Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"The masters of this world are humans! And can only be humans! Anyone who dares to stand above humans must be eliminated, so..." Isaac smiled.

That was a chilling and insane smile that Hennessey had never seen before.

"So even though I don't hate Titans, I still have to wipe them out just to slap their ridiculous ugly faces!" Isaac sneered. "At the top of the world, there's only humanity, no other race!"

"..."

The entire refugee camp fell silent for a moment. Then, a commotion began to break out.

"What big talk is this kid spouting?"

How could humans possibly be a match for giants?

"He'll understand when he grows up."

Some people said Isaac was dreaming, but many more thought it was just a child overestimating his abilities.

However, not everyone thinks this way.

"Well said!"

Looking in the direction of the voice, two people, one tall and one short, wearing capes, walked over. The Wings of Freedom behind the capes indicated their identity—the Survey Corps.

Their cloaks were stained with blood, indicating that they had just fought a giant.

“Kid, you’re right,” one of the tall, blond soldiers said with a smile. “Humans shouldn’t be imprisoned in cages by giants.”

"who are you?"

“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself.” He smiled apologetically. “My name is Erwin Smith, the vice-commander of the Survey Corps.”

"The Survey Corps? You mean the one that's always out there but doesn't get much out of it?" Isaac thought for a moment, seemingly recalling that he knew something about this corps.

“Uh…” Erwin didn’t know what to say for a moment.

"Hey kid," the short guy with dead fish eyes suddenly spoke up, "you weren't just bragging, were you?"

"Just something I felt like saying," Isaac said. "By the way, you're so young and you're already killing Titans? That's amazing."

"young?"

"Judging by your height, you're probably not even an adult yet. Is the army here so short-staffed that they're sending minors to the battlefield?" Isaac said in a low voice.

"Tsk."

"Come on, Levi, the kid didn't mean any harm," Erwin chuckled dryly. "By the way, kid, what's your name?"

“Alan Yeager.” This time he didn’t give his real name.

"So, Eren," Erwin said seriously, "would you like to join the Survey Corps in the future?"

Chapter 381: A Brief Clash

"The Survey Corps?"

“That’s right.” Erwin nodded. “We’re going beyond the walls to conduct research, dedicated to investigating the true nature of the Titans and contributing to the future of humanity.”

“Really? That sounds good,” Isaac laughed.

"So you agreed?" Erwin's face showed some joy.

Very few young people these days are willing to join the Survey Corps because of the terrifying mortality rate and the distrust of the people inside the walls. New recruits prefer to join the Military Police for a government job, and even if they can't join the Military Police, they'd rather join the relatively safer Garrison Corps.

Given the current mortality rate of the Survey Corps, joining it is basically tantamount to suicide. Even the most curious person wouldn't want to go and die.

"What are you thinking? I didn't agree to that," Isaac laughed. "For humanity? What makes you think all of humanity is inside the walls? Haven't you ever had your doubts?"

"What?" Isaac's question stumped Erwin.

"I want to kill Titans not to explore beyond the walls, but to deal with those Titans that annoy me. Even without your Survey Corps, I have my own ways of handling them."

"Oh? Not bad, kid." Levi squinted at Isaac. "But what can you possibly do?"

"What can be done...? Interesting question."

Isaac, who had been smiling, suddenly turned sharp and drew the knife from Erwin's waist with lightning speed. The action was completed in an instant, and even Erwin himself did not have time to react.

Levi reacted the moment Isaac's eyes changed, his target not Erwin but himself! He swiftly drew his sword and turned to slash at Isaac.

Bang!

Sparks flew as the metal clashed with Levi's sword. At the moment of impact, Isaac used the force of the impact to twirl his blade and slash at Levi's neck.

The instant the blade touched Levi, he swiftly drew a second knife to parry the attack, while another knife was placed against Isaac's neck.

The duel ended in the blink of an eye.

The final result was that Levi had his knife pressed against Isaac's neck, but Isaac's knife was blocked.

In terms of the outcome, Levi wins.

What just happened?

"This child got into a fight with the Survey Corps?"

Levi sheathed his sword and said calmly, "Not bad, but almost there."

In truth, he was quite shocked. The child in front of him looked to be less than ten years old, but his actions were extremely clean and efficient.

And that sword technique... although I've never seen it before, I'm certain it's a sword technique specifically designed for fighting humans.

Isaac frowned slightly, clearly not satisfied with the result.

He knew that in his current 'Alan Jaeger' body, he wouldn't have an advantage in strength, but he still had a transmutation circle on his palm. Theoretically, he should have been able to disintegrate the blade the moment the opponent blocked his attack.

