In the last episode of Attack on Titan, things got crazy. Resurrected Titans kept coming back, and manga readers were able to see some of the Titans’ past hosts, but without learning more about their backstories. When Armin witnessed Bertholdt return after grieving in a vision, it was evident that these Titans were effectively robots directed by the Founder Ymir. The prior hosts are aware, but they are shackled to a life of servitude. The concept of freedom (and the erasure of other people’s freedoms in pursuit of your own) runs throughout this manga. Erwin-Esque roles are being taken by Levi, while Annie and Mikasa are forming a close friendship.
This chapter picked off just where the last one left off, with Falco appearing out of nowhere to save the day. Annie and Gabbi have decided to join us on this adventure. (In a previous story, I questioned if Annie may become a flying Titan after eating one of Falco’s feathers. After Gabbi and Falco inquired about her talents, Falco came up with his plan. However, it hasn’t yet occurred.) The panel where Annie originally inquired about Armin’s well-being, then tried to cover it up by inquiring about Pieck was one of my favourites.
Because of their discussion, Mikasa is aware that Annie has a crush on Armin. Armin has been kidnapped by one of Ymir’s Titans, so she quickly tells Annie about it. In response, Annie offers to save Armin, and Levi declares that they’re going for a two-pronged approach. A Warhammer Titan speared Pieck as she attempted to detonate the explosives around Eren’s neck while the other group saves Armin’s tailbone. Like Levi, Armin/Erwin has stepped into Levi’s shoes and devised the next course of action for the group. Even though he dislikes having to make this decision, he tells the group that they no longer have the luxury of worrying about Eren.
A very Erwin-like situation is unfolding
In fact, I’m a fan of how Erwin’s legacy has influenced so many members of this group. Armin, Levi, and Hange, in their final stand… As a group, they’ve all reflected on Erwin’s life and utilised it as a guide for their own. Despite Jean’s reservations, Levi is correct. Annie, on the other hand, has emerged as Mikasa’s new “real” friend. In order to save Armin, she instructs her to ignore the actions of the others. Even as the story draws to a close, this manga manages to grow and develop its characters in such an interesting way.
It seemed as though “Something Jumped Out of His Spine.”
My gut tells me that Gabbi’s brief appearance on a panel will have a significant impact on the rest of the story. When Gabbi used the anti-Titan gun to take Eren’s head off, “something sprang out of Eren’s spine,” she informs the group. In her description, she refers to it as a “shining centipede or something.” That Eren had leapt out of his body and rejoined his head in this way wasn’t anything I’d previously seen). When Ymir granted him access to her power, I assumed it had taken on a life of its own.)
What if the actual power of the Titans is resurrected in the process of his decapitation?
How intriguing. We know that a glowing spine linked itself to Ymir as she fell into the well and brought her back to life. Does this suggest that every Titan host (or at least a sentient, Warrior-type host) has a luminous spine?
There Is No End in Sight to the Hatred
Immediately following Eren’s initial assault on Fort Salta, the general delivered a statement claiming that they were responsible for this animosity returning to them and promising that if they were given another opportunity, things would be different. That is unless they didn’t get the message from his superiors. Violence erupts even as death is advancing on them. These sequences upset me to no end, in part because I believe they would play out the same way in real life. They’re at a standstill, with weapons aimed at each other, between the military and the Eldians.
Secretary Muller (who I presume is the “general” who released the statement in the previous chapter) appears to be having an argument in the last scene with him. That panel has a pistol in it, but I’m not sure if he’s putting it away to keep the peace. After then, there’s an indicator that the arena is emitting a loud sound. It swiftly turns back to the combat, though, when the Founder’s shrapnel flies into Falco’s path. Falco is unquestionably unique in this situation, and he may even possess the same level of stamina in his Titan form as Pieck. However, I’m not certain just yet.)
The Struggle Is On!
Meanwhile, Reiner and Jean are helping Pieck, while Mikasa, Conny, and Annie are escorting Armin to safety. Gabbi and Levi are doing what? Pieck’s talent is just astounding. She’s a fearsome warrior, yet she has the ability to abandon her Titan body and re-form as many times as she wishes. None of the other Warrior Titans can match her endurance. During this conversation, which Jean is listening to, she tells him not to be concerned about her, but he has already soared past her (obviously not worrying.) In addition, we find a few cases of what appear to be Jaw Titans, although they appear to be pro-Jaws that resemble Annie but have a few Jaws added to their skulls. It’s then back to Annie and Mikasa that we see in the manga. Angry that Bertholdt is also a puppet, Annie must move on.
The Titan that has Armin is a pig-like Titan, and they notice it. When Ymir freed the pigs, the whole thing started (kind of). Mikasa is basically us, trying to figure out if it’s a Jaw, Beast, or Cart Titan in a humorous moment that breaks up the action. I guess we’ll never know what Annie thinks about it because she tells her that it doesn’t matter. In Okapi form, Annie says it’s a Titan. To clarify, an Okapi isn’t a pig in any way shape or form.) It’s a giraffe’s cousin. As with giraffes, it also has a large tongue, and it’s the only living cousin of the two. They’re in the Congo and keep a tight lid on their whereabouts.
As a result, I now have some closure on his whereabouts of Levi. On Falco’s back, Gabbi and he are still in the air. Levi and Gabbi are still searching for Zeke, and if they locate him, Gabbi will take care of Levi. As he reminisces about Erwin, Levi can’t figure out how to complete Erwin’s last order, something he’s never mishandled before. While at sea, he wonders whether their job is over and he’s no longer obligated to Erwin’s final directive. The gleam in Armin’s eyes was the same as Erwin’s, therefore Levi doesn’t regret his decision to choose Armin over Erwin. A fascinating observation, given Armin’s ongoing remorse about his decision and belief that Erwin would be a better fit.)
After a little break, we’re back in the thick of things. Oddly enough, the Okapi and Armin are both rushing towards the direction of the head, which is pointing in the direction of Puppet Berthold’s position. The Okapi Titan is being guarded by Titan after Titan for some strange reason. Okapi Titan Ymir is a possibility, but they don’t know for sure. I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this idea. At this time, why would Ymir need to be housed in a Titan? Armin, on the other hand, is having difficulties. His body refuses to budge no matter how hard he tries. There follows an argument about his self-hatred and his inability to please others.
A sense of failure permeates his being. Looking up, however, he finds himself in the Paths, staring at his own body from the ground. Armin determines that he is not, in fact, dead. We saw that Bertholdt might be brought back from the dead, so I’m not sure whether that’s right. Because he’s in the Paths and all the Eldians are connected, he can only presume that he knows what everyone else is doing. When he looks up, he finds Zeke, who is sitting quietly and meticulously constructing a sand pile. This isn’t even a sandcastle. There’s nothing there but sand.
He identifies this as Zeke right away. Zeke just says, “Hello Eren’s friend. “So Ymir ate you as well?” she inquired.
What a fantastic conclusion. As a surprise, but also as wonderful. What Armin and Zeke will come up with next is beyond my comprehension. And I can’t wait to see how this sequence plays out in the anime version of the show.