Chapter 74

This chapter can be considered as the additional update promised for last week's 5000 votes. There will be at least two more chapters today, and a new week is about to begin. The climax of this volume is also approaching. I need your support with recommendations!

...

Ymir hoped that Historia would abandon her improper and erroneous heterosexual thoughts and quickly return to the right path, joining her on the hopeful road of yuri. However, from the current situation, this was becoming more and more of a fantasy, so small that even the little finger of her right hand could easily break it.

On the other hand, after loading the crystallized Annie and the broken bodies of their fallen comrades onto the wagons, the Survey Corps began their return journey. The losses of the Survey Corps in this battle were not insignificant, with a total of 36 casualties and missing personnel, but the number of recovered bodies was far less than half. Even the Survey Corps, who were already accustomed to such situations, could not help but sigh and feel heavy-hearted at the sight of their comrades' bodies.

Especially for the new recruits who had just joined the Survey Corps, their mood was particularly heavy, as two of their comrades, Reiner and Hoover, had gone missing in this operation. Although they did not witness them being killed by Titans, in such a situation, their deaths were almost certain.

First, their former comrades turned into enemies, and then the comrades they relied on went missing. This was undoubtedly a significant blow to those participating in their first expedition beyond the walls.

The only consolation was that the results of this operation were not a complete failure. Even without obtaining useful information, capturing the Female Titan and confirming the existence of such Titans was a significant step forward for humanity.

Of course, whether it was the heavy-heartedness or the sighs, none of these things had anything to do with Tang Cheng. He would not rejoice for the living, nor would he mourn for the dead. He led the way, singing his fresh and cheerful victory song.

"How tall is the corporal? Ask the sky with a drink. Not knowing the palace in the sky, only knowing 1.6 meters. I wish to ride the wind and return, but fear the corporal growing taller, the high place is too cold. Dancing and playing with the clear shadow, how can it compare to 1.6 meters? Turning to Eren, lowering to Petra, shining on Levi, should not grow taller, why is the corporal 1.6 meters? People have heights and appearances, the moon has phases, this is hard to achieve in ancient times. May people live long, the corporal is 1.6 meters..."

"Corporal, you must remain calm!" Petra, seeing Levi's increasingly grim expression, hurriedly advised, "Actually, if you just hear the phrase 'the corporal is 1.6 meters' as Tang Cheng being a joker, then it's fine."

"Petra, you're really sharp-tongued."

"Yeah, I saved your life."

Others couldn't help but comment.

Petra defended herself, "But Tang Cheng revealing the corporal's shortcoming is too much. Although what he said is true, and he even sang about the corporal's height, it sounds pretty good."

"..."

Everyone was speechless. Was this girl a fan or a detractor of the corporal? They were completely confused.

As for Tang Cheng, he continued to sing his made-up victory song, completely ignoring everyone. The feeling of playing with a meme in front of others was like a climax, making him more and more excited.

"Mother and father hear the daughter's return, the corporal is 1.6 meters... To see a thousand miles, the corporal is 1.6 meters... Life is like this, who can avoid death, not as good as the corporal being 1.6 meters... Heaven has given me talent, still the corporal is 1.6 meters... Corporal, corporal, corporal, 1.6 meters, 1.6 meters, 1.6 meters, the corporal is always 1.6 meters..."

I'm just a bit shorter than the average person, do you have to enjoy it so much?

Levi was almost at his breaking point, especially seeing everyone around him, including Petra, trying to suppress their laughter. He really wanted to kill Tang Cheng. He couldn't understand what was so funny about repeatedly singing "1.6 meters."

If it weren't for the inappropriate situation and the fact that he wasn't a match for Tang Cheng, he wouldn't let him continue singing. Moreover, if he got angry, Tang Cheng would probably enjoy it even more. So, he decided to pretend he didn't hear it... Ignoring this lunatic was the wisest choice.

"This guy really doesn't care about the situation, he can make anything work..." On the other side, the ordinary youth looked at Tang Cheng, who was singing happily, and muttered, with a mix of admiration and envy.

The cycle world was a cruel place governed by the law of the jungle, where the strong preyed on the weak. No matter where you were, this rule never changed. Therefore, most challengers were always on edge, even the slightest disturbance could not be ignored, and this tense atmosphere often drove some less resilient challengers to the brink of madness. Many times, challengers with strong abilities died in places where they shouldn't have, simply because they pushed themselves too hard.

Although he had only experienced four副本 worlds, he had seen this happen many times.

But now, looking at Tang Cheng, he couldn't help but wonder if they were playing the same game.

