บท 14: A hectic race

Takashi must say that the instructor Keith is doing things with energy and determination, tomorrow according to his words there would be an important test that would have a very high valuation in the qualifications of each of the cadets.

In a few days, the garrison regiment sent a type of backpack ideal for carrying a lot of weight.

When the heavy backpacks were delivered, Takashi picked up the backpack that weighed about ten kilograms, twice as much as the three-dimensional maneuvering equipment. During the test, there were supposed to be no mistakes due to all the training he has been doing in the past five months, considering that at least that physical ability was needed to fight titans in the future.

This is only a test for the first year, so it was only something small. In the second year of physical training, the same course will have to be done but now with the three-dimensional maneuvering equipment plus the heavy backpack, running and marching in the forest regardless of the weather conditions was just a simulation of what awaited him outside the walls.　　

The day the run was to be done had arrived, instructor Keith stood in front of all the cadets and said, "Okay, the weather is very calm this morning, you are lucky! Remember what you are doing is the least you will be able to accomplish in the future, you have all been trained to be able to pass this training with ease." 　　

"This is just a walk in the woods, it takes less than three kilometers to get to the finish line. No one can be slower than my walking speed. Don't worry, I'll be sure to jog at a small speed." Keith said with a mischievous grin.

"God, no way!"

"He'll kill us like this!"

"It's heavy, heavier than a three-dimensional maneuvering team."

"What's different this time is that a three-dimensional maneuvering team moves with compressed gas and using a backpack can only support the weight."

Everyone was grumbling silently for a while, Armin carried his backpack and his face turned pale. His physical improvement had not been very good. In the past, he felt a bit tired when he used the three-dimensional maneuvering equipment. So now he was panicking.

Eren who looked at Armin's uneasiness said, "Armin, take it easy, it's only three kilometers which is not too far."

"Everything will be fine." Mikasa easily put the backpack on his shoulders and comforted Armin.

"Well, I'll persevere!" Armin nodded with a firm expression.

On the other side, Takeshi was standing next to Sasha as he did some basic stretches to warm up the body.

"It's a bit heavy, but I take solace in the food we'll have after this long run." Eyes sparkling, Sasha pictured a delicious steaming loaf of bread.

"All you can think about is eating, when we graduate I'll prepare some very special meals for you." Takashi said with a comforting smile.

"Very well." Sasha nodded her head, but then she remembered something and said, "But Takashi, you don't know how to cook..."

Takashi's comforting smile was abruptly erased, he looked at Sasha out of the corner of his eye with slight annoyance.

After everyone finished warming up, instructor Keith gave an order and the training soldiers tried to match the pace behind the instructor. Keith wasn't walking at all. They could only catch up after a few minutes, but then realized that some were not qualified to keep up.

Of course, there was no reward for the first finishers, but there were surprises for the last ten. As for the surprises, the bald instructor said that it was not something convenient to reveal for now.

Takashi kept his breathing pace steady. He ran in the middle of the long line without any concern on his face. Running long distances requires endurance and one must also breathe correctly so as not to tire easily. To master the method of breathing during a long run, one needs to practice well during medium to long distance runs, an important part of which is learning to use the mouth and nose at the same time throughout the run.

Although breathing through the nose is beneficial to ensure the temperature and cleanliness of the air, in the case of deep and urgent breathing, breathing through the nose alone cannot meet the needs of the human body. At this time, it is necessary to use the mouth to assist breathing, but the mouth should not be opened too wide, it can be ajar and the tip of the tongue should be close to the upper palate to prevent the pharynx from moving and the mouth from drying out too quickly.

Also, this type of long-distance, weight-bearing running is a test of willpower most people give up easily at the halfway point. Three kilometers is not strictly a long-distance race, but considering the weight behind each cadet's back, it won't be easy at all.

"Eren and Jean are really motivated in this race." Thomas said with a smile in the middle of the line.

Takashi, who was next to him, followed Thomas' line of sight, and in front, Eren and Jean was apparently competing.

Mikasa silently followed Eren.

At this point, Instructor Keith had already overtaken many cadets who fell far behind his speed pace.

Takashi looked back. Instructor Keith was on his way, not far behind him and Thomas. At this speed, Keith would definitely overtake him.

Takashi suddenly smiled, "It's time to show my real speed, Thomas, do you want to keep up with me?"

Thomas shook his head, "No, I want to finish this training without injury!"

