Kapitel 14: Daily Life Being A Trainee

" Listen up you maggots! We are going to do more practices in the nearby forest! The seniors will show you how to properly use the ODM Gear! I want you all to be able to use the ODM Gear by the time the sunsets! Do I make myself clear!? " (Keith)

" Sir! Yes! Sir! " (Trainees)

" Good! Your seniors will guide you to the forest! Now get moving! " (Keith)

The trainees followed their seniors towards the forest in an orderly march. There they were shown how to use the ODM Gears, like changing gas canisters and how to aim the wire, and taught what to watch out for when using it. The seniors demonstrated them and ordered the trainees to equip the gear.

Afterwards, they separated the trainees into groups and asked them to try out the gears one at a time. Some of the seniors observed the trainees from one of the huge trees in the forest in case the trainees had any mishaps. Some failed to properly use the gear and smashed into the trees. Some misjudged their distance and missed the shots and fell down, but luckily the seniors caught them quickly.

After some trial and error, the trainees managed to get used to the basic movements with ODM Gear. Some of the trainees asked the seniors why they weren't taught the fundamentals and basic theory of ODM Gear first before doing it first hand. They simply replied that they would learn a lot better and faster if they learned it with their bodies, after all, pain is the best teacher.

There were some trainees who managed to master the ODM Gear on their first try. They include Asriel, Mikasa, Jean, Connie, Eren, and a few others. They were then asked to guide their fellow trainees on the use of the gear. When the sun set, Keith received the reports the seniors gave him and after inspecting them he was satisfied with the results. He noted some of the names in the report before he dismissed the trainees so that they could go get their dinner and rest. The trainees quickly went on their way as they were too tired and they were feeling pain all over their bodies.

Asriel gave a smile and a nod towards Jean, Marco, and Connie as they passed by. They worked together saving trainees and guiding them today. When they saw his smile and nod, Marco replied in kind, Jean just gave a nod and Connie waved at him with a smile. Asriel went on a separate way to go find Mikasa. He was joined by Eren and Armin and discussed how to better conserve gas and go further while using the ODM Gear. He was later joined by Mikasa while Armin dragged Eren away. Eren was reluctant to go with Armin as he was excited to discuss about the ODM Gear with Asriel who knows a lot about it. Armin managed to convince Eren to come with him with the excuse of him wanting to know other's experience in using the gear. They went to find Jean and Connie and later Reiner and Bertholdt. Mikasa gave Armin a grateful look with her eyes and turned around to face Asriel.

" Hey Mikasa, great work today. Come on, let's go have dinner," said Asriel while giving her a pat. [Although.....if she didn't keep looking at me during the practice, there won't be a lot of trainees crashing into trees under her guidance. Heh, at least they learned fast, or else there won't be just black eyes and sore bodies.]

" Nn....Eru.....great work today too." (Mikasa) they walked together slowly towards the dining hall, enjoying each other's company. After dinner, they said their goodbyes and went to their respective barracks. The next day the trainees woke up early before the seniors rang the accursed bell. They lined up in a row and waited for Keith to give them orders.

" Good! It seems that you all have managed to wake up and prepare in time! Today, you will be attending a lecture taught by me! I'll be teaching you the history of the walls, titan's history, and their weaknesses, and the fundamentals of the ODM Gear! As well as the uses of the blades. Now, follow me to the lecture halls!" (Keith)

During the history lecture, Connie fell asleep and was scolded by Keith while he held him up by the head. The rest of the class went on without mishaps and the trainees were taught titans' weaknesses which are the nape and joints and how to cut them to kill them for good. Next, they were taught about the ODM Gear, how they were made, what materials it was used, and how it works. Then they were taught about the blades, how they are made, what materials were used, how to use them, maintain them, and change them. The trainees were given dull blades for them to practice. The next day they were ordered to assemble in the training grounds where the seniors have already erected a few titan training dummies. They were then shown how to grapple on to a titan and go for the kill.

" The small titans are easy to kill and you can go straight towards its nape if you get around them. The bigger titans, ones about 10 to 15m, would be hard to get good grappling points to efficiently kill them even if you managed to get behind them, so go for their legs first and when they are down you can then easily kill them. Of course, there are exceptions like abnormals which would either ignore us or try to eat us with abnormal behaviors. You should not engage one as of right now, alert your nearest superior if you spotted one. " (Senior) afterwards the trainees were separated into groups and were ordered to practice with the training dummies. As usual, there were a few who did perfectly like Asriel, Mikasa, Eren, Annie, and a few others. They practiced titan subjugation training for a month with a few lectures in between.

" Today, you worthless bunch gets to have free time until after lunch! There will be an examination later today so if I were you, I would eat less! I don't want you vomiting all over the place! Dismissed!" (Keith)

The examination was to see how much they've learned after a month in the form of a competition. First, they were separated into groups of three and were taken towards a small canyon near the forest and the training grounds. They were told to reach the end of the canyon which is the training grounds, using the ODM Gear. Each group would go one at a time and the first person in the group who reaches the end gets three points while the second person would get two points and the last person, one.

After reaching the training grounds they would have to subjugate two small training titan dummies, then they would've to subjugate three medium titans. If they successfully subjugated the titans, they would get ten points and one extra point every time they managed to destroy the leg portion of the training dummies.

After that, they would continue towards the forest for a battle royal. In the battle royal, all the trainees would start from the entry of the forest and they would've to subjugate as many titan dummies as they can. Each dummy they subjugate will reward them with a point. The dummies also won't stay still like the previous ones, they wouldn't move around but they would slowly spin on the spot. Some would spin quickly and if they could subjugate those they will get five extra points. Destroying the leg portion of the titans would still give them one extra point.

There would be supply bases scattered around the forest so that the trainees could refill their supplies of blades and gas canisters. The top three would be rewarded meat, three times a day as their meal for a week. This made a lot of trainees determined to get into the top three. Asriel was put in together with Thomas and Mina, much to the disappointment of Mikasa.