Attack on Titan season 4

Four years after the Warrior Unit's defeat on Paradis Island, Marley is at war against the Mid-East Allied Forces. As a result, the operation to reclaim the Founding Titan was put on hold. In the final battle at the Allied Forces' base, Fort Slava, Marley sent Eldian soldiers including Warrior Candidates (candidates to inherit the power of the Nine Titans) Falco Grice, his older brother Colt, Reiner's cousin Gabi Braun, Udo and Zofia. Colt proposes to Commander Theo Magath to send in the Warrior Titans, but he refuses due to the Allied Forces' armored train possessing a deadly anti-Titan cannon. Gabi manages to approach the train and disable it with hand grenades. This allows Pieck's Cart Titan and Galliard's Jaw Titan to attack the fort. From an airship above, Eldians are transformed into Pure Titans by Zeke using his scream and are dropped onto the fort, destroying much of its structure. Reiner's Armored Titan, aided by the Jaw Titan, successfully pulverizes the fort's defenses, including another armored train. Zeke, noting that the cause of this war was the Warriors’ defeat, transforms into the Beast Titan and annihilates the Mid-East Allied Fleet, thus ending the four-year war, with Marley victorious. However, after witnessing the developed anti-Titan weaponry, Marley realizes the need to resume the operation to retrieve the Founding Titan.

At a Marleyan military meeting, Zeke proposes to use his last year of life to attack Paradis Island and retake the Founding Titan. However, as none of Marley's ships have returned for the past three years, it is clear to Zeke that Paradis controls at least two of the Nine Titans. Galliard confronts Reiner about his actions on Paradis through the memories of Ymir, mentioning his brother. On Pieck's advice, Reiner meets Gabi and the others in the harbor for a walk. That night, on a train back to their homes, the surviving Eldian soldiers praise Gabi for her courage, while Reiner secretly encourages Falco to become the Armored Titan in place of Gabi. The Eldian soldiers and Warriors arrive at Liberio and reunite with their families. Falco notices a group of traumatized soldiers and assists one of them. At dinner, Gabi recounts the victory at Fort Slava while Reiner is prompted to give an account of his time on Paradis, puzzling Gabi when he describes the supposed devils of the island as "all sorts of people". The next day, Zeke informs the other Warriors of his plan to use the Tybur noble family and their War Hammer Titan to announce an offensive against Paradis. Zeke proposes that the Tyburs publicly reveal their involvement and plan during a festival in Liberio.

Reiner thinks back to a conversation he had with his mother on the curse of being an Eldian. He resolved to bring her and his Marleyan father together by entering the military training program where selected Candidates were chosen to become Titans, which earned them the status of Honorary Marleyans. Porco Galliard was devastated when Reiner, who did not excel at all, was chosen to be the Armored Titan. Despite his son's efforts, Reiner's father rejected the idea of living together. Commander Magath then sent Annie Leonhart, Bertholdt Hoover, Marcel Galliard and Reiner on a mission to Paradis to reclaim the Founding Titan, but Marcel, saving Reiner, is devoured by Ymir's Pure Titan. At that point, Annie wanted to abort the mission, but Reiner convinced them to continue. Following the assault on Wall Maria, they snuck into Wall Rose and joined the Training Corps two years later. During their training years, they sought information about the Founding Titan, with Annie even encountering Kenny Ackerman. Reiner ultimately decided to destroy Wall Rose. Emerging from his recollections, Reiner attempts suicide, but stops after hearing Falco outside. He urges himself to live for his role as a mentor to Falco and the Candidates. Falco stops by the hospital and speaks with an Eldian soldier who admits to faking his trauma-induced amnesia to avoid being sent back home.

Kruger, a wounded Eldian soldier, asks Falco to post letters for him from outside the internment zone. Willy Tybur, the head of the Tybur family who possess the War Hammer Titan, meets with Commander Magath. They form an alliance to stop the warmongering and restore the balance between Eldia and Marley. Back at the hospital, the patient Mr. Jaeger, Grisha's father, approaches Kruger and asks him to avoid interacting with Falco and to return to his family before breaking down because he blamed himself for Faye's death. Later, Willy gives a speech to the dignitaries present and invites them to a theatrical play to be performed after the festival in Liberio. Both Warriors and Candidates enjoy the festival the day it arrives. Later that day, they all head towards the plaza for Willy's play.

