Perfect Game (Chapter)

"Well... the first pitch is just a warmup. I'm going for a perfect game."

- Zeke strikes at the Survey Corps from afar

Perfect Game (完全試合) is the 1st chapter of the 20th volume and the 79th chapter overall of the Attack on Titan manga, written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama.

Overview
Having recently transformed, Bertolt begins to decimate Shiganshina, destroying and lighting ablaze all nearby structures. With no idea what to do, Connie and Sasha ask Armin for orders. Rattled from his earlier encounter with Bertolt, Armin asks Jean to take command. Jean devises a plan, but makes it clear that he is still counting on Armin to devise a solution to their ultimate problem.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Wall, Levi surveys the situation. With nothing but smaller Titans left, Squads Dirk, Marlene, and Klaus go to finish them off to give Levi a chance to rest. Not long after, with the help of the quadrupedal Titan, Zeke begins throwing rocks at the Survey Corps. Levi orders those near the horses to retreat, while Erwin informs them of their dire circumstances.

On the other side of the Wall, Jean orders Eren to yell in order to get Bertolt's attention. It works, but he intentionally ignores them. So, with no other option, Mikasa takes Connie's Thunder Spears, and tells the others to distract Bertolt. Jean orders Armin to stay back and observe, while trying to encourage him to have hope. As the others go off on their separate tasks, Eren races towards Bertolt's leg, trying to hold him back. For a moment, it seems like he has got him, until Bertolt pulls his leg back and flings Eren into the Wall. The others stare in shock at an incapacitated Eren.

Summary
As Bertolt's Colossus Titan rampages through Shiganshina District, Connie becomes hysterical, laughing at the flaming debris Bertolt is throwing through the air. As Sasha and Jean silence Connie, Mikasa and Armin observe that Bertolt does not know their position, and Eren grows enraged at Bertolt for further desecrating his home. Without Hange to lead them, the team turns to Armin for leadership, and Armin suggests retreating over Wall Maria, beyond Bertolt's reach, and wait until he runs out of power. Jean, however, disagrees with Armin's plan, pointing out that Bertolt will simply be able to throw more wreckage over the Wall to attack, and the fact that the Survey Corps' lack of supplies would leave them unable to wait for Bertolt to become exhausted. Realizing that a fight with Bertolt is unavoidable, Armin asks Jean to take charge, and lead them. Jean reluctantly accepts, but he makes it clear to Armin that he will not be able to formulate a plan to fight Bertolt, and will need Armin's help.

Atop Wall Maria, Erwin observes Bertolt's advance, wondering if everything is going according to Zeke's plan.

As Levi watches Zeke from the battlefield, one of the Survey Corps' Squad Leaders arrives to report that his Squad has finished off their section of Titans. Observing that Zeke has not made a move yet, the Squad Leader volunteers to finish the rest of the nearby mindless Titan while Levi rests. As he waits, Levi begins to wonder what has happened to Hange's group, noting that Bertolt did not immediately transform after being thrown into Shiganshina. It is at this moment that Levi is assaulted by a barrage of rocks. Turning his attention to the battle again, Levi is horrified to see Squads Dirk, Marlene, and Klaus being torn apart by a barrage of rocks being launched by Zeke. As Levi takes cover, Erwin attempts to warn the remaining soldiers of the attack.

Surviving the attack, Levi returns to the base of Wall Maria, and meets up with the recruits who have been tasked with guarding the horses. As they take cover from Zeke's attack, Erwin arrives and informs them of the losses incurred by the Corps at the hands of both Zeke and Bertolt. As the recruits begin to panic at the prospect of being the only remaining soldiers, Levi asks Erwin if he has another plan.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Wall, Eren attempts to get Bertolt's attention to draw him away from Wall Maria, but he and his comrades are surprised when Bertolt chooses to ignore them. Desperate to halt Bertolt's advance, Jean decides to commence a direct attack on Bertolt, ordering Armin to stay back and observe, while Mikasa takes Connie's Thunder Spear. As his comrades spread out around Bertolt, Eren attempts to stop Bertolt's advance by grabbing one of his legs. For a moment, as they watch, Squad Levi begins to believe that Eren has halted Bertolt, and that they will be able to defeat him. However, their hopes are dashed when Bertolt calmly flings Eren off with a kick, sending him flying across Shiganshina, and into Wall Maria, leaving him incapacitated.