He admired Tang Cheng's strength, but what he admired even more was his mindset. Only someone with such a mindset could reach the pinnacle of the cycle world, like the queen of Dongting... Although she wasn't a lunatic like Tang Cheng, she also viewed life and death lightly, and the legends she created inspired countless challengers.

However, he also knew that such a carefree attitude varied from person to person. If someone without strength had this attitude, they would only end up dead. Only people like Tang Cheng, the queen, and the princess, who had both strength and courage, could face everything with such an attitude.

Comparing people, it's really impossible!

Seeing the ordinary youth's reflection, the girl with the period said, "I don't quite understand, how can he be so happy when he has nothing in his hands?"

"Are you talking about the Female Titan?"

"Yes." The girl with the period said softly, "The Female Titan can crystallize to protect herself, and Tang Cheng must know this. In the previous battle, if he wanted to, he still had a chance to kill the Female Titan. Now, not only has he wasted so many survival points, but the Survey Corps has gained nothing. What's the point?"

"Wasting survival points? I don't think so." The ordinary youth shook his head. "You have to understand that the reward for his side mission is randomly distributed based on the completion rate. In other words, the better he completes the task, the higher the reward. The Survey Corps didn't get useful information from the Female Titan, but the crystallization of the Female Titan is not permanent. With time or the advancement of human technology, it will eventually be solved. When that happens, it will be significant for humanity and the new era. So, compared to the few survival points gained from killing the Female Titan, keeping her alive will add more points to the side mission."

"Maybe the difference between 60 points and 70 points is not significant, but the difference between 90 points and a perfect score is qualitative!"

"Then, according to what you're saying, the other day when Tang Cheng taught that girl some dubious Machiavellian and imperial theories, it wasn't to flirt, but to improve the task completion rate?" The girl with the period asked curiously.

"Uh..." The ordinary youth hesitated, then said, "I won't comment on whether his theories are right or wrong, as I don't understand them, but to say that a lunatic like him would flirt, I really can't imagine it."

"But the blonde girl is clearly already infatuated with him, isn't she?"

"..." This is the most unfair thing in the world, isn't it?

At this point, both of them fell silent, a sense of unspoken frustration in their hearts.

"Commander, it's not good! Dozens of Titans have appeared ahead, and a large number of Titans are also attacking us from behind!" Soon, the scouts brought a shocking piece of bad news.

"Damn! Could it be that the Female Titan attracted them? How many Titans are behind us?" Erwin frowned and asked solemnly.

"Not very clear, but... at least in the hundreds."

Hearing this, everyone's faces changed. Given their current position, it was almost impossible to avoid the Titans ahead. Although there were only a dozen Titans in front, in an environment unsuitable for the maneuver gear, dealing with them would be troublesome. If they were delayed, the Titans from behind would catch up, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

Erwin thought for a few seconds and said helplessly, "It seems we have no choice but to send some people to hold off the Titans from behind, Levi..."

"Why make it so complicated? Why not just eliminate them all?" Before Erwin could finish, Tang Cheng, who was singing at the front, rode his horse over and said calmly, "You take care of the Titans in front, and the ones behind... are mine."

"Hey..." Erwin didn't want him to take such a risk, but before he could speak, Tang Cheng had already galloped off, laughing, "Don't worry, I'll definitely protect the corporal's height!"

Levi's face was full of black lines... At this critical moment, he still hasn't had enough?

Seeing Tang Cheng's determination, Erwin no longer hesitated and immediately led the entire team forward. Given Tang Cheng's ability to defeat the Female Titan alone, facing hundreds of ordinary Titans, even if he couldn't win, he should be able to escape. But for others, even Levi's squad, it would be a one-way trip.

Since Tang Cheng had taken on this responsibility, and he couldn't stop him, he could only let him go. However, to be on the safe side, Erwin left some people behind to support Tang Cheng.

Half an hour later, accompanied by two other challengers, a worried Historia and a depressed Ymir, the four of them arrived at the site of Tang Cheng's battle with the Titans. All they saw were the smoking bodies of the Titans and the man slowly walking out of the smoke.

Although they knew Tang Cheng's strength, the sight still left them in awe.

This was the plain, where the 3D maneuver gear was least effective. How did Tang Cheng manage to kill so many Titans in just half an hour?

"Unfortunately, although it was quite satisfying, there was no reward."

Tang Cheng casually inserted the broken blade in his hand into the neck of a Titan that was not yet dead, and said disappointedly.

The four of them vaguely saw that the mindless Titans, in their final moments, had eyes full of intense fear.