Predatory Cycle

Hoshoku no Kōzu (捕食の構図) is the eighth chapter of the Before the Fall manga, written by Ryō Suzukaze and illustrated by Satoshi Shiki.

Summary
Upon driving his knife into the Titan's eye, Kuklo is immediately hurled away by the Titan. As he falls towards the ground, Kuklo drives his knife into the Titan's skin in a desperate attempt to slow his descent. Landing on the ground, Kuklo is left disoriented, and is nearly crushed under the Titan's foot, but is saved by the timely arrival of Carlo Pikale. Kuklo attempts to thank Carlo, but the commander praises Kuklo's knife, noting that it is probably made of the same material as the gear the Survey Corps uses, and that anything else likely would not have penetrated the Titan's skin.

Hearing screaming, the two turn to see the Titan devouring the soldier that drove Kuklo's cart. Enraged, the soldier's comrades begin to attack, but are immediately swatted away by the Titan. Watching the Titan massacre the soldiers, Carlo tries to organize the troops' attack patterns, and sends a squad to retrieve the deceased soldiers' horses. As the soldiers attack, Carlo orders anyone who has lost their horse to retreat, but wonders if they can't hear him when they don't obey.

As the Titan alternates between eating and imply killing the attacking soldiers, Carlo continues to try to organize everyone. Kuklo asks him if they will be able to kill the Titan, but Carlo informs him that they can't, as they lack their trump card. Carlo explains to Kuklo that the Titan's regenerating ability means that the Corps can't kill it by cutting it, and Kuklo asks why they simply don't retreat. Carlo notes that, even if they did run, Wall Maria is too far away for them to reach before the Titan catches them.

Carlo informs Kuklo that he will be sending Kuklo back to Maria with the retrieval squad, while he gradually sends more and more members of the attacking and assisting squads whenever the opportunity presents itself. Kuklo suggests a different tactic, showing Carlo the wrecked cart with the box of gunpowder. Carlo, agreeing with Kuklo's idea, says that they will need one of the canisters of gunpowder, but Kuklo reveals that he has hidden one on his person. Carlo asks if they will be able to complete Kuklo's plan, and Kuklo determinedly tells Carlo that he will prove that he can.