Aptitude Test

The Aptitude test was to decide who went to the Farm and who stayed as a Cadet.

As simple as it was, yet many people always got kicked out due to this test. There was nothing much about the test other than maintaining one's distance while hanging off a machine designed to emulate the Omni Dimension Maneuvering Gear.

This test was done to test the potential of Soldiers who would be able to maintain themselves on the ODM gear, In nature, The ODM gear was hard to control and many a good soldier had lost their lives trying to control the maneuvering abilities of the ODM gear.

…

Mark hanged limply off the Aptitude gear, his body was unmoving. The test was simply taken a day after he had used the Love Aphrodisiac on Mikasa, giving him the chance to buy Weights!

'Although these weights are classified as Gravity weights,' Mark thought, 'Whatever those are,'

All he knew was that 2x gravity was heavier than anything he had ever carried in his life!

But the reason he was able to ace this test so easily was because of the ODM Gear Mastery skill, His first S-grade skill.

"It's Aptitude test time so listen up! There is no place for you here if you cannot perform!" Keith shouted, "Fail and be shipped to the fields!"

Mark ignored the Shouting Instructor, and turned to the other two instructors who were pacing round the machines.

"We're just drilling the fundamentals, you can still determine a Cadet's aptitude just by watching," The black haired instructor said, "Like her, Completely steady,"

He was pointing to Mikasa who was currently smiling while looking at Mark's face.

"She inherently knows what to do and how to make it happen, that's what Aptitude is all about," The black haired instructor said, "I say we have several cadets with good potential in this group but... That guy is a monster,"

His eyes landed on Mark's unmoving body and a chill went up his spine, When last did someone have such astounding aptitude?!

Keith on the other hand was standing in front of an Empty Aptitude testing gear, which Eren was supposed to be on and he restrained his urge to frown.

'He was killed by someone here,' Keith thought, his eyes roaming around the field where the gear was stationed.

'Whether it be an Instructor or a Cadet,' Keith thought, 'I will get revenge for you, Eren Yeager,'

If Mark knew what Keith was thinking, he would probably laugh and tell the man that Eren was in cahoots with the Titans that destroyed the walls.

#####

"Now this is a nice meal," Mark said.

The people that passed the Aptitude test were plentiful and while people that failed but were still serious about being a cadet could retake the test once again- If they failed the test again, it meant a lifetime in the fields.

But Mark didn't have to worry about that as he walked to his table in the Mess Hall with his plate in hand.

Mina was already there, sitting comfortably on the wooden chair with a proud expression on her face.

Mark arrived and sat down, placing his plate on the table. The people that had been tested received better food, of course if they passed.

Regularly, Mark would eat bread and water but after passing the Aptitude test, He was given a bigger share of bread, a can of water and a bowl of Porridge.

'This porridge smells nice,' Mark thought while inwardly complimenting the chef.

Just as he was about to eat, his instincts blared to protect his bread and he followed through.

Mark grabbed his bread just as a hand was about to descend upon it.

"Aww, Come on, That's a big share of bread," Sasha said while Mark sighed.

"Sasha, I know you passed the Aptitude test as well so why are you after my bread?" Mark asked.

"Well, Umm… Mine was too small," Sasha lied causing Mark to sigh in desperation.

"Mina, Help me out here," Mark said but Mina's intervention was not needed as a gray eyed beauty suddenly made an appearance, taking hold of Sasha's hand.

"What were you about to do?" Mikasa asked, her gray eyes lighting up with murderous rage.

"N- Nothing," Sasha replied while shaking in fear, "I just wanted to sit down with you guys,"

Mark gave Mikasa a thankful nod which the girl blushed to before taking a seat, Mina and Sasha noted the girl's unusual ability to switch her behavior for Mark.

'Wait, More rivals,' Mina thought as Sasha took a seat beside Mikasa.

"At this rate, I'm not going to get Mark," Mina muttered in fear.

"Mark, Can you give me your bread?" Sasha asked nicely but Mikasa's steel gaze forced her to shut up immediately.

