Small Blade: The Struggle for Trost, Part 3

The Small Blade is the seventh episode of the Attack on Titan anime. It is produced by Wit Studio and Production I.G. This episode marks the first appearance of the Rogue Titan as the surviving trainees try to break into the supply HQ and escape from Trost District.

Summary
As the Titans continue ravaging Trost, the trainees in charge of supplying gas are seen begging Captain Verman not to leave the HQ. Without proper manpower, any Titan attack would cut off soldiers on the front from resupplying runs and leave everyone vulnerable. While Verman says that he must leave to oversee the organization of reinforcements, the trainees imply that he simply wishes to go to the safer inner district. He grows angry at their implications and silences them under threat of treason.

Meanwhile, Mikasa arrives just to find out that a large group of trainees have not retreated yet. She notices they are focused on the supply HQ and realizes that it is under attack and suppliers cannot leave the HQ. Inside the HQ, the soldiers are hiding in hopes not to be found out by Titans. One of them works on reloading his gun. As he is done, another soldier asks him about the point of his action. Without any reply, the soldier inserts the gun into his mouth and shoots, much to the horror of other soldiers.

Outside, Connie talks to a demoralized Jean as everyone has run low on gas and with the Titan attack on the HQ, they cannot resupply. Conie says they should all go to the HQ because they are out of options and to do nothing would attract Titans to their current position. However, Jean notes that the low number of trainees and lack of a capable leader among them would stop the formation of such a plan. Sasha offers to take point, but no one listens to her as they are all traumatized or demoralized.

The only people who have not totally given in to despair are Annie, Reiner, Bertholdt and Marco. Annie asks Reiner what to do, but Reiner says the time is not right and that they must group up first. At that moment, Mikasa comes by looking for Eren. Annie directs her to Armin who, upon hearing Mikasa, begins stressing about the fate that had befallen Eren. He lists the names of all who died in Squad 34 while crying. Seemingly emotionless herself, Mikasa tells him they cannot afford to be emotional now and bringing Armin to his feet, goes to Marco to confirm that getting into the supply HQ will allow the trainees to escape. As she is preparing to head for the HQ, the rest of the trainees tell her that she cannot make it to the supply HQ. However, she brags that she is strong and can make it there without the needing the others. She calls them cowards and belittles them for giving up so soon. When some try to complain and say she will die, Mikasa acknowledges the risk involved. However, she adds that if she wins, then she can live and leaves for the HQ. As everyone is in stunned silence, Jean is heartened and rallies everyone to follow Mikasa's lead and the trainees leave with new determination.

Mikasa kills all the Titans in the way, but Armin notices that she is using too much gas. He realizes she is suffering from losing Eren and by fighting, can relieve the pain. Armin's prediction turns out to be true and as Mikasa crashes onto the street below, Armin and Connie leave to rescue her with Jean becoming the next vanguard. Falling onto a market tent, Mikasa thinks about how she has lost her family again with Eren's death. As she ponders what to do, a Titan begins walking toward her. Meanwhile Jean and the rest of the group are on a roof closer to the HQ as they survey the situation. Multiple Titans are blocking the path when they notice that a trainee who has run out of gas attracting the Titans. Some people try to help him, but they are devoured as well.

Mikasa stows her blades away and reminisces about her time in the world. For all the ugliness in the world, she believes she had a good life, meeting Eren and submits to her fate. As the Titan reaches down to pick her up, Mikasa suddenly cuts off its finger and evades its grasp. It continues to attack her, but she dodges all the blows instinctively and wonders what is keeping her from letting herself die. She turns to run down the street, but another Titan appears from that direction, cornering her. It is then that she remembers Eren's command to fight when they were children. She promises herself to never give up fighting again in order to retain her memories of Eren and prepares to take on the Titans.

However, the second Titan steps over Mikasa and punches out the jaw of the other Titan. This Rogue Titan ignores Mikasa and with a savage war cry, pounds the first Titan into the ground, giving Armin and Connie enough time to get Mikasa to the roofs. They are all shocked at this new Titan as they watch it dispatch another Titan using elements of hand-to-hand combat. Focusing back onto the problem at hand, Armin trades his nearly full gas canister with Mikasa's and gives her his compliment of blades.

She realizes that in her own remorse at learning of Eren's death, she endangered the lives of the other trainees by having them follow her. Moreover, she gave up on life when they were counting on her. As Armin is about to leave himself behind with a single broken blade to commit suicide with, Mikasa takes the small blade and flings it off the roof, promising Armin that he will not be left behind. Mikasa then recalls the moment of the Rogue Titan's appearance and states that even though she was initially confused, the sight of the Titan felt like the reification of mankind's anger.