Three days later, at the Training Corps camp.
Several officers stood inside Keith's office, watching the training ground through the window. Outside, Lucien was testing the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment with surprising precision, his movements sharp and fluid.
"Is that the second Corporal Levi you mentioned?" Erwin asked, his sharp blue eyes fixed on the young man who darted across the sand like a hunting falcon.
Keith nodded. "That's him. His name is Lucien Graves. He's already mastered the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment in just three days."
Erwin's curiosity deepened. He hadn't come here for no reason—Keith had reported that a new recruit showed potential comparable to Levi himself. If the Survey Corps could gain another soldier of that caliber, humanity's fighting strength would multiply, and the next expedition beyond the walls could suffer far fewer casualties. The influence of a single person, especially one like Levi, was immense.
"He's remarkable," Erwin murmured, eyes narrowing. "If he truly has that kind of potential, we can't afford to overlook him."
Keith sighed, recalling his own brief encounter. "He made me lose my fighting ability with just one punch."
Erwin raised an eyebrow. "One punch?"
"We tested him thoroughly," Keith said, his tone serious. "Aside from the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment, that guy is a monster in every other aspect. Physical ability, reaction speed, endurance… he surpasses the limits of any normal soldier. And now, after just three days, he's nearly mastered the gear."
Even Keith, who had seen countless recruits, sounded impressed. "This one's a genius."
"Has his background been verified?" Erwin asked, his gaze still following Lucien's movements.
"He's from the Shiganshina District, south of Wall Maria. His family survived by hunting. Grew up surrounded by wild beasts," Keith replied, handing over a folder. "He also had dealings with a certain merchant association before the fall of Wall Maria."
Erwin flipped through the documents. "No issues so far?"
"Wall Maria was destroyed five years ago. Much of the data's incomplete," Keith admitted. "So we should still keep our guard up."
Erwin nodded in agreement. "Understood."
"I'll go meet him myself," came a quiet, cold voice.
Both men turned as Corporal Levi stepped forward. His expression was unreadable, his tone flat—but his intent was clear. Neither Keith nor Erwin tried to stop him.
---
On the training field, Lucien was making subtle adjustments to the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment. He had spent the last three days practicing relentlessly. Most recruits would have been injured, if not killed, during early practice, but Lucien wasn't an ordinary soldier.
He had perfect control over his balance and movement. And even if he made a mistake, he could always recover with Geppo or Soru—techniques he had long mastered from a world that knew of Haki and battlefields beyond human limits.
The Vertical Maneuvering Equipment was a brilliant invention: by pulling the triggers on the sword hilts, gas-propelled anchors fired from the waist units, embedding into walls or Titans. The cables would then retract, allowing the user to swing through the air with incredible speed and precision. Still, it required extreme physical fitness to use effectively.
A faint voice broke through his concentration.
"I heard you knocked out that old man Keith with one punch."
Lucien turned his head slightly. Standing before him was a short, pale-skinned man with sharp gray eyes and a face devoid of warmth.
Humanity's strongest soldier—Corporal Levi.
Lucien had expected this meeting eventually, though not so soon. It seemed Keith had already reported everything.
"Is there something you need?" Lucien asked calmly, still adjusting his gear.
Levi didn't answer. Instead, he suddenly moved—his leg sweeping upward in a blur aimed at Lucien's head. The speed and force were far beyond Keith's level.
Lucien's eyes gleamed coldly. He raised his arm to block and slid back two steps, the sand scattering beneath his boots.
"So, you're here to pick a fight?" Lucien said lightly, removing the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment piece by piece. The air between them thickened with tension.
Levi took a stance, silent and sharp as a blade.
---
Nearby, several trainees peeked out from behind a building, drawn by the commotion.
"It's… it's really Captain Levi," Connie whispered in awe.
"I didn't expect him to show up here," Jean added, eyes wide. "He's the strongest man in the Survey Corps!"
Sasha trembled. "Are we even allowed to watch this? Keith's going to kill us if he finds out…"
Eren clenched his fists, excitement flashing in his eyes. "This is the strength of the Survey Corps. I have to see this."
Mikasa, Armin, Reiner, Bertholdt, and the rest of the 104th Training Corps members stayed silent, all equally captivated. They had come only to catch a glimpse of Erwin and Levi—yet now they were about to witness something far rarer: Levi testing a mysterious new recruit.
---
In the center of the field, Lucien raised his fists, one forward and one close to his chest, adopting a precise military martial arts stance.
If he used Soru and Geppo, the fight would be over instantly. But he didn't want that. This was a perfect chance to test the limits of his combat technique.
Inside the office, Erwin observed from the window, his brows furrowed. "That stance… it's martial arts. But his record said he was a hunter. Why would a hunter fight like that?"
On the field, Levi had already sensed the danger. Lucien's posture was flawless—his weight balanced perfectly, his eyes locked on his target. There was no wasted motion. He stood like a predator waiting to pounce.
Both men moved at once.
Levi's punch cut through the air, a blur of lethal intent. Lucien blocked with his left hand, his right striking directly toward Levi's throat. Levi twisted his body, blocking with his forearm and countering with a sharp knee aimed at Lucien's ribs.
Lucien spun sideways, pivoting on his left foot. His right leg swept in a powerful arc, striking Levi squarely across the arms. The impact sent Levi skidding backward, kicking up a storm of dust.
The crowd gasped.
Levi landed after sliding five meters, hands twitching slightly from the force. His calm mask didn't waver, but his expression grew more serious. His opponent's reflexes, strength, and speed were terrifyingly balanced.
This wasn't someone who had merely trained hard—this was someone who had mastered himself.
Lucien remained still, refusing to attack further. He wasn't here to show off—he wanted to test his strength, to see how far his body and instincts had evolved.
"He… he kicked Corporal Levi away," Connie whispered, his voice trembling.
"Did I see that right?" Sasha stammered. "That's Captain Levi!"
Jean's eyes were wide with disbelief. "Who is this guy?"
Reiner frowned, tension building in his jaw. Something about Lucien's presence made his instincts scream. "That man… he's not ordinary."
The trainees fell silent again as the two figures squared off once more, the air heavy with pressure. Levi adjusted his stance, the faintest trace of a smirk forming. It had been a long time since someone pushed him this far in hand-to-hand combat.
Lucien smiled faintly in return. "Not bad, Captain Levi. Shall we continue?"