In a post-credits scene, right before the presentation begins, Falco takes Reiner to a basement behind the stage, where he meets Kruger. Much to his shock, Reiner immediately recognizes him as Eren Jaeger.

Willy begins his theatrical presentation to the audience while Eren and a terrified Reiner listen with Falco in the basement. Willy tells the well-known story of Marley's hero Helos, who formed an alliance with the Tybur family to defeat the Eldian King Fritz. However, he reveals Fritz and the Tybur family fabricated the myth themselves since Fritz longed for peace. His ideology was passed through his bloodline, which kept his successors bound to his desire, while vowing to release the Wall Titans - setting the so-called Rumbling in action - if the peace is shattered by Marley. Meanwhile, Pieck and Porco are sent down a trap door by a Marleyan soldier, dropping them into a small cellar, thus preventing them from transforming into Titans. On stage, Willy announces that an uprising has occurred on Paradis, and that the Founding Titan has been stolen by a man called Eren Jaeger. Willy explains that Eren is a threat to world peace as he is not bound by Fritz's vow renouncing war. In the basement, Eren apologizes to a horrified Falco and explains that since his arrival in Marley, he has realized that Paradis and Marley are alike in that both sides are just people. He tells Reiner the two of them are alike, despite contrasting beliefs due to different upbringings. Reiner, devastated by the thought of everything that happened on Paradis four years prior, including the death of Eren's mother, begs Eren to kill him. Just as Willy declares war on Paradis, Eren transforms into the Attack Titan, bursts out of the basement and crushes the stage along with Willy, throwing his mangled body into the air.

In a flashback prior to Willy's declaration of war, he bids his family farewell and discusses with Commander Magath the probability of an attack during the play, although Willy is prepared to become a martyr in support of his cause. In the present, Eren devours Willy and continues his rampage, devastating the Marleyan military brass. Zofia dies on the spot, while Udo is trampled by the crowd, suffering severe injuries; Gabi and Colt manage to flee with him. Willy's sister Lara Tybur transforms into the War Hammer Titan, but is immediately assaulted by the Attack Titan. Lara overpowers him using her Titan's hardening ability to create destructive weapons. Meanwhile, Pieck and Porco are rescued by the Cart Titan's Panzer Unit just as the Survey Corps commence an assault overhead. The War Hammer Titan defeats the Attack Titan and forces Eren out of its body. Just as she prepares to kill him, Mikasa arrives and attacks the War Hammer's nape with Thunder Spears, although it turns out to be ineffective. Meanwhile, Udo is declared dead; a vengeful Gabi heads back to the battlefield. Eren realizes that Lara's crystal-covered body is underground, connected by a long white cord. He transforms into the Attack Titan again and severs the cord, preparing to devour her. Porco's Jaw Titan leaps onto the Attack Titan's nape, but Levi arrives and slices its jaw-joint, much to Porco's surprise and horror as the enemy initiates a counterattack against him.

The Survey Corps surround Porco's Jaw Titan, but they come under attack from Pieck's Cart Titan carrying the Panzer Unit armed with machine guns, which are effective at picking them off. While Eren is distracted by the commotion, Lara partially re-materializes the War Hammer Titan, impaling and trapping the Attack Titan, but fails to pierce its nape. Zeke's Beast Titan arrives while Marleyan soldiers surround Liberio. Falco emerges from underground, protected by a bud-like shield formed by Reiner's partial transformation; he reunites with Magath and Gabi. Mikasa and Eren fail to break Lara's crystal; Eren then transforms for the third time to escape the War Hammer's trap. As the Survey Corps lose several soldiers, Armin arrives and transforms into the Colossal Titan, destroying the Marleyan Navy along with the port. Levi uses the distraction to disable the Beast Titan, dropping a grenade on the fallen Titan's nape. Sasha kills a machine gunner of the Panzer Unit, enabling Jean and other soldiers to destroy it using their Thunder Spears, severely injuring the Cart Titan. The Survey Corps move in to finish Pieck, but Magath and other Marleyan soldiers defend her. Meanwhile, Hange arrives overhead in an airship to recover the Survey Corps, guided by lights placed earlier in the battle. The Jaw Titan attacks the airship, but is dismembered and immobilized by Mikasa and the Attack Titan. Eren utilizes its jaws like a nutcracker to shatter Lara's crystal and swallows her remains, gaining the powers of the War Hammer Titan. As Porco too is about to be eaten, Gabi and Falco's cries for help awaken Reiner, and he reluctantly emerges to confront Eren.

