Attack on Titan: The Strongest Newcomer

"Petra, I'm not too late, am I?"

Ryo retracted his blades, observing the weapon in his hands. He wasn't entirely accustomed to this particular knife—it felt too light, lacking the heft he preferred. Yet, its sharpness was undeniable, making it highly effective against the giants.

Walking down from the lifeless giant at his feet, Ryo stayed put. With no structures nearby to anchor his 3D maneuvering gear, escaping after the kill had been impossible.

"You came just in time," Petra replied, relief evident in her voice.

Behind her, Oruo and his team had finished off the giants on their side. The two remaining giants had fallen, and their mission was complete. They could now focus on supporting the captain.

"Kid, you've got some skills! Took down two giants on your own!" Oruo remarked, trying to mask his own frustration. He had hoped to bolster his record further, but Mikasa had killed the giant on his side, and Ryo had handled Petra's. Watching two recruits claim victories over three 12-meter-class giants was a humbling experience.

Ryo smiled modestly. "It's nothing compared to your record of 39 kills."

He glanced at Mikasa, relieved to see she was unharmed.

"Let's move to support the captain. Handling two 15-meter-class giants alone must be difficult," Petra urged, worry lacing her tone. Despite her confidence in Levi's abilities, the odds were daunting.

Elder chuckled. "No need to stress. Look over there."

All eyes turned to see two massive bodies sprawled on the ground. Levi had already dealt with the giants. There was no mystery about what had happened—it was Levi's handiwork, as always.

"Assist the vanguard squad in moving their wounded to the city. Afterward, we regroup with the main force," Levi ordered, approaching on horseback with an injured soldier trailing behind him.

The team nodded, turning their focus to battlefield cleanup.

Despite the proximity to the city, the garrison soldiers showed no inclination to leave the safety of the walls to assist. Fear of the giants kept them confined, leaving the Survey Corps to handle the grim task of recovering their injured and dead. Ryo's thoughts darkened.

Although all three corps—the Survey Corps, Garrison, and Military Police—belonged to the same empire, their internal conflicts and lack of cooperation were glaring. These divisions hindered their ability to combat the real threat: the giants.

The Garrison Corps had the largest numbers and superior equipment, yet their contributions in fighting giants were minimal. The issue wasn't just their scattered jurisdiction but also their unwillingness to cooperate with the other corps.

Even as the giants loomed as a shared threat, the people within the walls schemed and fought among themselves. It was a despairing reality, one Ryo found deeply troubling. Empires on the brink of collapse often succumbed to such internal decay. Were the Eldians now at that stage?

After ensuring the vanguard squad was secured in the city, Levi led his team to regroup with the main force. They advanced swiftly, the organized formation of the Survey Corps reflecting their meticulous planning.

The long-distance search formation was highly structured. The outermost layer consisted of the initial reconnaissance team, followed by the flanking units, support teams, and, at the center, the command squad. Behind them were the supply and carriage teams, with the special operations squad positioned strategically.

Each team had access to four types of flares:

- **Red:** Signaling ordinary Titans.

- **Black:** Warning of abnormal Titans.

- **Green:** Command signals to change direction.

- **Yellow:** For emergencies or unpredictable events.

These signals were part of basic training, mandatory for every soldier in the corps. Mastery of these tools was critical not just for the Survey Corps but also for the Garrison and Military Police.

Ryo's thoughts shifted to the grim reality of their work. During a previous expedition, the female Titan had infiltrated the formation disguised as a regular soldier. Using a green flare, she manipulated the direction of Levi's squad, ambushing and annihilating them in a calculated strike. It was a painful reminder of the stakes they faced.

Levi's squad, though small, was vital to the Survey Corps' strength. Without them, the entire operation would falter. Limited manpower and outdated communication tools only compounded the risks.

During the 52nd Outer Wall Survey, over 200 soldiers had participated, representing the elite of the 1,200-strong corps. Yet even among the elite, survival was never guaranteed.