Shadows Among Titans

The echoes of battle had faded, but the weight of what had transpired in Trost still lingered. The cadets who survived were being evaluated, their futures decided by the higher-ups of the military. And amidst it all, one decision caught me completely off guard.

Erwin Smith had personally selected me for the Special Operations Squad—Levi's squad.

I stood in the dimly lit room alongside Eren, my arms crossed as my mind processed what had just happened. The rest of Levi's squad—Eld Jinn, Gunther Schultz, Petra Ral, and Oluo Bozado—watched me with varying degrees of curiosity and suspicion. Eren looked equally shocked, though he was more preoccupied with his own situation.

"Him?" Oluo scoffed, his expression skeptical as he looked me up and down. "Commander Erwin, are you sure about this? The brat's barely been tested."

"He survived Trost," Erwin stated simply, his piercing gaze settling on me. "And I have reason to believe his skills will be useful to this squad."

Levi, who had been silent until now, leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. "Tch. Doesn't matter what I think. If Erwin says he's in, he's in. But listen up, newbie. We don't babysit. You pull your weight, or you're dead weight."

"Fair enough," I replied, keeping my tone neutral.

Petra, the most approachable of the squad, offered a small smile. "It's not personal, Akira. We just don't have the luxury of trusting easily. You'll have to prove yourself."

I nodded, understanding their wariness. Levi's squad was elite for a reason. They didn't just accept new members on a whim. But Erwin had placed me here for a reason, and I intended to make it count.

Training Under Levi

The next few days were grueling. Levi didn't tolerate inefficiency, and every single member of the squad had years of experience on me. Eren and I were drilled relentlessly in ODM maneuvering, squad coordination, and direct combat.

I was good—better than most cadets—but these were veterans. Eld had years of experience leading in the field. Gunther was one of the most methodical fighters I had ever seen. Petra had speed and technique that made her a nightmare in close quarters, and Oluo—despite being an arrogant ass—was one of the most adaptable fighters I'd encountered.

And then there was Levi.

He wasn't human. His reaction speed, his fluidity of motion—it was unreal. Every spar with him ended with me flat on my back, gasping for breath. But every time I lost, I learned.

[Skill Progression: ODM Mastery +2, Combat Awareness +3]

Eren was struggling to keep up. His Titan abilities gave him power, but in human form, he lacked control. Levi didn't go easy on him either.

"You think being a Titan makes you special?" Levi said coldly after Eren fumbled a counterattack. "Out there, we don't rely on monsters. You either fight or you die."

I watched Eren grit his teeth and push himself harder. I had to respect that. He wasn't backing down.

System Farm - Tactical Application

At night, while the others rested, I utilized the Tactical Growth Mode in my System Farm. The simulated combat allowed me to refine my techniques without physically exhausting myself.

Tonight's session was focused on countering abnormal Titan attacks.

As I maneuvered through the simulation, a Titan lunged at me, its movements erratic and unpredictable. Unlike standard Titans, Abnormals didn't follow patterns. I needed adaptability.

[New Passive Skill Unlocked: Instinctive Combat] [Your body reacts subconsciously to high-speed threats. +15% to evasive maneuvers.]

I smirked. This was exactly the edge I needed.

A Test of Trust

One evening, after a long day of training, Levi's squad gathered around a fire. For the first time, the atmosphere wasn't tense. Petra was humming softly as she cleaned her gear, Eld and Gunther discussing formations, while Oluo—predictably—was boasting about how he could probably take on a Titan solo.

I sat next to Eren, who was staring into the fire. "Thinking about the trial?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. Feels like they're just waiting for an excuse to get rid of me."

"Then don't give them one," I said simply. "Control your power. Prove you're more valuable as an ally than a threat."

He sighed. "Easier said than done."

Petra looked up from her blades. "It's not about proving yourself to them, Eren. It's about proving to yourself that you can handle this. We're all risking our lives out here. That means we trust each other. Can you trust us?"

Eren looked around at the squad, then at me. He nodded. "Yeah. I can."

Levi, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. "Then don't waste that trust. You screw up, we die. Simple as that."

Eren clenched his fists, determination flickering in his eyes. "I won't let you down."

I exhaled, watching the fire crackle. Things were shifting, and I had a feeling we were heading straight into the deep end.

Because the Female Titan arc was approaching.

And nothing would ever be the same again.