Ymir (Chapter)

Ymir is the 40th chapter of Shingeki no Kyojin. It mainly follows the character Ymir and her story with Christa Renz. The chapter is 45 pages long and was released on the 9th of December 2012.

Summary
The chapter starts with the Hairy Titan climbing up the wall. Meanwhile the panel shows dozens of titans swarming around Castle Utgard. This takes place 20 hours after the titan sighting. Gerger and Nanaba are engaging the titans in combat and are do a good job. Nanaba manages to take down a few titans even though he knocks down a convenient tower and Gerger uses the little gas he has to take out a 7 meter class. The two continue to take out titans but they're low on gas and their blades are almost completely blunt. Nanaba states the losing of the convenient tower may be a problem and they both reiterate that they are out of gas. Nanaba asks Gerger how many titans they think they have killed and Gerber replies with "I lost count". Gerger being himself says "Before I'm gone, I only wish I could have drunk that vine." Nanaba has none of it and says he is talking crazy. Gerger tells Nanaba he is sorry and that because of his injured head, he is unable to continue. He then releases his 3D maneuver gear and a titan grabs him. Nanaba then jumps to try and save him and succeeds in doing so by cutting out the titan's nape. The dead titan falls forward and smashes Gerger through the wall. Gerger is happy about this as he falls next to some vine. He thanks God for this. Gerger puts the bottle to his mouth only for nothing to come out. He says "How cruel, not a single drop left." he sheds a tear and a titan is seen behind him. Meanwhile Nanaba is back up against the wall surrounded by titans. This proves to be the end for both of them. Gerger is grabbed and yells "Who drank it!?!?"

The trainee squad witness all of this and Christa throws stones at the titans thinking it would save their superiors. The trainee squad are traumatized and all sit down. Conny Springer starts pounding on the wall and yells "Shit! Shit! Isn't there something we can do! Shit!". He then calms down and says "At least my life had some meaning and some purpose, but we're all gonna get annihilated without even completing our mission". Christa agrees and states "I only wish I had a weapon" Ymir calls bullshit. She tells Christa not to view her superiors death that way and that they didn't die just so she could have an excuse to commit suicide. Christa says that Ymir is wrong. Ymir does not except her lies. Ymir tells her that she should try to remember the promise she made her while they were training.

The chapter cuts to a flashback and the page shows a snowy mountain with Ymir and Christa. Christa is dragging a body bag up the mountain. Ymir tells Christa to give up and that Dazz is standing at deaths door. A close up of the body bag is shown and Ymir says that Dazz was a guy who couldn't evaluate his physical capabilities. The person in the bag was revealed to be Dazz. Ymir says "If we keep walking at this snail pace all 3 of us will just end up dying" She then gives Christa 2 choices, her and Christa live or all 3 of them die. Christa says that her choice is that they make it to the mountain cabin and all live. After a couple of minutes of silence, Ymir tells Christa that it would be easier if they both carry the bag so why hasn't Christa asked her yet. Christa doesn't reply. Ymir says "I knew it, you aren't really trying to save Dazz, are you?" She then continues by saying "You said it was dangerous, I bet the only reason your trying is because you want to accomplish death" Christa tells Ymir that she is wrong and that she was doing it for the greater good. Ymir tells Christa that Christa wanted her and Dazz to die so that Ymir could return home and tell the world about how Christa was a hero. Christa keeps denying it. Ymir reveals that Christa is the illegitimate child from the house of mistress thrown onto the street. Ymir reveals that she knew this because she over heard a conversation about trying to kill Christa to make things easier. Ymir then promised that she wouldn't sell Christa out. Christa realizes that, that was the reason Ymir joined the trainee squad. Ymir says that she has experienced similar things. She then takes it back and says that herself and Christa are completely different. She values life while Christa looks for any excuse to die. Ymir takes Dazz and says that if she throws him off the cliff he would land next to a cabin. Christa says that it's a bad idea as the cliff is too high. Ymir and Dazz go to the edge of the cliff.

The scene jumps to Ymir sitting outside the cabin. Christa runs to her and asks where Dazz is. Ymir tells her that he is in the cabin. Christa asks her how Dazz and her survived the jump. Ymir says "I will tell you but only if you promise to hold your head high and value your life."

The story comes back in the current time as the Titans are near-ready with demolishing the tower. Daytime has come and Connie is relieved he can still see the dawn before dying, when suddenly Ymir asks Connie if she can use his knife and when Connie asks why Ymir just replies "For fighting." She looks into Christa's worrisome eyes and asks for a wish, the wish that she lives her life with her head held tight. As she says this she starts running and jumps off the tower, despite Christa's attempt to hold her back.

In mid-air she cuts her hand while thinking back her life. When suddenly just before she falls into the titans clutches she transforms into a titan herself and quickly disposes of a few titans. The scouts in the tower are terribly surprised, except two of them, who look at the newly formed titan with a look of fright and disgust. Reiner and Berthold both remember that the titan, Ymir, was the one which killed their friend.