Chapter 42 - Aftermath

" You four, which Corps will you join? You four are in the top ten, isn't it? If not then that baldy Keith is going senile." asked Levi.

After joining up with Levi, Asriel, Mikasa, and Christa went on a titan killing frenzy. During that time, Levi's impression on them slowly rose higher and higher. At some point, Annie also joined in after she was done with Bertholdt who was now going to need a few days to completely heal back up. Apparently, the torture was so painful for him that it somehow healed his mental sickness and regained clarity but for how long he will remain that way, no one knows. Asriel has yet to have his share of torture after all.

Levi was also surprised to find that after Annie joined up, the teamwork of the girls rose a lot. Each knowing what the others will do and perfectly executing their fair share of the work. Without speaking out or gesturing to the others and with just looks, they know who would distract, who would go for the kill or who would cut off the limbs for easy access to the nape. Asriel, on the other hand, easily finds a way to connect each of his movements to have maximum efficiency.

He calculated the most efficient way to dispatch his enemies and perfectly lined up his path. It might seem that he would take a minute or two to calculate the path but it only took him a few seconds to do it. Afterward, he would follow that path and with such speed that even after he killed 5 titans, the first titan he killed had yet to fall down. One would think that he would quickly use up his gas but since he was using momentum from the initial strike and boost to continue on his path, he rarely uses a lot of gas and was only relying on the wires which were fortified with thin crystals that is barely visible to the n.a.k.e.d eye, no matter how good their eyesight is.

His momentum and speed would continue to climb with each kill and limbs being cut off, furthermore, his speed was so fast that even Levi was finding it hard to keep up with him, for the others, they would only see a blur. Those titans that were not on his path of death were finished off by the girls.

During their killing spree, they also met up with the other members of Levy's squad as well as reinforcements from Commander Pixis and worked together to finally kill off all the titans in the district. Needless to say, shock and awe are an understatement to describe what Levy's squad and the others felt when they saw Asriel and his girl's capabilities. Hope started to sprout in the depth of Levy's squad member's hearts and they all had one thought, that they have to do anything and everything to make Asriel and the rest join the Survey Corps.

They had been failing expedition after expedition, countless lives were lost and they still have yet to figure out what these titans are and why they love eating humies even though they do not need sustenance to survive and would just regurgitate the contents of the cavity before they continue eating more humans. It seems like they were just eating humans for the fun of it.

The only knowledge they have about the titans now is that they can only be killed by cutting the nape otherwise they would just regenerate, they do not need to eat to survive, they do not mate or interact with other animals except humans, and they show no signs of intelligence.

So when they saw how good Asriel and the girls were, they knew that with those kinds of capabilities, they might have fewer casualties when the next expedition sets out and finally find out more about the titans. What's more is that they got along with Asriel's group and have bonded quite well.

" So? What Corps are you guys going to join? I'll tell you a secret, we at the Survey Corps get to eat meat every day you know. You guys should consider joining the Survey Corps, judging from your malnourished bodies, you guys really need to put on some meat. And besides, you get to work together with this awesome me! Let me tell you, I alone kil...gahhh...." said Oluo who bit on his own tongue as he continued.

" Don't listen to this blabbering idiot, you can choose whichever Corps you want to join, we won't force you to join us. Although I would be very happy if we were to have such cute kouhais join us," said Petra with a warm smile.

Gunther also pitched in on how it would be great if they joined Survey Corps after Oluo and Petra. Asriel and the girls sweatdrop at their antics and looked towards Levi who was keeping quiet all this time.

" It's up to you guys where you want to join, but if possible, I want you all to join the Survey Corps. Your abilities would help out a lot of people," said Levi after a while. Hearing what Levi said Petra nodded profusely, Oluo trying to act cool but was failing miserably and Gunther just closed his eyes and nodded his head. Asriel smiled looking at their reactions and turned towards his girls to see that they were also looking at him. As if knowing what he wanted to ask, they smiled towards Asriel and nodded their heads. Seeing this, Asriel turned back and said,

" We joined the military because we wanted revenge against the titans, to take back the lands that belong to us and to explore the vast world outside of these walls. We trained hard, not so that we could stay inside the walls and cower, we trained hard so that we could fight back. We will gladly join the Survey Corps," replied Asriel. [Hmm, sounds good, kinda cheesy and cringy but it will do.] thought Asriel.

