At the outer edge of the Forest of Giant Trees, three kilometers from the Survey Corps' forward base—
"Captain Hange, you really don't need me for this. A squad like yours should be able to handle a three-four–or four-meter Titan, right?"
Lock's tone carried a trace of helplessness as he reined his horse, scanning the quiet treeline.
Hange, however, paid no attention to his reluctance. Ever since leaving the camp, her energy had been burning at full force.
"You're free anyway, aren't you? Why not lend a hand? Besides, Levi and I go way back. This is the first time we've ever attempted to capture a Titan alive! Just thinking about it makes my heart pound. Don't you feel excited too?"
She hardly paused for breath before continuing, her words tumbling out like a flood.
"How foolish of me! We should've thought of this ages ago. With a living Titan, the research possibilities are endless! No more waiting for corpses to vanish into steam, no more wasted opportunities. If we can unravel even a fragment of the Titans' secrets, then—then…"
And she went on. And on. And on.
Lock, who couldn't wedge in a single word, cast a long-suffering glance at the man riding nearby—Moblit Berner, Hange's deputy.
"Has she always been this… unrestrained?" Lock muttered.
Moblit winced, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh… yes. More or less."
Although Moblit had grown used to his eccentric captain, that didn't mean he was immune to the headache that came with her obsessions. Brilliant strategist, keen researcher, dangerous in combat—yet bring up Titans, and she became a force of pure chaos.
Lock gave him a sympathetic look, as if saying You have my condolences. Moblit's eyes misted with emotion. Few people ever understood his daily burden—at least Lock did.
If only I could tell them the truth about Titans, Lock thought to himself, eyes narrowing as he swept the forest line. I know more than they imagine… but I can't say it outright. Not yet.
He let the thought fade and stayed alert. Their mission was simple but dangerous: capture a Titan alive, ideally one under five meters tall. If they encountered something larger that couldn't be avoided, they were authorized to eliminate it immediately.
Lock suspected Commander Erwin had specifically ordered him along for this reason. Hange's squad was talented, yes, but against the unknown, their safety couldn't be guaranteed. And Lock… Lock was proving himself indispensable.
For practicality, the group hugged the edge of the forest. The dense canopy inside limited visibility, while the open fields were too exposed. Here, at the boundary, their ODM gear had space to maneuver, and the wagons—meant to transport the captured Titan—could move without obstruction.
The Marleyans had released an alarming number of Titans outside the Walls. Even though dozens had already been cut down in earlier skirmishes, it wasn't long before Lock's group spotted more.
"Targets ahead!" Moblit reported, tightening his grip on the reins. "One at four meters, one at six, and another at nine. All appear to be Pure Titans!"
Hange's eyes lit up. "Finally! Lock, I want the four-meter. Don't kill it—I need it intact!"
Lock sighed under his breath. "Of course. Leave the messy work to me."
With a click of his tongue, he urged his horse forward. "Stay here. I'll handle them."
"Captain, shouldn't we back him up?" one of the soldiers asked anxiously.
Moblit shifted, ready to give the order, but Hange stopped him with a raised hand. Her gaze followed Lock as he charged ahead, a rare flicker of sobriety cutting through her usual mania.
"No need. Commander Erwin and Captain Levi both acknowledge his skill. They say his potential surpasses even Levi's. To him, three Pure Titans are hardly a threat."
Though uneasy, Moblit trusted his captain. He signaled for the squad to hold position.
Meanwhile, Lock closed the distance at breakneck speed.
Three Titans. Standard types. Slow, clumsy. As long as you master ODM gear and shed your fear, they're nothing more than oversized prey.
Gas hissed from his canisters as he fired his hooks into the nearest tree. His body launched upward, blades glinting in his hands.
The nine-meter Titan had just turned, its vacant eyes locking on him, when steel flashed across its nape. Lock's strike was swift and merciless, cleaving through the weak point in a single motion.
Steam erupted. The Titan collapsed.
He didn't pause. Twin grappling lines shot out again, pulling him in a sharp arc toward the six-meter Titan that lumbered forward to intercept him.
In a blink, Lock fired his hooks directly into its eye sockets. The monster reeled, blinded. Using its head as a pivot, Lock flipped over its crown and slashed downward in one fluid motion. His blades carved clean through the nape.
Another body fell.
From the treeline, Moblit and the others stared, stunned into silence.
"So fast…!" one soldier whispered.
Moblit clenched his jaw, awe flooding through him. To dispatch Titans with such precision and calm—this was more than training. This was talent of the rarest kind.
Hange's eyes gleamed with fascination as she leaned forward on her horse. "Incredible. Just incredible. He killed two Titans in less than ten seconds. Oh, Lock… what are you?"
The last target—the four-meter Titan—was all that remained. And for Hange, it was the prize of a lifetime.
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