Attack on Titan: The Strongest Newcomer

"Hey, Sasha, hurry up and stop thinking about eating all day long!"

Connie's voice rang out as the second group, including Sasha, Connie, Jean, and Mark, trudged through the snow. Ahead of them were Mikasa, Eren, Reiner, Bertolt, and the other top performers.

Although they couldn't catch up with the first group, they had a safe distance from the students behind. As long as nothing unexpected happened, they would successfully complete the training.

But accidents always seemed to find Sasha.

At first, Sasha kept up a decent pace, full of energy. However, her enthusiasm quickly vanished once she ran out of food. With nothing left to eat, her strength waned, and her pace slowed to a crawl.

"Sasha, if you stop now and get eliminated, you'll become a refugee. And if that happens, do you really think you'll ever eat hot meals again?" Ymir's voice was sharp, cutting through the chilly air as she tried a more direct approach after their earlier attempts to reason with Sasha had failed.

Her words hit home. Sasha knew all too well that failing the training meant being cast out. Without the army, she'd be left to the harsh realities of life as a refugee—a life with little to no food.

"Yes, Sasha, hurry up! Once we get to the camp, you can eat as much as you want," Mark added, his tone encouraging.

Sasha hesitated, her stomach growling in protest. But finally, she relented.

"Fine, I'll keep going… I was just resting for a bit anyway," she grumbled, brushing snow off herself and reluctantly picking up her gear.

Suddenly, a loud and spirited singing voice echoed from behind.

"I am a soldier, I come from the common people! Defeat the foreign invaders and destroy the giant soldiers..."

The group turned around, startled. A column of soldiers marched towards them in perfect formation, their voices rising in unison. Their morale was infectious, their steps steady and purposeful.

"Look, those are our people!" Sasha exclaimed, spotting the Training Corps' flag at the head of the group.

The group paused, bewildered. How could these soldiers, who were previously lagging behind, now be brimming with energy and determination?

"Wait… isn't that Krista and Ryo?" Connie's sharp eyes picked them out in the middle of the formation.

"Aren't they supposed to be at the back? How did they catch up so quickly?" Ymir was incredulous. She remembered how Krista had opted to stay back with Ryo. Now, here they were, practically leading the rear troops with a spirit unmatched by anyone else.

"Ymir!" Krista's voice rang out as she spotted her friends. She broke into a run, her golden hair catching the light as she approached.

"Everyone's here! That's great!" Krista's joy was palpable. Seeing her friends safe and together filled her with relief.

"This is some of the food we prepared yesterday. Here, have some!" Krista opened her pack and pulled out bear jerky, offering it to the group.

Sasha's eyes lit up, and before anyone could react, she snatched the jerky, her expression one of pure bliss.

"Ahhh! Barbecue!" Sasha cried out, holding the jerky like a treasure.

Krista looked slightly embarrassed. "Sasha, leave some for the others, please!"

"You hunted on the way?" Jean asked in surprise, eyeing the jerky.

Krista nodded. "Yes, Ryo managed to catch a bear. We roasted the meat last night. I'm sorry, this is all I have left..." She glanced into her bag, which Sasha had already raided.

"It's fine," Ryo said, stepping forward with a calm demeanor. "I've got more. Here, divide this among yourselves."

As Ryo shared the remaining jerky, he kept Sasha at bay with one hand, preventing her from sneaking more.

The group was left stunned. While they had been struggling to keep up, Ryo and Krista had not only hunted but also boosted the morale of the stragglers, turning them into a formidable force.

"Unbelievable," Ymir muttered, watching Ryo hand out food with an air of quiet confidence.

Sasha, chewing happily on a piece of jerky, gave him a thumbs-up. "Best hunting party ever!"

The group couldn't help but laugh, their spirits lifted by the unexpected reunion.