Aside from me, who immediately got used to it, I looked around. Mikasa was able to do it as well, along with Jean, Sasha, and Connie. Those three form a trio too. Hmm… I need to build my own team. Aside from my relationship with Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, if I play my cards right, I could rise through the Scout Regiment—possibly even become its commander someday. Anyway, that's still a long-term dream.
Just like in the series, Eren was mocked by the others since he couldn't manage to do it. Even Armin succeeded. When night came, the four of us sat together. Eren had injured his head and couldn't believe that he was falling behind while the others were already ahead of him.
Mikasa and Armin had already tried to teach Eren, but he still couldn't get it.
"Eren, don't worry about it," Mikasa said amid the constant murmurs around us.
I continued eating when the bell rang and the others left. Mikasa kept talking, and I noticed that Sasha was still with us, watching Mikasa. She hadn't noticed that Eren had already left—probably because she was too busy trying to convince him to abandon his ideals.
Hmm… so she did cut her hair after all.
I stood up and patted her on the shoulder.
"Eren already left," I said.
Then I left the two of them behind. Who should I recruit? It should be someone who isn't part of the main cast, to avoid straying from the plot.
As I was heading to my sleeping area, I saw Annie spacing out in the distance. I approached her and asked, "You okay?"
She looked at me, didn't say anything, and simply walked away.
Whew… she's ignoring me, huh? Well, anyway—see you around.
I found a secluded place in the camp and lay down. I need to think of a plan—how to traverse this plane, and what I should do next. The blades the soldiers use here can be considered swords. I'm not entirely sure yet, but I can test that later with my talent active. Slicing through Titans would be a piece of cake for me.
Hmm… so that's the approach, huh?
For now, my only way to become stronger is through manipulation. I'm weak and lack manpower—not in terms of raw strength, but in terms of position in this world. I need to gain influence. Erwin's death in the future could become my opportunity.
I should probably start building my own forces now. I also need to make the Titan shifters my own. If I can't become one myself, then I'll choose loyal people I can use.
My first target is Ymir. She already admires Krista, and I can use that to my advantage.
Anyway, tomorrow is the test. I should get some sleep now.
Sigh.
When morning came—just like in the series—Eren also passed the test. With that, the official training finally began.
For the next three years, the training was relentless. We trained endlessly with ODM gear, maneuvering through dense forests while striking dummy Titans at high speed. Hand-to-hand combat drills pushed us to our limits, forcing us to fight other trainees again and again, while stamina training ensured only the strongest would survive the program.
Out of everyone who entered, 219 cadets reached graduation.
Only the top ten were granted the privilege of joining the Military Police.
I'm proud to say that I ranked number one.
1st – Leonardo Frost
2nd – Mikasa Ackerman
3rd – Reiner Braun
4th – Bertholdt Hoover
5th – Annie Leonhart
6th – Eren Yeager
7th – Jean Kirstein
8th – Marco Bott
9th – Connie Springer
10th – Sasha Blouse
Because I claimed the top spot, Krista failed to make it into the top ten.
All of the Titan shifters secured places among the elite—except one.
Ymir.
I had approached her a year earlier and made sure she stayed in line.
Convincing her would be too kind a word.
Blackmail was more accurate.
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Author here, I Hope you're not tired of the Time skip