The next day.
The sky above the White Raven Island was clear, a soft breeze passing through the open training grounds near the western cliffs.
The space had been cleared earlier by Eren's orders, large enough for battle drills and flight exercises. Today, however, it served another purpose.
Eren stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sharp as he looked over the twenty Root captains who now knelt in front of him.
Each of them had survived their S-Rank Calamity and completed their fiendish transformation. Their skin still bore signs of their altered nature—horns, glowing eyes, strange markings, and shifts in their auras—but their postures were stable.
Behind Eren stood Marina and Azurea, quietly watching with interest. Even the dragon sisters were impressed by how quickly things were developing.
"You've all made it this far," Eren said, his voice calm but commanding.
