Wall: Assault on Stohess, Part 3

Kabe -Sutohesu-ku Kyūshū (3)- (壁 ―ストヘス区急襲③―) is the 25th and final episode of the 1st season and the 25th episode overall of the Attack on Titan anime, produced by Wit Studio and Production I.G.

Overview
As a shrine inside the Stohess District gets crushed during the ongoing battle of Eren Jaeger and Annie Leonhart, a minister watches the Titans reaching the Walls, much to his horror. Eren and Annie find themselves in a fight yet again, with the former questioning the latter's motives. Meanwhile, Erwin continues facing Nile Dawk as the Military Police Brigade Commander blames him for the city's destruction. Eren and Annie exchange blows, until Annie, reminded of her past, delivers critical strikes. However, Eren, remembering his goal, recovers at an extremely fast pace and charges at Annie with great power.

In spite of his efforts, Annie reaches the Wall and begins climbing it in order to escape. Mikasa does not let this happen as she quickly cuts off Annie's fingers. Annie falls and on the ground, Eren just barely stops himself from devouring Annie, with the latter encasing herself in a crystal afterwards. The soldiers soon learn that they cannot get any information while Erwin is questioned about his actions. Meanwhile, Eren judges his actions in the battle, with Mikasa accompanying him as Armin and Jean discuss the needed sacrifice.

Summary
In a shrine inside the Stohess District, there is a group of Wall worshipers in the middle of a ceremony. As a minister recites the prayers, Annie in her Titan form falls on the shrine, killing many people. The minister, much to his horror, witnesses a Titan running towards the Walls. While civilians are running away or hiding in fear, Eren is running after Annie. Watching this, Hange notes that this time Eren is retaining his control. Jean says that now as a Titan, Eren has to fight, however, Armin states that willpower is not enough to beat Annie. Meanwhile, the soldiers are worried that Annie is reaching an open area, being unable to use the omni-directional mobility gear there. Hange orders them to split and go from the other side. The chase continues, with many civilians dying, until Annie stops to face Eren directly. Eren recalls how Annie always seemed bored, thinking that everything was stupid, except for when she was showing off her martial arts skills. In spite of her never admitting that, Eren knows that she was lying about not caring about it. He wonders about her reason for killing all those people and charges forward, with Annie employing the ability to harden her skin as a means of defense and offense. However, Eren grabs her leg and throws her at a nearby building. He wastes no time, continuing to attack while nearby soldiers note that the whole town might be destroyed. Hange says that it is all part of Erwin's plan.

As Mikasa gets up, Hitch and Marlo can not believe that they are seeing Titans in a fight. At the same time, Nile Dawk receives a report about the fight, learning of the damage and casualties. He blames it on Erwin's plan, with the latter confirming it. Nile questions Erwin's way of thinking, but the Scout Regiment Commander simply replies that it was done to lead humanity to victory. Nile does not accept it, calling Erwin a traitor. However, when he implies executing Erwin right now, the latter tells him to assume command, letting him know of the details. In the end, Nile decides to just handcuff Erwin, while ordering to deploy all the men. As Levi begins to move, Erwin tells him to stay put, knowing of his hatred for pointless death. Meanwhile, the soldiers reach the location of the fight. Armin realizes that Annie is surely able to sacrifice her humanity for her cause just as she uses her hardening ability to remove Eren's lower right leg with a side kick. However, Eren continues to fight back and Annie recalls her father calling out to her. She roundhouse kicks Eren in the side of his head, knocking him into a building, but he has bitten into her hardened leg. Annie repeatedly strikes Eren with her hardened right fist until he is seemingly unable to move, remembering her father telling her that he is the only person on her side. As she is running away, Eren remembers his goal. He starts chasing Annie one more time, with his body burning due to excessive regeneration, and tackles her from behind. Seeing this, Hange stops Mikasa from approaching Eren as they do not know whether he still recognizes her. Eren grabs Annie's face, squeezing it so tightly, blood splatters surrounding buildings. Soldiers and Military Police watch in mixed emotional awe.

Annie fights off Eren and eventually attempts to escape by climbing the Wall. Eren's last attempt to catch her ends in vain as she manages to fend him off by sacrificing her lower right leg. She continues climbing and just when Armin thinks she will get over the Wall, Mikasa flies to her using the omni-directional mobility gear and cuts off the fingers on both of her hands. Stepping on her face, Mikasa tells Annie to fall, with the latter recalling about her father one more time. In the memory, her father tells her he was wrong, being too late to ask for forgiveness. He tells her that even whole world is against her, he is always on her side, and to promise to return to him.

Annie falls to ground and Eren pounces on her before she can get up. He then decapitates her and removes her right arm while losing an his other arm in the process. Just as Eren claims that he will destroy the world, he bites out a chunk of meat from the Female Titan's neck, revealing Annie's real body. This worries Hange and others, thinking that Eren will eat Annie. However, upon seeing Annie crying, Eren stops himself. This gives Annie a chance to use her hardening ability, encasing herself in a crystal, which causes her Titan body to start merging with Eren as well. At that moment, Levi appears, cutting Eren out of the Titan and scolding him for trying to eat an important witness.

Later, Eren wakes up just to ask Mikasa about Annie's whereabouts. He then witnesses Jean attempting to break through the crystal, not being happy with the outcome. He is stopped by Levi who tells him that there is no use. Hange orders the soldiers to use wires to make a net and carry Annie underground. She wonders about the outcome as well, knowing that in spite of the sacrifices, they can not get any information. Levi approaches Erwin, stating that they can hardly consider the mission a success, however, Erwin says that they have managed to endure and that the Scout Regiment survives. Erwin is then questioned by a governor, who asks him about Erwin's reluctance to ask the Military Police for help from the start. Erwin states that with potential allies of the Female Titan inside the military, he had to limit the operation to those who were not involved. He apologizes for the destruction of Stohess, however, the governor does not accept a simply apology. Even though Erwin states that if the Female Titan escaped, the Walls would fall and more people would die, he confirms that they cannot get any information from Annie.

Some time later, Eren wakes up in his bed, having recovered from his injuries. He is aware of Annie being frozen, with Jean confirming that they got nothing from the operation. Unexpectedly, Armin states that Eren is the one who let that happen. After a short hesitation, Eren confirms that upon seeing Annie, he could not move. Armin and Jean are then called for a hearing and Eren confides to Mikasa about his feelings during the battle. Mikasa expresses herself to be happy that he returned alive. Outside, Jean and Armin discuss whether becoming a monster is the only way to beat the Titans. Armin puts his faith in Eren, but states that it will not be easy to overcome. At the hearing, Erwin states this to be the moment of humanity's attack on the Titans. As Annie is being kept deep underground, a group of the former 104th Training Corps soldiers are nearing an unknown location, not knowing of the dangers awaiting them. At the part of Wall Sina damaged by Annie, a Titan is shown within the Wall.

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