Sasha, Connie, and the others stood ready, their expressions solemn as tension welled up inside them.
Chen Si looked back at the members of the 104th Cadet Corps. Every face was excited, yet uneasy.
After all, this was their first glimpse of the world outside the walls. They were full of anticipation, but also nervous about their first real encounter with the Titans out there. For the first time in their lives, they were taking the offensive into Titan territory.
Ahead lay the territory within Wall Maria, which had fallen five years ago. They would be facing not a crowd of Titans, but a sea of them. The numbers awaiting them would be dozens, even hundreds of times greater than those they had faced in Trost District...
Rumble...
The gate mechanism of Wall Rose rumbled, and the gates opened wide.
Chen Si and the other new recruits from the 104th Cadet Corps were leaving the walls for the first time. They all looked toward the slowly rising gate.
"The 57th expedition outside the walls officially begins."
"Everyone, advance!" Erwin shouted from the front of the formation, his voice carrying through the ranks behind him.
The long column of over three hundred soldiers streamed like a snake into the abandoned streets outside the walls.
"Neigh, neigh~"
Hundreds of horses kept whinnying.
They had only just reached a street when Chen Si, sitting on horseback, saw two ten-meter Titans a few dozen meters away turn toward their column and start walking over.
Armin's face went deathly pale.
"The Titans are here already?" Connie said in alarm.
"Chen Si, should we attack?" Jean asked anxiously through clenched teeth.
"No. Save your gas. All you need to do this time is make it back safely," Chen Si said, watching the two Titans with an