Attack on Titan: The Strongest Newcomer

"Thank you, senior. I will go there now!"

Ryo had already set his sights on the giant lured toward the wall. It was a regular giant—clumsy, harmless-looking, and devoid of any freakish characteristics. Such giants posed little threat to the soldiers on the wall. As long as no mistakes were made, ordinary soldiers would never fall prey to one.

From his elevated position, Ryo had the perfect angle to strike.

"Go!"

Elder adjusted his anchor and repositioned, but Ryo was already gone.

"This kid is really in a hurry!" Elder muttered as he moved to keep an eye on the rookie's combat technique.

New recruits often struggled in their first real battle. Training exercises could never replicate the sheer terror of facing a living, moving enemy. Yet Ryo showed no fear, no hesitation. Elder noted his calm demeanor—it was as though he was observing a seasoned killer, not a recruit fresh to the battlefield.

Instead of attacking immediately, Ryo circled the giant, deftly dodging its swipes and drawing its attention. He spotted an opening and moved quickly, landing atop its head in one fluid motion.

Elder frowned. The maneuver reminded him of their captain's combat style.

Standing on the giant's head, Ryo retracted his 3D maneuvering gear and unsheathed his twin blades. Before the giant could react, two swift slashes severed the nape of its neck.

Blood gushed like a crimson fountain, and the giant let out a guttural wail before collapsing. Steam billowed from its body as it began to decompose.

Elder's eyes widened. He worried Ryo might not escape the falling giant in time and could be injured. Yet Ryo emerged from the steam, unscathed.

"Senior, is there any way to kill giants without being drenched in their filthy blood?" Ryo asked, his voice calm despite being covered in gore.

Elder was stunned. Even their captain, Levi, hadn't found a solution to that problem. Giant blood evaporated quickly, but there was no avoiding the initial mess.

"Ryo, that was well done," Elder began, his tone both impressed and cautious. "But avoid flashy moves like standing on a giant's head next time. It's too dangerous. The captain can pull it off, but we shouldn't attempt to imitate him. Understand?"

Ryo scratched his head, slightly embarrassed. "Got it, senior."

In truth, Ryo hadn't intended to show off. He'd simply been searching for a way to avoid being splattered with blood. Yet no matter how he approached it, it seemed impossible to evade the inevitable spray. Unless he could teleport, he'd always be drenched.

No wonder Captain Levi always carried white handkerchiefs, Ryo thought.

"Senior Elder, I'm going to assist Petra!" Ryo announced.

Elder nodded, following his gaze. Petra was dealing with a stubborn giant that hadn't been drawn toward the others. She was preparing to engage it directly, with no time to spare.

"I'll join you!" Elder said.

The open terrain presented a major disadvantage. Without structures to anchor their 3D maneuvering gear, the only viable targets were the giants themselves. This made open-area battles risky. For this reason, the Survey Corps often avoided engaging giants in open spaces, opting instead to lure them to more favorable terrain near walls or forests.

Petra and her team were at a disadvantage. The giant was still far from the city wall, and her squad had depleted their gas supplies. Without fuel, their maneuvering gear was useless—nothing more than dead weight.

"No! We're out of gas!" A soldier from the vanguard squad shouted, only to be grabbed by the giant. The soldier's screams were cut short as he was crushed and devoured.

A spray of blood filled the air, leaving a crimson mist. Petra's eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"Everyone in the vanguard squad, retreat immediately! Leave this giant to Levi's squad!" Petra ordered.

"But Petra, can you handle it alone if we leave?" the vanguard squad leader asked, clearly worried.

Before Petra could respond, Ryo's voice rang out. "Who said Sister Petra is alone? I'm here now!"

A streak of motion shot past her. Before anyone could process what was happening, Ryo soared over the giant, his movements a blur.

He leapt, landed, unsheathed his blades, and spun, delivering a precise, fatal strike. The giant toppled with a resounding crash.

The sheer fluidity of his movements left everyone stunned.