Inside the Survey Corps lecture theatre, Erwin was briefing the soldiers on the upcoming 23rd Expedition formation.
"—This is the long-distance scouting formation."
He rolled down a large sheet of paper, which showed a semicircular formation consisting of several squadrons.
"True to the anime… Erwin really is a good tactician."
Erwin pointed a stick at the formation.
"We'll deploy soldiers at regular intervals at a distance that will ensure a clear view in all directions. We will use these signal flares to judge the situation based on the colour of the smoke."
"I see. So this is when they start to use flares during expeditions. No wonder Keith Shadis was so optimistic about this one in particular."
"A squad that spots a Titan will first shoot up a red signal flare. Neighbouring squads will then confirm the colour and shoot red flares to relay this to the centre as quickly as possible. Once the command squad catches sight of a red signal flare, they will shoot a green flare of their own to indicate a new direction for the entire formation."
Furlan leaned forward slightly and murmured to himself.
"I see, it's faster than manually running around on horses to relay the information."
Erwin put down the cane that was aimed at the formation and spoke in a more solemn tone.
"Finally, the black signal flare… It's only intended for emergencies, and one I hope we get back without using. That's all for today's briefing. Squad leaders, you may now have a word with your subordinates."
As Erwin dismissed us, Flagon took me and the other squad members to a separate room.
He pointed at a smaller sheet which contained the formation from earlier.
"We'll be here. Second row, fourth position. For communications. Our main role is to relay the green signal flare."
"This squad in particular lacks cohesion."
He paused and looked at me and Levi.
"—but we're blessed with talented people. Don't get it twisted, however. Yours and your comrades' lives will still be at stake. Got it?"
"Okay! Let's do this!"
Isabel jumped up with excitement.
Sairam, who typically held a serious attitude, noticed Isabel's carefree display and couldn't help but let out his emotions.
"Hmph! It's not as simple as it looks. Do you even understand the nature of the formation?"
"Of course! I uhh… mastered all the hard stuff during preliminary training."
"So explain wha—"
Flagon interrupted them.
"All right, that's enough. I don't think you guys know this, but the Survey Corps is not in a good position."
"The citizens, whose taxes support us, keep a close eye on our activities, and we are also under close scrutiny by other branches of the military. Truthfully, it's because we haven't produced any good results yet… But one thing is for certain. What happens with this formation will decide what happens to us in the future, so we've got to make it succeed!"
"Yes, sir!"
At that moment, both Isabel and Sairam did the 'dedicate your heart' salute at his sudden speech.
"So you can salute after all, Magnolia."
Furlan looked at me concerned and whispered.
"Isn't she taking this dedicating your heart thing too seriously?"
***
A Few Months Later - Southern Shiganshina District
"The moment has finally arrived. Months of training to get here."
Lucian muttered to himself involuntarily.
Keith Shadis' voice projected outwards as he yelled.
"Open the gate!"
Lucian steadied his horse as the large gate on the wall rumbled open.
"Today we take one more step forward! Show me what you learned in training! Teach them the power of the human race!"
His words touched the hearts of those whose nerves wouldn't settle.
Yet Lucian had other thoughts.
"If I can't perform now, Isabel, Furlan and even my squad leader will die.
It's not an exaggeration to say all their lives are in his hands."
After the gate fully raised, he pulled on the reins of his horse, as Commander Shadis' last command reached his ears.
"All troops advance!"
Treading and clacking erupted as they set forth.
"Hey… Now would be a good time to tell me this isn't happening…"
Furlan's doubt crept up as the path changed from cobble to endless grass.
"Well, it's certainly hard to believe that humans from the Underground would set foot outside the walls."
Levi's words hit even harder when the bright blue sky and endless horizon came into view.
"…Whoa! Amazing! We really made it outside."
"Sigh, I really wish I could've found the documents before this expedition. Where's that bastard Erwin hiding them?"
"Heh, don't tell me you're scared, Furlan. What happened to all that talk you gave to Lucian?"
"She's right, Furlan. Don't tell me you're backing out now. Didn't we give you a chance earlier? Don't you trust us?"
"Lucian is right. We can easily deal with those Titans."
"Hey! Aren't you guys forgetting about me?! I'll take care of those Titans with one chop!"
"—Argh! Stop the chatter, you guys! Do you really think a few punks like you can handle the Titans with ease?! Do you know how many elites died to Titans?! Don't joke with me!"
"Sairam, cut it out!"
"But squad leader…"
"Calm yourself! We can't afford to disrupt the new formation! Titans can appear at any moment!"
Exactly on cue with Flagon's words, a fifteen-meter abnormal stepped out from the towering, redwood-like forest.
Keith Shadis promptly gave out orders.
"Titan spotted! 10 o'clock. It's too close! There's no choice but to engage!"
"Vanguard with me into the forest!"
He led the vanguard with him into the forest to distract the Titan.
"Switch to manoeuvring. Don't let it out of the forest!"
With one Titan distracted, the main group continued onwards, but that brief moment of relief barely lasted.
"Second Titan spotted! Another fifteen-meter class!"
"Two ten-meter Titans spotted!"
Another squadron at the rear took it upon themselves to distract the fifteen-meter Titan just as was done before.
Whilst another group dealt with the ten-meter Titans.
One ten-meter Titan swatted one of the less experienced Survey Corps members, and the other chomped on the head of another.
Eventually, they were defeated, but Lucian couldn't help but be shaken by the fickle nature of the expedition.
"We'll draw it away! Hey! Over here, you big halfwit! Huh? What's wrong?! Why isn't it following?!"
