Wall Rose, Trost District—
Since Wall Maria had been breached by the Titans, Trost had become humanity's southernmost stronghold.
Compared to the first breach, this one had struck an even deeper wound into humanity's spirit.
Lock stood upon the wall, wind tugging at his cloak, his gaze drawn to the desolate plains stretching beyond. Images from the books he'd read as a child—grim depictions of life ruled by Titans—flashed in his mind. Those pages had once felt distant, like folklore meant to frighten the young. Now, they felt painfully real.
The chaos below reflected that truth. Refugees poured into Trost from every corner of Wall Rose. The narrow streets that had once been peaceful were now choked with tents, carts, and desperate faces. Rumors spread like wildfire—some claiming the walls would fall again, others whispering of Titans that could disguise themselves as humans.
The soldiers of the Garrison, once accustomed to idle chatter and long nights of boredom, were now stretched thin. They guarded the gates, patrolled the overcrowded markets, and quelled riots sparked by fear.
The stability humanity once enjoyed had shattered completely.
Lock's team—Levi's special operations squad—had been chosen for a high-risk reconnaissance mission. They were to move south from Trost, entering the ruins of Wall Maria, to survey Titan activity and search for any surviving civilians.
Everyone knew what this meant. The further they went, the less likely they were to return.
Still, Lock and his squad stood ready. The harnesses of their ODM gear gleamed faintly under the pale daylight, the hiss of gas canisters echoing softly as they adjusted their equipment.
Oluo broke the silence first.
"Hey, Vice Captain," he said, a frown wrinkling his forehead. "Do you really think the commander sent us out here just to 'investigate'?"
Petra, Eld, and Gunther turned to Lock as well.
He didn't answer immediately. The boy's eyes remained fixed on the horizon—calm, focused, unflinching.
"Since Commander Erwin gave the order," Lock finally said, "our duty is to obey. Captain Levi has said this countless times."
His tone carried no arrogance, only quiet conviction.
Oluo opened his mouth to argue, but Eld gently raised a hand to silence him. "He's right," Eld said evenly. "We're soldiers. Our job isn't to question orders—it's to carry them out."
The four fell silent.
Lock glanced at them and nodded. He respected this squad more than most soldiers in the Corps. They weren't just skilled—they were disciplined, loyal, and deadly efficient. If humanity still had hope, it was built on people like them.
Still, in the back of his mind, Erwin's words echoed:
"We can't afford to wait any longer. The search must begin immediately. Find them—before they move again."
Lock's lips tightened. As expected of Commander Erwin, he thought. He's already begun the counterplay.
Erwin might not yet know the truth—that Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie were Marleyan warriors—but he suspected enough. His instincts told him there were intelligent Titans among them, and he intended to find them.
Lock's squad was only one part of that plan. Four Survey Corps teams had been dispatched, each assigned to a different walled city under Wall Rose. Officially, their mission was to scout Titan-infested territory and locate survivors. In reality, their true purpose was far more dangerous—find the enemy before the enemy found them.
If any of the infiltrators revealed themselves, Erwin would strike swiftly and decisively. He was a man who would sacrifice a hundred lives for the truth if it meant saving thousands later.
For humanity's future, he would rather kill a thousand suspects than let one traitor escape.
Lock could still recall the calm determination in Erwin's eyes during their final briefing. It had been unsettling—and inspiring.
"The commander truly is a monster of reason," Lock murmured under his breath.
"What's that, Vice Captain?" Petra asked lightly, adjusting the clasp on her ODM gear.
Lock shook his head. "Nothing. Just thinking."
He turned back to the view beyond the wall. In the distance, faint shapes moved—slow, heavy, aimless. Titans. Their shadows swayed like giants trapped in a nightmare, stretching endlessly across the plains.
The Garrison troops nearby had already set up ropes and ladders, preparing the descent. A few soldiers looked toward the Survey Corps squad with open admiration. Everyone knew that once they left the safety of the wall, there was no guarantee of return.
Lock felt their eyes but ignored them. He'd long since grown used to that mix of awe and pity.
Gunther checked the straps on his horse's saddle. "Everything's ready," he said.
Eld adjusted his blades. "Once we're outside, we head south immediately. Avoid confrontation unless necessary."
"Understood," Lock replied.
The command to depart was given.
One by one, the horses began their descent down the lift. As soon as they reached the ground, the gates opened just enough for the five of them to slip through.
For a brief moment, Lock glanced back—at the massive iron gate, the soldiers standing watch, and the faint hum of life inside the wall.
Then he turned forward.
The air outside was heavy and still. The earth was cracked and dry, littered with debris from homes long abandoned. A lone Titan shuffled in the distance, its massive head swaying side to side, oblivious to the humans who now rode through its ruined hunting ground.
They spurred their horses southward.
Dust rose behind them like smoke.
The wind carried the faint echo of the wall closing behind them—a sound that felt final.
Humanity watched them go, unsure whether to feel hope or sorrow.
But Lock didn't look back again.
His focus was fixed ahead, toward the heart of Wall Maria—toward the truth waiting in its ashes.
Whatever lay beyond those ruined cities—Titans, warriors, or something far worse—he intended to face it head-on.
Because if there was one thing he had learned from Erwin Smith, it was this:
"To move forward, we must be willing to risk everything."
And Lock, more than anyone, was prepared to do just that.
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