"I'm not going to give you my bread," Mark said, much to Sasha's disappointment, "But I can feed you some Porridge,"

Despite the scent, Mark wasn't really in the mood for Porridge right now. Maybe he would take it in his Evening food and see how it tastes but now, Sasha's wellbeing was important.

Her stomach was like a bottomless well that sucked food in and a single filling of food was not enough to satisfy her. Mark on the other hand was not a kind of person that ate large amounts of food.

Sasha's eyes shone.

"Okay!" Sasha exclaimed.

Mikasa narrowed her eyes at Mark, but she didn't say anything.

"Want me to feed you too?" Mark asked.

Mikasa shyly nodded and Mark strengthened his resolve before turning to Mina, He didn't even need to ask the question as the girl nodded eagerly too.

#####

Mark was in the forest, He was not aware why there was such a dangerous landscape here since animals still roamed in the forest but it was better than being in the Boot Camp all the time.

He jumped from one tree to another with precise movements, his legs becoming a flurry of movements but each time he landed on a tree, he left a deep foot indent since he was wearing gravity weights.

Ever since his stats crossed the 10th Mark, He found himself able to do this with enough running momentum.

If there was not enough momentum in his running, there was no way he would be able to land on the tree. A slip-up would be imminent.

This was a great training exercise to Mark as it helped sharpen his Speed stat and his Endurance stat as well.

The Speed stat increased because Mark had to calculate the right amount of speed before jumping. And his Endurance stat increased because he had to run with the right amount of speed with his GRAVITY-ENHANCED weights on.

After jumping onto the 20th tree in the afternoon, Mark took the moment to take in the amount of progress he had made in getting stronger.

…

[Name: Mark Brock]

[Title: Bounty Hunter]

[Race: Eldian]

[Reputation: 25]

[Strength: 15]

[Speed: 13]

[Endurance: 13]

[Agility: 13]

[FATIGUE: 43]

[Skills]

[Appraisal [C-grade]: The user is able to see the description of any item and their durability stat]

[Body Strengthening [C-grade]: The user is able to use the muscles to their full potential, Upon activation, the Strength stat goes up by 10, The Speed stat goes up by 10, The Agility stat goes up by 5. The duration of time this skill can be activated depends on the Endurance stat of the User]

[Dark Determination [A-grade]: This skill grants the user the ability to do anything he sets his heart to, without any reaction or pain although the Fatigue stat will rise faster since it takes a lot from the brain]

[Titan Conversion [S-grade]: This skill grants the user the ability to convert the abilities of Titan Shifters and Titans alike into orbs, These orbs can be consumed to gain Titan powers]

[ODM Gear Mastery [S-grade]: The User is able to use the Omni-Dimensional Mobility Gear with skills that are on par with Captain Levi himself]

[Gold]

[2, 299, 000]

…

Mark took in a raspy bit of air and leaned against the bark of the tree, The Titan Conversion skill was a great skill too and unlike other skills, there was nothing saying that he couldn't turn another person into a Titan but how would he control them?

As far as he was concerned, He could turn another person into a Titan and fail to control them.

'Does that mean I need something like Annie's Skill? To attract titans but attracting titans doesn't mean controlling them. No, I need to have a skill to control the titans,' Mark thought.

At first he had been contemplative about these Titan powers but even with the Screen and items, There was little he could do about the fact that he would be facing the Titan shifters soon.

That was the only way he might be able to avert a large scale crisis to Trost was by controlling the Titans to stay away, After all, this district was where his parents stayed… He wouldn't let any of the Titan shifters interfere in the safety of his family.

The screen morphed much to Mark's surprise.

…

To be able to control Pure Titans at will, you need to have the Founding Titan and Royal blood.

But since you were not born of royalty, you can buy the Titan Monarch Skill [SS Rank]

…

Mark's eyes widened in surprise, A Skill of the SS rank would cost a fortune.

'But as the Screen said, I would have to become a Titan before I can use this skill,' Mark thought while dismissing the screen.

He wouldn't become a Monstrosity like them.

-

Author's Note:

That's what you say now~

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