Royal Government arc

The Uprising arc is the sixth story arc of the Attack on Titan series.

Introduction
The situation inside the Walls becomes critical after the murder of Pastor Nick and a subsequent attempt to kidnap Eren and Historia. Knowing that the monarchy's actions greatly endanger humankind, Erwin begins his plan - the plan to overthrow the government.

Summary
The soldiers finally return after Eren's rescue, albeit in a terrible state and with a lot of casualties. Eren blames himself for allowing to be captured, however, after Jean and others speak to him about the possible ability of him controlling the Titans, he regains his resolve. Meanwhile, it is revealed that humanity would barely have enough food to support the refugees for a week if Wall Rose were to fall. Dot Pixis reveals these details to Erwin. Levi expresses pity at Erwin's lost arm, but Erwin claims it's a small price for all the soldiers that have died due to his orders. They are then joined by Connie and Hange who reveal the possibility of Titans being humans completely fused within their body. This theory is supported by the events in the Ragako Village as all the humans have seemingly turned into Titans, including Connie's parents, much to his sorrow. The Beast Titan is concluded to be the culprit of the Ragako disaster. Levi then reveals to Erwin that his team has been remade with several members of the 104th Trainees Squad members in order to watch over Historia and Eren. Far away from any civilization, Eren is reminded of the original Levi Squad as his new team bickers among themselves.

Some time later, as an imperfect Titan form of Eren falls to the ground, Mikasa and Hange are forced to remove Eren's body from the Titan by force. A day later, after Eren wakes up, not remembering anything, he is informed of the experiments' results, learning that he has shown no signs of the hardening ability and even lost his intelligence after mysteriously recalling about his father. After Levi describes their situation to be quite bleak and Hange suggests to focus on the Wallists, Eren suddenly witnesses an image of a girl, not knowing her identity or where the memories of her come from. In the capital city, Mitras, Erwin rides a carriage along with Nile Dok, when the former questions the later about Pastor Nick's murder, much to the shock of the Military Police Brigade's Commander. It is revealed that the interior Military Police is not directly under the Brigade's command. The two then recall their past as they talk about Nile's wife, Marie, and eventually Erwin's decision to choose Titans over her. Meanwhile, Levi's Squad receives their orders from Erwin and they eventually reach the Trost District. After Levi is confronted by several villagers, Eren and Historia end up being kidnapped. However, it is revealed that the two kidnapped are Armin and Jean in disguise. Mikasa and Levi easily track the kidnappers' location and prepare to act, the latter ready for action with his foot injury feeling better.

The kidnappers enter the warehouse where Armin and Jean are being kept and are ambushed by Mikasa and Levi who had taken out the guards before their arrival. Subduing the three kidnappers, Levi interrogates the boss who Mikasa recognizes as the merchant boss, Dimo Reeves, that was blocking the gate during the Trost incident. Insisting he doesn't know anything, Levi takes Dimo to the top of the wall blocked by Eren overlooking Trost. He points out that Eren blocking the broken gate is what saved the merchant's town, then he asks him what his motives were for kidnapping Eren and Historia and the negotiations between the brigade for doing it. Claiming he was following orders and that he was threatened, not bribed, Dimo points out that as a result of their failure his business will be seized by the government and his workers will lose their jobs in addition to his and others' lives being silenced. Levi talks about how if the merchant's business vanishes, Trost will stop functioning and many would suffer. To this Dimo asks if he will give Eren and Historia to prevent that which Levi replies he will under three condtiions. That his company would rise up against the government and central brigade with the Scout Regiment, that the company will completely trust the Scouts, and that whenever the Reeves Company obtains rare food or luxury items, they will first give it to the Scout Regiment to which the merchant accepts all conditions. On a rainy night, Dimo takes two of the Central Brigade's officers, Sanes and Ralph, in a wagon to where he tells them he's keeping Eren and Historia. The wagon slips of the edge of a cliff and the two officers fall into a running river and disappear. As this was Dimo's plan, the officers are taken by the Survey Corps where Sanes is bound to a chair with Levi holding pliers, wearing a blood-stained apron, and Hange setting a tray of small torture tools.

Erwin Smith presents Dot Pixis with his proposal to overthrow the government. The commanders discuss the risks involved in doing so, and Pixis challenges Erwin to convince him of the value of his plan. While they wait for a messenger to arrive with news, Erwin reveals his back story and the event that shaped his life: his father's death at the hands of the government. Hange and Levi carry out the interrogation of the captured members of the 1st Squad, brutally torturing Djel Sanes for information. His screams disturb the younger members who overhear this, who realize just how far they may have to go to win. Sanes finally breaks and discloses the secret of the Reiss family. Armed with this information, Erwin finalizes his plan by proposing that they install Historia as the new ruler. Meanwhile, Eren continues recalling more and more about him confronting Reiner and Bertolt, so he rushes to write everything down. Meanwhile, Hange talks to Djel Sanes and Ralph in their cell, revealing that Djel has been tricked into leaking the information. An angered Hange then meets Eren who hands her the notes about his experience and she quickly rushes to Erwin's place. At the same time, it is revealed to the members of Levi's squad and Reeves Company that Historia is to be the next queen. Even though the girl is initally against it, after Levi's pressure, she agrees with the plan and according to Erwin's orders, the Reeves Company is to hand Eren and Historia to the 1st Military Police Squad in order to find Rod Reiss. However, Captain Ackerman, the man who had previously slaughtered Historia's mother appears, killing Dimo Reeves and taking the two hostages.

Hange meets Erwin in Trost and tells him about Eren's recollection of the conversation between Reiner, Bertolt and Ymir. According to this new information, it seems that Titans can absorb powers from the people they consume; it is also theorized that the other Shifters wanted Eren in this manner, so that they could claim the Shifting power and Coordinate power from him. Hange also theorizes that Rod Reiss wants to do the same to Eren; feed him to a Titan that is loyal to his cause, so that Titan can be controlled. As the Survey Corps is wrongfully implicated in Dimo Reeves' death, Erwin goes for questioning under the escort of the Military Police. Meanwhile, Hange finds Flegel Reeves and she learns how Edward truly died. However, Squad Levi is preparing to find Eren and Historia; but before they can make progress, Kenny Ackerman attacks using a unique version of 3DMG, and confronts Levi. Nifa and two others are killed while Levi fights Kenny.

Levi sneaks into a bar while arguing with Kenny. Kenny talks about his purpose and self-interest in killing people, mocking Levi for joining the Survey Corps. Levi manages to temporarily halt Kenny and makes his getaway, with Kenny stating that his plans are failing. Jean, Mikasa, Armin, Connie and Saha catch up with Levi while following the carriage in which Eren and Historia are in. Levi and Mikasa kill many of their pursuers, but Jean is hesitant in killing humans, and hesitates when a MP member subdues him and points a gun at his face. Armin quickly shoots and kills the Military Police member.

Eren and Historia are finally removed from their coffin cages and are greeted by Kenny and Historia's father, Rod Reiss. But before anything else happens, Rod, with tears in his eyes, profusely apologizes to his daughter while embracing her, shocking both Eren and Historia.

Squad Levi are resting at a barn far away. Armin is sick with guilt and Levi comforts him with the knowledge that, had Armin not pulled the trigger, Jean would be dead and the squad would not have escaped.