Ripples of Change

The battle had ended, but the tension in the air remained. The Survey Corps had secured their so-called victory, yet it felt hollow. Annie, now sealed within her crystal cocoon, lay motionless before us, an unbreakable monument to the futility of this war.

I stood atop the rubble of a fallen building, surveying the battlefield. Smoke and dust hung thick in the air, mixing with the scent of blood and burnt flesh. The aftermath was always the same—bodies, destruction, the weight of what we had done pressing down on all of us.

Eren was still breathing heavily, his Titan form having dissipated, leaving him standing there with clenched fists. His frustration was palpable, but Mikasa was already by his side, keeping an eye on him.

Erwin walked towards Annie's crystallized form, his sharp gaze unreadable. "It's over. Secure the perimeter," he ordered, his voice unwavering despite the losses we had suffered. Soldiers scrambled to obey.

Levi wiped his blades clean before sheathing them. "Tch. Annoying," he muttered, but his eyes lingered on Annie longer than necessary. He knew, just like I did, that this wasn't truly over.

I exhaled and checked my system notifications.

[Battle Complete!] [EXP Gained: 12,500] [Level Up!] [New Level: 20] [Skill Upgrade: Reiatsu Augmentation → Advanced Reiatsu Augmentation (A-Rank)]

Not bad. My body felt stronger, more refined, but my mind was elsewhere. I glanced at Annie's frozen expression—her eyes still carrying that same stubborn resolve.

Historia approached me hesitantly. "Are you okay? You look... tense."

I gave her a sidelong glance. "I'm fine. Just thinking."

"About Annie?"

I didn't answer immediately. "Yeah. About her, and about how things could've gone differently."

She frowned. "Do you think we did the right thing?"

I sighed. "Right and wrong don't really matter here. Only survival does. But yeah... I don't think this was the best outcome."

Her fingers clenched at the fabric of her sleeve, but she nodded, accepting my words. Historia wasn't naive. She had learned the harshness of this world firsthand.

Armin joined us, his usual thoughtful expression even more troubled than usual. "Akira… if you had the power to change things, what would you have done?"

That was a loaded question.

I crossed my arms. "First? I'd make sure we weren't playing into someone else's hands. We just caught a powerful enemy, but do you really think this ends here? There are forces moving in the shadows, and I'd rather not be their puppet."

He nodded slowly, processing my words. "Then what do you think happens next?"

I smirked. "The real fun begins."

The Retreat and the Debriefing

After the battlefield was secured, we returned to our base. The journey back was quiet. The weight of what had just transpired lingered over everyone like a thick fog.

As soon as we arrived, we were ushered into a meeting room where Erwin, Levi, and the rest of the elite soldiers gathered to discuss the operation.

"We accomplished our primary objective," Erwin began, his voice steady. "Annie Leonhart is contained. However, our losses were not insignificant, and I doubt this is the last we will see of the enemy's interference."

Levi leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Tch. If anything, this might've just pissed them off. The people behind this? They won't just sit back and do nothing."

Eren, who had been silent, finally spoke. "Then what do we do?"

Erwin met his gaze. "We prepare. We dig deeper. We find out exactly who our true enemies are before they make their next move."

I listened carefully, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. I already knew who the real enemies were. Marley, the Warriors, the political schemes behind the walls. But knowing wasn't enough—I needed power. Enough power to ensure that when the time came, I could act on my own terms.

Levi's eyes flicked towards me. "And you? You were surprisingly effective back there. Care to explain?"

I shrugged. "I adapt fast."

His stare lingered, but he didn't press further. Good.

The meeting wrapped up soon after. Everyone was exhausted, and while the victory was ours, there was little to celebrate. The battle may have ended, but the war was far from over.

A Quiet Moment

Later that night, I found myself outside, sitting on a rooftop overlooking the city. The stars were faint, barely visible beyond the clouds, but the cool air helped clear my head.

Footsteps approached. I didn't need to turn to know who it was.

"Couldn't sleep either, huh?" Historia asked, sitting beside me.

I smirked. "Too much on my mind."

She hugged her knees to her chest, gazing at the horizon. "You're different from the others, you know. Even from Eren. You don't act like you're fighting for some grand cause, but you still care. It's… confusing."

I chuckled. "Maybe I just like keeping people on their toes."

She rolled her eyes. "Or maybe you just don't want to admit that you're more of a hero than you think."

I didn't respond to that. Because if I did, I might have had to admit she wasn't completely wrong.

But I wasn't a hero.

I was just a gamer trying to level up.

And in this world? That was enough.