Time flowed like a river — impossible to stop, impossible to reverse.
Months passed quietly. During this time, Lock kept a deliberately low profile. He remained at the Training Corps base alongside Petra and others, focusing entirely on shaping the recruits he had chosen.
At last, their "special unit" of one hundred soldiers completed their training. They were ready to face a real battle.
Compared to the standard Survey Corps equipment designed for fighting Titans, Lock's unit stood out. Backed by the Royal Government's unusual allocation of resources, each soldier was equipped with:
Four black-gold steel blades,
Fully upgraded vertical maneuvering gear,
Improved pistols,
And a select number armed with thunder spears.
This was not a standard regiment — this was an elite fighting force.
Months of high-intensity, systematic training had shaped them into hardened soldiers. Only the strongest had survived the "last ten eliminated" rule Lock had enforced ruthlessly.
On paper, their combat power was formidable.
But there remained one critical gap:
They had never fought Titans in actual combat.
Knowing this, Lock decided to take advantage of the current lull in Marley's movements to carry out real-world field training.
"Isn't it too dangerous to go outside the Wall already?" Petra asked, concern in her voice.
"It's fine," Lock replied calmly. "We're just patrolling near the Walls. Nothing too extreme."
He looked over the assembled soldiers — one hundred fully equipped, disciplined men and women — and added quietly,
"Without shedding real blood, this unit isn't qualified. They won't meet the requirements of the future we're planning."
Petra fell silent. She knew what he meant. Those "bold plans" they had discussed could not succeed with a unit that had only trained in safety.
Ymir stood a little apart, gazing at the sky with a composed expression. Months of adaptation and training had turned her into a reliable warrior. As the Jaw Titan, her power had grown significantly — her bite force alone was terrifying.
If not for the risk of endangering Annie, still crystallized and hidden in safety, Lock might have had Ymir test whether she could shatter Annie's crystal shell. Having Annie back on the battlefield would be far more useful than leaving her entombed.
But plans rarely keep up with reality.
Just as Lock finalized preparations for the expedition, Commander Erwin Smith arrived — with Captain Levi and several Survey Corps elites in tow.
It had been months since their last meeting, and Erwin didn't waste time on formalities. He went straight to the point.
"The Wall Maria Recapture Operation," Erwin said gravely.
Lock's brow furrowed, his tone carrying a trace of mockery.
"Are you sure this isn't just sending people to die?"
Erwin didn't refute it. His voice was steady.
"This is a government order. Whatever the true motives, we have no choice but to obey for now."
Lock nodded.
"Understood."
He didn't push further. Anything he could guess, Erwin had already considered. If Erwin had chosen to comply, that meant the timing wasn't right for resistance.
Erwin's shoulders eased subtly. Levi, standing beside him, studied Lock silently. His gaze lingered on Lock, Petra, Ymir — and on the hundred elite soldiers assembled outside.
Levi's thoughts were layered:
He's trained Titan shifters to obey him, built an elite unit from scratch, and somehow secured resources from a government that's starved for supplies… This isn't the same kid I once admired. He's become someone I can't read easily anymore.
But Levi said nothing. He simply watched.
Erwin unfolded the plan on the table:
"This time, the volunteers will implement the Wall Maria Recapture Plan from four directions.
The south and west will serve as feints.
The east and north will hold the main assault."
Lock's eyes narrowed.
"Because there are more Titans to the south and west, right?"
Erwin gave him an approving nod.
"Exactly. The volunteer forces alone cannot handle the heaviest Titan concentrations. The east and north, where the Titans are fewer, are ideal for both advancement and training."
Lock made his decision quickly.
"Then I'll take a unit north."
"Good," Erwin replied.
Lock chose the northern route, exiting the Walls through Stohess District, heading straight toward Wall Maria.
Their mission was clear: eliminate every Titan encountered along the northern route, then follow Wall Maria eastward until the region was completely cleared.
Inside the Walls, the population continued to swell. Even though Lock's earlier initiative of distributing potato seeds had boosted food production dramatically, the strain of refugees and unemployment was enormous.
Retaking Wall Maria was not just a military necessity — it was an urgent survival strategy.
With one-third more territory reclaimed, refugees could return to their homes. Crops could be grown on new soil. Public unrest would subside.
If the operation succeeded, society could stabilize within months.
If it failed, massive casualties would reduce population pressure, suppress dissent, and consolidate the government's grip through fear.
It was a ruthless but effective strategy by the royal regime — bloodstained, but practical under the circumstances.
After refining the tactical details with Erwin, Lock toured his elite unit once more. Soldiers straightened instinctively as he passed. Even the reserve trainees who hadn't made the final cut stared in silent admiration.
They were no longer just recruits.
They were soldiers standing on the brink of history.
---
A/N: New Fanfic Is Out " Naruto: I'm Boruto Uzumaki"
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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