Attack on Titan (進撃の巨人)

"Thunder Spears"

Erwin, he's gonna climb up.

All troops! Avoid clashing with the Armored Titan!

Stay away from him!

Roger!

Hange, why didn't he signal to attack? What's he thinking?

He's watching the enemy's movements.

Because Reiner and friends prepared some sort of grand welcome for us.

That quadruped type is carrying luggage on its saddle.

It wasn't one of those that just transformed.

In which case, is that the enemy's scout?

If it took notice of our approach and informed Reiner, that must mean...

That quadruped type down there is an Intelligent Titan.

No, there might even be others.

That Titan... has luggage?

What could it be?

They're moving! Multiple two- to three-meters approaching!

It's just like the raid at Utgard Castle...

They'll go after the horses first.

Their primary objective is to capture Eren, but...

To achieve that, they'll take away our only escape option.

With Wall Maria still being deep in Titan territory,

we have no means to get back without horses.

Just by killing our horses, it completely blocks our escape and severs our supply line.

Whether it takes one week or a month,

they can simply wait until there's nobody who can move.

Without any of the risks of battle,

they can waltz in and take Eren once he's too weak to resist.

Right now, the fact that all those larger Titans are staying in formation

is proof that their only purpose is to cage us in.

Commander! The Armored Titan is close!

And we still don't know where Bertholdt is!

Yeah, I know.

At this point, what I fear most...

...is that Reiner and Bertholdt slaughter our horses unchecked.

Therefore...

Are you finally ready to say something?

I could've had breakfast during the wait.

Dirk Squad and Marlene Squad!

Protect the horses at the gate with Klaus Squad!

Levi Squad and Hange Squad! Take down the Armored Titan!

Employ the Thunder Spears at your own discretion!

Achieve your objectives whatever it takes!

This moment! This battle!

The survival of humanity depends on it!

Once more, for humanity...

...give your hearts!

Yes, sir!

You hear that?! Turn the table on the Titans coming for our horses!

Sir!

Wait! Levi, Armin!

I did say Levi Squad, but I need you to stay, Levi.

To protect the horses and not Eren?

That's right.

And to strike him down when the chance comes.

You're the only one I can entrust to take on the Beast Titan.

Understood.

Since I failed to kill that armored brat earlier,

I'll make up for it with the Beast Titan's head.

Armin, I have a plan for the Armored Titan.

Sir.

There are two halves in this battle for humanity's fate.

And one of them... I'm putting on Hange and your shoulders.

There they are... all gathered in one place.

I'll kill the horses and make a break for it.

That's good enough.

No matter how strong Captain Levi is, he's still no match for our War Chief.

That was close...

If I was any slower transferring my consciousness to my body,

I would've died instantly.

How did they even think to look inside the walls?

Armin? Was it you?

No... It doesn't matter.

With this, our long journey is finally coming to an end.

Erwin Smith...

Don't get distracted. I've got to kill the horses first.

Eren!

Why did he show up unprovoked?

They should be painfully aware that he's our main objective.

What are you thinking?

To flee south and escape over the wall?

If he's alone, he could escape as a Titan to Trost without a horse.

And were that to happen, we'd have no reason to stay here and fight.

Even if we did manage to annihilate the Scouts,

we can't let someone who mastered hardening in two months back in the walls.

If he learns how to harness the Coordinate's full power, it'll be too late.

No, wait. This is weird...

If he really was escaping,

he would've transformed after using ODM gear to scale the wall.

Why would he transform when Shiganshina is surrounded by walls?

I get it!

They're trying to...

...change my target from the horses to Eren!

Not giving me time to think, are we?

Dammit, Commander. And I climbed way up here...

Good! He took the bait!

He wants to use Eren as bait?

Yes, those were Commander Erwin's orders.

He'd resort to using Eren as bait just to protect the horses?

You're kidding... And what if Reiner chooses to kill the horses anyways?

No, he should chase Eren.

If Reiner does go after the horses,

Eren will keep going and wrap around behind the Beast Titan.

With Levi, the Scouts, and Eren, they can pincer and fight the Beast Titan.

Erwin must have said that, right?

Yes.

Even if it doesn't go as planned, by having Eren flee like that,

it'll confuse the enemy enough to break their ranks.

It all depends if Reiner can see that far ahead.

Knowing him, I bet that he will.

All right! We'll take on the Armored Titan in Shiganshina!

Hold on!

There's one more thing I'm worried about.

Bertholdt is still in hiding somewhere.

The last time they fought, Eren had Reiner on the verge of defeat, but...

...Bertholdt's attack caught him off guard and he ended up their captive.

It's a simple counter-strategy, but let's fight away from the walls.

It might've been a fluke, but...

I've beaten you once already.

I had it in the bag.

One-on-one, I can win.