We didn't speak for a long time after the fight.
Not because we didn't have anything to say— but because we both knew the truth:
Every second we stayed still…
something was already catching up.
---
We kept moving.
North.
Always north.
The forest thinned gradually, giving way to uneven hills and patches of tall grass.
The sky felt wider here — but somehow less safe.
My shoulder throbbed where the creature had pierced through.
Armin had wrapped it with torn cloth from his shirt, hands shaking the entire time.
"Does it still hurt?" he asked quietly.
"…Yeah."
That was the honest answer.
But the real problem wasn't the pain.
It was what I felt beneath it.
Something… healing.
Too fast.
Too unnatural.
A faint warmth pulsed inside the wound, knitting muscle together slowly.
Armin noticed.
"You're recovering already," he whispered.
I nodded.
"…Like a Titan."
The words tasted bitter.
---
We reached a ridge overlooking a narrow dirt road.
Not a main route—
but used.
There were wheel tracks.
Footprints.
Signs of movement.
Armin crouched low, scanning carefully.
"If we follow this," he said, "we might reach a supply route or a small outpost."
"Or soldiers," I added.
He didn't deny it.
"…We can't survive alone forever, Junta."
I knew that.
But going back into civilization meant risk.
Military.
Suspicion.
Capture.
Or worse—
Correction Units attacking in populated areas.
That would be a massacre.
I clenched my jaw.
"…We stay off the road. Follow alongside it."
Armin nodded.
"Safer."
---
We moved parallel to the path.
Careful. Quiet.
Every snapped twig felt too loud.
Every shadow looked suspicious.
And then—
Armin froze.
"Junta…"
I followed his gaze.
Down the road.
Three figures.
Moving fast.
Disciplined.
---
Soldiers.
ODM gear.
Blades at their sides.
Cloaks shifting in the wind.
And at the front—
A familiar silhouette.
Broad shoulders.
Steady stride.
Unmistakable.
"…Kade," I whispered.
Armin's grip tightened on my sleeve.
"They found us already…?"
No.
Not found.
Tracked.
Kade wasn't guessing anymore.
He was hunting.
---
We ducked lower into the grass.
My heart pounded.
If they saw us—
If they surrounded us—
I couldn't fight soldiers and Correction Units.
Not yet.
Not like this.
Armin leaned close.
"…We can't outrun ODM gear in open ground."
"I know."
"…Then we don't let them see us."
---
But it was already too late.
---
"You can come out now."
Kade's voice carried up the ridge.
Calm.
Certain.
My blood ran cold.
He hadn't seen us.
He knew we were here.
"I tracked the blood," he continued.
My shoulder.
Of course.
"…You're getting sloppy, kid."
Armin's breath hitched.
I clenched my fists.
"…We move," I whispered.
But Armin shook his head.
"No. If we run now, they'll chase immediately."
"…Then what?"
He swallowed.
"…We talk."
---
We stood up slowly.
No sudden movements.
No aggression.
Just—
visible.
Kade's eyes locked onto me instantly.
The two soldiers behind him tensed, hands near their blades.
"Took you long enough," Kade said.
His voice wasn't angry.
That made it worse.
"You ran far," he added.
"Further than I expected."
Armin stepped forward slightly.
"We didn't want trouble."
Kade looked at him briefly.
"…You chose the wrong path, then."
His gaze returned to me.
"Junta."
He said my name like a fact.
Not a question.
"Come with me."
Straightforward.
Simple.
Dangerous.
---
I shook my head.
"I can't."
Kade sighed.
"I was hoping you'd say something smarter."
The soldiers behind him shifted into ready stance.
Armin stepped forward again.
"Wait—please! You don't understand—"
"I understand enough," Kade cut in.
His eyes narrowed.
"You're not normal. You're dangerous. And I can't ignore that."
He paused.
Then added quietly—
"…But I haven't killed you yet, have I?"
That was the truth.
And it made everything worse.
Because it meant—
he was trying.
In his own way.
---
The air shifted.
Suddenly.
Violently.
My spine froze.
Armin's eyes widened.
"…Junta."
"I feel it too."
The System exploded.
[CRITICAL ALERT]
[Commander-Class Correction Unit Detected]
[Threat Level: S]
My breath stopped.
Not A.
Not B.
S.
---
Kade noticed immediately.
"What is that pressure…?"
The two soldiers turned, scanning the horizon.
The wind died.
The sky darkened slightly—
not from clouds.
From something else.
---
A figure appeared on the road.
No movement.
No sound.
It was just—
there.
Tall.
Perfect posture.
Wearing something that resembled a uniform…
but flawless.
Untouched.
Too clean.
Its face—
calm.
Almost human.
Too human.
---
Armin whispered, voice shaking:
"…That's not like the others."
"No," I said.
"It's worse."
---
The figure looked at me.
And smiled.
Not cruel.
Not kind.
Just… knowing.
"Anomaly," it said softly.
"Your persistence is… impressive."
My blood turned to ice.
Kade stepped forward instantly, blade drawn.
"Everyone, back—!"
But the figure raised one hand slightly—
and Kade froze mid-step.
Completely.
Like time stopped for him alone.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
"…What did you do to him?!"
The figure tilted its head.
"Paused."
Armin grabbed my arm.
"…Junta."
I knew.
We couldn't fight this like before.
Not alone.
Not normally.
---
The System flickered violently.
[Warning: Direct confrontation NOT recommended]
[Survival probability: 7%]
7%.
That wasn't a fight.
That was suicide.
---
The figure took a step forward.
"Return to correction," it said.
"Or be erased."
---
I clenched my fists.
My Titan energy stirred—
but this time—
it felt small.
Insufficient.
Like standing before something absolute.
---
Armin whispered urgently:
"Junta… think."
I closed my eyes for a split second.
Not to escape.
To decide.
---
Fight?
Run?
Trust Kade?
Abandon everything?
---
When I opened my eyes—
they glowed faintly.
Not with rage.
With resolve.
---
"…I'm not part of your story," I said quietly.
The figure's smile didn't change.
"That is precisely the problem."
---
The air tightened.
The moment stretched—
ready to snap.
---
And I realized—
This wasn't just another enemy.
This was the world itself…
sending something to end me.