Attack on Titan Episode 31: Warrior

Rain begins to fall as the Scout Regiment regroups atop Wall Rose. An unconscious Ymir is carefully raised to the top of the Wall on a stretcher. Eren asks about her condition, and Keiji informs him that her right limbs are missing and her internal organs are scrambled, injuries that would normally be fatal. Eren helps Reiner reach the top of the Wall. Historia speaks with Section Commander Hange, insisting that Ymir is not a threat to humanity despite keeping her Titan powers hidden. Hange considers the possibility of an alliance with Ymir, noting that her knowledge of the Titans could be invaluable. Hange asks if Historia is indeed from the noble Reiss family, and Historia confirms it. The two approach Moblit and Nifa, who are watching over Ymir. Moblit informs them that Ymir is comatose but appears to be healing. Hange plans for Ymir to be sent to Trost District for medical care while the Scouts continue their mission to locate and seal the breach in Wall Rose.

Elsewhere on the Wall, Reiner is stressed from his encounter with a Titan within Utgard Castle. He tells Armin that this is his second near-death experience in the Scout Regiment, recalling when he was nearly killed by the Female Titan's grip during the 57th Exterior Scouting Mission. Reiner worries he will soon die, feeling that a soldier's life is wearing down his mind faster than his body. Eren acknowledges that both Reiner and Bertholdt have been away from their hometown for a long time, and his stress is understandable. Bertholdt then becomes enthusiastic, encouraging Reiner that they should return to their hometown soon. Reiner agrees, which confuses Eren and Armin.

Conny joins the others atop the Wall and informs Mikasa and Sasha about Reiner and Ymir's situation. Hange assures them that Ymir will be dealt with and that a deployment of Scouts will soon investigate Conny's village. In the meantime, sealing the Wall is their primary focus. As Hange worries about the Titan issue, Captain Hannes and the Garrison advance squad arrive with news about the breach. Hannes ascends the Wall and informs the Scouts that no hole was found in the Wall from Trost to Krolva. Additionally, the Garrison encountered no Titans during their search. Armin insists that they found Titans within Wall Rose's territory, and Eren asks if Hannes was drunk. Accepting the strange circumstances, Hange announces that the Scouts will depart for Trost District, and Hannes bids Eren, Mikasa, and Armin farewell. While the others depart in confusion, Reiner calls Eren aside to talk.

While Hange and Moblit discuss the possibility of a Titan that could dig beneath the Walls, Reiner pulls Eren aside and casually tells him that five years ago, he and Bertholdt began an attack on the Walls to wipe out the human race. Reiner states he is the Armored Titan, and Bertholdt is the Colossal Titan. Both Eren and Bertholdt are confused by Reiner's sudden revelation, but Reiner continues, saying their goal was to exterminate humanity, but this aspect of their mission is no longer necessary. Reiner promises that if Eren comes with him and Bertholdt, the Walls will be left alone.

Eren asks Reiner where he plans to take him, and Reiner explains it could be considered his "hometown." If Eren agrees to go with them, Reiner promises that the Titan crises can be averted. Mikasa watches the conversation from a distance as Armin calls out to the others. Eren looks up at the sky with exhaustion, thinking to himself that his mind was already racing the previous day.

Twelve hours earlier in Ehrmich District, Hange had explained the details of Sasha's message to the other Scouts. The acquired files contained information on Annie Leonhart's background and revealed that two other cadets originated from the same region she claimed to come from: Reiner Braun and Bertholdt Hoover. Further records showed that during the 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, both Reiner and Bertholdt possessed false information about Eren's location in the scouting formation, claiming Eren was in the right flank when he was actually in the center rear. Armin realized that the Female Titan attacked from the right flank, suggesting that one of the two may have passed their information to Annie. Eren remained skeptical, and Hange admitted that this information alone was not enough to confirm a conspiracy.

Asking for further information, both Eren and Armin said that while Reiner and Bertholdt claimed to be from the same hometown, the two did not speak with Annie much. Sasha said that Annie often ate alone, though she did have a secret craving for sweets. Mikasa could not think of any useful information. Eren insisted that though Bertholdt was quiet, Reiner acted as a big brother figure for the other cadets. While Armin recounted Reiner's courage in facing the Female Titan, he realized that the Female Titan only changed its direction in search of Eren after Reiner escaped from its grip. At Hange's inquiry, Armin realized that Eren's location had only become a matter of discussion during the scouting mission when Reiner asked about him, and Armin concluded that while in the Female Titan's grip, Reiner must have carved Eren's true location into Annie's hand. Addressing all the Scouts present, Hange gave orders for everyone to feign ignorance about Reiner and Bertholdt's true identities until the two could be confronted underground, and under no circumstances was Annie to be mentioned around them. With the matter settled, the Scouts set forth for Utgard afterward.

Atop Wall Rose, Eren dismisses Reiner's words, claiming he is exhausted, and Bertholdt agrees. Eren points out the absurdity of Reiner asking him to come along after revealing his Titan identity. Reiner agrees with Eren, wondering if he has gone crazy. As Eren walks away, the wind picks up and a flagpole shatters, sending the flag down the Wall. The other Scouts stop to look back at the others, and Reiner remains silent as sunlight peeks through the clouds.

Mikasa keeps a hand on her blade, ready to strike. Reiner openly regrets the past three years he has spent "surrounded by idiots," claiming that he and his comrades had once been clueless children. He states that if he had not heard of the others within the Walls, he would not have become a "half-assed piece of shit." As Reiner's mind seems to break, he removes the sling around his arm and exposes his wound. As he uses his Titan powers to heal himself, he says that he will face the consequences of his actions and stay true to his duty as a Warrior.

Bertholdt panics, asking Reiner if they are really acting now. Reiner says that the time has come and moves to capture Eren. Mikasa springs forward, cutting into Reiner's arms as he defends himself and slicing Bertholdt's neck. She tells Eren to run as she goes for a killing blow at Bertholdt, but Reiner shoves her from the Wall while Eren watches in shock. The Scouts rush to Eren's aid, and Armin tells him to escape, but Eren can only watch helplessly as energy begins to surround the two individuals. Bursts of energy explode atop the Wall, knocking everyone back as the Armored Titan and Colossal Titan emerge in the chaos.

The Armored Titan takes Eren in its hand while the Colossal Titan grabs Ymir as Historia cries out. The Armored Titan descends Wall Rose with Eren in its grip, and Eren tearfully thinks back to the days of their training together. Bitterly accepting that his two friends are traitors to humanity, Eren transforms into his Titan and lets out a roar as he prepares to battle with Reiner.