Attack on Titan Episode 18: Forest of Giant Trees: 57th Expedition Beyond the Walls (2)

Armin, Jean, and Reiner regroup after losses, tending to their gear and whistling for lost horses while Armin recalls the Female Titan's intense gaze. Reiner snaps him out of it, urging a plan, and Jean fires an emergency signal; Christa Lenz arrives with horses, including Jean's, providing temporary relief.

The Female Titan rampages through the Scout Regiment, slaughtering soldiers with graceful agility: she crushes a squad by yanking their ODM gear wires like strings, kicks away stragglers trying to report, and devastates the right wing.

News of the right wing's destruction reaches the central cart squad, where Eren and others puzzle over the lack of retreat orders; meanwhile, left-wing soldiers grow anxious as the formation veers toward the dense Forest of Giant Trees.

Commander Erwin redirects only the central supply carts into the forest while flanking squads circle around; Sasha questions the altered course but is told to proceed.

Jean’s group, off-course, is ordered by a senior soldier to position atop the trees and block any Titans entering; Armin deduces the route change is bait to lure the Female Titan, with their squad acting as decoys to divert Titans from the center.

Black smoke signals erupt from Squad Levi's position as they enter the forest; the Female Titan bursts in at blazing speed, shrugging off pursuing Scouts.

Squad Levi panics, repeatedly asking Captain Levi for orders amid the chaos; Petra Ral urges action, Oluo Bozado suggests attacking, and Eren smirks, believing the Titan has doomed itself against these elite fighters.

Four soldiers, led by Darius Baer Walbrunn, confront the Female Titan; Walbrunn fires a black smoke signal to halt it and orders a three-pronged strike, but the Titan leaps, crushing two (one against a building, one underfoot), then spins the third on his wire until inertia snaps his spine and folds him; Walbrunn flees to warn others.

Levi remains composed, finally instructing his squad to cover their ears as he fires a signal flare.