Ming's intuition

Bai Yu leaned closer, looking a little puzzled.

"Erwin, where are we now?"

Although Shiganshina District in Wall Maria was only about a day's journey from Trost District, the closest district in Wall Rose, that was merely the distance in a straight line.

In reality, the mountains, forests, and depressions along the way all forced them to take detours.

Horses could not run through mountainous terrain. If they encountered Titans without their horses, anyone other than elites like Bai Yu or Levi would essentially be waiting to die.

In forests, the trees blocked their view. No one knew whether a Titan might leap out from behind a nearby tree at any moment. Forests were suitable for fighting, but not for traveling. The whole force could be wiped out.

Erwin pointed to the upper part of the map. They had only covered about a third of the journey and still had some distance to go before reaching their destination, Shiganshina District. Fortunately, they had brought plenty of supplies this time.

"Oh."

Once he knew, Bai Yu stopped worrying about it and went to sleep nearby. Levi glanced at the sleeping Bai Yu, then looked away.

Suddenly, Bai Yu's eyes snapped open. Before anyone could react, he spun around and fired his cables. His blades slid free with a clang, and he shot upward to meet the threat.

Whoosh!

Bai Yu spun rapidly through the air, releasing gas without restraint at full power. Following an almost ghostly curve, he flashed past an enormous figure that had lunged down from above without anyone noticing. The lifeless Titan fell from the air and crashed to the ground.

Only then did the others react, instinctively drawing their blades.

"It's an Abnormal Titan!"

After killing the Titan, Bai Yu did not climb onto a tree. Instead, he hung from a cable anchored to a large tree nearby, tapped his gas canister, and called out helplessly.

"Ming!"

As soon as he called, Ming anchored his own cable overhead and slid swiftly down, securing himself beside Bai Yu. Their gear had a small clasp that allowed them to hold themselves in place against walls.

Ming handed Bai Yu the gas canister he had brought.

Bai Yu replaced the empty canister and gave it to Ming to return to the supply squad. After all, gas canisters could be reused. There was no point wasting them.

When Bai Yu returned to Erwin's side, Levi offered a calm word of praise.

"Quick reaction."

"It had to be. Any slower and I'd be dead."

Bai Yu spread his hands and answered as though it were obvious.

Then he looked at Erwin again.

"Have someone check above the forest from now on, too. I don't want to look away for a second, turn back, and find you've been eaten."

Erwin nodded, his expression growing somewhat grave.

Bai Yu turned to look at the Abnormal Titan's slowly evaporating body on the ground, a faint trace of puzzlement in his eyes. But after a yawn, he leaned against the tree and went back to sleep.

Beside him, Xiate pressed her lips together. That attack just now... she had not noticed it.

Her grip on her sword hilt tightened involuntarily, and her gaze grew more determined.

"Get some proper rest."

Bai Yu spoke softly with his eyes closed, as though he knew what Xiate was thinking without even looking at her.

"Mm."

She answered softly.

Half an hour later, the messenger squad and the Support Squad quickly cleared out the Titans below, returned to where they had left their horses, and set out again.

They rode across the plains once more. Strangely, there were hardly any Titans along the way. Before long, however, Ming suddenly spoke.

"Something's wrong."

Bai Yu looked at Ming, silently asking what was going on.

"It's dangerous."

"Which way?"

"I don't know, but the feeling is very strong."

Bai Yu looked at the seemingly peaceful grasslands ahead, but did not hesitate. He drew his flare gun, loaded a black smoke round signaling an emergency, and fired straight ahead.

When Erwin, riding with the Command Squad, saw the black-and-gold smoke rising into the sky, he immediately fired a green smoke round to the right, ordering the formation to change course in that direction.

Before long, however, Ming gazed at the plains ahead with his wine-red eyes and spoke again.

"It's still wrong."

Bai Yu loaded a green-and-gold smoke round and fired to the left of their previous course, recommending that Erwin adjust their direction again.

A green smoke flare rose from the Command Squad's position, followed by one green flare after another from the messenger squad.

The formation changed course again.

A minute later, Ming looked in the direction they had previously been heading, then turned back to Bai Yu.

"Yes, we're fine now."

Bai Yu could not help marveling at how absurdly powerful Ming's ability was. It was a good thing he had talked him into coming along back then.

Before long, red smoke flares began rising from the formation's right flank. Almost every Scout Squad on that side had fired a signal at the same time.

Shortly afterward, a green smoke flare rose from the Command Squad, ordering another change of course.

But just then, a black smoke flare rose as well.

An Abnormal Titan.

Bai Yu fired a blue smoke flare into the sky, then led the Support Squad swiftly toward the black smoke.

As soon as they arrived, they saw a Titan charging in from the right on all fours, rapidly closing on the Scout Squad there. It was considerably faster than an ordinary Titan. A short distance behind it followed two ordinary Titans, one seven meters tall and the other six.

Those two ordinary Titans were slightly slower than the horses. As long as the Abnormal Titan did not hold them up, they could ignore the other two.

"Ming, Xiate, take this Abnormal Titan down quickly."

As he spoke, Bai Yu stood on his horse's back, holding one blade in a reverse grip. He took the lead, with Xiate and Ming behind him, all three watching the Titan's movements closely.

The moment it spotted Bai Yu, the Abnormal Titan sprang up and lunged at him. While it was still airborne, Bai Yu fired his cables again. Gas blasted from his gear, carrying him in an arc past the edge of the Titan's head and high into the sky.

Ming and Xiate rushed in the instant the Abnormal Titan landed and briefly stiffened. Two blades flashed, severing the muscles at its arm joints and sending it sprawling to the ground. At that same moment, Bai Yu descended from above and cut through its nape with a single strike.

Their horses caught up just then. The three vaulted into their saddles, fired a pink smoke flare, and swiftly rode on without sparing the two Titans behind them a thought, gradually leaving them far behind.