The first snow of the year had settled quietly over Shiganshina, glinting faintly in the morning sunlight like a scattering of fractured glass. Elias Kruger opened his eyes to this world, feeling a life he hadn't yet known, but also recalling with unnerving clarity a life he had already lost.
In that past life, he had known power and cruelty in equal measure. Born as the heir to a notorious drug lord, Elias had grown up immersed in survival, combat, and cunning negotiation. From a young age, his lessons had been clear: trust was a weakness, loyalty was a rare gift, and betrayal was inevitable. He had trained in martial arts and weaponry, learned to manipulate, deceive, and outwit anyone in his path. And yet, in the end, it had all crumbled. His right-hand man, the one he trusted above all, had ended his life with precision and cruelty. The memory of that cold betrayal still burned in his mind.
Now, reborn in the Walls, his body twelve years old, small and untested, he breathed in the smell of wood smoke and snow. He felt warmth for the first time—not just from the cottage's hearth, but from the presence of the three small lives that depended on him: his little sister, Lila, eight years old, with her wide, curious eyes; Finn, his ten-year-old brother, bold and mischievous; and Otto, the youngest, six, playful yet fragile. Unlike in his past life, he had a family to protect, and the weight of that responsibility pressed on him like armor.
The stale bread of breakfast passed through his fingers. As he took a cautious bite, a familiar pulse surged through him. Numbers flickered in his peripheral vision:
[Predator's Hunger Activated]
[Calories Consumed: 350 → Strength +0.1, Reflex +0.05]
Elias exhaled slowly. This power was not a replacement for skill, but an aid—an advantage he could use to sharpen his reflexes and sustain his body. True strength, he knew from his previous life, came from discipline, cunning, and the willingness to do what others would not.
The Garrison Cadets
A week later, Elias stood among the cadets of the Garrison Regiment. The uniforms were stiff, boots heavy, and the cold morning air bit at his face. Around him, the other recruits shifted nervously, whispering and adjusting their gear. Among them, a boy with sharp, calculating eyes caught his attention: Erwin Smith. Even at twelve, Erwin radiated discipline and precision, the sort of aura that demanded attention without force.
"Stand at attention!" barked the instructor, voice harsh, filled with authority. Elias moved into formation with flawless posture, his motions smooth and deliberate. Every detail of his stance was deliberate, drawn from memory and training, from both his past and current life.
The other cadets whispered. Who was this boy who moved with such certainty, who seemed unfazed by the cold, the instructor, or the subtle tension in the air? Elias ignored them, noting supply shortages, cadet hierarchies, and potential alliances. Every glance, every word, every movement was data. In the future, this data could protect his siblings—or give him leverage over those who would threaten them.
First Test of Skill
It came sooner than expected. During a routine patrol along the Wall's outer edge, the cadets encountered their first minor titan—a small, abnormal creature. Fear rippled through the ranks like wildfire. Many froze, unsure of how to act, while others stumbled backward, terrified.
Elias felt the familiar pulse in his veins. Instinct and training collided. He moved first, guiding a group of younger cadets toward safety while keeping the titan distracted. Every step was calculated, precise. Every swing of his training blade was deliberate. One wrong move could have revealed the full extent of his skills—or worse, ended his life.
After the minor titan was safely diverted, he exhaled. No one noticed the faint shimmer in his eyes, the subtle enhancement of reflexes granted by Predator's Hunger, or the meticulous mental notes he had taken of supply distribution and patrol strategy.
Shadows of His Double Life
Night came, and with it, a different reality. The cadet and gentleman of public life vanished beneath a hooded cloak. In the shadows of the alleys, Elias counted coins and goods: rations, black-market materials, and controlled substances. Every transaction, every deal, was calculated for survival and growth.
[System Mission Assigned: Mission 001 – Secure rare supplies for survival and growth]
[Reward: +0.1 Swordsmanship, +0.05 Tactical Acumen]
He smiled faintly. The system could guide him, but it was never the main source of power. Real strength came from action, from risk, from leveraging intelligence and cunning. This was the lesson of his past life—and now, the key to protecting the family he had gained in this one.
First Family Trigger
A scream shattered the quiet night. Elias bolted toward his home. Finn and Otto were cornered by a gang of local thugs, probably seeking easy prey in the alleyways near the district. Lila clutched the doorway, trembling.
His heart surged. Predator's Hunger tingled faintly, but something stronger awakened within him.
Ackerman Power Activated: Family Trigger ×10
Time seemed to slow. Reflexes sharpened, muscle strength multiplied, and every motion became precise beyond normal comprehension. He disarmed one thug before another could react, moving like five soldiers combined. The attacks were parried, redirected, neutralized, all with lethal efficiency yet controlled restraint.
By the time the last attacker fled, Elias stood panting. His siblings' wide eyes reflected awe and fear. Lila ran to him, trembling in his arms.
"It's okay… I'm here," he murmured. Beneath the adrenaline, a pang of regret from his past life stung: the family he had never known, the warmth he had longed for, now finally present before him.
Maintaining the Facade
The next morning, Elias returned to the Garrison. Polished, disciplined, and courteous, he greeted his superiors and cadets alike. In public, he was honorable, elegant, reliable, the perfect cadet.
No one could see the other side: the black-market dealings, the covert trades, the negotiations with merchants in dark alleys under a false name. No one knew of the calculated ruthlessness that lay beneath his polite exterior. This double life was a tightrope; a single misstep could expose him, risking everything he protected.
Rivalries Stir
Eyes watched him in every corner. Nobility whispered of the cadet who gained advantage in ways they could not explain. Military Police officers noted his unusual activity. Rival merchants and gangs eyed him, waiting for a misstep.
Elias knew the game had begun. He would grow, slowly, methodically, deliberately. Every bite, every deal, every strategic movement was a step toward survival, strength, and safeguarding his siblings.
As dusk fell, Elias returned home. The warmth of his siblings' laughter filled the small cottage, a stark contrast to the dangerous streets outside. Predator's Hunger pulsed faintly in his veins, a reminder of the System's subtle guidance. The Ackerman power lingered, ready to flare if danger threatened.
He knelt beside Lila, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Rest well," he whispered. "I'll keep you safe."
The snow continued to fall, covering the walls, the streets, and the alleys where danger waited. The King's orders, the nobility, the Military Police, and the Titans beyond the Wall were all threats he could not ignore.
But Elias Kruger was ready. He had survived before, and he would survive again. He would grow stronger, not just for himself, but for the three small lives he held most dear. And no matter the cost, he would protect his family.
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Stay tuned… the walls are full of secrets, and Elias's journey has only just begun.