The Sparring Match

The sparring ground buzzed with quiet intensity. Scouts paused in their routines, some sneaking glances at what was about to unfold. Levi and I stood across from each other, the air between us charged with unspoken challenge.

"You sure you can keep up, Captain?" I smirked, twirling my knife between my fingers.

Levi scoffed. "Tch. Try not to embarrass yourself."

I activated my Reiryoku, letting the energy course through my veins, sharpening my reflexes. Levi's stance barely shifted, but I knew better than to underestimate him.

And then he moved.

A flicker of motion—faster than most could track. But to me? Predictable. I sidestepped the first strike, barely feeling the breeze as his blade missed by a fraction of an inch. My counter came instantly—a feint to his ribs before twisting low, aiming for his knee.

He blocked, pivoting with absurd precision, and for a split second, we locked eyes. His smirk was almost imperceptible.

"Not bad," he admitted. "But not good enough."

Before I could react, he twisted mid-air, using his momentum to slam his blade against mine, forcing me back. I barely held my ground, my feet digging into the dirt.

A thrill ran through me.

[Skill Activation: Sun Breathing – Form 6 (Solar Flash Strike)]

My vision sharpened. The world slowed. Levi's next movement—already anticipated. I lunged, shifting my weight in an instant, appearing behind him before he could adjust.

A clean strike—stopped inches from his neck.

Silence.

Then, Levi let out a breath, sheathing his blades. "Alright. That was decent."

Decent? I just pulled off an instant-kill technique against humanity's strongest soldier.

I grinned. "Sounds like a win to me."

Levi narrowed his eyes. "Tch. Don't get cocky. Do it twice in a row, then we'll talk."

The gathered scouts murmured, exchanging impressed glances. I took a step back, letting the skill fade, the aftereffects leaving my limbs slightly heavy. That was something to be mindful of.

Levi, however, was already walking off. "Get cleaned up. We move out at dawn."

Right. This wasn't just training. We had a war to prepare for.

A Moment on the Wall

That night, I found myself on the outer wall, staring at the stars. The calm before the storm.

"You spacing out, or just pretending to be mysterious?" Historia's voice cut through the silence.

I glanced over, smirking. "Why not both?"

She sighed, leaning against the stone. "Everything's changing so fast. One moment, we're fighting Titans. The next, we're up against an entire world."

I didn't respond immediately. Instead, I let the wind carry my thoughts before speaking. "Change isn't always bad. Sometimes, it just means we have a chance to do things differently."

Historia frowned, watching me closely. "You always talk like you know more than you should."

I shrugged. "Maybe I just think ahead."

Her gaze lingered, but she didn't push further. Instead, she looked back at the night sky. "Do you think we can actually win? Against Marley?"

I let out a slow breath. "That depends on how far we're willing to go."

She nodded, but there was something distant in her eyes. "And you? How far are you willing to go, Akira?"

I turned away from the sky, meeting her gaze with certainty. "As far as it takes."

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "That's what scares me."

That caught me off guard. "What do you mean?"

Historia sighed. "Eren's changing. Armin's already thinking of strategies that make my head spin. And you? You throw yourself into fights like nothing else matters. Like you already know how this ends. But what if—what if this war turns you into something you don't recognize?"

I didn't answer right away. Because for a moment, just a moment, I saw the worry in her eyes.

She wasn't just talking about the war. She was talking about me.

"Historia... I appreciate that," I said, my voice softer. "But I'm not planning to lose myself."

"Then promise me something," she said, turning fully toward me. "Promise me that no matter how bad things get, you won't become like them. Like the people who see this as just another war. Another game."

Her hands were clenched into fists. She meant it.

I exhaled. "I promise."

She studied my face, then sighed, shoulders relaxing. "Good. Because if you ever do, I'll be the first to punch some sense into you."

I chuckled. "I'll hold you to that."

The Call to War

Dawn arrived with a sense of finality. Erwin and Hange had laid out the plan, and squads were already moving into formation. Eren, Armin, and Mikasa stood at the front, their expressions set with unwavering resolve.

I tightened the straps of my gear, checking my blades. Levi's voice cut through the air. "Move out."

As I moved to follow, Historia grabbed my wrist.

"Hey," she said, searching my face. "Be careful."

I gave her a grin. "Always."

She rolled her eyes but let go, stepping back.

This was it.

The beginning of the real war.

And I was ready to carve my own path through it.