Mercy: Assault on Stohess, Part 2

Mercy is the twenty-fourth episode of the Attack on Titan anime. It is 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 tunnel collapse 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 Dawk 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 Scouting Legion 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 shocked when he realizes the true identity of their enemy.

Back in the present, Eren, Armin and Mikasa are forced to hide in the tunnels and are heading to group with other Scouting Legion members. They are suddenly stopped by Annie who stomps through the roof of the tunnel, killing their fellow soldiers and forcing the group to fight back. Eren attempts to transform, but he fails. Mikasa suspects it may be because of 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 of 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 fight off Annie, Jean abandons his disguise and goes to help Armin. Erwin gets ready 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 Hanji manages to temporarily immobilize Annie in an attempt to capture her, which ultimately fails. Jean and Armin are forced to help distract the Titan, and Eren, now impaled through the chest, remembers the deaths of fellow soldiers and his mother. He remembers Mikasa and Armin's words of the world being cruel, and to having to sacrifice to achieve victory. Now filled with new resolve, Eren manages to push himself through the object impaling him, drawing a lot of blood which causes his transformation in to a titan. Eren starts running at Annie, who is caught off guard, and manages to land a straight punch on her face. She crashes in to a building, and the episode ends with Eren running towards Annie, roaring.