Attack on Titan: The Strongest Newcomer

With only Mikasa left standing, Ryo found himself much more at ease.

Scanning the battlefield, he noticed that apart from himself and Mikasa, only Ymir remained upright. Everyone else had already fallen and was incapacitated.

Ryo's attacks had been swift and precise, knocking down the others almost instantaneously. His speed was beyond their ability to react, and many were on the ground before they even realized what had happened. Thankfully, Ryo had been careful to measure his strikes, ensuring his classmates only experienced temporary losses in combat effectiveness without sustaining serious injuries.

Now, his attention turned to Ymir. A faint smile appeared on his face as he suddenly closed the distance between them in an instant. His fist connected with her before she could even think to react. Ymir crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

The force of the blow might have been a bit much, and Ryo briefly wondered if she'd end up concussed. But considering Ymir's unique nature, he dismissed the thought. *She's a Titan-shifter, after all. Even a blow like that shouldn't cause lasting harm.*

Now, only Mikasa remained.

Mikasa was still recovering from the earlier exchanges. Ryo's unparalleled speed and overwhelming presence had left her momentarily daunted. She knew he was strong—she'd witnessed him take down Titans with her own eyes—but only now, standing across from him in a direct confrontation, did she realize just how much she had underestimated him.

"Mikasa," Ryo said, his voice calm yet unwavering, "your strengths are power and speed. Today, I'm going to defeat you using the very skills you excel in."

Mikasa instinctively dropped into a combat stance, her knees slightly bent. Her sharp gaze locked onto Ryo as she prepared herself. If he tried another surprise attack like before, she intended to counter.

"Why?" Mikasa finally asked, her voice steady but tinged with curiosity.

Ryo's smirk deepened. "Because you've hit a bottleneck, haven't you?"

Her eyes widened slightly, betraying her surprise. How could he possibly know that?

"Your power and speed are incredible, but they've plateaued. You've been stuck at this level for a while now, haven't you? And that frustration... it's been messing with your focus."

Mikasa's silence was telling.

"Let me show you something," Ryo said. "Let me show you what true strength looks like."

In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from her sight, leaving behind only a fleeting shadow.

Mikasa's heart raced as she caught the faintest sound of movement to her left. Without hesitation, she threw a punch into the air.

*Bang!*

Her fist collided with Ryo's incoming strike, successfully blocking it.

"Impressive," Ryo said, his tone carrying a hint of approval. "Using the sound of movement to predict your opponent's location—an excellent instinct. But sometimes, the sound of the wind can't keep up with speed."

Before Mikasa could fully process his words, Ryo's figure blurred again, disappearing from view. Her sharp instincts were proving insufficient against his blistering speed. The faint sound of the wind grew too close, too quickly, leaving her no time to react.

"Sometimes," Ryo continued, his voice coming from seemingly everywhere, "it's about sensing the enemy's presence... their aura. Once you can lock onto that, you'll always know where they are and what they're about to do."

Ryo's fist connected lightly with Mikasa's arm, a strike devoid of real power but enough to make its point. Despite her best efforts, her reactions were still a step behind his.

"Breath...?" Mikasa finally asked, breaking her silence.

Though her tone was cold and her expression stoic, it was clear Ryo had piqued her interest.

"Exactly," Ryo said, seizing the opportunity to explain. "Every person emits a unique aura. If you can sense it and remember it, you'll be able to anticipate their movements—sometimes even before they make them."

Mikasa remained silent, her sharp eyes studying him.

"Aura is something that takes time to master," Ryo continued, stepping back slightly to give her space. "But once you do, you'll understand how to truly dominate in combat."

Though Mikasa didn't respond, her curiosity and determination were evident. For the first time in the match, Ryo sensed a slight shift in her demeanor—less hostility, more intrigue.

Deep down, Ryo felt a flicker of satisfaction. Not only had he managed to teach Mikasa something valuable, but he'd also begun to chip away at the tension between them. *Maybe her favorability isn't a lost cause after all.*