Reincarnated In Attack On Titan World As Nobody

"W-what the hell?!"

John could only gape. Lock was soaring through the forest on the omnidirectional gear, weaving between trees as if he'd been born with it strapped to his body. The hiss of gas, the snap of cables, the blur of movement—none of it fit the fact that this was supposed to be his very first attempt.

How… how is that even possible?

John had spent over thirty years of his life drilling cadets, and yet in this single moment, he felt like his experience was meaningless.

Even Klaus, watching from a distance, froze. He didn't even notice the poor recruit who had just faceplanted in front of him, groaning on the ground, waiting for help. The instructor's eyes were locked on Lock alone.

The rest of the trainees followed his gaze.

At first, Lock's movements had been slightly stiff. But in the span of a few breaths, the awkwardness vanished. Each arc grew cleaner, sharper, more fluid. By the time he swung across three treelines, it looked as though he had been using the gear for years.

"That… that's Lock, right?!"

"No way—how can anyone pick it up that fast? He's insane!"

"Forget revenge. I'm never crossing him again."

"Same here. Geniuses live in a different world. Mortals like us should just watch from the ground."

One cadet sighed dramatically. "If the world already has a Lock, why did it need me too…?"

"Shut up, Isayama—you fell on your face three times and can't even stand straight."

"Don't abandon me, brother…"

"…"

Lock, meanwhile, paid them no mind. The wind tore past his ears as the scenery blurred, the thrill of weightless flight sending a chill down his spine. His heart pounded with exhilaration.

He laughed aloud, unable to contain it.

The complicated controls didn't feel complicated at all. His body seemed to understand instinctively, muscles and balance working in perfect unison with the machine. After only a few moments, it was as though he and the gear were one.

By the time the gas canisters hissed empty, he landed lightly in front of John, who was still staring like a man watching a ghost.

Only then did Lock feel it: the ache in every muscle, the heavy fatigue creeping into his limbs. The gear demanded strength from every part of the body. For all his coordination, even he couldn't escape the strain.

"I'm still too green…" he muttered to himself, replaying the run in his head. Dozens of mistakes surfaced, wasted movements he could refine later.

John twitched at the words. Too green? After that?

With the air of a man giving up on life, he asked hoarsely, "Lock… that really was your first time using the gear?"

Lock nodded. "Yeah. My first attempt. Still a lot of shortcomings."

John's face went blank. Shortcomings, he says. He's already better than me…

For a long moment, he just stared, then finally exhaled in defeat. "Yeah. Sure. Makes sense." He forced a smile. "I… feel much better now."

Turning his head, he caught sight of Klaus and the other instructors, still frozen, their eyes wide. That at least gave him a sliver of comfort. At least I'm not the only one humiliated by this monster.

Lock crouched to swap out his gas canisters, fumbling slightly with the unfamiliar clasps. "Can I refill and keep practicing?"

"Of course," John said quickly. If anyone deserved exceptions, it was this one. Let the others complain if they dare.

The sharp hiss of new gas filled the air. Moments later, the forest echoed again with the sound of anchors firing, cables tightening, and the thunder of compressed air.

Klaus finally stirred, expression dark and unreadable. So this is the one Erwin noticed… His chest tightened with both awe and frustration. "A genius through and through. If he can master the gear this easily, everything else will follow. Perhaps the training corps will have its first graduate ready ahead of schedule."

He glanced back at the unlucky recruit still sprawled on the ground, whining pitifully. The contrast was unbearable.

"You have three days," Klaus said coldly. "If you can't master balance by then, you're out."

Leaving the wailing cadet behind, Klaus handed the rest of the session to the assistants and walked straight toward Lock.

The trainees exchanged glances. Their feelings toward Lock were a storm of envy, admiration, jealousy, and reluctant respect.

But not resentment.

No one was foolish enough for that. Lock's strength was too overwhelming.

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