Delusions of Strength

Illusions Of Force is the fourth chapter in the fourth volume and the seventeenth chapter overall.

Summary
The trainees are now practicing hand to hand combat. Eren and Reiner are sparring together. Reiner charges at Eren with a wooden knife and Eren flips him almost effortlessly. Surprised, Reiner asks how he can do that. Eren replies that he's had practice with a local big kid he used to play with as a kid. Eren also voices his concern about practicing fighting humans. Reiner says that it's better to be prepared.

As they finish their conversation, they both see Leon who is slacking again and avoiding the instructor. The two confront her and Eren ends up trying to practice with the wooden knife on her. As Eren rushes, she sidesteps and trips Eren, who lands face first in the dirt. Going for another round, Annie grabs Eren's arm and disarms the knife. Tossing the knife to Reiner, she tells him it's his turn. Hesitant, Eren reminds him that it's a soldiers responsibility. Reiner charges and Anni takes him down easier than she did Eren. Curious, Eren asks her who taught her to fight, she replies that her father did. Annie agrees with Eren about hand to hand combat, thinking that it serves no purpose. Using other trainees as examples, she tell Eren that their score depends mostly on their aptitude with 3D Maneuver Gear, the rest just about claiming privileges inland. Taking the wooden knife, she runs at Eren and easily gets past his guard. Eren attempts to flip her as he did Reiner, but she reverses it and pins him to the ground with the knife at his throat. She reveals that her father made her learn these moves and the she no longer derives any enjoyment from playing soldier, with that she drops the knife and walks away.

In the cefeteria, Eren overhears Jean bragging about his techniques.