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

12. Aftermath

"So, the Scouts are here, huh?" Kaito murmured, a hint of excitement flickering in his voice. He wasn't about to hide his abilities. If anyone would appreciate his powers and what he could do, it would be Erwin Smith. Erwin was a man of reason, and Kaito knew the commander would see his abilities as a unique weapon for humanity.

But even with Erwin's open-mindedness, he would still have to prove himself, to show that he was trustworthy. That shouldn't be a problem, though. With a sly grin, Kaito whispered to himself, "I'll give you a show to watch, Scouts."

He launched himself forward, slicing through a nearby titan's nape and sending it crashing to the ground, while his shadow soldiers dispatched others around him. He approached the fallen titan corpses, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Arise," he commanded.

A massive shadowy hand emerged from the titan corpses, pulling up dark silhouettes that resembled their fallen forms. One by one, their shadows solidified into new shadow titans, obedient and waiting at his command.

[Shadow extraction successful]
[Shadow extraction successful]
[Shadow extraction successful]

Kaito counted three new shadow soldiers. A small smirk tugged at his lips. Perfect. His forces were growing stronger by each being he killed

• ~ • ~ • ~ •

High above on the wall, Erwin Smith stood with wide eyes, unable to look away. Levi was next to him, and for once, his normally cool expression betrayed a flicker of shock.

"Oi, Erwin, I'm not seeing things, am I?" Levi's voice was flat, but the tension in his posture gave him away.

"No... I see it too," Erwin replied, collecting himself. "It looks like we've finally discovered the source of those shadow creatures."

Levi continued to watch Kaito work, his eyes narrowing. "Do you think we can trust him?" he asked cautiously, his instincts as sharp as ever.

Erwin's gaze was calculating. "So far, he's only fought against titans, and from what I can see, he's on humanity's side. I have a hunch he's the one responsible for sealing the gate."

"Let's go talk to him, then," Levi suggested, already preparing his ODM gear. Without another word, Erwin nodded, and the two of them launched from the wall, descending toward Kaito with practiced precision.

• ~ • ~ • ~ •

Kaito stood on a rooftop, surveying the scene. The streets below were littered with fallen titans, their bodies strewn across the battlefield. His shadow soldiers had decimated any remaining threats, and he didn't bother to extract every titan; only the larger ones, in the 12-15 meter range, seemed worth the effort.

The faint whirring of ODM gear caught his attention. He turned to see Erwin and Levi land on the rooftop beside him.

"Are you the one responsible for these creatures?" Erwin asked, his voice steady, but his eyes were filled with a calculating curiosity.

"Yes, sir." Kaito stood at attention, offering a formal salute. "Kaito Takuguni, a graduate of the 104th Cadet Corps."

"I see." Erwin's gaze held steady. "Are you on humanity's side, Cadet Takuguni?"

"Yes, sir. I intend to join the Scout Regiment and fight alongside humanity."

Erwin studied Kaito's face, his expression unreadable. His intense gaze felt like it could pierce through to Kaito's very soul, yet Kaito held firm, unfazed. He had faced far worse than Erwin Smith.

"Very well. I admire your courage," Erwin said. "But you should be aware: your abilities will provoke concern within the walls. Some will see you as an ally; others as a threat."