The march across the endless grassland made every hour feel costly. By midday, they had already fought several times, each battle sharpening the group's nerves and exhausting their strength.
Once again, Lock proved his worth. His ability to bring down Titans alone was no longer a surprise, but now it carried weight. Unintentionally, he had established a quiet authority. Elder and the others no longer regarded him as a talented junior—they looked to him as an equal. When choices arose, they sought his judgment. More often than not, his word became the standard.
In this world, beyond the walls, strength was the only thing that mattered.
The march left no room to rest. Hunger clawed at Lock's stomach, but he only ate a piece of bread while riding, forcing himself onward. The unbroken pace and constant threat of ambush demanded his complete focus. Even with his exceptional resilience, fatigue pressed down on him.
Petra fared worse. She was pale and silent from exhaustion, yet her gaze never wavered. No matter how tired she became, her eyes held the same unshaken determination.
Oruo broke the silence with a groan. "We don't even know how much farther. Even if we keep going, the horses will collapse soon."
He shifted in his saddle again, wincing as the hours of riding gnawed at his muscles.
Lock glanced at him, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Honestly, it looks like you'll collapse before your horse."
"Don't curse me," Oruo shot back, glaring.
Their exchange was cut short when Elder suddenly pointed ahead. "Look. There—that should be our destination."
The others raised their heads. In the far distance, a forest rose into view. The trees there stretched impossibly high, so tall they seemed to pierce the sky.
"Those… are taller than the city walls," Oruo breathed, astonished.
Lock narrowed his eyes and nodded. "Higher than the walls. If we can secure the forest's edge and garrison troops there, it could become a forward station. From there, we could push the range of exploration even further."
"It makes sense," Elder agreed quickly.
Petra, despite her fatigue, spoke calmly. "It's a strong position to hold, but… we've seen many Titans on the way here. It's too far from the walls. Supplying materials will be difficult."
"Food could come from hunting," Lock replied, his tone measured. "Water can be stored from rainfall. The real problem is equipment—maintaining and transporting it. We don't have personnel for that."
As the initial excitement faded, Lock's thoughts sharpened. Captain Keith's expeditions were always a gamble, risky to the point of recklessness, yet they had merit. A large base was impossible. But a small forward outpost, manned by a select few, could work. From there, expeditions could push deeper into the unknown.
Still, Lock kept one thought buried. He knew little about the geography of this world. The sea's distance, the true edge of the island—unknown. What he did know, however, was that Marley had littered the island's perimeter with mindless Titans. Straying too far could mean a swarm waiting to devour them. Unless he grew strong enough to tear Titans apart with his bare hands, rushing deeper was suicide.
He pushed that thought aside. "A small station is possible. Nothing more."
The others nodded.
After everything they had seen, Elder and his squad couldn't hide their admiration anymore. Lock was only fourteen, but his strength and insight already eclipsed many veterans. They wondered silently—what kind of warrior would he become in a few years' time?
Their pace never slowed. For once, the path seemed clear. The Titans had been cleared out, and no new ambushes came. At last, Lock's unit joined the headquarters where Keith and Erwin waited.
The scene was grim. The air stank of blood, wounded soldiers lay everywhere, and the gathered numbers were far fewer than when they had set out. Nearly half were gone.
Keith exhaled in relief at the sight of Lock's group arriving safely, but there was no time for words of comfort. They had reached their destination, yes—but before them stood a problem far larger than fatigue or hunger.
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