"We've found the spot. Faster than expected," Lock muttered under his breath.
He reined his horse toward the smoke signals, keeping his pace just enough to keep the Titans hungry but not enough to let them close in. By the time he neared the designated zone, the swarm had swelled—nearly fifty now, drawn in from all along the forest.
The green smoke had already dispersed. Up ahead, Survey Corps soldiers anchored along massive trunks waved him in. Lock kicked his horse forward and plunged into the narrow chokepoint.
The setup was perfect: the spaces between trees allowed only one Titan through at a time. Side gaps had been sealed with reinforced rope barriers. The Titans had no choice but to funnel straight into the kill zone.
Dull as they were, it took coaxing—Lock taunting them, always just ahead—but eventually they strung themselves out in a long, clumsy line. Once the last brute lumbered in, Lock spurred his horse and burst free.
Behind him came a rapid chorus of thunks, like nail guns firing—hundreds of anchors slamming into bark as teams locked down the exits.
The trap was sprung. The Titans were boxed in.
But not for long. Ropes strained under their weight, the forest shaking with the force of their thrashing. The abnormal ones hit hardest. If they weren't cut down quickly, the whole trap could collapse.
Lock drew his blades, fired his gear, and launched down into the fray.
"Would be nice if we had lightning spears," he muttered, pausing on a trunk high above. "Wouldn't even have to risk going down there."
But after a century of complacency behind the Walls, the government had long since lost its will to innovate. The Corps fought with what it had.
Lock glanced at Eld and the others nearby. "Target the abnormals first. They're the real danger."
"Agreed."
None objected. In the chaos of battle, rank mattered less than strength and judgment. And Lock had both.
Compared to the open plains, fighting in the giant trees was easier—anchors had solid purchase everywhere, not just on Titan flesh. He darted forward, a streak of steel and gas.
Shff!
The first abnormal was distracted by Oruo's team. Lock cut across its neck in a clean flash, blood spraying.
He spun through the air, blades gleaming. Another Titan swiped at him; he twisted past, slammed both swords into its nape, and tore through.
"One down… two…"
He barely paused, anchors firing again. His assault didn't stop.
Three. Four. Five.
In minutes, five Titans lay dead at his hands—two of them abnormals.
Eld and the others had only managed three between them. Around the perimeter, soldiers gasped, eyes wide.
"That has to be Lock," someone whispered. "He's the one who planned this tactic."
"He's just a kid, but… he fights like the captain himself."
"Add him to Levi's squad, and their strength surpasses any other."
"Don't slack—Levi's back!"
A ripple of urgency passed through the soldiers. No one wanted to be caught idle under Levi's gaze.
With his return, the tempo shifted again. Levi cut through Titans like a phantom, and combined with Sanmao, Lock, and the others, the trap became a slaughterhouse.
Still, the Corps paid in blood. Two soldiers were caught mid-maneuver—one torn apart instantly, the other gravely wounded. Earlier sweeps of the zone had already cost three more lives.
Four dead. One crippled. Several battered.
Compared to past expeditions, the price was low. By Survey Corps standards, this was a victory.
The last Titan collapsed, steaming, and silence followed.
Lock finally stopped, panting, blades dripping, his body drenched in blood. A dangerous aura clung to him, raw and sharp enough to make comrades hesitate to approach.
A chime echoed inside him:
[Battle complete. Host has bled and fought for the Corps. Rewards: ODM mastery +1. Swordsmanship +1. Body coordination +1.]
Lock felt the shift in his body—movements sharper, balance tighter. He grinned through the blood on his face.
Petra opened her mouth as if to speak, then stopped. The sight of him—feral, radiant with violence—made her think better of it. Best to let him come down on his own.
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A/N: Sorry Guys, For not keeping up with regular updates the thing is my health is getting worse and worse day by day so I just properly focus on fanfic I'm reading all the comments and review I know the quality is degrading I promise to fix that asap so bare with me for few days and yah I'm not asking any sympathy I just wanted to give you guys update.