The midday sun beat down mercilessly on the desolate plains beyond Wall Rose. Sweat beaded on Eren's forehead, stinging his eyes. He scanned the horizon, the monotony of the endless brown landscape blurring before him.

"Anything yet, Eren?" called Mikasa, her voice tight from the heat. Her normally vibrant eyes mirrored the dullness of the surroundings.

Eren sighed, wiping his brow on his sleeve. "Nope. Not a single sign of Titan activity. Just this… endless wasteland." He kicked at a clump of dry earth, sending a puff of dust into the air.

Armin, perched atop his horse, adjusted his oversized goggles. "Maybe this is a good thing, Eren. No Titans means peace and quiet, right?"

Eren scoffed. "Peace and quiet are nice, Armin, but out here? In this suffocating emptiness? It's driving me crazy."