After hurriedly grabbing their equipment, the two hundred-plus cadets immediately headed to the supply station to refill their gas.
Dread, panic, anger, confusion-this was their first time facing Titans as cadets, and different emotions filled each person's eyes.
The supply station.
A bearded man slowly approached the platform, his expression grim. He was Kitz Woermann, the Garrison's commander of frontline operations in Trost District.
"We've received an urgent report from the front. The Garrison's advance unit has been wiped out, and Titans have breached Trost District. All Training Corps soldiers are to immediately follow the countermeasures established during training, split into squads, and join the Garrison on the front lines," Kitz announced loudly.
"How could this happen?!"
"No way. If Wall Rose gets breached too..."
An uproar broke out among the cadets. Every face was grim. The front line had already fallen, and Titans had entered the city.
"Silence!" Kitz shouted.
"Your duties will fall into three categories: supply support, relaying intelligence, and slaying Titans. The Garrison's interception squads will form the vanguard, the Training Corps led by the support squads will form the center, and the Garrison's elite squads will bring up the rear."
"One more crucial point: only the Colossal Titan has appeared so far. The Armored Titan could appear at any moment and smash through Wall Rose's gate. Your mission is therefore to protect the evacuation of every civilian, even at the cost of your lives, and hold Wall Rose at all costs. Anyone caught deserting will face military punishment! Is that understood?" Kitz added.
"Understood!" the cadets answered.
"Then, soldiers, dedicate your hearts! Dismissed!" With that, Kitz hurried away.
Many cadets couldn't accept this brutal reality and were terrified of the front lines awaiting them.
One cadet kept vomiting as Christa supported them.
Watching the scenes around him, Jean was filled with panic and dread as well. Walking with his thoughts in turmoil, he bumped into Eren.
"Hey, Jean. What's wrong?" Eren called out as he watched Jean head toward the rear.
"What's wrong? I'm trying to find a fucking way to stay alive! You've wanted to join the Survey Corps all along, so I bet you're already prepared to become Titan chow!" Jean grabbed Eren by the collar, his voice agitated.
"You fucking idiot! Think about how we survived those three years of hell! How many times were we on the verge of death? We'll survive this time too!"
"Damn it, I was just about to join the Military Police Brigade!" Jean gritted his teeth, torn inside as Eren's words kept repeating in his head:
"Three years ago, this was the interior too."
"Jean, don't worry so much. Everyone will be all right. Let's fight side by side." Passing by, Marco saw Jean's grim expression and tried to reassure him.
Seeing Marco's resolve eased much of the turmoil in Jean's heart.
Mikasa arrived late, carrying Chen Si on her back.
"Hey, what took you so long? What's wrong with him? Why does he need a woman to carry him?" Jean looked at Chen Si on Mikasa's back with obvious displeasure.
Mikasa's expression darkened. Without answering, she shot Jean a sharp glare and headed straight toward the stacked gas canisters without looking back.
Eren was hurrying along too, but when he heard that, he stopped and said solemnly:
"Chen Si just fought the Colossal Titan. He's injured." With that, Eren left without looking back.
"Does this guy have no fear of dying either...?" Jean's mind reeled at the news, his inner struggle intensifying.
"That's Chen Si for you. We can't fall behind either, Jean." Passing by, Marco was relieved to see that Chen Si was only unconscious, and his fighting spirit flared.
I'm one of the top ten cadets! How can I fall behind?! Jean shouted inwardly.
"Then let's head to the front together, Marco." Jean summoned his courage.
"Yeah!" Marco replied.
"Mikasa, put me down." Ten minutes had passed when Chen Si opened his eyes, feeling the abundant electrical energy inside him and his seemingly inexhaustible strength.
Aha, your invincible daddy is back! Wash those necks and wait for Daddy, little Titans.
Mikasa quickly stopped and set Chen Si down. She cupped his face to examine it, then hugged him and said:
"Don't ever do anything that dangerous again." Her tone was stern.
"Don't worry, Mikasa. Your big brother is invincible. Look, I'm completely fine, and that Colossal Titan even ran away." Chen Si grinned, showing eight gleaming white teeth.
Mikasa carefully inspected his entire body. There wasn't a single wound, though chunks of fabric were missing from his clothes.
Mikasa was about to take off her jacket for Chen Si, but he stopped her and said:
"I couldn't bear to let anyone else see those lovely shoulders of yours." Chen Si winked playfully.
Mikasa blushed and obediently stopped taking off her jacket.
"Are you Chen Si, the Training Corps' top cadet?" a soldier approached and asked.
"That's me." Chen Si nodded.
Hearing this, the soldier, Trout, straightened solemnly and gave the salute of dedicating his heart.
"Commander Pixis would like to see you. Please follow me," the soldier said.
Mikasa looked uneasy, and Chen Si gave her a reassuring look.
Apparently noticing that Chen Si and Mikasa shared a special relationship, Trout said:
"Please don't worry. Commander Pixis wants to commend Cadet Chen Si. He won't give him any trouble."
That dispelled Mikasa's concerns.
Chen Si stepped forward and held Mikasa tightly, whispering gently into her ear:
"Don't get hurt. I'll be there soon."
"Okay," Mikasa answered, her face flushing.
Mikasa's shy expression vanished the moment she turned around. She shouldered a gas canister and strode away briskly.
Chen Si watched her go for a while.
"It's good to be young." Trout couldn't help thinking of his former girlfriend, but she had already died in a Titan's jaws...
"I haven't asked your name yet." Chen Si looked at Trout.
"Trout, deputy squad leader of the Garrison's 21st Squad. You'd better go in. I'm heading to the front." Trout waved and started to turn away.
"Come back alive, and I'll set you up with someone," Chen Si said.
"Hahaha! I've already got someone in my heart, but we can have a drink together." Trout was wonderfully easygoing.
"No problem. As a young man, I don't really want to associate with someone as ridiculously old as you, but I'll reluctantly make an exception." Chen Si smiled faintly.
"I'm only thirty, all right? How am I old?" Trout protested.
"Aha, then your face really got ahead of itself," Chen Si said mercilessly.
"This is the place. Just head inside. I'll be waiting for you at the front." Trout said goodbye and turned to leave, afraid that another couple of exchanges with Chen Si would infuriate him to death.