Attack on Titan: The Strongest Newcomer

"Great, I was starving a long time ago. Thank you, Ryo, Krista!"

Connie and the others were relieved as they accepted the dried meat from Ryo. After enduring a freezing night with limited supplies, this food was a lifesaver, restoring their strength and morale to continue the grueling journey.

"It's no big deal. No need to thank me. Let's eat while we walk. If we keep up the pace, we should reach the camp by afternoon," Ryo suggested, gesturing for them to join his group.

Connie and his team observed the large group following Ryo.

"Is this the team you organized? There are so many people!" Mark exclaimed, amazed by the sheer number.

"Well, it just happened," Ryo replied modestly. "At first, there were only a few, but more people joined as we progressed. I couldn't just leave them behind."

Ryo's humility didn't go unnoticed. Despite not intending to form a group, his strength, reliability, and sense of responsibility had naturally drawn others to him. His growing reputation as a leader among the 104th Training Corps was becoming undeniable.

Seeing the opportunity, Jean stepped forward. "Let's join you. Honestly, it's impressive what you've done, Ryo. Everyone trusts you because they know how capable you are."

"Yeah, count me in too. If there's food, even better!" Sasha exclaimed, chewing on her jerky with enthusiasm.

"Who cares about you? You only joined for the food!" Connie snapped, pretending to snatch the jerky from her.

Sasha quickly stuffed the rest into her mouth and jumped away, glaring at Connie like a cornered animal. Her antics drew laughter from everyone, lightening the mood.

Ymir, however, had remained silent throughout. The group turned to her, knowing her protective feelings for Krista might complicate things.

"Well, what about you, Ymir?" Jean asked, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in his voice.

Ymir shrugged. "What's the big deal? I have no objections."

Her response surprised them, and the tension dissipated. With everyone on the same page, Ryo rallied the group.

"All right, let's move! Once we cross the ridge ahead, we'll be at the campsite!"

His confident leadership reignited everyone's spirits. They quickly regrouped and began their trek anew, their energy renewed by the promise of food and rest at the camp.

---

Meanwhile, not far behind, the instructors followed the trail on horseback, observing the unusually high morale among the recruits.

"That's him, isn't it? Ryo has managed to unite almost everyone," one instructor noted.

Keith nodded approvingly. "He's a natural leader. But the hardest part is yet to come. Let's see how he handles Broken Blade Ridge."

"Captain Keith, the terrain ahead isn't suitable for horses," another instructor reported. "Should we switch to the ODM gear?"

Keith turned to his team. "Yes, prepare your gear immediately. We need to be at Broken Blade Ridge before the recruits arrive. If anything goes wrong, we'll need to intervene quickly."

The instructors dismounted, swapping their equipment for three-dimensional maneuvering devices. From here, the journey would be more treacherous.

Back with Ryo's group, the ridge loomed in the distance, its jagged peaks and sharp inclines a stark reminder that their journey was far from over. Yet with Ryo leading the way, the recruits pressed on, their resolve stronger than ever.