Reiner's Armored Titan engages in a brief battle with the Attack Titan and is quickly beaten but manages to save Porco. Eren, having reached his limit, stops fighting and escapes with Mikasa. Levi arrests Eren for initiating the mission on his own and for involving the Survey Corps in his rescue. Gabi rushes after the airship with a rifle, but is stopped by Falco who realizes the enemy's own need for revenge after the devastation on Paradis. Gabi refuses and kills the Survey Corps recruit Lobov, then uses his ODM gear to reach the airship with Falco. Gabi climbs aboard and shoots Sasha in the chest. Pieck tells Magath that the woman who trapped them prior to the battle is a soldier named Yelena who was a crew member of the missing first scout ship sent to Paradis three years prior. Gabi and Falco are taken before Zeke who appears to have switched sides. He remarks the success of bringing the Founder and a Titan of royal blood together. Sasha dies of her wounds in front of a distraught Armin and Mikasa, which greatly hurts Connie. Eren starts laughing bitterly after hearing the last words from Sasha which were "meat". Jean reminds him that Sasha would have lived if Eren had not involved the Survey Corps in his mission.

Three years prior to the raid against Marley, Eren's Attack Titan destroyed the first Marleyan scout ship and its crew were captured. Yelena and other Marleyan conscripted deserters, who call themselves the "Anti-Marleyan Volunteers", offered help to the Eldians, backing Zeke Jaeger's plan to carry out the Rumbling in order to support them against Marley. During the military discussion, Eren revealed that the reason he could control Titans in the past was that he made contact with a Titan of royal blood. Yelena and Onyankopon then provided them with schematics of Marleyan guns and advanced weaponry. Using Yelena to lure in more scout ships while Armin's Colossal Titan took some of them down, the Survey Corps recruited Marleyan soldiers as labor to build docks for the island. In the present, a Marleyan chef named Nicolo, who befriended the now deceased Sasha, grieves for her death and encounters the Braus family, inviting them to his restaurant. Meanwhile, Levi shows Zeke the Forest of Giant Trees where they will be staying, and Commander Pyxis has the Volunteers detained in order to keep Zeke on a short leash. Armin reflects to the still-crystallized Annie on how whether helping Eren in the raid on Liberio was the right decision as war now has become inevitable, concluding that neither of them, including Annie, had a choice. Gabi and Falco are imprisoned; elsewhere, Eren himself is in a cell, where he finishes tidying up his appearance and tells himself that the only way to win is to fight.

Two years ago on Zeke's advice, a special envoy of Hizuru, Kiyomi Azumabito, landed on the newly-completed docks of Paradis Island for negotiations. A tattoo on Mikasa's arm revealed that she is the descendant of Hizuru's ruling shogun. Lady Azumabito believed that Hizuru could help Paradis achieve Zeke's plan to use the Rumbling to protect the island, in return for the valuable Iceburst Stone - the mysterious Paradis substance which powers ODM gear. She listed Zeke's propositions: to enact a test of the Rumbling, to strengthen and modernize the Paradis military, and for the Beast Titan to be passed down to someone of royal blood who would bear children, so it could be passed on every 13 years. Historia agreed to inherit the Beast Titan, though Eren vehemently rejected the proposal. However, Hizuru's help was rooted in greed, and a year later, they would not help Paradis negotiate trade with other nations. At that time, while working on the island's railway, the Survey Corps was struggling with deciding their strategy against Marley and the successor of Eren's Titan when his term ran out. In the present, Hange interrogates Eren for acting on his own, with Eren grabbing Hange and angrily asking about "any alternative plans". Historia is shown to be pregnant and living with a farmer she knew from her childhood. Jean and Connie believe Eren has lost all sympathy for his friends. Armin plans to speak with Eren together with Mikasa, all while proposing that the military could have Eren eaten by someone more trustworthy to them.

