Mercy: Assault on Stohess, Part 2

Mercy is the twenty-fourth episode of the Attack on Titan anime. It was produced by Wit Studio and Production I.G.

Short Summary
Days before Eren is escorted to the capital, he is told by Erwin and Armin that they have a plan to capture the person they believe to be the Female Titan and is shocked when they tell him it's Annie. Back in the present, Eren, Armin and Mikasa manage to escape a collapsing tunnel while being hunted by the Female Titan. Eren tries to transform but is unable to which Mikasa suspects his feelings for Annie is preventing him. When another tunnel collapse traps Eren, Mikasa and Armin distract the Female Titan away from Eren.

Meanwhile, Commander Nile Dok of the Military Police demands an explanation from Erwin on what's going on as his men hold him on gunpoint. As Mikasa and the rest of the Survey Corps distract and tries to capture the Female Titan, Armin and Jean try to free Eren from the rubble. Armin tells Eren he has to fight Annie as anyone who refuses to sacrifice anything can never change anything. As Eren thinks about what Armin said, he remembers his hatred for the Titan who killed his mother. Eren finally transforms into the Power Titan and delivers a fearsome blow to the Female Titan.

Summary
As Eren witnesses Annie's true identity, he recalls the time from a few days ago. While he and Levi are waiting for Erwin and others, Levi wonders why it is taking so long, claiming constipation issues to be the cause, much to Eren's amusement. Eren then apologizes for making a wrong choice, however Levi once again states that it wasn't possible to predict the outcome. At that moment, Erwin finally arrives, claiming that they have the last chance to capture the Female Titan and explains the upcoming operation in the Stohess District. Eren is horrified when he realizes who they are suggesting is the enemy.

Back in the present, Eren, Armin and Mikasa are forced to hide in the tunnels and are heading to group with other Survey Corps members. Armin resolves that Eren should transform and challenge Annie, and at that time another soldier yells to Armin if the plan was successful, to Armin's dismayful reply. They are suddenly stopped by Annie who stomps through the roof of the tunnel, killing the soldiers and forcing the group to withdraw. Eren bites on his finger attempting to transform, but fails. Mikasa suspects it may be due to Eren's disbelief that Annie is really the Female Titan or other "feelings" he may have for her. When Armin comes up with a plan to distract Annie, Eren returns back to when they discuss the identity of the Female Titan, with Erwin revealing their suspect as Annie. Armin gives multiple reasons why, much to Eren's dismay. Back in the present, Armin and Mikasa leave the tunnels, with Mikasa stating that the world is a cruel place as a response to how Eren can't understand how they could fight Annie.

Annie kicks through the roof, crushing Eren in rubble. As Mikasa and Armin attempt to fight her off, Jean abandons his disguise and goes to aid Armin. Erwin prepares to help, but he and Levi are then surrounded by troops of the Military Police, guns ready, told by Nile that they are against the King. Jean attempts to help Eren out, but Annie keeps on fighting the military, throwing more rubble around, some of which lands on Eren and traps him even more.

Jean and Armin then lure Annie into the trap they have prepared before, and Hange manages to temporarily immobilize Annie in an attempt to capture her, however Annie kicks the Special Target Capture Weapons surrounding her, which catches Hange and the other soldiers off-guard, forcing them to 3D Maneuver Gear into the air. Everyone is forced to help distract her, and Eren, now impaled through the chest, remembers the deaths of his fellow soldiers as well as his mother. He remembers Mikasa and Armin's words of the world being cruel, and to having to sacrifice yourself to achieve victory. Now filled with new resolve, Eren manages to push himself through the wood impaling him, drawing a lot of blood which causes his transformation into a Titan. Eren starts running towards Annie, who is caught off-guard, and manages to land a straight punch to her face. She crashes into a building, and the episode ends with Eren running towards Annie, roaring.

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