Attack on Titan Episode 64: Declaration of War

Backstage, Willy Tybur prepares for his theatrical production, greeting Kiyomi Azumabito and her bodyguards. He expresses stage fright, but Kiyomi assures him he looks courageous and wishes him luck.

In a dimly lit basement, Eren Jaeger tells Reiner Braun to sit. Eren notes they can hear the stage clearly from their location behind it, despite the building above being full of people. He points upwards, revealing a fresh injury on his palm, which alarms Reiner. Reiner then sits.

Elsewhere, Kiyomi and her bodyguards leave town. Karina Braun meets Mr. Leonhart in the audience. They discuss the passing of Hoover, which Karina confirms, adding that he was proud of his son's sacrifice. When Karina implies Annie's fate was similar, Mr. Leonhart disagrees, stating his daughter promised to return alive.

The Warriors and Warrior candidates observe the large military presence and numerous dignitaries and reporters. Pieck compares it to being in the world's spotlight. As trumpets signal the play's start, a soldier approaches them, stating Theo Magath has called for them.

Underground, Falco realizes the play has begun. Reiner asks Eren why he is in Marley. Eren replies he is there for the same reason as Reiner and has no choice, causing Reiner to tremble. Eren tells him to listen to the performance.

Willy takes the stage and recounts the bloody history of the Eldian Empire, describing how their Titans caused immense destruction. He explains the Great Titan War began when Eldians warred among themselves.

He then describes how the Marleyan hero Helos, with the Tybur family, exploited this, forcing King Karl Fritz to flee to Paradis Island with the Founding Titan and millions of Titans. Marley sent four Titans to the island, but only the Armored Titan returned.

Meanwhile, the soldier escorting Pieck, Porco Galliard, and Zeke Jaeger orders Zeke to go to the gate and tells Pieck and Galliard to follow him. Pieck feels she recognizes the soldier, who states he is from Lakua and is uninterested in talking with Eldians.

On their way, Pieck spots and enthusiastically greets her Panzer Unit, the soldiers who operate the guns on her Cart Titan. The soldier then leads them into a building. When Galliard asks for Magath, the soldier cuts a rope, triggering a trapdoor that drops Pieck and Galliard into a pit.

In the basement, Falco is confused by Reiner's fear of Eren, given they are supposedly friends. He wonders how long ago they met, speculating that if it was over four years ago, it would have been on Paradis Island, a thought he finds unsettling.

On stage, Willy transitions from the established history to the truth passed down through the Tybur family's War Hammer Titan memories. He reveals Karl Fritz, not Helos or the Tyburs, ended the war and saved the world.

Appalled by the violence, King Karl Fritz allied with the Tybur family, fabricated the hero Helos, and moved Eldians to Paradis Island, closing the gates. He threatened to unleash thousands of Titans if the island's peace was disturbed, but also made a vow to renounce war, which would be passed down to his successors. He accepted that if Marley ever came for his life or the Founding Titan, he would allow it, believing Eldian sins could not be atoned for.

Far from the theater, Magath receives a report that the Warriors and their escorts are missing. He dispatches a search team and wonders if "it" has begun.

Beneath the trapdoor, Galliard questions the pit's purpose. Pieck suspects it is designed to restrain Warriors, being too cramped for them to transform without being crushed.

The crowd murmurs as Willy explains an uprising on Paradis Island led to the Founding Titan being stolen, undermining Karl Fritz's wish for peace. He identifies Eren Jaeger as a new threat, capable of activating millions of Colossal Titans due to not being bound by the vow renouncing war. Willy warns that if this "Rumbling" occurs, the world would be helpless.

In the basement, Eren apologizes to a horrified Falco, explaining the letters he sent were to his comrades. He tells Reiner that he is indeed the "bad guy" who might destroy the world, but reminds Reiner that from his perspective, Reiner and his friends were also the "bad guys." He asks Reiner why his mother was eaten by a Titan and why he broke the Wall.

Reiner reveals it was to infiltrate the Walls by creating chaos, hoping to see the King's reaction and ultimately retake the Founder to save the world. Eren seems to agree with his reasoning. Reiner then asks if Eren has come to "make you guys suffer and die in the worst way possible," as he had said on the island.

Eren appears disappointed by the memory. He states that while he initially saw everyone across the sea as his enemy, he now understands Reiner's perspective, having lived and shared food with his own enemies. He has seen good and bad people on both sides. He acknowledges Reiner was taught from childhood that the people within the Walls were devils and, as a child, could not have acted differently.

Reiner falls to his knees, exclaiming Eren is wrong. He confesses he forced Bertholdt and Annie to continue their mission after Marcel Galliard's death because he wanted respect and to be seen as a hero. He takes responsibility for Eren's mother being eaten and asks Eren to kill him.

Meanwhile, Willy admits he resented his own bloodline and hoped for Eldian extinction, but also does not wish to die. He acknowledges the diverse audience and asks them to unite against their common enemy, believing they can overcome any obstacle together.

Hearing the applause, Eren stands, concluding that he and Reiner are the same. He extends his wounded hand to Reiner, helping him up. Eren states they were born this way and will continue moving forward until his enemies are destroyed. As he speaks, he begins to transform, terrifying Reiner, who turns to grab and protect Falco.

Just as Willy declares war against Paradis Island, the Attack Titan emerges from the building behind the stage, crushing Willy with its hand and flinging his broken body into the air.