Attack on Titan: The Strongest Newcomer

"Brother Ryo, are you okay? Are you injured?"

Krista's voice was filled with concern as she looked at Ryo Akira. Even though she had been treated by Eren and Armin, she couldn't help but worry about his well-being.

When she heard that Ryo Akira had returned safely, she let out a relieved sigh. Still, her eyes scanned him for any signs of injury. It was just like her, always worrying.

"Haha, I'm fine, don't worry!" Ryo Akira smiled, brushing off her concerns. "But let me check on you!"

He gently inspected her injuries, noting the small cut on her head near her hairline. It wasn't deep enough to cause permanent damage, but the wound on her leg was more severe. It looked like the bone might have been injured, and she'd likely need time to heal before she could walk again.

"Does it hurt?" Ryo Akira asked softly, his hand gently stroking her face.

"It doesn't hurt. As long as you're here, Brother Ryo, I won't feel any pain!" Krista smiled bravely, trying to ease his worries.

Ryo Akira chuckled and poked her nose playfully. "You keep saying that. Are you sure it doesn't hurt?"

Krista tried to hold back, but Ryo Akira pressed lightly on her injury.

"Ouch, it hurts!" Krista gasped, the sudden pain catching her off guard.

"Really? But you just said it didn't hurt!" Ryo Akira teased, raising an eyebrow as he looked at her with mock disapproval.

Krista pouted, clearly frustrated. "That's because you pressed on my wound! You're so mean, Brother Ryo, always making trouble for me!"

Her face was full of playful grievances, though deep down, she didn't want to make Ryo Akira worry. She had tried to tough it out, but now she couldn't hide her pain.

Ryo Akira laughed, his voice warm. "Alright, alright, I'm the bad guy. But if you didn't admit you were hurt, how else could I carry you back?"

He slipped his arms under her legs, lifting her effortlessly into his arms.

Krista's face flushed bright red. She nestled against him, her heart pounding. Being held in his arms was more comforting than anything else. She felt a sense of security, surrounded by warmth and tenderness.

The recent Titan invasion had hit the training corps hard. A total of fifteen trainees were either dead or missing, though most of the missing were presumed dead. Their bodies were consumed by the Titans, leaving nothing behind but bits and pieces, which made identification nearly impossible.

The fact that the casualties were only a small fraction of the trainees didn't lessen the shock. Most of these trainees had never faced Titans before. This was the first time they truly understood the horror of the creatures they had trained to fight.

The training corps wasn't a frontline combat unit. The trainees were mostly underage, and for many, this was their first encounter with death. The emotional toll was immense.

The loss of life during the attack made the urgency of training even more apparent. No one wanted to face Titans again. The only way to ensure their survival was to train harder and graduate with the top scores, earning a place in the gendarmerie. Once in the gendarmerie, they would be safe, far away from the frontlines and the dangers of the Titans.

Ironically, these trainees were training not to fight in real combat, but to secure positions that would keep them away from the battlefield. It seemed absurd, but that was the reality they faced. It was as if the leaders had selected the best trainees for the sake of their own protection.

Meanwhile, the investigation into how the Titans infiltrated was underway.

"Is it here?"

The team of scouts surveyed the area, surprised to see where the Titan had entered.

"Judging from the footprints, this is the place. Luckily, there's only one exit, and it's blocked!"

The Titan had infiltrated through a water gate. Between the walls of Maria, Rose, and Sina, there was a canal that connected the different areas. This canal was primarily used for transporting supplies and people more efficiently than land routes. The ships on the canal could carry more goods, travel faster, and be cheaper than land transportation.

Normally, the water gates at the three walls would prevent any Titans from infiltrating. But when the Armored Titan attacked, the water gate on the Rose wall was weakened due to an increase in goods being transported from the Maria wall. This caused damage, and the Titan found a way to slip through.

The nearest location to the water gate was the training corps camp, which is where the Titan made its way. The attack caused significant damage and panic, especially among the residents behind the Rose wall. Many feared that the Titans were attacking once again.

The people behind the Rose wall were mostly nobility, and they viewed the commoners as lesser. They wouldn't allow the pariahs outside to enter their walls for safety.

"Judging from the tracks, only one Titan infiltrated. That's a small blessing in disguise."