The light in the sky gradually faded, and darkness shrouded the world, but it was not time yet.
All the soldiers of the Survey Corps were still resting, getting themselves into peak condition. Erwin stood on the rooftop, gazing at the distant horizon, with Levi beside him.
"Hey, Erwin, what exactly are you planning? Even if we risk casualties to reach Shiganshina District, it won't do us any good, will it?"
Erwin shook his head gently.
"This time, although nothing is certain yet, there's a strong chance we'll obtain information that even dozens of previous expeditions beyond the walls couldn't uncover."
Levi gave him a dead-eyed look.
"So it's still uncertain?"
"But there is a chance, and that alone makes it worth the risk. How many casualties have we suffered on all those expeditions beyond the walls? The information we've gained has never changed. So this time, even if the odds are low..."
As he spoke, Erwin raised something in his hand. It gleamed faintly in the moonlight-a key.
No one knew what information he had obtained from Eren and Carla.
"I see. I trust your judgment, Erwin."
Just then, a voice came from behind them.
"Haah... Enough about trust. It's almost time, isn't it? Shouldn't we get going? The moonlight isn't great tonight. It's hard to see the road."
Bai Yu yawned and rubbed his eyes. Clearly, he had only just woken up. Looking at the two men before him, he had no interest in eavesdropping; he had merely come to check on them.
Seeing the key in Erwin's hand, Bai Yu couldn't help admiring him. Erwin had actually managed to pinpoint their objective from this.
Erwin put away the key and nodded gently.
"Yes. We're ready to set out."
It was about time, too.
"I'll wait downstairs. Hurry up."
With that, Bai Yu turned and left.
Levi watched Bai Yu's retreating figure, his gaze reflecting a sense of confidence in him.
"Bai Yu really is... good."
His tone was subdued, but the trust in it was unmistakable. Only after serving as the Support Squad that day had they realized just how exhausting that squad's usual work was.
Though there usually weren't quite so many Titans.
By the time Erwin and the others came downstairs, every Survey Corps soldier was already mounted and ready. No one had called them together. Simply seeing Bai Yu's trio mount their horses and wait had prompted everyone else to start preparing on their own.
Bai Yu led two horses over to the two men, still muttering.
"The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get back to sleep."
His words made some of the nearby soldiers chuckle despite themselves.
That was Bai Yu for you.
Erwin looked around and drew his blade.
"Our objective is Shiganshina District! Advance!"
The Support Squad, made up of Bai Yu's trio, charged ahead first, taking the lead in forming up. The Levi Squad followed behind them.
"We veterans can't afford to fall behind either."
The speaker was a brown-haired female soldier from the Levi Squad, who said it with a smile.
Beside her, a soldier who looked a little... well... rough around the edges spoke with a rather conceited air.
"Petra, don't underestimate these brats. They might already be almost as strong as me."
The corner of Bai Yu's mouth twitched.
Levi, up ahead, spoke just then.
"Stay focused. We're the vanguard."
With that, they split off from Bai Yu's squad, riding on opposite sides while remaining close together.
Their nighttime formation was compact. If the daytime Scouting Formation was a widely cast net, then the nighttime formation was a spear, with the elite troops as its tip, driving relentlessly forward.
Bai Yu fired a Green Signal Flare first, letting the squads in every direction know his position. Levi immediately followed with another Green Signal Flare beside him.
The Command Squad behind them then fired a flare indicating their direction of advance. In the nighttime formation, especially with moonlight this poor, the Support Squad served as the Command Squad's only eyes.
The other squads around them quickly used the Command Squad's and Support Squad's flares as reference points to establish their own positions precisely.
Bai Yu narrowed his eyes slightly at the Titan that appeared ahead. Normally, they should have been able to ignore it, but...
Bai Yu stood up on his horse's back.
"Clear out every standing Titan!"
"Understood!"
Bai Yu's cable shot out and anchored in the Titan's shoulder. Gas propelled him from behind, his blade flashed, and the Titan crashed to the ground. Since it was nighttime, the Titan barely resisted. After all, Titans relied on sunlight for the energy to move-they were solar-powered.
Bai Yu dropped from the air, caught hold of his horse with one hand as it ran past at just the right moment, and swung back into the saddle. The entire sequence took only a few seconds.
No matter how many times the nearby members of the Levi Squad watched him, they couldn't help marveling at how cleanly he moved.
Levi spoke calmly as well.
"We'll clear out the Titans on the right."
"Understood, Captain!" ×4
They fired flares from time to time along the way to help the other squads adjust their positions, while Bai Yu's squad and the Levi Squad had already killed quite a few Titans.
Fortunately, it was nighttime, and the Titans could barely move. One or two still retained some mobility, but they were dispatched as though they couldn't move at all.
A dark line was already visible ahead. That was Wall Maria, and beyond it should have been Shiganshina District.
Just then, another Green Signal Flare soared into the sky from the Command Squad behind Bai Yu, pointing straight ahead! At the same time, Bai Yu and Levi raised their flare guns and fired forward. The Survey Corps charged at full speed!
Although Bai Yu picked up his pace as well, he couldn't help grumbling.
"Has Erwin lost his mind? We're practically there. It's not going to grow legs and run away, so why charge so fast? Does he even think we're human anymore?"
As he spoke, the cable at his waist shot out again, and he dispatched a Titan in the distance. Behind him, Ming and Xiate also took down a Titan together.
At night, the Titans were like targets, but Bai Yu still wouldn't let the two of them relax for even a moment. Who knew whether a Titan might suddenly move and slap them?
There were many Titans along the road approaching Shiganshina District, and many of them could still move, though sluggishly.
Bai Yu's hands were already beginning to feel weak.
At that, Bai Yu glanced at Xiate and Ming beside him. Sure enough, both were slumped over their horses' backs, panting heavily.
Fortunately, they were almost at their destination.
Before you continue