Declaration of War

Declaration of War is the 2nd chapter of the 25th volume and the 100th chapter overall of the Attack on Titan manga, written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama.

Overview
Before the festival at Liberio, Willy and Magath suspect that there will be people threatening the former's life during his speech, and agree with a plan to draw them out by using Willy himself as a bait.

In the present, Willy continues telling the audience about how the Tyburs sold Eldia to Marley in exchange for privileges. Meanwhile, Magath is informed about the disappearance of the Warriors and deploys a search party; while Pieck and Porco realize that they are trapped in a confinement area for Warriors and cannot escape by transforming into Titans.

Willy talks about the danger posed by Eren Yeager and the Colossus Titans contained inside the Walls, and is listened by Eren himself, Reiner and Falco. Eren tells Reiner that he now understands him after having lived among the enemy like Reiner did and realizing that both sides were in a similar situation, but Reiner says he was wrong and accepts his responsibility for Carla's death, begging Eren to kill him.

Eren reaffirms that he understands Reiner and holds his hand out to him, but as Reiner takes it and Willy declares war against Paradis, Eren transforms into a Titan, emerges from the building and crushes Willy with his hand.

Summary
Some time before the festival, Willy discusses with Magath about the possibility that Willy will be attacked during the event. Willy explains that the Tybur family has been making efforts to improve the status of Eldians around the world while keeping Paradis in check, but they realized too late that some inhabitants of the island had crossed the ocean and arrived at Liberio; although their identities and intentions are still unknown.

He explains his plan of using himself as a bait to set a trap for the enemies in the internment zone and obliterate them when they launch their raid. Magath is worried about the lives of Marley allies that will be lost if the plan is enacted, but Willy replies that they will put Eldians and incompetent Marleyan officials in the danger zone in order to minimize the damage for Marley, and questions Magath's sudden concern about the lives of the "descendants of the Devil" given that the general has sent countless more to their deaths in battle.

Magath is still hesitant about risking such an important asset as Willy, but Willy points out that if he does not come out and stand, there will be no gathering of army, reporters and ambassadors of the various countries. He also adds that it is important that Eldians assume the role of victims of the attack in order to gain the sympathy of the rest of the world. With this, they shake hands and agree with the plan.

In the present, Willy continues his speech, revealing how the Tybur family sold Eldia to Marley in exchange for having their own welfare guaranteed and enjoying a comfortable life free of persecution despite being Eldians themselves. He admits that when he learned this truth after assuming the leadership of the Tybur family, he felt nausea and his legs trembled at the realization that the Tybur family are nothing but petty thieves desiring an honor that does not exist.

Meanwhile, Magath is informed about the disappearance of the Warriors, and orders his men to go in their search as he tells to himself that the attack has started.

Trapped underground, Pieck and Porco evaluate their situation. They suffered fractures due to the fall, although these are already healing, and a pile of straw put at the bottom of the trap by their captors prevented more serious injuries. The place seems to be designed to confine Warriors, as it is too narrow to allow a Titan transformation. Some provisions were also left at their disposal, including food and water. Porco wonders about the intentions of the soldier who led them to the trap, and Pieck restates that she had already seen him somewhere before.

Willy tells to the crowd that the reason he separated from the Tyburs' false honor is because he has understood that the world is in grave danger due to the threat posed by the tens of millions of Colossus Titans contained in the three Walls of Paradis, which have the potential of destroying everything wherever they go. Even though the Fritz family cannot use the Founding Titan due to Karl Fritz's vow, he discloses Reiner Braun's report that the current holder of the Founding Titan, Eren Yeager, can and is willing to use that power despite the uncertainty of his relationship with the Fritz family.

As Willy says this, Eren, Reiner and Falco listen to his speech from the basement; with Falco perplexed after learning Kruger's true identity and that he was used by him. Eren apologizes for this and confesses that the letters supposedly sent to his family were in reality for his comrade. While Willy expands on the danger of the Colossus Titans, a still confused Falco believes that regardless of what is happening, this is Reiner's and himself best chance to retrieve the Founding Titan now that they have the holder right in front of them.

However, he is once again left astonished when Eren claims that Willy's words are correct and that he is the "bad guy"; but remarks that he once also viewed the Warriors as the bad guys too. He remembers the time when Reiner, Bertolt and Annie breached Wall Maria, causing his mother's death along with the deaths and suffering of many other people, and questions Reiner about his reasons. Reiner reveals that it was in order to infiltrate into the Walls by taking advantage of the chaos and see how the King would react; all with the ultimate purpose of recapturing the Founding Titan and saving the world.

Eren seemingly agrees on his reasoning, and Reiner reminds him of the day he said he would make sure that the Warriors would "die in the most excruciating way possible", wondering whether Eren came to fulfill that vow; but Eren denies this and states that he now understands Reiner's stance after crossing the ocean and living with the enemy just as Reiner did, seeing that in both sides there were good people who had been made believe that the others were devils.

However, Reiner then breaks down and exclaims that Eren is wrong, accepting his responsibility for having forced Bertolt and Annie to continue with the mission after they wanted to retreat following Marcel's death; all because he wanted to be respected and be seen as a hero. He accepts that he was wrong and pleads Eren to kill him since he finds himself despicable.

Meanwhile, Willy continues explaining that the world is in danger because the Eldians continue existing. He admits that he resented his own blood and hoped for the extinction of the Eldians; but conversely, the does not want to die, and encourages anyone who does not want to die as well to join him in fight against the Eldians of Paradis.

Hearing this, Eren smiles and stands up, holding his hand out to Reiner and asking him to stand up as well, reassuring him that he understands him now and considers himself to be in the same case. A surprised Reiner does as Eren says, and Eren goes on by proclaiming that he will continue to advance until he has wiped out the enemy, starting to transform into a Titan in front of the terrorized Reiner.

Just as Willy shouts out his declaration of war against Paradis, Eren's Titan form emerges from the building behind him and crushes him with his hand.