" Hm, good, I'll recommend you guys to Erwin, follow me," said Levi with a slight smile, unnoticeable to others except Asriel. The others were also happy and were excited that Asriel and the rest decided to join the Survey Corps. They were also quite moved by what Asriel said. Asriel and his girls along with Levy's squad followed Levi onto the walls to meet Erwin. There, Erwin, along with Henge and Eld were discussing something when Hange noticed Levi and the rest, prompting Erwin and Eld to also turn their attention towards them.

" Erwin, I found some cadets that would be a great addition to the Survey Corps, come check them," said Levi nonchalantly. Asriel and the girls lined up and got into the standard salute.

" At ease, cadets, what are your names?" asked Erwin.

" 104th Cadets Corps, Southern Division, Asriel," replied Asriel.

" 104th Cadets Corps, Southern Division, Mikasa Ackerman," hearing Mikasa's introduction, Erwin raised a brow and took a glance towards Levi then turned his attention back on Mikasa.

" Cadet Ackerman, are you perchance related to Levi? He is also an Ackerman," asked Erwin.

" I've never known Captain Levi in my life nor have I ever seen him until now," replied Mikasa, also slightly confused as to why her surname and Levi's surname are the same.

" I see, well it might have been just a coincidence.....continue," replied Erwin. [ I'll have to ask Levi later on for more information, she might be his long lost sister or cousin.] thought Erwin.

" 104th Cadets Corps, Southern Division, Christa Lenz," (Christa)

" 104th Cadets Corps, Southern Division, Annie Leonhart," (Annie)

" Hmm, why do you want to join the Survey Corps? You do know that you are going to have to risk your lives if you join," asked Erwin.

" As I've said before, I trained to fight back the titans, to exact revenge, take back our lands and to explore the vast world outside these walls so joining the Survey Corps would be the best course of action," replied Asriel.

" Hm, *nods*, what about you girls, why do you want to join the Survey Corps?" asked Erwin, seemingly satisfied with Asriel's answer. Hearing this question, the girls puffed out their chest with pride and answered,

""" Where ever Asriel/Eru goes I will follow,""" (Annie, Mikasa, Christa)

" Besides, we wouldn't be here if we weren't competent enough to stand beside him," said Annie before anyone could say anything.

" I...I see, ahem, well, aren't you popular, young man?" said Erwin with a complicated expression.

" WOW!! Aren't you a player~ ahhh I wonder if all the female members would fall for you when you officially became a scout hahaha," teased Henge while slapping at the back of Asriel, while everyone was taking a minute to digest the information they just received from the girls. Soon most of the male members of the Survey Corps threw envious glares towards Asriel while a few of the female members blush when they look at his face.

" Are you sure you have the conviction to stay true to your words? I've seen many who broke their words in the face of death. We don't need delusional people who could jeopardize the entire squad or team," asked Erwin with a stern voice.

" You don't need to worry about that, we aren't delusional, our actions will be the proof that we won't ever go back on our words," replied Annie for all three of them.

Asriel just smiles gently while seeing this. He was extremely happy that they would go so far for him and vowed to himself that he won't let anyone harm them and would make sure that they would be happy. After a moment of silence,

" I vouch for them, I've seen what they can do and they certainly can keep their word," said Levi.

" I vouch for them too, from what I could see while we were together, they won't be the one who would jeopardize the team in fact Oluo is more likely to do that," said Petra with a short laugh.

" Whhhhatttttt!!!!!???? Petra!!! How could you say such a thing to me!!" screamed Oluo.

" I vouch for them as well," said Gunther.

" Very well, Levi, you and your squad are responsible for them, take them to HQ and show them around," said Erwin as he turned towards Levi and commanded him and then he turned back towards Asriel's group with a smile and said,

" Welcome to the Survey Corps, from today onwards, you are one of us....only in name for now, you will become official members after the recruitment phase is over."