The "Three Medal Competition" was an initiative created by the army to encourage its members to become stronger, faster, and more agile. It was held every season. Each legion —military, garrison, or scout—organized this competition within its ranks, selecting three winners and pitting them against each other across the three legions. By now, the competition had barely begun in the exploitation legion. The soldiers were enthusiastic; the 104th Cycle Recruit Troop was eager to participate. Levi simply watched them and then judged them. In fact, it was mandatory for those holding senior positions in the exercise, such as captains, to prove their worth. By then, Levi had already kept a total of 76 medals in a box under his bed, all first-place medals he had earned since being promoted to captain. That meant everyone was competing against Levi; they just wanted to beat him, but they simply couldn't keep up.

The day was hot, and the training ground was surrounded by a crowd of soldiers waiting to see Levi's confrontation with another cadet known for his Titan-killing speed. He was the second fastest in the Survey Corps. Levi stood in the arena, his fist clenched behind his back, a protocol they had to follow to gain an advantage, as it would be impossible to attack without using their left hand; with the first movement, they could both warn each other of the first blow. Her gaze remained fixed on his, waiting.

"Good luck, soldier," he wished her, just to fill the silence and the tension that enveloped them as they kept their guard up. He didn't intend to win, but come on, everyone knew Levi would win; they just wanted to see how.