But nothing happened.

Erwin, having recovered from his shock, smiled and put Isaac's sword back into the sheath of his 3D Maneuver Gear.

"Allen, you're already amazing. I didn't even have time to react to that move."

He was certain that if that move had been used on him, he would be dead by now.

"Irwin, what is this knife made of?" Isaac suddenly asked.

“Oh, you mean this sword?” Erwin looked at the sword that Isaac had drawn earlier and explained, “It’s made of hard steel mixed with some rare metals and forged using a special process. It’s a blade specifically designed to slay Titans.”

It seems that the completely different manufacturing process and materials make it impossible for me to understand and thus unable to break down the materials.

“Allen, can you come with me for a moment?” Erwin suddenly said. “There are some things I want to talk to you about.”

"Okay."

Just as Isaac was about to follow Erwin, Mikasa suddenly grabbed him: "Isaac, this is too dangerous, especially with that short guy."

She didn't notice at all that Levi's face had darkened when she said that.

"It's fine."

Erwin added, "Don't worry, it's just Eren and me this time. Levi won't be coming with us."

"Erwin, are you kidding me?" Levi frowned. "Can't you see how dangerous this brat is?"

“He has no reason to kill me, does he?” Erwin was not worried at all.

……

In an open area next to the refuge zone.

“Allen, you just asked me, ‘Why are you so sure there are only humans in the walls?’ right?”

“Yeah, I really don’t understand where you guys get your confidence from.” Isaac shrugged.

More than discussing such matters with them, he wanted to know where he was and when he could return to Brix. He had been there for almost six hours and still showed no signs of waking up.

Erwin began, "Our history here tells the specific details of how humanity was chased by giants into the walls, which almost every child knows, but there are blind spots..."

At this point, Erwin looked at the expressionless Isaac and continued, "I believe you have also noticed that the blind spot is that the history books that escaped inside the walls do not mention at all that humanity lost most of its population and was left with only a small place to settle down, but it said goodbye to the era of killing each other among its own kind."

“Indeed, there are too many contradictions in the history here,” Isaac pondered.

Erwin paused, then continued, "My father was a history teacher. When I discovered this problem, I told him about my doubts, and when he got home, he told me his own guess. As a child, I told others about his guess, and the result was..."

His voice gradually lowered: "My father is dead, killed by his ignorant son."

Isaac looked at Erwin, who was lost in memories, and asked, "Are you trying to warn me not to tell anyone, even if I have my own guesses?"

“Yes, the royal government will not allow anyone who doubts history to exist,” Erwin said seriously. “I don’t know what their purpose is in hiding the truth, but we must endure it until there is enough resistance.”

“I understand.” Isaac smiled, not taking Erwin’s worries to heart.

This isn't where he lives, so there's nothing to worry about.

"That's all I have to say. If possible, I still hope you can join the Survey Corps." Erwin still hadn't given up on recruiting the boy in front of him. "Your abilities will definitely allow humanity to obtain more intelligence."

Chapter 382: The Epilogue of the 'Dream'

"You want me to join the Survey Corps? That's an interesting idea." Seeing that Erwin hadn't given up on inviting him, Isaac chuckled. "That's impossible."

"Can you tell me why? If it's because of the Survey Corps' achievements..."

Isaac waved his hand, interrupting his explanation: "It's not about battle record. I will not only not join the Survey Corps, but I will not join any other corps."

"What do you mean?"

"Literally, I am not a citizen of this country, so of course I cannot join your army."

"Huh? But the only human nations should be..." Erwin suddenly stopped speaking.

He stared at Isaac in horror, a thought he himself dared not believe now forming in his mind: The child before him… might be from beyond the wall. Did this mean there were other human nations beyond the wall?

But the child's mother must be from inside the Great Firewall...

Erwin's mind raced; he couldn't believe his own audacious conjecture.

"Allen... what exactly are you...?"

“I hope that when I come back next time, this kid named ‘Alan Jaeger’ will be in better physical condition.” Isaac shook his hand. “This body can’t unleash my true strength at all, but that kid is pretty strong.”

"Uh, Levi isn't a child anymore, he's just short," Erwin said, embarrassed.

"Oh, I see. Then you must have been malnourished as a child."

Erwin has now confirmed Isaac's situation and likely possesses information about the outside world, or even more shocking information, that could change the fate of all humanity... or rather, the fate of humanity within the walls.

Just as Isaac was about to say something, a series of voices suddenly echoed in his mind.

"Hey! Isaac, you can wake up now."