Beyond The Walls (AOT x OC Fanfic)

Soaring Through the Unknown

The next month passed in a whirlwind of training, and Jeiden's world became consumed by the endless drills, the weight of responsibility, and the physical and mental strain of mastering the Omni-Directional Mobility (ODM) gear. It was a grueling process, one that tested not only her body but her mind as well. The moment she had recovered from the strange vision during her hand-to-hand training, Levi had wasted no time throwing her into a new challenge.

The ODM gear had been an intimidating piece of technology at first. Its complex design and delicate balance required a level of control and precision that few could master right away. The first few days of training were a disaster—every movement felt clumsy, her body struggled to find balance, and the feeling of soaring through the air, using gas propulsion, was so foreign that it left her dizzy and frustrated.

But then, something shifted.

Just like her experience with hand-to-hand combat, something deep inside Jeiden seemed to awaken. Her body began to adjust, her muscles remembering the feel of the harness, the pull of the wires, and the propulsion of the gas. Within weeks, the awkwardness faded. She learned to find balance in midair, her feet instinctively knowing how to land on the rooftops, her hands quick to release and re-attach the hooks. Her body, again, moved with a fluidity that felt both natural and alien to her.

Levi watched her closely during these sessions, his sharp gaze always on her. He rarely said anything unless necessary, and when he did, it was usually a short correction or instruction. But Jeiden noticed that as the days passed, he spoke less and less. She was getting better—*much* better.

By the end of the fourth week, Jeiden could soar through the air with ease, moving from building to building, twisting her body through the trees during outdoor exercises, and landing on her feet without stumbling. The freedom she felt when using the ODM gear was unlike anything she had ever experienced—or at least anything she could remember. There was something exhilarating about it, something that made her feel almost invincible. The world opened up beneath her, and she felt like she was flying.

But that was only the beginning.

Today, as the morning sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the training grounds, it was time for Jeiden to put all of her skills to the test. It was time for her to take down the test dummies—large wooden mannequins that had been shaped to resemble Titans. They were strategically placed throughout the training area, their napes painted with bright red targets.

This was a crucial step in her training. Knowing how to maneuver the ODM gear was one thing, but taking down a Titan—even a dummy—required precision, speed, and the ability to think quickly under pressure.

Jeiden stood at the edge of the training grounds, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anxiety as she fastened the straps of her ODM gear. Levi stood nearby, his arms crossed as he watched her prepare. His expression, as always, was unreadable.

"Today's your first real test," Levi said, his voice low and calm. "You've learned how to use the gear, how to balance, and how to move. Now it's time to see if you can actually take down a target."

Jeiden nodded, tightening the straps on her harness. She was nervous, but there was also a flicker of confidence deep within her. Over the past month, she had proven to herself time and again that her body knew what to do, even when her mind didn't. Her instincts had carried her through the most difficult parts of the training, and she hoped they would carry her through this too.

Levi gestured toward the training grounds, where several of the Titan dummies loomed in the distance. They stood tall and imposing, their red target marks glaring in the sunlight. "Your goal is to hit the nape," Levi continued, his voice steady. "That's the only way to take down a Titan. You'll need to be fast and precise. There's no room for hesitation."