On a slope nearly three kilometers from the camp, Lock crouched low, scanning the distance with sharp eyes.
"That's it… there are quite a lot of them," he murmured.
With his exceptional night vision, Lock spotted dozens of Titans gathered in the darkness. His thoughts moved quickly: Is it because of the nearby village? Or… has Marley already started taking action?
He shook his head. No. Even if Marley moved, they'd be advancing from Shiganshina in the south—not here.
After eliminating the more likely possibilities, he concluded it was probably just a natural congregation of Pure Titans.
"Captain, how should we deal with these Titans? Should we move in now?" Elder asked.
Lock didn't answer immediately. He studied the terrain, the distribution of Titans, and the positions of his squad members around him. An idea took shape.
"Elder," he finally said, "what do you think about establishing a base here?"
"Base?" Elder was momentarily stunned. But he quickly understood. They were currently positioned between the Stohess District and the former Wall Maria strongholds. According to the plan, after pushing northward, they'd need to fan out in multiple directions from Maria's outer edge.
To sustain logistics and manpower over time, operating as a single mobile force wasn't feasible. Establishing forward bases was essential.
Elder nodded firmly. "I think it's doable. The terrain here is excellent. We can build on top of this slope—it's naturally elevated. There's a river about a kilometer east for fresh water, and we can fish to supplement rations. It's a good location."
"Then we'll use the Titans' reduced mobility at night to clear them out," Lock decided. "We'll rest here for three days starting tomorrow. Priority is building a wall for defense."
"Yes, Captain!"
Elder didn't hesitate. He spurred his horse and rode back to camp to gather forces—especially the members who hadn't yet fought Titans. They would be the first wave. Everyone would eventually be on the front lines; better to get bloodied now.
Lock watched Elder disappear, then turned back to the distant Titans. A faint unease stirred in him. Something felt… off. But without a clear cause, he set it aside and waited for the squad to arrive.
The night assault went smoothly. Titans were sluggish—barely twenty percent as fast as during the day. They were wiped out quickly.
The difference between those who had fought and those who hadn't was stark. Lock could see it in their eyes, in their movements. The green recruits were changing before his eyes. By the end of this expedition, the survivors would be hardened elites.
The next day, work began immediately. Titans could appear at any time, so defensive structures were a priority. Lock's authority had been firmly established; no one questioned his orders. Volunteers set to work without hesitation—cutting down trees, dismantling what remained of nearby abandoned villages, and hauling material to the slope.
Tens of thousands working together—even without machines—achieved astonishing speed.
Within a few days, a wooden wall nearly twenty meters high enclosed the slope completely. Inside, construction of barracks and storage buildings began in earnest.
Supply convoys led by Oruo arrived soon after, bringing much-needed resources. Everyone breathed easier. On expeditions, nothing was more terrifying than supply shortages—but so far, that nightmare hadn't come to pass.
Strangely, Titans continued wandering into the area over the following days, heading toward the previous gathering point. Scouts searched the ground thoroughly but found nothing unusual. In the end, they chalked it up to terrain and chance.
Pure Titans lacked consciousness; without coordination, their movements were random. And Marley wasn't in a position to launch targeted strikes this quickly. So Lock treated the phenomenon as an opportunity—a constant source of live training. He set up a four-shift rotation, allowing his 100-man squad to fight regularly and sharpen their skills.
Their combat power increased at a pace visible to the naked eye.
But Lock couldn't remain in one place forever. Once the base's construction stabilized, he assigned a garrison of 10,000 volunteers and 50 elite squad members to hold it, while he led the rest northward.
"I'll leave this to you," Lock said, placing a hand on Elder's shoulder. He turned his gaze to Oruo and Gunther as well.
"Don't worry," Elder replied confidently. "We'll hold it. No problems."
Gunther and the others gave equally resolute nods.
Satisfied, Lock nodded. "Good. Then we're moving out. I expect this base to be fully operational by the time we return."
"Yeah!" they answered in unison.
Lock regrouped with Petra, Ymir, and the others at the head of the marching column. They resumed their northward advance.
Compared to their first departure from Stohess, morale had changed drastically. The volunteers who had witnessed Lock's power firsthand were far more relaxed, no longer crushed by pessimism.
Reality had shown them that Titans could be fought—and defeated.
So far, their campaign has progressed without major setbacks.
"Lock, things are going so smoothly," Petra said with a bright smile. "Once this base is established, we'll have practically secured the northern region."
Her eyes shone with admiration. Despite his young age, Lock's decisiveness and leadership had completely won her over.
Ymir, ever the realist, added, "Don't celebrate too soon. There haven't been many Titans on our front line. That's why it's been easy so far. Once we face a horde, the real test begins."
Lock chuckled. "She's right. We can't let our guard down until the mission's finished."
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