Gabi kills her prison guard and escapes with Falco into the wilderness. They are found by a young girl named Kaya who offers food and shelter at the Braus stables. Lady Azumabito arrives at the docks with a Hizuru delegation and an aircraft powered by Iceburst Stone, which she describes as the "world's first flying boat". For leaking information about Eren's imprisonment to the press, Hange incarcerates four Survey Corps members including Floch and Louise, the latter attempting to bond with Mikasa. Meanwhile at the Braus stables, after Gabi rails against Kaya for being a "devil", Kaya reveals that she knows Gabi and Falco are from Marley. She explains how her village was destroyed and her mother was eaten alive by a Titan four years ago, and questions why these people should die for sins committed by Eldians hundreds of years ago. Falco calms the tensions between Gabi and Kaya, and the latter informs them they have been invited for dinner at the restaurant run by a Marleyan who could help Gabi and Falco return home.

In a post-credits scene, the Marleyan military has realized that Zeke Jaeger faked his death and likely sided with Paradis. As the new General, Magath informs the Warriors that in six months' time, the world plans to launch a global offensive against Paradis, but Reiner suggests they make a surprise attack before Zeke can come up with a defensive plan.

Armin attempts to touch Annie's crystal but is interrupted by Hitch who accuses him of having a crush on her before taking him outside - the Paradis military has lost public trust and protests have begun over Eren's unjust imprisonment. Yelena reveals to Commander Pyxis that ten months ago, she had secretly met with Eren before his infiltration of Marley. Elsewhere, Onyankopon tells Hange how Yelena was fiercely loyal to Zeke in Marley, and he confesses that no other Volunteer knew about her secret motivations. Mikasa and Armin meet with Premier Zachary to get permission to speak with Eren. Zachary denies them as he suspects Eren of colluding with the Volunteers and of being manipulated by Zeke. After they leave his office, a bomb kills Zachary and three other soldiers which stirs up the protesters eager to fight for a New Eldian Empire. Eren escapes from prison and meets up with Floch and other allies. In the aftermath, the Military Police concede to the Survey Corps that their intentions were to take Eren's Founding Titan. Hange states that Eren's supporters, dubbed as the "Jaegerists", intend Eren to meet up with Zeke and reform the military with Eren as the leader. Pyxis, attempting to prevent infighting, suggests the military should make a deal with the Jaegerists using Zeke's location as a bargaining chip. Lady Azumabito begs Mikasa to return with her to Hizuru, but Mikasa refuses. Hange suspects Yelena and Zeke, and urges the Survey Corps to look into the Marleyan prisoners who obtained jobs through Yelena. The Braus family, along with Gabi and Falco, arrive at Nicolo's restaurant while Pieck is shown to have infiltrated the Walls already.

In the forest, Zeke tells Levi that four years earlier on Marley's orders, his spinal fluid was released in a gaseous form towards the Ragako villagers on Paradis. He says it initially paralyzed them, then he turned them into Titans with his scream. Zeke claims he did it to maintain his cover, but Levi accuses him of not truly caring for the people he killed. In the restaurant, Kaya points Nicolo out to Gabi and Falco as the Marleyan who invited them, explaining that he was probably in love with Sasha. As the Survey Corps arrive to question him, Nicolo forcefully takes a bottle of Marleyan wine from Connie and Jean. He brings the wine to the cellar, where Gabi and Falco follow him, revealing themselves as Warrior Candidates. Nicolo deduces that Gabi killed Sasha and attempts to bludgeon her with the bottle, but Falco takes the hit, and some of the wine gets in his mouth. Nicolo punches Gabi out then carries both back to the dining room. He offers Mr. Braus a knife, saying either of them shall kill Gabi. The Survey Corps intervenes, and through Mr. Braus, the emotions are calmed. Connie and Jean restrain Nicolo, but Mikasa has to save Gabi from a furious Kaya. Gabi is escorted to another room by Mikasa and Armin, while Nicolo tells Hange to rinse Falco's mouth as he suspects the wine is tainted with Zeke's spinal fluid. He explains that the wine came from Yelena's scout ship, and was to be served to high government officials. Meanwhile, Levi receives word of Zachary's death and wonders if he miscalculated Eren's potential as humanity's savior. The Jaegerists raid the restaurant and hold everyone at gunpoint. Floch demands Zeke's location from Hange and reveals he knew about Zeke's plan with the wine. Eren meets with Mikasa, Armin and Gabi and states that he wants to talk.

