Reincarnated In Attack On Titan World As Nobody

"Have you heard?" one boy whispered, barely able to keep the excitement from his voice. "The deputy commander of the Survey Corps is overseeing the recruitment this year. That's never happened before!"

"Seriously? The Survey Corps?" someone else responded, clearly unimpressed. "Didn't they just suffer heavy losses in their last expedition? The casualty rate's insane. I'd rather stick with the Military Police or even the Garrison."

"You're dreaming," scoffed another. "There are only three slots for our district. You won't even get the chance unless you pass the preliminary rounds."

"Not necessarily," someone chimed in. "If you're strong enough, the deputy commander might add a spot or two. He has the authority, right?"

"Yeah, but you'd have to impress him. Make him excited enough to want you. Can you do that?"

"Who knows?" said a thin youth, puffing out his chest. "You won't know unless you try!"

A wave of chatter spread through the crowd, filled with nerves, bravado, and thinly veiled fear.

Shin didn't join in.

He had already pushed through the mass of recruits to the front of the square, using a combination of timing, strength, and sheer physicality. From his vantage point, he could now see the man who would decide their fates—Erwin Smith.

The legendary commander stood with quiet authority, his arms behind his back, gaze sweeping over the crowd like a hawk. Tall, composed, and radiating a calm yet commanding presence, Erwin was every bit the leader Shin had remembered from his previous life's memories.

So that's him, Shin thought. The man who sacrificed everything for freedom… who charged headlong toward death without hesitation. The embodiment of resolve.

But then his gaze shifted.

Standing just beside Erwin was a shorter figure—small, cold, and utterly unreadable. His posture was loose, relaxed, but Shin could feel the tension beneath it like a drawn wire. His expression was impassive, eyes sharp and observant, missing nothing.

Levi Ackerman.

Even though he wasn't yet a captain at this point in the timeline, the air around him was already different from everyone else in the square. Distant. Dangerous.

The strongest human, standing right there.

As Shin stared, Levi's head suddenly turned—his piercing gaze locking directly onto Shin as if sensing his presence. Shin instinctively looked away.

Damn. His instincts are as sharp as ever.

Still, he couldn't help but notice something amusing.

He's shorter than me… So the "1.6 meters" meme was true after all. Captain Levi, the compact nightmare.

He didn't dare linger on the thought for long.

"Something wrong?" Erwin asked, glancing at Levi.

The shorter man gave a slight shake of his head. "Nothing. Most of them have arrived. We can begin."

"Hmm."

Erwin turned and nodded toward a soldier standing at the ready. The man saluted, then quickly ran toward the bell mounted on the garrison balcony. A moment later, the iron clang echoed across the plaza.

Boom—Boom—Boom!

The crowd's murmur died instantly.

All eyes turned toward the platform, where Erwin now stood front and center, gazing down at them with calm authority. At his side, Levi remained expressionless, arms crossed, his eyes sweeping over the recruits like a butcher inspecting cattle.

Tension prickled the air.

No one dared to speak.

Then Erwin finally addressed them, his voice firm and clear:

"I am Erwin Smith, Deputy Commander of the Survey Corps. I've been tasked with overseeing this recruitment meeting in the Shiganshina District. In principle, there are only three available spots this year."

A ripple of disappointment and dread spread through the crowd.

"But," Erwin continued, "if any of you demonstrate exceptional qualities—qualities that truly excite me—then I may consider making exceptions."

The plaza erupted into hushed excitement. Even a single additional slot could mean the difference between acceptance and rejection.

Shin remained calm. Erwin had laid it out plainly—this wasn't just about passing a test. This was about standing out.

And Shin had no doubt in his mind: I will be that exception.

He glanced at Levi, standing stone-faced beside Erwin. Shin doubted there was anyone else in the square with the potential to impress Erwin on the level of Levi.

Except, maybe, him.

Erwin spoke again, voice cutting cleanly through the air:

"There will be three tests. The first round is physical endurance. Everyone will run the full perimeter of the garrison. Only the top 100 performers will proceed."

A simple, brutal filter.

The crowd groaned as soldiers moved to organize the group. The command was given, and the sea of bodies surged forward.

Shin didn't hesitate.

He exploded from the starting line, quickly establishing himself at the head of the pack. His strides were long and controlled, his breathing steady. There was no wasted movement—just raw, trained efficiency.

Immediately, people began to murmur.

"What the hell? That kid took off like a cannonball!"

"He's gonna burn out in two minutes."

"Another showoff trying to impress the commanders. Good. One less rival."

"Yeah, let him gas himself out. We'll pass him in five minutes."

But Shin didn't slow down.

His breathing remained smooth, his posture unwavering. Behind him, a few others had tried to match his pace early on, driven by competitive pride—but they were already faltering. Legs grew heavy. Chests heaved.

Soon, they began to fall back, one by one.

Shin remained far ahead.

On the platform, Erwin watched him with interest.

"That one's got stamina," he said, nodding slightly. "Good conditioning. Possibly trained."

Levi scoffed. "Just a brat showing off."

Still, his eyes lingered on Shin, narrowing slightly.

Down below, the difference became clear. By the end of the first lap, Shin had pulled nearly 300 meters ahead of the next runner. He showed no signs of fatigue. No shortness of breath. Just calm, rhythmic strides.

Three months of brutal physical training had reshaped his body—and this was the result.

Keep going, he thought, pushing into the second lap. Don't just pass. Dominate.

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