Two hours later—
A strange scene unfolded across the wilderness of Paradis Island: four figures, weighed down by heavy packs, trudging along at a steady pace.
Not charging.
Not fighting.
Not riding.
Walking.
Reiner blinked, rubbed his eyes, and still couldn't believe it. "…Are we seriously hiking?"
Annie shot him a flat look. Bertolt's mouth opened and closed without words.
Yet there they were, moving one step at a time through Titan territory as if they were on some awkward military training exercise back in Marley.
Finally, Reiner snapped. "Captain! Why are we hiking???"
At the front, Zeke turned his head slightly, expression unreadable. "Because we're almost there."
Reiner nearly choked. "Almost there? Shouldn't Annie transform and smash through the front lines, and then Bertolt and I break open the wall together?!"
"I told you," Zeke said evenly, "the plan has changed."
Reiner's voice cracked with disbelief. "Changed? To what—walking there?! How is walking a plan?!"
Annie raised an eyebrow. Even Bertolt, normally quiet, looked doubtful.
An hour ago, when they'd stopped to rest, Bertolt had carefully laid out Magath's
"Wall-Breaking Plan" for Zeke. They had expected their new captain to nod, approve, and maybe sharpen the strategy. Instead, Zeke had tossed the whole thing aside and announced he had a
"better idea."
And apparently… this was it.
Reiner couldn't stop himself. "A better way? In a world crawling with Titans, the better way is to hike there on foot?"
He gestured wildly toward the looming wall in the distance. "We saw the gate! It's right there!
Why are we detouring around? Why break into some other wall when the South Gate is in front of us?!"
He was nearly shouting now. "Captain! How can you be so sure there's even another gate?
What if we're caught? What if we're eaten before we get there?!"
The desperation in his tone almost made him sound like a child begging to go home.
In truth, the thought had gnawed at him from the moment Zeke gave the order. To walk through Titan territory without transforming—without protection—was suicidal. Just last night, Marcel had been snatched by a Titan that seemed to appear out of nowhere. If that could happen once, it could happen again. And unlike then, they couldn't afford another loss.
Reiner's fists trembled. Is this captain out of his mind?
Zeke glanced back, unimpressed. "You're awfully spirited for someone who nearly broke apart last night." His tone carried a hint of amusement. "I thought you'd be sulking after Marcel's death, but here you are, arguing at full volume. You must really want to live."
Reiner flinched at the jab.
But Zeke's own thoughts were colder.
Of course I'm not taking you brats through the South Gate. That's Shiganshina—the place where Eren's family lives. You think I'm going to march you into my brother's doorstep and repeat history? Not a chance.
No, if they had to enter, they would do it somewhere else. Somewhere safer. Somewhere that wouldn't doom Eren to the same hatred all over again.
"Orders are orders," Zeke said at last, his voice clipped. "And when have my orders ever been wrong?"
Reiner's jaw dropped. "Marcel died last night!"
"That wasn't my order, idiot!" Zeke snapped. "My order was to fight. You ran away. Don't twist your cowardice into my mistake!"
"I didn't hear—"
"You all ran away! Don't think that's some kind of glory. If another commander had been in charge, you'd already be tried as deserters and executed on the spot. I'm the only reason you're alive to complain now!"
The raw authority in his tone silenced them.
Even Annie looked away.
Zeke exhaled through his nose, regaining composure. "Listen. Stay sharp. Especially watch beneath your feet. If a Titan emerges from the ground again, transform instantly."
He clenched his teeth. The memory was fresh—Marcel being swallowed whole by a Titan that had literally erupted out of the earth. Its camouflage had been flawless. Even Zeke, with years of battle experience, hadn't seen it coming.
Ymir… he thought grimly. You're wasted as a Titan.
You'd put professional special forces to shame.
"Yes, sir!" The three recruits answered together, voices tight.
But before the silence could settle, Bertolt suddenly froze. His eyes widened. "Wait… there's someone ahead!"
Reiner instantly stiffened. Annie's hand twitched toward her blade.
"It's really a person," Bertolt whispered, disbelief etched on his face. "No—more than one. Captain, it's cavalry! A whole group! Eldian cavalry!"
The words spread panic like wildfire. Reiner's face drained of color. Annie's jaw tightened. And Bertolt—terrified beyond measure—threw his hand toward his mouth, ready to bite down and trigger his transformation.
In a flash, Zeke moved.
He pivoted, boots digging into the dirt, and surged backward faster than any of them expected. In one motion, he grabbed Annie and Bertolt's wrists, forcing their hands away from their mouths.
And Reiner?
Zeke simply kicked him in the side, sending him sprawling before he could move.
"Don't transform!" Zeke barked, his voice sharp as steel.
The three stared at him in shock.
Zeke's expression, however, was the exact opposite of theirs—calm, almost… delighted.
"That's not the enemy," he said, eyes glinting. "That's the Survey Corps. The very people I was hoping to meet."
The corners of his lips curled upward, revealing genuine excitement. "What luck! I thought we'd be wandering outside the Walls for days before running into them. But to stumble across them on the first day?"
He laughed once, low and pleased.
"This is perfect. A gift, really."