Attack on Titan Episode 33: The Hunters

As the struggle between Eren's Titan and the Armored Titan reaches its peak, the Armored Titan lets out a roar. Above on Wall Rose, the Colossal Titan begins to fall. A soldier on the wall shouts a warning to the Scouts below, but they cannot react in time as the Colossal Titan crashes down on Eren and the Armored Titan, exploding in a ferocious burst of steam. Sasha shields Armin from the powerful wind, while other Scouts at the base of the wall are hit directly and pushed away. The soldiers on top of the wall are unable to help due to the strong winds. The Armored Titan, unaffected by the wind, pins Eren's Titan to the ground and bites him out of the nape. Once the storm subsides, a person named Bertholdt emerges from his Titan, equipped with new gear and carrying an unconscious Ymir. He grapples onto the Armored Titan's shoulder, and the two make their escape. Unable to pursue, Armin cries out for Eren.

In Trost District, an inebriated Dot Pyxis sleeps atop Wall Rose. His assistant wakes him, scolding him for his recklessness, and informs him that few Titans were spotted after their advance upon the defensive lines ceased. Pyxis expects that a team led by Hannes, likely doubling back after encountering either a breach in the Wall or another advance team, will arrive with news soon. He notes that a breach would significantly alter the situation. Commander Erwin Smith arrives atop the Wall, and Pyxis congratulates him on catching one of the spies. Pyxis is pleased thinking about the reaction of the higher-ups in the interior to news of such infiltrators. Erwin agrees, pointing out that the Military Police Regiment has joined them in their mission to end the crisis.

In the city streets, Scouts discuss the surprisingly low number of Titans found within Wall Rose. Jean worries for his friends. Nearby, Military Police officers grow complacent about the emergency. Levi sarcastically apologizes for the lack of Titans and offers to have the MPs assist the Scout Regiment on a future exterior scouting mission, but the policemen claim their interior work keeps them busy. Suddenly, a Scout announces the arrival of the Garrison advance team.

The soldiers gather to hear news from Hannes' messenger, who reports that no breach was found in Wall Rose. He tells them that after encountering Hange's squad, three of the recruits from the 104th Cadet Corps were in fact Titans. Jean is in disbelief that even more of his comrades were Titans, but Erwin presses the messenger to continue. The messenger informs them of a battle against the Colossal and Armored Titans, but states that by the time the Garrison joined, it was already over.

Back at Wall Rose, Armin watches over Mikasa, who had fallen unconscious after the battle. Hannes expresses regret over the situation, noting that many Scouts who witnessed Eren's battle are now heavily injured from the Colossal Titan's explosion. He asks about Mikasa's condition, and Armin speculates she may have suffered a concussion. Hannes leaves Armin to gather some rations.

Five years ago in Shiganshina District, Armin informed Mikasa that Eren had gotten into a fight with a trio of bullies who had stolen Armin's bread. Eren confronted the bullies, starting a fight in the marketplace while drunken Garrison soldiers watched. Mikasa arrived and joined the fight, while a vendor owner began arguing with Hannes and other soldiers for their inaction. Both fights continued briefly until a Military Police officer broke everyone up. The bullies fled upon seeing the authorities, and Eren chased after them despite Armin's insistence that it wasn't worth the trouble. Unable to pursue, Mikasa cried out for Eren.

Atop Wall Rose, Mikasa wakes up and surveys the aftermath. She immediately asks Armin about Eren's fate. Armin informs her that Eren and Ymir were taken by Reiner and Bertholdt, and five hours have passed since the Titans' battle ended. Mikasa is shocked that no one is pursuing them, but Armin explains they must wait for lifts to bring their horses over the Wall, and all Scout Regiment officers were heavily injured by Bertholdt's Titan, meaning reinforcements are needed. Mikasa's head begins to ache, but she insists it's from her concussion. She recalls how she and Levi rescued Eren from a Female Titan some days ago, but now hope for Eren's rescue is bleak since five hours have passed. Putting on her scarf, Mikasa wonders why Eren always ends up far from his friends. Armin believes it's natural, but Mikasa expresses her desire to simply be close to him.

Hannes returns with rations, giving some to Armin and Mikasa before eating one himself. Mikasa and Armin leave their rations unopened. Hannes remarks that they are often the ones to get Eren out of trouble, whether it's neighborhood bullies or Titans. Hannes recalls that Eren has always charged head-on into fights, regardless of being outnumbered. However, while Hannes had never seen Eren win a fight, he never saw him give up when beaten. He insists that succumbing to his fate without a fight would be against Eren's personality, and that Eren will be fine until they can help. Hannes grows nostalgic for the days before the fall of Wall Maria, days he believes Eren would consider a false peace. Desiring to return to those peaceful days, Hannes agrees to join Mikasa and Armin in their mission to rescue Eren from the individuals who took him. Their hopes restored, Mikasa and Armin begin eating their rations to regain strength.

Shortly afterward, Commander Erwin arrives with the necessary lifts and reinforcements from the Scout Regiment and Military Police. Armin insists that Christa should not endanger herself in the rescue mission, but she is determined to see Ymir brought back. Conny also decides to join the mission, refusing to believe that Reiner and Bertholdt are traitors until he hears it from their own mouths.

Moblit meets with Erwin and informs him of their condition when Hange, still grievously injured, suddenly grabs his leg and calls for a map.

Once all able-bodied soldiers are gathered, Hange proposes a plan. Speculating that the Titan individuals will need to recover their strength and wait until nightfall to travel beyond Wall Maria, Hange believes they are resting in a Forest of Giant Trees in the southwestern lands of Wall Maria.

As Hange speculated, Eren wakes up in a forest of giant trees, his arms missing. Ymir is awake nearby, recovering her own missing limbs. On an adjacent tree, Reiner and Bertholdt greet and watch over their captives. Descending from Wall Rose, the allied soldiers of the military ride for the Forest of Giant Trees, determined to rescue Eren before nightfall.