Takashi smiled and didn't speak, he stopped jogging at a medium speed and suddenly accelerated, he started running straight, he accelerated to get rid of his good friend Thomas, this time he didn't run beside Thomas and there was nothing special just that he didn't want to be badly graded within Instructor Keith's gaze.

Soon after, Instructor Keith trotted over and passed Thomas, who was trying to struggle his speed again, with a blank face.

"Oh no, slow down!" Thomas watched as Keith trotted past him, trying to catch up, but his legs would not obey him.

Instructor Keith ignored the shouts of the soldiers, after all he had started from behind to follow a medium-high run time.

Ahead, dust and gravel flew all over the path, Takashi overtook Ymir and said, "Do you need me to carry you princess?"

Ymir rolled her eyes and spat to the side, her saliva almost hit Takashi's face and said, "Sorry, I didn't look at you."

"This bitch..." Takashi thought to himself and then shot a friendly glance at Christa before disappearing.

Ymir, indeed she can run faster, but she has to take care of the goddess Christa.

Takashi felt that these two women were eggs from the same basket, but this is his freedom, what he is looking for in this world is freedom so he supports them.

Takashi then moved on to Marco, Connie and Sasha, Connie looked at Takashi's back with a puzzled expression.

"Why does Takashi always start last and end up among the first? Is it about arrogance or just to humiliate us?

Connie knew that as far as handling three-dimensional maneuvering equipment was concerned, Takashi was better than him and many others. However, he thought that at least Takashi's physical condition was at the same level as his or even a little worse.

"Come on Connie, the goal awaits us!" Takashi shouted in the distance.

"Damn Takashi." Connie closed her eyes and shouted Takashi's name with a slight grudge in her heart.　

With the heavy backpack on his back, Takashi was fast and steady, gradually passing Reiner and Bertholdt. Takashi felt that Reiner and Bertholdt were not doing their best. However, as they all saved a little more than he could accomplish, he ignored that fact and kept running.

Takashi doesn't even know who the titans are that threaten his life, let alone their intentions in attacking humanity like that. He was not familiar with Reiner and Bertholdt, but Eren has a good relationship with those two to the point of being comrades.

Therefore, Takashi would seriously consider them for the future.

At this point, Takashi had caught up with Eren and Jean, who were in front, and Mikasa was watching him from behind Eren.

Eren and Jean are in some kind of competition, in fact these two people were competing over any trivial matter that was put in front of them.

Then the two began to exhale loudly. At first, Marco and Thomas blocked the confrontations of these two, but then they got used to it and considered it as a competition between rivalries.

The incredible thing is that no matter how much they argued, they never came into physical contact..

After a few days, I can still communicate normally.

"Can they still hold on?" Takashi asked Jean and Eren beside him as he looked at them panting.

Looking at Takashi's calm appearance, he said with some difficulty, "Of course, don't underestimate us."

Eren's face was flushed and his face was sweating profusely, he was supported by an unbreakable willpower and did not speak for a while as he continued running.

Takashi didn't respond for a moment, he looked back and instructor Keith was shouting at some slowly running cadets.

Takashi smiled, "We don't have to race like that, instructor Keith is only interested in the last ten people and the punishment he will give them. So, we just have to run a little faster than the others."

"I don't care about places, I'm worried about Armin." Eren said, panting.

Takashi shook his head, "Don't worry, the punishment is a surprise, Armin can handle that and much more."

Jean snorted, "I hope so."

Eren looked at Takashi and nodded, he knew Armin better than anyone and knew he wouldn't give up so easily.

A few minutes later Takashi, Eren and the others arrived at the finish line. Takashi took off his backpack and moved his joints. He also needed to slow down after running. It's better not to sit straight down or it can cause problems.

Mikasa wiped the sweat from Eren's face with a handkerchief.

Takashi pouted and looked at Sahsa in the distance, asking about food. "No, impossible."

At this moment, the others also arrived at the finish line one after another. In the end, there were only a dozen people running in front of Instructor Keith. From Instructor Keith's ugly face, you could tell that he was in a bad mood.

Someone's going to have bad luck. "Everyone was heartbroken."

After a period of time, the 10 slowest people also came to the end one after another, including Armin.

Instructor Keith approached Armin, who was sweating profusely, with his hands he lifted Armin by the head.

"Burst!"

"Get up this instant, I pity you!" Instructor Keith shouted.

Those who ran fast were not rewarded, those who ran slow were pleasantly surprised, and then the other nine boys who came in last were punished harshly, again holding the suitcase between their backs.