Attack on Titan · Story arc
Return to Shiganshina
The operation to retake Wall Maria: Eren seals Shiganshina's gates, but the Beast, the Armored and the Colossal are waiting. Erwin leads the suicide charge, Armin sacrifices himself against Bertolt, Levi chooses whom to save. In the basement lies the truth.
Grisha's journals reveal that humanity has not died out: beyond the sea lies Marley, and the people of the Walls are Eldians, condemned by the rest of the world. He tells of his youth in Liberio, the Restorationists, the exile, 'the Owl' Eren Kruger, the Attack Titan. Erwin dies; Armin inherits the Colossal. The survivors — just nine of them — come home with the truth.
- Position
- Arc 10 of 14
- Saga
- The truth
- Period
- Year 850
- Canon status
- Canon
- Manga
- 70-90
- Anime
- ep. 50-59
Arc events(14)
- Faye Yeager's deathGrisha's youth (820s-830s)Young Grisha takes his sister Faye out of the internment zone to see an airship. Officer Gross catches them: Grisha is beaten, Faye 'escorted' home. The next day her body is found in the river, mauled by dogs.
- Grisha and the Eldian RestorationistsGrisha's youth (820s-830s)As a young doctor Grisha joins the Eldian Restorationists, secretly led by "the Owl". He meets Dina Fritz, the last descendant of the royal branch left on the mainland: they marry and Zeke is born.
- Zeke turns in his parentsGrisha's youth (820s-830s)Raised to become a Warrior and steal the Founder for the Restorationists, young Zeke, terrified, reports his parents to the Marleyan authorities to save himself and his grandparents. The movement is dismantled.
- Exile to "Paradise"Grisha's youth (820s-830s)On the clifftop of Paradis's coast the Restorationists are injected and thrown down as pure Titans. Dina becomes the Smiling Titan; Gross pushes the comrades off one by one and enjoys watching them devoured.
- The Owl entrusts Grisha with the Attack TitanGrisha's youth (820s-830s)Kruger reveals himself as the Owl and the holder of the Attack Titan: he throws Gross to the Titans and entrusts Grisha with the power and the mission of retrieving the Founder. "This time you must marry within the Walls and have children."
- Night march to ShiganshinaYear 850The operation to retake Wall Maria sets out at night, while the Titans sleep. At dawn Eren seals Shiganshina's outer gate with hardening.
- The Armored Titan and the Thunder SpearsYear 850Reiner, hidden inside the wall, attacks. Hange's Thunder Spears tear open the armour on his nape; for a moment they think him dead, then his roar signals Bertolt.
- The Colossal falls on ShiganshinaYear 850Bertolt is flung from the Armored Titan over the district: his transformation levels Shiganshina and kills Hange's squad, Moblit included.
- Erwin's chargeYear 850Under the Beast's barrage of stones, Erwin leads the recruits in a suicidal cavalry charge to distract it, knowing he will never see the basement: "Dedicate your hearts!". Almost all of them die; Levi flanks the enemy.
- Levi vs the Beast TitanYear 850Levi weaves through the Beast's Titans and cuts Zeke to pieces in seconds. He is about to finish him off when the Cart Titan (Pieck) carries him away.
- Armin's sacrificeYear 850To defeat the Colossal, Armin clings to its nape and withstands the scalding steam until he is burned to a crisp, so that Bertolt focuses on him and not on Eren hidden in his Titan. Eren surprises him and rips Bertolt from the nape.
- Levi's choiceYear 850One dose of serum, two dying men: Erwin and Armin. Mikasa and Eren plead for Armin, Floch brings Erwin. Levi chooses to let Erwin rest. Armin devours Bertolt and inherits the Colossal.
- Grisha's basementYear 850With Eren's key they open the basement: behind a false bottom are three journals and a photograph. The world has not ended: beyond the sea lives a humanity that hates the people of the Walls.
- The medal ceremonyYear 850The nine survivors are decorated by Queen Historia. When he kisses her hand, Eren sees a memory of the future and is shaken. The truth of the journals is made public.