Attack On Titan: Hope

Morning light filtered through the dense canopy, casting scattered beams onto the Levi Squad as they made their way through the forest. The air buzzed with the usual chatter, a stark contrast to the quiet tension lurking beneath their mission.

Levi, ever the picture of stoicism, had his hands full managing Isabel's boundless energy. Farlan rode beside him, discussing the experiments planned for Eren, his tone measured but tinged with unease.

Eren, however, remained detached. He sat atop his horse, his expression dull and uninterested, a stark indifference etched into his features. For the past hour, Oluo had been trying—and failing—to command Eren's respect, his constant chatter bouncing off the younger man like raindrops on stone. Eren barely acknowledged him, deciding that even speaking felt like a chore today.

It wasn't until Oluo bit his tongue mid-sentence that the monotony broke. The man groaned, fumbling to stanch the blood now trickling from his mouth. Eren's eyes flicked toward him briefly, more out of obligation than concern, before settling back ahead. The faintest smirk threatened to cross his lips, but even that seemed too much effort.

The forest, alive with sounds of rustling leaves and distant birdsong, carried on as though oblivious to the small dramas playing out below its towering trees.

"Lenz."

Levi's voice cut through the steady rhythm of hooves on dirt, drawing Eren's attention. Levi glanced over his shoulder, his sharp eyes meeting Eren's bored ones.

"You don't happen to be an Ackerman, do you?"

Eren shook his head, his expression as indifferent as ever. Levi said nothing more, simply turning back to face the road ahead, his gaze shifting to the silhouette of a distant castle growing larger on the horizon.

Odel District.

The castle loomed like a relic of the past, its walls cloaked in dust and cobwebs. As the Levi Squad dismounted, it became painfully clear what their first task would be: scrubbing the filth-ridden floors until they gleamed.

Rooms were swiftly assigned, and while the others grumbled, Eren had a plan.

[Activating Skill: Clone 2/3]

"Just do whatever Levi says. Clean, and that's it," Eren muttered, one hand gripping a long, purple scythe that glinted ominously, the other holding a faintly glowing crimson key.

The clone gave a silent nod, springing into action as Eren twisted the key, unlocking the path to his next system mission. Without hesitation, Eren activated his skill once more.

[Activating Skill: Clone 3/3]

A second clone emerged, its black suit materializing seamlessly, complete with a covered face that exuded anonymity. Eren handed it a small item, his voice cold and firm.

"Deliver this to Ackerman. Make sure no one sees you."

The blank-eyed clone nodded, vanishing into the shadows with silent precision. Eren, meanwhile, turned and disappeared into the Paths, his focus set on the system's objectives, leaving the rest of the squad to wrestle with their mundane cleaning duties.

....

Night draped its shadow over the cadet corps as Erwin Smith stood tall before the freshly graduated soldiers. His fist pressed firmly against his chest as he delivered a speech that ignited something primal in the hearts of those who listened. His words carried weight, stirring the souls of the brave. But only those with enough courage remained after the dust of his address settled.

Among them stood Mikasa, Armin, Krista, Ymir, Connie, Sasha, Marco, Jean, Bertholdt, and Porco.

For Marco, the choice to join the Scouts was driven by one thing: Eren. Though he wasn't ranked in the top ten, Marco's resolve was unwavering. "No matter what," he had declared, "I'll follow Eren and witness how it all ends—how humanity ends." His determination roped Jean in as well, Eren's words from Trost still haunting his thoughts, pushing him to action.

Bertholdt, Porco, and Marco all gravitated to the Scouts for similar reasons—curiosity about Eren's titan power and the chance to exterminate humanity's last hope. Each had their own agenda, but their paths converged in the shadow of Eren.

Armin, tired of being weak and frail, had no intention of being left behind. Eren's earlier words had planted a seed deep within him, one that sprouted into a fierce resolve to fight alongside his best friend.

Mikasa and Krista? Their hearts needed no persuading. Eren was their guiding star, and wherever he went, they would follow. Ymir, of course, had no interest in the Scouts or Eren but followed Krista with unwavering loyalty, her gaze always lingering on the golden-haired girl.

Yet not all shared their resolve. Many of their former comrades walked away without looking back.

Among them were Annie and Pieck, both heading for the safety of the Military Police. Pieck's mind, however, was elsewhere, swirling with thoughts of Reiner. Somehow, some way, she had to protect him. She understood all too well the walls' deadly secret: if humanity discovered how titan powers were transferred, Reiner wouldn't stand a chance.

As the night deepened, the line between courage and self-preservation sharpened, and each cadet faced their own reckoning under the cloak of Erwin's rallying words.

.....

Mist curled from his breath, dissipating into the cold void as blood dripped lazily from the edge of his scythe. Eren shook the weapon clean, the crimson spray splattering across the still, lifeless body of the fallen titan. His eyes, cold and unyielding, shifted from the oppressive abyss surrounding him to the faint, distant glow—the only source of light piercing the darkness. The sand beneath his feet crunched softly as he knelt, scooping a handful into his palm.

"A place where anything can be created from this... Sand..." His voice was low, almost a murmur, as his fingers sifted through the grains. "Every Eldian connects here. Millions of worlds. Millions of timelines. Millions of versions of each Eldian... Yet, out of all of them..." He paused, the faint glimmer of the sand falling through his fingers like an hourglass. "...Only I am the chosen one."

Eren sighed deeply, his gaze flicking to the glowing system screen that materialized before him. The intrusive display felt more like a taunt than a blessing, a constant reminder of the burden he bore. A victim of endless cycles, eternal loops—he couldn't help but wonder if it was a punishment or some cruel cosmic curse.

"What a pain..." The words left his lips as a hushed sigh, his weariness spilling into the silence.

With the grace of someone resigned to their fate, Eren sat atop the lifeless titan's corpse, his scythe resting at his side. His eyes lingered on the solitary tree in the distance, its silhouette cutting through the barren horizon. It stood like a beacon, silent yet mocking, a reminder of everything just out of reach.

---

Main Mission:

Objective: Spar With Levi Ackerman (0/1)

Status: Pending

Rewards:

New Skill: Vision Mastery Level 1

200 System Points (10 points per attribute)

---

"He's weak... Considering he's titled as humanity's strongest soldier," Eren muttered, closing his eyes.

Despite Levi Ackerman's reputation as humanity's most powerful soldier, Eren's assessment was dismissive. Levi's formidable physical strength and mastery of vertical maneuvering equipment were well-known, allowing him to slice through the limbs of Titans with precision.

His skills were often regarded as superhuman, surpassing even those of other elite soldiers. However, Eren's own experiences and evolving abilities led him to view Levi's prowess with a critical eye, questioning the validity of his esteemed title.