Descent (Chapter)

 is the 4th and final chapter of the 19th volume and the 78th chapter overall of the Attack on Titan manga, written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama.

Summary
As Erwin Smith watches the barrel containing Bertolt Hoover fly into Shiganshina, he laments that the Corps has been outsmarted by the Beast Titan.

Hange Zoë orders her soldiers to evacuate the immediate area to avoid Bertolt, but Armin Arlert notes that they won't be able to move fast enough to escape the blast from Bertolt's landing.

As he observes the ground below from his barrel, Bertolt prepares to transform into his Titan form, but is alarmed by the sight of Reiner's mangled body. Putting a halt to his plan, Bertolt exits the barrel and uses his Three Dimensional Maneuver Gear to approach Reiner's body, where he is relieved to find that Reiner is still alive. Deducing that Reiner survived by transferring his consciousness to his nervous system, Bertolt notes his disbelief that Reiner would utilize such a risky tactic. Steeling himself, Bertolt asks Reiner to either try to move, or brace himself for Bertolt's next attack.

Elsewhere, Hange notes that Bertolt has stopped his attack to check on Reiner, and to take the oppurtunity to attack him. As Bertolt approaches, Hange leaves Squad Levi to protect Eren while her team fights Bertolt, but she is stopped from attacking by Armin, who insists on trying to negotiate with Bertolt one last time.

When asked to negotiate by Armin, Bertolt states that he has two demands: for the Survey Corps to turn over Eren, and for the complete destruction of humanity withing the Walls. In desperation, Armin tries to manipulate Bertolt by reminding him of Annie Leonhart's torture, but is surprised to find that Bertolt no longer believes his lie. Armin tries to flee, but is stopped by Bertolt, who reveals that he knows that Armin is trying to buy time for the Survey Corps soldiers to surround them while others go to finish off Reiner. A terrified Armin asks why Bertolt agreed to talk if he had deduced the his plans, and Bertolt reveals that he wanted to make sure he wouldn't break down like he did the last time he faced his former comrades. Armin asks if Bertolt and his people are trying to kill the residents of the Walls because they are descendants of evil, but Bertolt assures him that they have not done anything wrong, they just need to die.

Mikasa Ackerman attacks Bertolt from behind, but only manages to slice off his ear before being kicked away. Bertolt attempts to kill Armin, but is stopped by Mikasa and quickly retreats. Mikasa stops Armin from pursuing Bertolt, suggesting that they retreat so that they aren't caught in the blast if he changes to his Titan form. Armin argues out that Bertolt wouldn't risk transforming with Reiner incapacitated and unable to escape the blast, but Mikasa that Bertolt didn't seem to be himself, and seemed to have something planned.

The soldiers sent to finish off Reiner prepare to kill him, but are surprised to see that Reiner's Titan form has rolled onto its back so that they can no longer reach Reiner in his Titan's nape.

As Bertolt maneuvers through Shiganshina with his Three Dimensional Maneuver Gear, he calmly notes that he doesn't feel any fear, despite the approaching Survey Corps soldiers. As he propels himself into the air over Shiganshina, Bertolt notes that no one is at fault. Nothing could have made a difference in such a cruel world.

Seeing Bertolt ascend into the air, Hange frantically orders her soldiers to retreat, as Bertolt begins to transform. Squad Levi take refuge from the blast of Bertolt's transformation, as Hange's squad is engulfed in the blast from Bertolt's Titan. As Mikasa and Armin reunite with the rest of Squad Levi, Jean demands to know what happened to Hange's squad, and Armin reveals that they had been next to Bertolt when he transformed. As Squad Levi observes Bertolt's Titan form towering over the flaming wreckage of Shinganshina, they are stunned to see that they are the only ones who survived the blast.