At their round-table discussion, Eren claims he is acting on his own free will. As each Titan host is affected by the memories of its previous owner, Eren asserts that Armin is being manipulated into visiting Annie's crystal by Bertholdt's memories. Eren then reveals that Mikasa, through her Ackermann bloodline, has been programmed to protect Eldia's Kings, but she also accepted Eren as her host. He claims she is no more than a slave, for which he had hated her since childhood. Enraged, Armin attacks Eren, although he's first unwillingly stopped by Mikasa. Eren repeats that it is due to Mikasa's lineage. Armin punches Eren in the face, but Eren beats him easily, and insults him. Everyone in the restaurant except for Hange is taken to Shiganshina District by the Jaegerists where Eren plans to rejoin Zeke. In the forest, Levi plans to have Zeke eaten by a Jaegerist to prevent Eren from using the Founding Titan. Zeke runs from the camp and screams, turning Levi's comrades into Pure Titans due to the tainted wine they had drunk. Levi kills all the Titans and pursues Zeke, who transforms into the Beast Titan; using Thunder Spears, Levi recaptures Zeke. Floch turns the military cadets in Shiganshina to the Jaegerists' side by threatening them with imprisonment, forcing them to beat Commandant Keith Shadis. Zeke wakes up to find himself lying gravely injured in a cart, with Levi sitting beside him. He's informed by Levi that a Thunder Spear is impaled into his stomach, tied to the detonator around his neck. Levi starts chopping Zeke's legs; as Zeke screams in agony, he recalls a memory of his childhood.

As a child, Zeke was treated harshly by his parents, as Dina Fritz and Grisha saw him as a tool in their plans to restore Eldian society and overthrow Marley. One day, Zeke encountered Tom Xaver, the current holder of the Beast Titan, and over the years, they developed a close bond. Xaver eventually revealed to Zeke that he had managed to conceal his Eldian heritage when he was young and created a family for himself. However, when he revealed to his wife that he was an Eldian, she killed their son before committing suicide. When Zeke learned that his parents were Restorationists, he turned them over to the police at the urging of Xaver and to save himself from being turned into a Pure Titan. Zeke also realized that this was the best way for him to get into the Marleyan Military. Xaver told Zeke that his research revealed that the Founding Titan is able to manipulate the body of Eldians. They resolved to "save" the Eldian people from further persecution through sterilizing them using the Founding Titan. Later, Xaver also revealed how to get around King Fritz's vow renouncing war. Eventually, Zeke inherited the Beast Titan and promised to find a suitable person for their plan. After reuniting with Reiner and Bertholdt on Paradis, he learned that Eren Jaeger possessed the Founder. He deduced that Grisha Jaeger had managed to escape his punishment and vowed to rescue Eren from Grisha's brainwashing. In Liberio, Eren agreed to cooperate with Zeke's euthanization plan. As Zeke finishes reflecting on his past, his mumbling is heard by Levi. Zeke suddenly ignites the Thunder Spear impaled in his body, detonating it and catching himself and Levi in the explosion.

Hange, Floch and a group of Jaegerists are heading towards the forest to find Zeke when they hear the explosion of the Thunder Spear and go to investigate. A female Pure Titan approaches the dying Zeke, tears open her abdomen and places him inside. At Shiganshina, Yelena and the Volunteers have Commander Pyxis and other military members rounded up since many among them drank from the tainted wine. The imprisoned Survey Corps members discuss escaping and Eren's recent actions when Yelena arrives to explain to them Zeke's true plan: a widespread Eldian sterilization to prevent the births of any more Eldians until the death of Historia's child, after which humanity will be free from the threat of Titans. In the meantime, they will use the threat of the Rumbling to prevent interference from other nations. Eren meets Gabi, ordering her to cooperate with him but is interrupted by Pieck who surprisingly offers to join the Jaegerists. She states that the Marleyans must be punished for their poor treatment of the Eldian people and agrees to sell out her compatriots. On the rooftop, Pieck's ruse is revealed as Porco's Jaw Titan emerges from below and attempts to eat Eren. Eren transforms into the Attack Titan, revealing his location to approaching Marleyan airships. General Magath orders his men to get revenge for Liberio, and Eren prepares to face Reiner once again.

