章 13: Control...
Time had passed. The boy was now eight years old, living deep in the forest, isolated from the rest of the world. He had grown stronger, more in control of the virus that flowed through his veins. He'd spent countless days honing his abilities, hunting more bandits and criminals that wandered too close to his territory. Each time he absorbed one of them, he learned something new—basic fighting skills, survival techniques, and fragments of lives he hadn't lived.
Sitting by his campfire, the boy reflected on everything that had happened. His thoughts drifted to the Attack on Titan series he had watched before this strange reincarnation. "It's weird how little I know," he muttered to himself, stirring the embers with a stick. "I didn't even finish the first season… What was the deal with those Titans again?"
He stared into the flames, trying to piece together the fragments of the anime he had seen. "So, there are these giant walls... Titans break through, chaos ensues… but how much of that can I use now? I don't even know if those Titans are real here. But I guess I'll find out sooner or later."
Standing up, he stretched his arms, the virus pulsing faintly beneath his skin. His control over it had grown, especially when he was around humans or larger animals. He had learned to suppress the virus, allowing him to blend in with ordinary people if necessary, though the temptation to let it loose was always there. He had to keep it in check; otherwise, the virus would turn him into a monstrous creature, something far beyond human.
"I can't let it take over," he muttered, staring at his hands. "I've seen what happens when I let it run wild. It's like something out of Prototype. Too much raw power, no finesse."
He clenched his fist, summoning the virus to form his usual claws, the grotesque black tendrils twisting into razor-sharp blades. But today, he wanted to try something different. With a grunt of effort, he focused, trying to shape the biomass into something other than claws. His brow furrowed in concentration as the virus struggled to follow his command.
The claws rippled, shifting and warping, but they refused to take on any other form. He growled in frustration, releasing the biomass and letting his hands return to normal. "Damn, this is harder than it looks. It's like trying to mold water with your bare hands."
Sitting back down by the fire, he sighed, rubbing his temples. "Guess I've got a long way to go before I can pull off anything fancy." He couldn't help but smirk at his own predicament. "Who knew being a superhuman virus monster came with a learning curve?"
He glanced at the small pile of animal bones near his camp—the remains of various hunts over the past few weeks. Some of the creatures had been easy prey, others had put up more of a fight. But the virus had always helped him, enhancing his strength, speed, and senses. When fully unleashed, he could tear through them effortlessly, but when controlled, he felt more like a skilled human fighter—perhaps on par with the Ackermans from the anime.
"Yeah, under control, I'm maybe at an Ackerman level. But if I let loose…" He chuckled, shaking his head. "I turn into a damn monster. Not exactly the most subtle approach."
Testing his abilities had become a routine. Sometimes he'd make a sleazy joke to himself, just to keep things light in his mind. "I wonder if this virus can do more than just claws and strength… Maybe it'll turn me into a Titan-shifter knockoff if I push hard enough." He grinned at the thought. "Hell, if I could get big like that, I'd save myself a lot of trouble."
Despite the grim situation, he couldn't deny the thrill that came with his powers. There was always more to explore, more to test. But for now, he'd keep things under control. Letting the virus loose was risky, and he had no desire to become a mindless beast driven by primal urges.
With a deep breath, he let his body relax, feeling the virus settle beneath his skin once again. He had time—time to master this strange power, time to figure out what his place was in this world. The path ahead was uncertain, but he was ready for whatever came next.
The fire crackled softly as the boy sat, staring into the flames. His mind wandered, thinking of the endless possibilities of his power and the limitations he still had. Despite all the hunting, fighting, and absorbing, he felt like he was only scratching the surface of what the virus could do.
He stood, brushing dirt off his tattered clothes, feeling the cold bite of the wind against his skin. "I can't just sit around forever," he said to himself. "I need to push this further. Test the limits."
The forest had become his home, his training ground, but it was also a prison. There was no challenge here anymore. Bandits and animals provided fleeting moments of excitement, but none of them were a real threat. He had outgrown this place. But leaving meant stepping into the unknown, into the heart of the world where Titans roamed and human society clung to the safety of the walls.
He clenched his fists, feeling the familiar pulse of the virus responding to his emotions. The raw power that surged through him was always there, ready to be unleashed. But control was key. Without it, he'd become nothing more than a mindless monster, a fate worse than death.
A faint rustling sound in the distance snapped him out of his thoughts. His senses sharpened instantly, the virus amplifying his awareness. He crept toward the source of the sound, moving with unnatural silence, his body adapting to the hunt.
A small clearing came into view, and in it, a group of people—travelers or maybe more bandits. He crouched behind a thick tree, observing them carefully. They hadn't noticed him yet, their voices low and careless. From what he could tell, they were just passing through, not here to cause trouble.
He felt the virus stir within him, the familiar hunger rising. It always did this when he was close to people, like it had a mind of its own, urging him to act, to consume. But he resisted. He wasn't some mindless predator, killing just for the sake of it.
His hand twitched, claws forming instinctively before he forced them back into his skin. No, he needed a reason to use this power—something more than survival or curiosity. "I'm not going to just kill for the fun of it," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I need a plan."
He thought again about Attack on Titan. The small fragments of knowledge he had from the anime weren't much, but they were enough to give him a sense of the world outside this forest. He knew about the Survey Corps, the Titans, and the constant threat humanity faced. But his understanding was incomplete. He had no idea who the real enemies were, or where his path would lead.
"Maybe I can use what I know," he said to himself, his eyes narrowing as he watched the travelers. "There's something happening out there. If I can get closer to the city, to the walls, maybe I'll find out more."
His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn't eaten since earlier that day. The virus had consumed a large part of him, but his human needs still remained. The rabbit he caught earlier had been enough to sustain him, but the hunger lingered. He considered taking what he needed from these travelers, but the thought passed quickly.
"I'm not going to start by attacking random people," he muttered. "Besides, I need to figure out a way into the walls without drawing attention. I can't exactly walk in looking like this."
He looked down at his torn clothes, the dirt and grime from weeks in the wilderness clinging to him. Even if he managed to approach the walls, he'd stand out immediately. No one would trust him, and in a world as paranoid as this one, that could get him killed.
Still, he had to make a move soon. Staying in the forest forever wasn't an option. He needed to get closer to the cities, learn more about the Titans and the people who fought them. If his power could grow, if he could harness it fully, then maybe he could make a difference. Maybe he could change something.
With a quiet sigh, he stood up, his decision made. "Tomorrow," he whispered, turning away from the travelers and heading back toward his camp. "I'll leave tomorrow."
He would gather what little he had, head toward the nearest town, and figure out a way to blend in. The boy smiled slightly, a mix of anticipation and determination in his eyes. Whatever came next, he was ready to face it head-on.
As he approached his camp, the wind rustling the leaves, he felt a calmness settle over him. The virus was quiet now, resting just beneath the surface. For now, he was in control. But tomorrow would bring new challenges, and the hunger within him would rise again.
He sat down by the fire, the warmth comforting as he closed his eyes. Sleep would come soon, but his mind was already racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. The walls, the Titans, the people he would meet—all of it was waiting for him, just beyond the horizon.
And he would be ready.
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