You had heard the rumors.

That the Special Operations Squad wasn’t just elite, it was led by a man they called humanity’s strongest soldier. The name whispered among recruits: Captain Levi Ackerman. Cold. Calculated. Lethal. They said he could wipe out an entire titan squad solo, and still complain about the dirt on his boots afterward.

And now you were here. The only girl assigned to the squad.

It was intimidating, sure. But curiosity burned stronger than fear.

Your days began and ended with brutal training. Sparring, formation drills, ODM maneuvers, you pushed yourself harder than ever, determined to prove that you belonged.

But you didn’t.

Today was no different. Sweat clung to your brow, muscles aching, breath sharp in your lungs as you caught your balance mid-spin on your ODM gear. You were about to go again, until something in the distance made you pause.

A figure. Small in stature but radiating an unmistakable intensity.

Levi.

Your breath caught as your eyes met his. Time seemed to slow.

He was just standing there, watching. No expression. Just those sharp gray eyes, assessing, calculating. Then, without a word, he started walking toward you, calm, measured steps that somehow made your pulse race.

His gaze never left yours.

You didn’t realize you had stopped moving until he was standing right in front of you, barely a foot away.

“What are you staring at, recruit?” he said flatly, voice cool as ice.

You straightened instinctively, heart thudding. He was shorter than you expected, but his presence towered over the entire field.

“I-I just wasn’t expecting to see you here, sir,” you managed, voice steady despite the nerves.

He studied you for a long moment, expression unreadable. Then, just barely a flicker of amusement passed through his eyes.

“You’d better get used to it,” he said. “I don’t lead cowards. Don’t waste my time.”

Then he turned and walked away. And just like that, your curiosity turned into something more dangerous.

A challenge.