Attack on Titan: The Strongest Newcomer

Ryo was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted.

Krista had hurried off earlier and had forgotten to bring what she needed. Now, she was left feeling embarrassed and unsure.

"Oh, this? I brought it. Hold on," Ryo said as he pulled a pack of tissues from his pocket. But the question of how to hand it to her became a bit tricky.

Between them was the blanket Ryo had set up earlier to block the wind and provide privacy. If he simply reached over to hand the tissues to her, he might inadvertently see her in an awkward position. Krista was squatting, making it difficult for her to stand up without being exposed.

Clearing his throat, Ryo hesitated. "Ahem. Okay, here you go," he said, carefully stretching out his arm just far enough to hand over the tissues without looking.

Once the tissues were in her hand, he quickly withdrew, his heart strangely restless. It felt as though an invisible string in his chest had been tugged.

Inside, there was the soft rustle of movement, presumably Krista getting dressed. Soon after, she emerged, her face flushed, head bowed, and completely avoiding eye contact with Ryo.

Ryo scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. It wasn't just Krista feeling embarrassed—he was, too. But not wanting her to dwell on the moment, he took the blanket from her hands, gently held her wrist, and began leading her back to camp.

Throughout the walk, Krista remained unusually quiet, but just as they were nearing the camp, a loud noise and a blood-curdling scream shattered the silence.

Both froze in place, turning toward the sound.

"What… what was that?" Krista asked, her voice trembling. She recognized the screams—they were from their fellow trainees. Fear washed over her as she realized they were in danger.

The roar that followed wasn't from a person—it was from some kind of beast.

"I'm not sure," Ryo said, frowning. "It doesn't sound like a tiger. It's closer to… a bear."

The sound was ominous, and the thick darkness made it impossible to discern exactly what was happening. But whatever it was, it wasn't good.

"We need to check it out!" Krista urged, worried for her companions.

Ryo shook his head. "I'll get you back to the camp first. It's not safe here."

Krista hesitated. She wanted to help but knew Ryo was right. Her own strength wasn't enough to face whatever was out there. Reluctantly, she nodded and let him guide her back to safety.

As soon as they arrived, a group of panicked trainees rushed up to Ryo, their faces pale with fear.

"Ryo! Ke and the others ran into a wild bear! They're trapped, and we don't know what to do!"

"Are they hurt?" Ryo asked, his expression sharp and focused.

"They climbed up into the trees, so they're safe for now," one trainee explained. "But the bear won't leave. It's huge and looks furious. We don't know how much longer they can hold on!"

Krista's worry deepened, but Ryo quickly reassured her. "Stay here. I'll take care of it."

After making sure Krista was safe, Ryo followed the group toward the scene. But when he finally saw the bear, he couldn't help but curse under his breath.

What kind of monstrous bear was this?

Bears were naturally massive, with some standing over two meters tall. They were fearsome predators, fully capable of hunting and killing humans if provoked. But this bear wasn't just massive—it was in a rage.

Ryo's eyes scanned the area and quickly spotted the cause: a feathered arrow sticking out of the bear's rear. Someone had shot it, and now the animal was furious.

The bear growled and swiped at the trees, its claws raking the bark as the trapped trainees clung to the branches above.

Ryo sighed. "Why does it always have to be something like this?" he muttered before stepping forward, ready to confront the enraged beast.