The forest clearing was quiet.
Too quiet.
Steam curled from my arms in slow, trembling ribbons as I knelt on the ground.
Kade's blade lay discarded nearby—
he hadn't dropped it out of fear,
but out of shock.
Armin stood between us, breathing hard, eyes darting between my glowing skin and Kade's shaking hands.
"You both need to stop," Armin gasped, voice trembling.
"He's not transforming. He's—he's stabilizing!"
Stabilizing.
If that's what this was, it felt like hell.
My heart finally slowed, the burning in my spine easing into a deep, smoldering ache.
The silhouette of my Titan faded from my vision, dissolving into smoke.
But the damage was done.
Kade stared at me like I'd become something unnatural.
Something impossible.
"His bones…" he whispered.
"They were forming outside his skin. I saw it. Clear as day."
Armin snapped, "But he stopped it!"
"That's worse," Kade hissed.
"No creature should be able to control half a transformation. That's—"
He cut himself off.
His jaw tensed.
"…that's a monster's trick."
Those words hit harder than the pain earlier.
My throat tightened.
Armin stepped forward, fury burning in his usually gentle eyes.
"Junta is NOT a monster! He's scared—he needs help!"
Kade glared at him.
"And fear makes monsters even more dangerous."
"I won't let you take him!" Armin shouted.
The clearing fell into a stunned silence.
Even I froze.
Armin… yelling?
At a soldier?
At someone who could kill him?
Kade's expression hardened.
"And what'll you do to stop me, Arlert? Throw a book at me?"
Armin didn't back down.
"If you take him back to the camp, the Military will kill him. Or worse."
Armin shook with fear—
but also with determination.
"He's my friend."
The words pierced my chest like a blade.
Armin turned to me, desperate.
"Junta… say something. Please."
My voice refused to come.
Everything felt heavy.
But I forced out a whisper.
"…I don't want to hurt anyone."
Kade's gaze flickered.
For a second—
just a second—
he looked uncertain.
Then he shook his head.
"I can't take your word for it. Not after what I saw."
He reached down and grabbed his blade again.
Armin gasped.
"Kade—no!"
"I won't kill him," Kade said flatly.
"Not unless he attacks."
He pointed the blade at the ground between us.
"But I am taking him in. I'll drag him myself if I have to."
Every instinct inside me screamed.
No.
No.
NO.
If the Military found out—
If they experimented on me—
If they cut me open—
If they figured out I was a Titan—
This world would devour me faster than any monster.
I shook my head violently.
"I can't go with you."
"You don't have a choice."
Armin stepped in front of me again.
"No! He does!"
Kade's patience snapped.
"Move, Armin!"
"No!"
"DAMMIT, BOY—!"
Kade lunged.
Armin flinched—
And I moved.
---
I didn't transform.
But something inside my body shifted.
A new instinct awakened.
The wind bent around me—
the air rippling like a shockwave.
Kade froze in mid-step.
His eyes widened.
"What—?"
Armin staggered backward.
"Junta… your eyes—!"
I blinked.
My vision glowed faintly—
a silver-blue shimmer at the edge of my sight.
The System flickered rapidly.
[Phase Titan: Stage 1 — Passive Ability Activated]
[Phase Pulse: Emits a pressure wave that halts enemy motion for 0.5 seconds]
A… stun pulse?
Kade stumbled back, shaking his head as if clearing dizziness.
"W-What was that?!"
I stepped back instinctively.
Armin grabbed my arm.
"Junta, we have to go. NOW."
Kade regained his senses and raised his blade.
"You think you can run?! I'll call the entire Garrison—!"
"I WON'T GO BACK!" I shouted, voice cracking with fear.
"I don't want to be locked up! I didn't choose this—!!"
Kade's expression twisted.
"This is bigger than you. You don't understand—"
"Then explain!" Armin yelled.
"What's bigger?! What do you know?!"
Kade froze.
His jaw clenched.
His eyes darted away.
He sighed through his nose.
"…Fine. You want the truth?"
The clearing went silent.
Kade lowered his blade slowly.
"I've seen a Titan shifter before."
My breath caught.
Armin whispered, "T-Titan… shifter…?"
Kade nodded grimly.
"One of my squads years ago. A soldier who turned into a Titan mid-battle. Not like the monsters we know—something… different."
He stared at me.
"You're the same."
I felt the ground tilt beneath me.
Armin stared at Kade with horror.
"What happened to him…? The soldier?"
Kade's expression darkened.
"He was taken away. Experimented on. Never seen again."
My blood froze.
Armin covered his mouth, eyes filling with fear.
Kade continued quietly.
"That's why I can't let you walk away. If another shifter exists… the Commander must know."
My stomach twisted with dread.
Armin whispered shakily,
"…Junta… run."
"I said—" Kade growled—
But he didn't finish.
Because the System screamed:
[CHOICE EVENT TRIGGERED]
"Path of the Protagonist: Divergence Point #1"
My vision filled with glowing text.
---
OPTION 1 — Flee With Armin (High Danger)
Escape into the woods.
Become a fugitive.
Lose all protection.
Gain freedom—and Armin's trust.
Reward: Titan Skill (Escape Burst)
Loss: Access to Military shelter, food, safety
---
OPTION 2 — Surrender to Kade (Extreme Risk)
Allow Kade to take you in.
Risk imprisonment or death.
Discover hidden military secrets.
Reward: Intel: "The First Shifter"
Loss: Free movement, risk of exposure and torture
---
OPTION 3 — Transform (Catastrophic)
Unleash Titan form.
Kill or injure innocents.
Become enemy of all humanity.
Reward: Titan Dominance
Loss: All humanity
---
The world dimmed.
The forest felt like it held its breath.
Armin grabbed my shoulders.
"Junta—look at me. Don't choose anything that hurts you."
Kade tightened his grip on his blade.
"Choose wisely, kid."
My hands shook violently.
Three paths.
Three futures.
And I had to choose one.
Right now.
I swallowed.
Then whispered—
"I choose…"