Chapter 42 Real Threat

Ryo's words struck Mikasa deeply, exposing her limits in a way she hadn't experienced before. Each move he made reinforced the gap in their strength. She attempted to retaliate several times, but no matter her strategy, it felt as if Ryo could predict every action she took. None of her attacks even came close to landing.

"How can I sense this... power?"

Mikasa finally stopped. It was clear that Ryo wasn't trying to harm her, and she couldn't make any headway against him. Continuing to fight would be pointless. Instead, she decided to focus on learning something of value.

"This takes some practice and understanding. If you're interested, I can teach you later," Ryo replied, lowering his fists.

His gaze shifted to the training ground. The other students were either sprawled on the ground or struggling to get up. A pang of guilt crossed his mind. Perhaps he'd been too heavy-handed? These were his peers, after all, and it wouldn't reflect well on him if word got out that he had gone too far against so many girls.

---

The fight hadn't gone unnoticed. A small crowd of students had gathered during the battle, their eyes wide with disbelief. By the time Ryo's match ended, everyone was talking about it.

Word spread like wildfire: Ryo had single-handedly defeated the best fighters among the recruits, including Annie and Mikasa.

People naturally gravitated toward strength, and Ryo's victory made him an almost mythical figure among the trainees. Mikasa and Annie, who had long been admired for their skills, now seemed like stepping stones to Ryo's rising fame.

---

Meanwhile, not everyone viewed Ryo's growing reputation positively.

"I didn't expect such a powerful person among the recruits," Reiner muttered, his expression grim.

Bertolt, standing beside him, nodded. "This complicates things for us. If someone like Ryo is in the way when we move forward with our mission, it'll be a problem."

The two were Marleyan warriors sent to infiltrate the ranks of humanity. Their mission was clear: destroy the walls and retrieve the power of the Founding Titan. Ryo's presence posed a significant threat to their plans.

"And it's not just Ryo," Bertolt added cautiously. "Eren Yeager..."