Attack on Titan: The Strongest Newcomer

This was why the entire Survey Corps felt unease when executing the operation plan against the Female Titan.

They didn't know their true objective, nor did they realize that the target was the Female Titan herself.

When the Female Titan appeared, the soldiers didn't understand the level of danger she posed. Lacking awareness, they treated her as just another abnormal Titan.

This lack of understanding led to heavy losses for the Survey Corps.

The elite troops of the Survey Corps suffered devastating casualties at the hands of the Female Titan. The right-wing troops were nearly wiped out, and the covering troops, in an attempt to protect the center army, rushed to attack the Female Titan without hesitation. The cost they paid was also high. After the battle, the mood within the Survey Corps was grim, as the price of their failure was too steep.

"Alright, everyone, you have five days to prepare. After that, we'll leave the Rose Wall and conduct an investigation outside the walls," Erwin said, delivering the announcement in his usual calm tone.

Most of the Survey Corps members were accustomed to this kind of briefing and showed no significant reaction. However, the members of the Military Police and Garrison Corps were in an uproar.

Giants had seemed like a distant threat three years ago, and now they were suddenly faced with the reality of fighting them. For the Military Police, this news was particularly troubling, as they rarely had to face Titans.

The Survey Corps veterans exchanged disdainful glances as they watched the "elite" members of the other corps react with fear. To them, true strength wasn't about avoiding danger, but confronting it. The fear these new recruits showed was disappointing.

Yet, some of the new recruits managed to surprise them, particularly Ryo and Mikasa. Their faces remained calm, unaffected by the news.

For a veteran of the Survey Corps, this lack of fear was impressive, especially considering that both of them were new recruits who had never been outside the walls. Their composure was rare and made them stand out.

"Did you hear? The training corps sent two really powerful individuals!"

After Erwin left, the conversation in the camp turned to Ryo and Mikasa. The two had become the talk of the camp, drawing attention from all around.

"I heard he broke Captain Levi's record. Is that true?"

"Yeah, I saw it with my own eyes. He's insanely fast, and he handles the three-dimensional maneuvering device like a pro. They say he chopped off the entire giant target! His strength is insane."

"Is that so? Do you think he'll be assigned to Captain Levi's team?"

"Of course! He's definitely going to Levi's team!"

Amid the chatter, Hanji, the squad leader, stepped forward to announce the team assignments.

For new recruits, being assigned to the right team was crucial. The veterans of the Survey Corps would guide the newcomers, ensuring their survival. The casualty rate for new recruits was high, and without experienced soldiers leading them, survival was unlikely.

The Survey Corps had always had a high casualty rate, but since the new leadership, training had improved and survival chances were higher. Still, the cost of each mission remained high.

"The training corps has fewer members, so we'll announce their assignments first."

Hanji picked up the list in her hands and began scanning it. Ryo glanced up at her. Despite her youthful appearance, Hanji was known for her obsession with Titans. Her fascination with them was unusual, but it also motivated her to push the boundaries of what humanity knew about the Titans.

"Ryo, Mikasa, you two have been assigned to Sergeant Levi's team!"