust, and the overwhelming stench of burning wood and flesh.
"Titans!" someone screamed. "They're inside the Wall!"
I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay calm. I knew this was coming, but it doesn't make it any easier.
Eren was already rushing forward. "We have to fight!"
Armin looked frozen in horror. Mikasa's hand was already on her blades.
"Eren, stick to the plan!" I shouted, forcing him to focus. "We protect civilians first! We don't have enough forces to fight head-on yet!"
"Damn it!" He clenched his fists but nodded.
We ran towards the inner districts, helping people evacuate. The Titans that followed were nightmare fuel—mindless, grinning, devouring everything in their path.
A large one grabbed a man, crushing his ribs before biting down. Blood sprayed everywhere.
Armin gagged. Mikasa tightened her grip on her weapons. Eren was trembling with rage.
"Akira!" someone called. It was Hannes.
"We need to get everyone out!" I shouted. "This isn't a fight we can win right now!"
Hannes hesitated, but when he saw the Titans pouring in, he nodded. "You're right. Prioritize the civilians!"
We ran. People screamed. The world burned.
And this was only the beginning.
[System Alert]
New Mission Unlocked: "Survive the Fall of Shiganshina"
Rewards: ???
I took a deep breath, steeling myself.
I have to survive. We all do.