Whereabouts of His Left Arm: The Struggle for Trost, Part 5

The Left Arm's Trace is the ninth episode of the Attack on Titan anime. It is produced by Wit Studio and Production I.G. This episode introduces the several members of Survey Corps in action against the Titans while Eren and others face the soldiers in an attempt to prove that they mean no harm to humanity.

Summary
"One of the reasons why the Titan's attack on Trost District claimed so many soldiers' lives was due to the absence of the elite soldiers of the Survey Corps" states the narrator at the beginning of the episode. We go back to the day of the departure of the Survey Corps. Among the townspeople, Eren, Mikasa and Armin watch their departure. One of the townspeople spots Levi, and then says that in battle, he is worth as an entire brigade. Levi, hearing this, gets a little irritated. Hange Zoë makes a joke that they would be heartbroken if they knew how much of a clean freak he was.

Before leaving, Hange imagines what kind of Titans they will see. She hopes that they'll meet some abnormal ones. Levi comments that he can already see one which makes Hange searching around. Levi then pats her and says to her that the abnormal one is right here, in front of him.

The soldiers entrusted with the mission this time are mankind's best and brightest soldiers. Even so, when troops advance into Titan's territory, the casualties still exceed 30%. While out for the mission, one of the soldiers is caught by a Titan. Half inside the giant's mouth, he threatens him, saying that humans will exterminate them, particularly Levi. As he says this, Levi shows up and disposes of the Titan. With reinforcements arriving, he orders Petra Ral to take care of the wounded soldier. He then orders the reinforcements to take the right flank, while he takes the left.

Elsewhere, Hange enjoys the mission. She confronts one of the Titans, and then says that they won't hurt it at all. The Titan ignores Hange's words and tries to grab her, but Hange quickly dodges and cuts its nape. She then lands on the ground, while asking the Titan if their attack didn't hurt at all before it falls.

As we go back to Levi, as he approaches a group of Titans, he thinks to himself that they are all the same; the same ridiculous faces. He gets blood on his hands when he finishes a Titan off, causing him to take pause and immediately clean it up. Taking a short break, he rejoins Petra and the soldier he saved earlier. The Soldier, with his last breath(s) asks Levi if he had been useful. Encouraging him, he takes the soldier's hand and tells him he has done more than enough, which allows him to die in peace. Commander Erwin approaches them on a horse, informing them that they must retreat. When Levi questions him, Erwin informs him that the Titans aer moving north - towards the city. Worried that the wall may already be breached, they leave.

Fast forwars to when Eren was eaten by a Titan right in front of Armin, the mouth bites down, amputating Eren's left arm. Now in the Titan's stomach, Eren is surrounded by fellow dead or dying soldiers. In disbelief, he remembers all of his training and how he's changed these past five years. He begins to remember his mom. Questioning why the Titans took everything from him, he again swears he "will destroy them all(!)."

Eren, growing even more desperate and despairing, reaches towards the Titan's throat with his missing arm. Then, suddenly, an enormous arm explodes out of the Titan's mouth, cuasing it to stumble stupidly, before falling face first. As the Titan lay on the ground, the Rogue Titan emerges from the Titan's back in a shower of gore. But Eren isn't finished. Desperate for revenge, Eren decapitates the Titan that ate him with a single, powerful stomp, before engaging in unarmed combat with another Titan, and slaying it with his bear hands.

Returning to the present, a semi-unconscious Eren wakes up muttering "I'll kill you". Then he notices the frightened and misunderstanding soldiers, who want to kill Eren, as they believe that he is Titan who wants to devour them all. The leader of this group is none other than the officer who commanded the diasterous battle.

Inside Wall Rose, Connie explains how they were able to refill their gas and escape from Trost with Ymir, Krista and the other soldiers. Krista asks about the rest of the soldiers that aren't there, and Connie announces their dooms with mournful expression. Ymir questions Mikasa's whereabouts, and Connie replies that he thinks Mikasa has come back late with Jean. She asks Jean if Mikasa was wounded, but Jean refuses to answer it, saying that he has sworn to keep it secret from the others, but believing that soon everyone will know it.

On top of the wall, Hannes is talking about how good the new defense plan the technical crew made, but they still cannot let their guard down. When he looks at his comrade's face he asks what's wrong with him. His comrade says that he worries about his friends that stayed in the vanguard. Hannes encourages him to stay focused on interception, but then his comrade asks about Eren, Mikasa and Armin because he heard they also remained in vanguard. He then apologizes for talking too much, but Hannes says that he believes in them.

Meanwhile, Eren is given a difficult situation; If he says something  the officer considers deceitful or move even an inch, a cannon is ready to shoot him anytime. Then, the officer questions him, asking if he is a human or a Titan. Not understanding, Eren asks what he means. Losing patience, the officer states that there were numerous witnesses that saw him coming out of the Titan, which in effect, makes him the enemy. Not wanting to risk any more soldiers, an officer near him suggests that they kill him while he's still in human form.

Mikasa overhears her, and threatens to brutally kill anyone who trys to harm Eren and co. The soldier in charge of the rear guard imfroms the officer that Mikasa is one of their best, and it would be a great loss if she was killed. While Armin suggests fleeing, Eren tries to remember what has happened. He looks at his left arm, and he starts to realize that what he saw wasn't just a dream. When the officer asks again what he is, Eren knows that his answer affects his friends as well. Eren answers that he is human,  but the officer dosen't buy it, and orders the cannons to fire on them. Mikasa grabs Eren and tells him and Armin that they are going away.

At that exact moment, Eren witnesses a key coming out from his shirt. Looking at it, Eren recalls his father giving him the key, telling him to keep it on him at all times, and then giving him an injection that damaged his memories of that moment. Then he remembers the basement of his former home, saying that although it would be an insanely dangerous journey, they would have everything they would ever need to destroy the Titans, once and for all. Time seems to slow down as one last quote rings through his head: "If you wish to protect Mikasa and Armin, you must embrace this power, and become its master". The cannon fires. Eren, thinking fast, grabs his friends, and then bites his hand. Eren transforms into the Rogue Titan once more, catching the cannonball, and shielding Armin and Mikasa with his ribcage. Eren awakens, exits the Titan again, and then returns to Armin and Mikasa. After some debate, Armin, in a last ditch effort, is dispatched to convince the soldiers to let them live in exchange for all the intelligence they collected.

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