That time I got reincarnated into Attack on Titan with a level up system

10. First Battle

Kaito stepped out of the swirling black portal, the passageway closing behind him with a soft hiss, leaving him standing in the familiar forest of his training grounds. The cool morning breeze swept through the trees, carrying with it the scent of pine and fresh dew. The sky above was beginning to brighten, signaling the start of a new day.

Kaito let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding, his body weighed down by the fatigue from the Job Change Quest. Every muscle in his body ached, his mind foggy from exhaustion. After everything he had endured, he felt as though he could sleep for three days straight without interruption.

But then it hit him—he wasn’t in the Job Change Quest zone anymore. The restrictions were gone. He took a deep breath, the crisp forest air filling his lungs, and a small smile crept onto his lips.

'Oh, right, I'm free now,' he thought to himself. 'The restrictions are lifted.'

Without wasting any more time, he quietly whispered, “Status Recovery.”

The system responded instantly. A rush of energy surged through his body, wiping away every trace of exhaustion, hunger, and thirst. His muscles, sore from relentless training, relaxed as if they had never been worked. The fog in his mind cleared, and he stood taller, feeling like he was back in his prime condition.

"Right," Kaito muttered to himself, now fully alert, "today's the day of the graduation ceremony."

As if on cue, a familiar notification appeared in front of him.

[Daily Quest has arrived.]

Kaito sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Of course," he mumbled, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Couldn't even give me a break on graduation day, huh?"

He stretched his arms and legs, the muscles responding with newfound strength and ease. "Well, no use complaining. Let's get to work."

• ~ • ~ • ~ •

"97... 98... 99..."

The sun had only just risen, casting long shadows between the trees as Kaito powered through the last of his sit-ups. He had been at it for about 25 minutes, his body moving with a speed and efficiency that surprised even him. The morning air felt cool on his skin as he pushed himself through the last few reps.

"100." He finished with a low grunt, sitting up and wiping the faint layer of sweat from his brow. Despite the workout, he wasn’t tired—not even a little. He stood up, stretching his arms and twisting his torso, expecting some residual soreness or stiffness. But there was none.

"Did I level up so much that I don't feel tired anymore doing the daily quests?" Kaito mused aloud, looking down at his hands. He flexed his fingers, feeling the raw strength coursing through his body. His fists clenched instinctively, and a sense of pride welled up inside him.

"I’ve come so far."

Memories flooded his mind, crystal clear as if they had happened only yesterday. The accident that had taken his life, the moment he had been hit by the truck. The overwhelming sensation of death, followed by the bizarre rebirth into this world—the world of Attack on Titan. The trials he faced, the monsters he fought, the enemies he had to overcome. And the system—his greatest ally, the mysterious force that had given him the power to grow stronger, to adapt, and now, to command an army of shadow soldiers.

He had survived five years of relentless training, endured the challenges of the Job Change Quest, and now, with the ability to control undead shadows, he had the power to face whatever came next. Kaito’s thoughts drifted to the significance of today.