Kyle ran through the rubble and smoke, his heart pounding like a war drum, the countdown creeping into his consciousness every second:
[57:22…]
Eren held his tiny hand, the child's eyes wide with terror, while Mikasa followed with quick but trembling steps. Every move was precisely calculated thanks to motion prediction, but the danger never ceased.
Suddenly, the smaller Titan reappeared, swift and agile, dodging flying debris as if it knew every move beforehand. Kyle felt something strange, as if the Titan itself was learning from every previous attempt, as if this time loop wasn't just a test for him, but for the monsters as well.
"No… not now!" Kyle cried, trying to guide the child to safety.
But before he could do anything, those golden words flashed before his eyes again:
[WARNING: HIGH RECORDS]
[DANGER: FATAL COMMUNITY BOTTLE]
He knew what they meant. Any wrong move could send him back to square one, perhaps in an even worse situation than before.
[57:22…] Then he felt a cold hand touch his shoulder again. The mysterious voice returned, this time clearer, as if it were very close:
"Every move counts, Kyle… and don't forget, some things can't be changed."
He turned quickly. No one was there. Only smoke and flying debris.
He ran toward a deserted corner among the shattered houses, trying to find a safe place to regroup. Kyle realized something important: this wasn't just about trying to survive, but about testing all his decisions, all his actions, all his interventions in the fates of others.
In the distance, he spotted a small light glinting on the roof of one of the abandoned houses. It was his copper coin, the deep scratch on it glowing slightly as if it were pulsating with the countdown.
"It can't be…" he whispered, his hand trembling as he picked it up.
At that moment, a swift movement from the shadows startled him. Something lurking among the rubble, it was so fast, as if it knew its every move.
"Who's there?!" Kyle shouted, his dagger raised. But the shadow vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving behind a strange sense of dread. It was as if the whole world was watching him, and every little mistake would have a heavy price.
Then the mysterious voice came again, this time louder and more defiant:
— "Kyle… you have to choose wisely. Don't save everything… some things you have to leave as they are."
Kyle felt anger rising within him, but he knew that any moment of rage could cost him his life or the lives of others. His every move was being monitored, every step calculated.
He decided to use his newfound skill more daringly. He ran toward the smaller Titan, using motion prediction to avoid any potential attack, then leaped over the rubble to create a buffer between himself and the monster.
At the same moment, he spotted Mikasa trying to help the civilians, but she was in danger. Kyle felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders and knew he had to make a quick decision: save her first, or continue protecting Eren?
[50:17…] The countdown continued, and time was running out.
He finally decided to protect the child first. He grabbed Eren and pulled him out of the way just before the smaller Titan could strike him with its limbs. Kyle slammed to the ground, but he felt something strange: a new power surged within him, something like a spirit, guiding him with greater precision.
Suddenly, the colossal Titan appeared in the distance, approaching the crumbling wall, its footsteps shaking the ground. Everything grew darker, every sound choked with fear and chaos.
Kyle felt that this time loop wasn't just a test of survival, but a test of his courage and intelligence, his newfound abilities, and his difficult decisions. Every moment was a test of the boundary between life and death.
In the midst of the chaos, he glimpsed a golden light shining in the air again, golden words appearing before his eyes:
[Next Mission: Critical Decision]
[Danger: You cannot survive alone. You will need help.] Kyle knew instantly: he wouldn't be able to survive on his own. Every step depended on making the right decision; every move would come at a price.
He glanced at Eren and Mikasa, then at the soldiers who were trying to survive the collapse. He knew the time had come.
"This time… I'm leaving nothing to chance," Kyle whispered, his blood running cold, but his eyes burning with determination.
Suddenly, the whole city felt a single scream, a deafening explosion that shook the alley, and the countdown continued mercilessly:
[45:00…] Amid the smoke and chaos, the mysterious shadow reappeared, this time closer, as if watching his every move. Kyle knew he was no longer just a survivor, but a player in a game bigger than his own life, a game that would determine the fate of humanity…
End of Chapter Three
Will Kyle succeed in making the crucial decision? Who is the mysterious shadow watching him? And how will his abilities develop against the two giants?