Chapter 024: The Worst Plan

"Alright, this is the finish line. Keep going!"

"Five hours and sixteen minutes. Considering the weather conditions, that is a pretty good result."

At the finish line on the mountainside, the instructors welcomed the trainees who arrived. By now, almost everyone had made it. Everyone sat together, sighing at the difficulty of the process.

"I thought I was going to die. I did not expect snow mountain training to be so difficult," Eren said.

"My body has completely lost feeling."

"I encountered a steep slope on the way and almost fell off."

"There should be a sumptuous meal prepared in the room, right?"

"Aren't they going to let us in yet..."

"Speaking of which, everyone should be back now, right?"

As everyone spoke, Eren looked around. Just as he was wondering why he did not see Rayan, Reiner ran over, looking somewhat anxious.

"Krista has not returned yet!"

"Krista?"

"She seems to be with Daz, who was not feeling well," Mikasa said from the side. "And Rayan and Ymir. They are in the same group, right?"

"Yeah. Daz, Ymir, Rayan, they have not returned, just like Krista."

"Rayan?" Hearing this, Eren immediately stood up. "He has not returned yet?"

"Let us wait a little longer," Marco said from the side.

Reiner shook his head. "No, I just asked the instructor. All the paths up the mountain lead to the finish line. Even the most difficult one should have arrived by now."

"Could they have gotten lost?" Armin guessed.

"Hey, if you get lost in this blizzard, you could die..."

"Damn it." Eren clenched his fists. He had just taken a few steps when Mikasa grabbed his arm.

"What are you doing?"

"What do you mean, what am I doing? We cannot just leave them alone, can we?" Eren said. "That Rayan cannot have anything happen to him. I still owe him a big favor. I am going to find them."

"I will go too."

"Me too."

Everyone was obviously concerned about the safety of the others. In any case, half a year had passed. Through familiarity and understanding, they had developed real bonds with each other.

"Everyone, enter the room immediately," the instructor said sternly, walking over at that moment.

Eren looked at the instructor and said, "But there are still a few people..."

"We know. A search party will be sent out tomorrow morning."

"Is that not too late?"

The instructor frowned. "In this weather, do you want to increase the number of casualties?"

"..."

...

...

"Krista, you should eat more. You are too light," Ymir said, carrying Krista on her back as they moved forward through the snow. Krista had twisted her ankle after tripping on a rock earlier and could no longer walk on her own, so Ymir had to carry her.

She lay on Ymir's back, her hands stretched out to shield Ymir's forehead from the wind and snow. At the same time, she turned her head to look back. Behind them, Rayan carried Daz, closely following.

Her gaze fell on Rayan's right hand. The red marks around her eyes had not faded yet.

"Do not look, it is okay," Rayan said.

"How could it be okay?" Krista said anxiously. "It needs to be disinfected quickly, otherwise otherwise..."

"Alright, Krista. The shorty will be fine," Ymir said.

"..."

"Speaking of which, I should thank you, venomous tongued woman," Rayan said. "If you had not stabbed that wolf to death in time, I probably would not have kept this arm."

Indeed, wolves, like dogs, bite most fiercely by clamping down on muscles and bones, locking their sharp teeth into the wound. Then, by violently shaking their heads, they create tearing wounds with huge destructive power. So when bitten, you must pull away immediately and not let them get a firm hold.

"Did you not throw your dagger and help me once too? We are even," Ymir said.

"Ah."

Then came silent walking, stopping and starting, struggling forward. Finally, after nearly another hour, they arrived outside the gate of the finish line.

"Trainees!"

The instructor who had been standing guard noticed them and immediately ran over. The other trainees inside the room also heard the commotion and rushed out together.

"Krista!"

"Rayan, your hand..."

"What happened to Daz?"

The questions came in a jumbled mess. Krista anxiously said to the instructor, "Please help them quickly. Rayan's arm was bitten by a wolf and needs immediate disinfection. Daz has a high fever and has passed out. He also needs urgent treatment."

"Understood."

Several instructors immediately got to work, while Ymir pinched Krista's cheek.

"Do not forget about yourself," she said, turning to the instructor. "Krista also twisted her right ankle."

Intensive treatment began, and the injured were taken to the medical room. Trainees like Eren also followed in, unable to be stopped.

"Hiss."

At that moment, the doctor unwrapped the cloth around Rayan's arm. Everyone who saw the bloody mess gasped. Several people even turned their heads away, unable to look.

The doctor examined it, frowned slightly, and raised his head.

"It was really a wolf bite. It needs to be disinfected immediately."

He opened the medical kit and took out antiseptic.

The trainees nearby were incredulous.

"There were actually wolves?"

"Too scary... luckily we did not encounter any..."

"Hey. What are you saying?"

"No, no, it is just..."

Everyone spoke in a chaotic manner. Krista, sitting opposite and receiving treatment, glanced at Rayan's arm. Her eyes welled up again. She knew Rayan had suffered such serious injuries to save her. Why would he do such a thing for someone like her...

"The follow up situation still needs to be observed," the doctor said after disinfecting Rayan's wound and bandaging it. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Prepare for the worst. If it does not recover well, you might... you might not be able to become a soldier."

Rayan's pupils constricted slightly.

"What are you talking about?" Eren's eyes widened immediately upon hearing this, and he said angrily, "Are you not a doctor? Why would you say such a thing?"

"Eren."

"It is just some flesh that was bitten off. As long as he eats more meat, it will grow back, right?" Eren said through gritted teeth. Although everyone knew he was talking nonsense, no one wanted to refute him.

The doctor glanced at him, sighed, patted Rayan's shoulder, and walked out of the room.

"Rayan, do not listen to that doctor's alarmist talk. He..."

"Alright, Eren," Rayan smiled at him. "I know my own body. Do not worry, I will be fine." As he spoke, a trace of fatigue creased his brow. "You should all go and rest. I am a bit tired too."

"...Okay." Eren did not say anything more, but after turning and taking a few steps, he turned his head back and said seriously, "Rayan, you will definitely become a soldier."

The group left the room.

Rayan looked at Krista, who was already in tears, and sighed.

"Hey... do not cry. I am not lying to you. I am really okay," he said, his voice softening. "My body... it is not just strong, you know."

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