Simulation training

At the Training Corps camp, the cadets of the 104th class were preparing for their first training exercise.

Instructor Keith stood before the assembled cadets. "If you want to escape the fate of livestock, we first need to determine your aptitude. Behind me is an aerial balance simulator. Only those who can remain steady on it for one minute are qualified to stay here. Otherwise, get your asses back home and be livestock! Understood?"

"Understood!"

"Begin!"

Yago felt a little disappointed. He had thought they would get to use the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear in their very first training session.

But on second thought, it made sense. How could they hand such important weapons to a bunch of green kids before they had mastered the necessary skills?

During his time with the Survey Corps, Yago had witnessed the power of the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear. Even setting everything else aside, the force of its steel cables shooting out under high pressure could easily pierce straight through a person.

If the cadets got their hands on it during their first lesson without understanding how it worked, a few unlucky souls might end up getting killed by their comrades before they ever reached the battlefield.

The simulator's purpose was actually quite simple: suspend someone in the air with ropes and have them maintain their balance as best they could. After all, the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear was meant to carry them through the air to fight Titans. If they could not even master basic balance, never mind killing Titans-they might fall to their deaths.

Yago fastened the two ropes to his waist and nodded to Mark beside him. "All set. I'm ready."

Mark began turning the simulator's handwheel, slowly raising the ropes. Little by little, Yago's feet left the ground. Once he was fully airborne, he distinctly felt his body wobble, but a moment later, the straps around him did their job. The waist straps supported some of his upper body's weight, while the straps across his back tightened as he swayed slightly back and forth, steadying him.

As for the straps around his legs, Yago paid close attention to how they felt. Turning his legs slightly allowed him to shift his center of gravity a little. That meant he could adjust with his legs when performing different movements in the air.

Yago quickly steadied himself, with only a slight sway as the wind blew.

The cadets around him were all amazed that he had succeeded on his very first try.

Instructor Keith gave a quiet nod of approval from nearby. This cadet really did have excellent aptitude. He then looked over at Mikasa, who had steadied herself just a little later than Yago and was hanging just as securely.

Unfastening the ropes, Yago motioned for the next person to take his turn. Mark stepped up. "Yago, that was amazing. If I fail, you'll have to teach me," he said, holding the ropes.

"Sure," Yago said. But Mark never needed his guidance. He struggled in the air for a while and failed, but he did not give up. After a few more attempts, he could more or less hold himself steady.

Bored out of his mind, Yago could only look around. Balance training was not actually difficult. Even an ordinary person could master it with enough practice.

Besides Yago and Mikasa, plenty of other cadets had talent. Sasha, for instance, could not only remain steady in the air but even rock back and forth for fun as though she were on a swing. Eventually, Connie could not stand it anymore and shouted, "Hey! Have you had enough fun yet? Plenty of us haven't even had a turn!"

Yago did not just wander around, either. If a cadet really could not get the hang of it, he would offer some guidance. His perception was sharp enough that he could roughly make out how each person's muscles were distributed.

Thinking about it carefully, Yago possessed exceptional strength, speed, endurance, and perception. He was practically the perfect candidate for a soldier, but he did not dwell on it.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ymir watched Yago warily, shielding Christa behind her. She had just seen him reaching toward Christa. Luckily, she had arrived in time.

"...Hey, what's with that look? You're staring at me like I'm some scumbag. I haven't done anything!" Yago said.

"Ymir, I asked Yago to help me," Christa said sheepishly. "I'm too clumsy. I can't keep my body steady."

"Even so, you can't let that guy touch you! What if he's up to no good?" Ymir said.

"Ymir, that's going too far! What do you mean, up to no good? What kind of person do you think I am?" Yago said. Seriously, Christa might be pretty, but no matter how pretty she was, she was still a child. I wasn't that depraved.

"Come to think of it, Ymir, aren't you the suspicious one? You're always clinging to Christa." The more Yago thought about it, the stranger it seemed. No wonder Ymir always gave me those weird, jealous looks. She's the one lusting after Christa!

"Hah. I'm a girl. What's it to you? Come on, Christa. It's just a simulator. I'll teach you," Ymir said, taking Christa by the hand and leading her away.

Christa gave Yago an apologetic look.

"Damn it." Still indignant, Yago unwittingly wandered over to two people: Reiner and Bertholdt. They were huddled together, apparently discussing something.

"Reiner? What are you two doing?" Yago approached them, and their expressions changed. When had he appeared? Had he overheard what they had just said?

"What are you doing here? Did you pass the training?" Yago asked. Reiner's expression looked unnatural as he replied, "Oh, the training? We passed that ages ago."

"Then what are you two doing here?"

"We, uh, we... Right, we were talking about our hometown!"

"Your hometown? The southern district of Wall Maria?" Yago asked.

"Yes!" Bertholdt hurriedly chimed in. "Those damned Titans destroyed our village. Reiner and I escaped together, but everyone else..."

"Sorry, sorry. I hope you can stay strong. Once we're powerful enough, we'll take back Wall Maria sooner or later."

"You're right," Reiner agreed. "We have to become strong warriors, then return to our hometown!"

Warrior. The unfamiliar word sent a stab of pain through Yago's head, and a fragmented, somewhat confused memory surged to the surface.

"They don't understand anything! I'm the genius! The strongest warrior? They're nothing compared to my creation! Hahahaha!"

"What? How is that possible? Impossible! You piece of trash! You destroyed my life's work! Ah, die, you useless trash!"

Seeing Yago suddenly go blank, Reiner could not help giving him a shake. "Yago? What's wrong?"

Coming back to his senses, Yago looked a little pale. "Nothing. Just a sudden headache. I'll get going."

Holding his head, Yago turned and left. Once he was far away, Reiner's expression shifted uncertainly. "Reiner, do you think he heard us?" Bertholdt asked anxiously.

"Probably not," Reiner said. "We were far too careless. We didn't even notice him coming over. Be careful over the next few days. If anything seems wrong, we retreat immediately. We have to make it back to our hometown!"

"Right!"