Attack on Titan Episode 30: Historia

Some years ago, cadets of the 104th Cadet Corps complete a snowstorm training exercise, arriving at a base at the foot of a mountain. Reiner announces that Christa is missing. Mikasa states Christa had chosen to stick with Daz, who was performing poorly, but Reiner clarifies that Daz and Ymir have also not returned. Marco suggests Christa might be with Thomas' squad, but Reiner points out his squad just completed their course without Ymir, Daz, or Christa. Worrying for their safety, Eren proposes organizing a search, but their training instructor says a search will begin the next morning. Eren insists it will be too late, but the instructor states more cadet lives cannot be risked in the snowstorm.

Elsewhere in the storm, Christa and Ymir make their way through a forest with Daz unconscious in a cot pulled by Christa. Ymir says they will only survive if they abandon Daz and head for base together, but Christa insists they can all survive if Ymir goes ahead alone while Christa takes Daz. Ymir notices Christa has not asked for help during their entire course and realizes Christa has no intention of saving Daz or herself. She says it would be against Christa's character to cause Daz's death while seeking her own heroic end, but Christa denies this.

Ymir reveals she knows Christa's past as the daughter of a nobleman's mistress whose life was at risk. Recalling her days before training, Ymir reveals that while in the interior, she overheard the Order of the Walls discussing Christa's existence. Since an illegitimate child could not properly succeed the head of the family, they considered ending her life, but ultimately decided to give her a new name and an inconspicuous life, which led to her joining the Cadet Corps. Christa wonders if Ymir joined the Cadet Corps to find her, and Ymir proposes it may be due to her own similar past. Christa wonders if Ymir originally wanted to befriend her, but Ymir says they are nothing alike. Unlike Christa, Ymir kept her old name after starting a new life, believing abandoning her name would be admitting defeat. By living for herself, she robs her enemies of their power. Ymir scolds Christa for looking for death instead of directing her feelings towards her enemies, and Christa says there is no longer any way for all three of them to survive their mission.

Ymir leads Christa to a cliff overlooking the base at the foot of the mountain and proposes tossing Daz over the edge so she and Christa can make it to base alive while Daz can be searched for later. When Christa objects, Ymir throws her aside into a snowbank. Ymir wanders off while Christa is submerged, and there is a flash of light in the distance. When Christa escapes from the snow and returns to the cliff, Ymir and Daz are nowhere to be found.

Back at base, Eren prepares to head outside in search of the others, and Mikasa and Armin decide to help. Reiner and Bertholdt also decide to join, bringing more equipment. Conny, Marco, and Sasha agree to come along as well. Suddenly, a loud crash like thunder is heard outside, and the cadets head outdoors to investigate. In the distance, Sasha spots Ymir dragging Daz through the snow. Some time later, Christa arrives and spots Ymir outside the base. She asks about Daz, and Ymir shows her that Daz is safe indoors. Upon looking at the cliff from the ground, Christa sees that such a descent would be impossible without rope. Ymir decides to reveal to Christa how she saved Daz, but only if Christa promises to live by her true name when her secret eventually becomes known to everyone.

Years later at Utgard Castle, Ymir leaps into the horde of Titans below. Ymir thinks to herself that she and Christa were the same in their youth, hated by the world and believing that things would be better had they not been born. To bring happiness to many people, Ymir gave up her life, but upon receiving a second chance she decided to live only for herself. Slitting her palm with Conny's knife, she triggers the power of the Titans and transforms into her own Titan form.

Ymir's Titan descends into the horde and begins slaughtering Titans. From atop the tower, the other recruits look on in disbelief. Reiner and Bertholdt stare in horror as they recognize Ymir's Titan as the one that ate their friend five years ago. Ymir's combat shakes the tower and Christa nearly falls, but Reiner catches her. She thanks him, but in a moment of dissociation he keeps his grip on Christa's ankle, unconsciously squeezing her. After Christa and Conny snap Reiner out of it, he asks Christa if she was aware of Ymir's powers. She claims she never knew despite how close they were, and Reiner realizes Ymir possesses knowledge the rest of humanity in the Walls does not. Conny says Ymir was seemingly aware of her powers, unlike Eren when his Titan form first appeared in Trost. The recruits begin to wonder where Ymir's allegiances lie and what her goals are.

Ymir's fight with the Titans begins to go downhill as she is overpowered. She clutches to the bricks of the tower, but lets go after the bricks begin to slip. The others realize Ymir does not want the tower to fall, and that she is protecting them rather than escaping. Christa cries out to Ymir, scolding her for her selflessness. She tells her to live for herself and destroy the tower if that is what it takes to defeat the Titans. Hearing Christa's words, Ymir begins to tear the tower apart, throwing bricks and rubble at the Titans. As the tower begins to collapse, Ymir leaps to the top and tells the others to grab onto her if they want to live. Ymir's Titan finds a safe position atop the tower as it collapses on top of the horde, crushing many beneath the rubble.

After the dust clears, some Titans begin to emerge from the rubble. Ymir returns to the fight, but her Titan is quickly overpowered and outnumbered as more Titans climb out of the stone. The Titans rush her and begin to eat away at her Titan, tearing it apart as the recruits stand by unable to help. Christa begins running to Ymir, calling out to her and reminding her of their promise. Christa stops in her tracks when a Titan turns a corner in front of her and reaches out, when suddenly a Scout flies by and slices the Titan's nape. The Scout, Mikasa Ackermann, tells the other recruits to stand aside while the Scout Regiment finishes the fight.

The Titans are overwhelmed as the Scouts from the assault on Stohess finally arrive at Utgard with Section Commander Hange leading the charge. Hange tells them to disperse and canvas the area and for the rest of them to follow them to the Titan's gathering and cut them down. Eren flies ahead against orders and slices the nape of a Titan, his first official kill as a human soldier. Keiji scolds Eren for rushing ahead, and the other recruits rush to Eren's side to reunite with their friend. In little time, the ruins of Utgard are cleared of all Titans. When the battle is over, the newcomers are shocked to learn of Ymir's Titan powers. Christa comes to Ymir, her limbs missing and her body grievously wounded from her Titan battle, and she keeps her promise. Christa reveals her true name, Historia, and Ymir slips into unconsciousness with a warm smile.