With its arms flailing at its hips, the Titan sprinted straight towards the supply wagon.
"…Oh no! An abnormal! No good, the wagon's wide open! Flagon's squad, engage!"
Flagon couldn't help but be flustered at the sudden predicament, but he tried to keep his wits, ordering Sairam and the others to follow him in leading the abnormal away.
But Levi didn't follow and forged his own path, causing Lucian and the others to follow his lead.
Lucian especially couldn't believe his luck but reluctantly drew his blades nevertheless.
With his passive skill [Shadow Veil], as long as he is behind the target, his presence is erased.
So he diligently leapt off his horse and used Quickstep in combination with the ODM gear to close the distance.
"You little punks! What are you doing!"
"You said we have to take the Titans seriously, right? Then why use these half-assed tactics?"
Levi was slightly frustrated hearing the squad leader berate Lucian.
After all, he knew his abilities firsthand.
"Are we really doing this?!"
Furlan caught up and confirmed with Levi and Isabel.
"We'll distract it! Lucian, you finish it off."
Levi jumped into action, slicing at the Titan's eyes.
Steam hissed from both Achilles of the Titan as Furlan and Isabel struck.
And the final blow was delivered by Lucian.
[Ding! 15-Meter Abnormal Titan defeated!]
[Reward: 20000 XP]
[Level Up!]
[New Skill Unlocked: Assassinate - Consumes 5 SP to deal 1000% damage when behind an opponent.]
[+1 Skill Point Unlocked!]
Barraged with notifications in his vision, Lucian rejoined his group on the ground.
"Woohoo! We did it! Hey, Lucian! Wasn't I cool? What would you do without me, seriously?!"
Lucian, overwhelmed with happiness from levelling up, hugged Isabel.
"Yeah! We did it! You guys are awesome!"
"—Eh? Ah! L-Lucian?! So suddenly!"
"Haha! Isabel, why are you so red?!"
"Shut it, Furlan!"
Isabel stomped and yelled at him.
Watching this scene, Levi simply sighed, but a small smirk appeared on his lips.
And in the distance, a certain blonde-haired man thought to himself.
"Lucian… Levi, you two really are the Wings of Freedom after all."
After that small hiccup, the expedition continued.
They encountered many more Titans, but due to the genius of Erwin's plan, they were almost avoided entirely.
As dusk fell, an abandoned Eldian castle came into view.
"We're gonna stay in this dump? I guess they're making use of this old castle ruins, but…"
Furlan interrupted Isabel.
"Since Titans aren't active at night, it shouldn't be a worry."
"You're right! Titans aren't active at night!"
"Stop chatting and enter. We need to set up our equipment and rest up. Although you guys performed well earlier, there were a lot of unnecessary movements, and your gas consumption was not optimal."
"Are you expecting us to worry about our equipment when we're protecting our friends' lives!"
Levi retorted.
"Are you beginning to have any doubts? Because if you are, that will be the death of you very soon."
Although Erwin was impressed earlier, he knew what overconfidence could lead to, so he decided to give them a quick reality check before he entered the castle ruins.
"Damn him! He better watch his back when he's alone!"
"Shh! Isabel, he might hear you."
"Forget what he said… Let's just head in and rest up."
Lucian, vaguely guessing Erwin's intentions, didn't let it get to him and entered the castle.
***
"Lucian and Levi were so strong earlier. As long as we're with you two, there's nothing to worry about."
Levi sat down and spoke calmly.
"If we ever face another one of those abnormals, it could play out differently."
"Yeah…"
"Anyway, Furlan, any updates on those documents?"
"I'm sure that he has those documents. But when I checked his room earlier, there was nothing there. He left all other documents except that one, meaning there really is only one place left."
"Why wouldn't he leave it behind?"
"Because if he did that, old fossil Lobov surely would've gotten his hands on it."
Levi shut his eyes.
"It seems tomorrow will be our last chance. We've got to kill him…"
"You're right."
Suddenly, someone's voice disturbed our conversation.
"I was watching you. At the crucial moment!"
I saw the others around me panic at those flamboyant words.
"When you defeated the Titans, of course! It was incredible! I boiled over with excitement in spite of myself!"
"…Hange?"
"Wow, you've heard about me? I'm flattered. For your friends that don't know, I'm Hange Zöe. You are Lucian, of course, that's Levi, Isabel and uhh…"
"It's Furlan."
"That's right! Furlan!"
Furlan whispered to us.
"Hey, be nice…"
"Say, you didn't receive formal ODM training, right? Is there any sort of trick to your strengths?"
"Just practice."
"Really? You taught yourselves?! But even then, everyone saw your fight, so they must still be curious, right?"
When I followed her gaze, I noticed many of the other soldiers glaring at us with curiosity.
It seemed they witnessed our battle earlier.
"So what's your tricks? How about it? Could you tell us?"
Ah! She must be curious about Levi's abnormal strength.
Levi began to grow impatient.
"There's no trick. We fight our own way. It's not something we can teach others. Lucian was already strong when I met him."
Is he misunderstanding? She's talking about him.
"Yeah! Lucian's super strong! That's not something you can teach!"
"Isabel, I would like to hear from Lucian himself. But as a token of our friendship, here's a treat."
Isabel began munching on the snack Hange handed her.
*Wait she's interrogating my abilities also?*
I don't really have a response.
Come on, Levi, say something!
"Sorry, but we're tired."
"I see. Sorry to disturb your rest. If you guys come back alive, I'll treat you to a meal."
She walked away, and I let out a sigh of relief.
It was that simple…
There's no way for me to explain my strength without looking like a madman.
"Phew… I'm tired. Let's sleep."