Icon

Icon is the third chapter in the third volume and the twelfth chapter overall.

Summary
With reports coming in from the Survey Corps, the military finds out which direction the Titans came from. They originated from the hole in the Shiganshina District, making the Trost District the next likely target.

Dot Pixis, the highest ranking administrator and the official that saved Eren, Mikasa and Armin from being executed, starts his meeting with them. Known for being eccentric, he peers over the wall, telling the three that he wouldn't mind being eaten by a Titan if she was a stunning beauty. Inquiring about the basement in Eren's old home, Pixis agrees to trust them and keep them safe, provided they can obtain the evidence. In the meantime, he asks Armin if he really thought Eren's power could be useful or if it was just a plea for their lives. Armin answers, "both". He suggests that Eren, in his Titan form, would be able to plug the hole in the wall with the giant boulder, allowing them to reclaim the city. Pixis asks Eren if he believes he would be able to do it. When Eren answers yes, he calls for a staff meeting, to strategize. Armin, believeing his plan to be overly optimistic and not well thought out, Eren reassures him that Pixis knows the situation and will plan accordingly.

When the plan is announced to the soldiers, many are discouraged, believing they don't have the technology to get it done quickly enough. Daz, once again, starts to panic. Marco tries to quiet him, before he gets in trouble or starts to get to the others. Unfortunately, a nearby officer hears him and says that he could be executed, to which he replies that execution would be preferable to being eaten by a Titan. When others hear this, it starts to cause a little bit of a rebellion, with others joining in the refusal.

Meanwhile, Eren and Pixis, unaware of the situation with the soldiers, continue to talk on top of the wall. Hannes sees him and is relieved that he is okay, but confused why he is standing next to the commander. As they move to the edge, Pixis addresses the soldiers below, sharply getting their attention. He lays out the plan for the reconquest of Trost, explaining its two parts. First they must reach the hole, and second, plug it. The second part suprises the group below, not knowing how it would be accomplished. At this point, he introduces Eren, saying that he is the result of secret experiments and can purge and control the body of a Titan. Still not entirely understanding, they continue to listen Pixis describe the rest of the plan. On top of the wall, Armin explains in greater detail to another trainee. Using the information that Titans react to concentrations of humans, they will lure them to the next wall. They will be able to keep direct contact to a minimum and take out Titans with the cannons mounted on the walls. A small group will be assigned to protect Eren while he moves the boulder to plug the hole.

On the ground, the plan is being met with resistance and disbelief. Large numbers of soldiers start to walk away, saying they'd rather spend their last days with family. As more and more start to follow these examples, an officer attempts to impose capital punishment, killing the mutineers. Before he starts however, Pixis informs the group that whoever leaves will be pardoned, gaining the attention once again of the crowd. Knowing that Titans are fearsome and fear is natural, he says they are free to go...but that they would also be putting their loved ones in the position of facing that fear themselves. This causes them to give pause and after thinking about it further, they turn around and go back to formation. Eren, now feeling the pressure of the request, resolves that he must do his duty.

Pixis then talks about what happened four years ago at Wall Maria. The sound of reconquest had a nice ring to it, but it ended up having an ulterior motive. The population couldn't sustain itself in the limited space that it had, so the deaths that resulted from the mission were deemed necessary for the survival of humanity. It was a a sin that all of humanity was guilty of, including himself. However, if Wall Rose was breached, humanity would not be able to get off with just twenty percent of the population being killed. With only Wall Sina left for them to live in, less than half of the population could be sustained, which is why reclaiming territory this time is so important.

With the operation underway, Eren, Mikasa and a small group of soldiers get into position. They head for the shortest route and find no Titans in their way. Eren thinks back to all of the defeats and all of the land that humanity has lost. If the plan succeeds, it will be the first victory they have had. As they near the boulder, Eren bites his hand and emerges in his Titan form. As he walks toward the stone, he looks over his shoulder and attacks the soldier accompanying him.