Tactical Annihilation
The Titan lunged, its erratic movements breaking every known pattern of normal Titan behavior. Its speed alone set it apart from the rest, but it was the intelligence in its eyes that unsettled me the most.
My mind raced, breaking the fight down into calculations. I was mid-air, momentum carrying me toward its blind spot. If I angled my approach just right—
A system notification flashed.
[New Skill Acquired: "Shunpo" (Rank B)] (From Bleach: Allows instantaneous high-speed movement over short distances.)
Perfect timing.
I activated Shunpo.
The world blurred, and in a blink, I was behind the Abnormal Titan. My blades carved through its nape before it even registered my presence.
[+300 EXP Earned] [+1 Skill Proficiency in Shunpo]
The Titan crumbled, steam rising as its corpse disintegrated. My heart pounded, adrenaline pumping through my veins. That was... efficient.
"Akira! That was insane!" Connie shouted from a rooftop, his face half awestruck, half horrified.
Jean, panting, looked at me with a mix of skepticism and respect. "How the hell did you move that fast?"
"Instincts," I replied coolly, sheathing my blades. "You get used to it."
[Affection Meter Updated: Jean +5, Connie +8]
Armin's eyes flickered with curiosity. "That wasn't normal ODM movement..."
Mikasa, still silent, only nodded in acknowledgment before refocusing on the battlefield.
We had bigger problems.
Farm Mode: Activated
Titans were still swarming Trost. Eren's Titan was causing havoc, but that didn't mean we were safe. If I wanted to maximize my impact—and rewards—I had to act fast.
I opened my system farm interface.
[Farm Element: Titan Biomass Extraction Unlocked] (Converts fallen Titans into resources. Yield depends on Titan size and quality.)
Oh, hell yes.
[Processing... +3 Titan Core Fragments +10 Biomass Units +1 Uncommon Drop]
I checked my inventory. The drop was...
[Item Acquired: Hardened Titan Skin (Usable for crafting)]
Interesting. That could come in handy later.
The others didn't have time to question why I was hovering over a steaming Titan corpse—I immediately launched into the next battle, targeting another Titan that had cornered a group of cadets.
"Jean, cover the left flank! Mikasa, take high ground! Armin, watch our backs!" I called out orders, slipping naturally into command mode.
We moved as a unit, slicing through Titans with precision. My new skill, Shunpo, made me faster than any of them, allowing me to reposition instantly and take down enemies before they could react.
[+400 EXP Earned] [+2 Skill Proficiency in Shunpo]
By the time we reached the supply depot, I had gained another level.
[Level Up!] [Akira Kurogane - Level 14] +3 Strength +2 Dexterity +5 System Points Earned
I dumped all five points into Dexterity. More speed meant better efficiency.
System-Assisted Strategy
The resupply mission played out just like in the manga, but this time, I wasn't a bystander. Marco, Jean, and I coordinated cadets to transport gas canisters while Mikasa cleared threats ahead. Armin's analytical skills were instrumental in predicting Titan movements.
At one point, Sasha saved Connie's ass with a last-second arrow shot.
[Affection Meter Updated: Sasha +10, Connie +12]
Mikasa cut down a Titan with mechanical precision, but I caught a flicker of tension in her posture. She was still shaken by Eren's "death."
I wanted to tell her the truth, but I couldn't risk it.
Instead, I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "He wouldn't want you to lose focus now."
She blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, and nodded. "You're right."
[Affection Meter Updated: Mikasa +7]
The Final Push
The Titans were thinning out, but the abnormal ones still posed a challenge. One particularly large Titan, nearly fifteen meters, blocked our escape route.
[Enemy Level: 18] [Threat Level: High]
I analyzed its movements. Unlike the mindless ones, this one had... awareness. It dodged incoming attacks, even attempting to grab a cadet mid-air.
"Damn it," Jean cursed. "That thing's not normal!"
"Then we handle it differently," I said, gripping my blades. "Follow my lead."
I activated Shunpo, appearing right in front of the Titan's face. It swiped at me, but I dodged mid-air, twisting to land on its arm. Using its momentum, I launched myself higher—directly toward its exposed nape.
A clean slice.
[+800 EXP Earned] [Skill Proficiency in Shunpo Increased]
The Titan fell, clearing our path.
Cheers erupted from the cadets. But we weren't done yet.
Eren's Titan had collapsed from exhaustion, and the cleanup squad was moving in.
Jean wiped sweat from his brow. "That's it... we actually did it."
"For now," I muttered, scanning the horizon. This battle was won, but the war was far from over.
As we regrouped, I opened my system log.
[Quest Completed: Defend Trost] Bonus Achieved: 25 Comrades Survived
Rewards: +1 Skill Upgrade (Shunpo → Advanced Shunpo) +1000 System Coins +New Title: "Tactician"]
I smirked. Not bad for a day's work.
But deep down, I knew this was just the beginning.
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