Hange and the Jaegerists discover Levi's body and find Zeke as he emerges from the dying Pure Titan fully healed, which Hange uses as a distraction to escape with Levi. Zeke explains to Floch that his massive wounds were treated by a mysterious girl in the mystical place called the Paths. Meanwhile at Shiganshina, Marleyan soldiers descend from their airships, and Pieck and Gabi reunite with Magath and Colt. Deducing from Zeke's words recited by Gabi, their objective is to not let Eren and Zeke make physical contact. Reiner and Porco battle Eren, but he overwhelms them using the War Hammer's power. The tide turns when Magath fires a new anti-Titan cannon at Eren from the Cart Titan's back on Wall Maria, incapacitating him and giving Reiner the chance to gain the upper hand. The Jaegerist soldiers suffer heavy losses from the Marleyan forces. In desperation, Onyankopon releases the imprisoned Survey Corps members along with Nicolo and the Braus family and asks for their help to defeat the Warriors. He convinces them that he was not part of the euthanization plan, but they debate whether they should help Eren and Zeke, possibly the only ones who can protect Paradis Island. Armin suggests that Eren lied to Mikasa and that he's just playing along with Zeke and Yelena, but the response is silence.

The freed Survey Corps eventually decide to help Eren, though Mikasa expresses her doubts about Eren's motives. Meanwhile, the vicious battle of Eren against Reiner and Porco continues, with the Armored Titan eventually pinning down the Attack Titan, preparing to eat Eren. Suddenly, Zeke appears as the Beast Titan on top of Wall Maria and begins to attack the Marleyan airships, soldiers and Warriors. The Survey Corps force the Jaegerists to free Commandant Shadis and the jailed members of the Military Police and Garrison Regiment. Commander Pyxis offers to lead a group of soldiers who have drunk from the wine tainted with Zeke's spinal fluid to fend off the invaders. In preparation, Mikasa puts her scarf down, witnessed by a joyful Louise. Nile reunites Falco with Gabi and Colt who is armed with an anti-Titan rifle. In hiding, Gabi overhears the Braus family's words and finally realizes that there are no devils on the island, just people. Falco confesses his feelings for her, afraid that he could turn into a Titan any moment. This prompts Colt to rush them to Zeke, hoping to stop him from screaming. Pieck fakes the death of the Cart Titan, enabling Magath to fire a shot at the Beast Titan's nape with the anti-Titan cannon, gravely wounding Zeke and knocking him off the wall. As the Attack Titan limps towards the fallen Beast Titan, Reiner is urged to stop Eren from coming into contact with Zeke.

The Jaw Titan tries to slow the Attack Titan down, and Eren severely injures Porco by smashing the Jaw's nape. He's interrupted by another cannon shot, but then Floch's group attack and distract the Cart. Reiner grapples with Eren and reaches out to Porco, which triggers Marcel's memory about Reiner inheriting the Armored Titan. Zeke survived Magath's sneak attack and prepares to use his scream. Colt pleads with Zeke not to do so until Falco is out of range, but Zeke regretfully screams anyway, turning everyone who drank the tainted wine into Pure Titans, including Nile and Pyxis. Colt is incinerated by Falco's transformation. Zeke orders Falco to eat Reiner, but Falco instead devours Porco who offers himself to be eaten while still believing he is a better man than Reiner. Floch's group is defeated and the Beast Titan is shot in the nape again, seemingly killing Zeke. Suddenly, the Survey Corps attack the Cart and Armored Titans with Thunder Spears, clearing a path for Eren to exit his Titan and reach Zeke, who faked his death the same way Pieck did. However, Gabi uses Colt's rifle to decapitate Eren whose head falls into Zeke's hand. Eren's consciousness is immediately transported to the Paths, where he meets an aged Zeke in chains, a representation of King Fritz's vow renouncing war. When a young girl who is the soul of the Founder Ymir approaches from the Coordinate, Eren declares he never meant to follow Zeke's plan and attempts to control her, but Zeke reveals that Ymir only follows the orders of those of royal blood. Zeke sheds his chains and shackles Eren. In another attempt to convince Eren to follow his euthanization plan and "fix” him with the Founder's power, he touches their heads together.

Using the Paths, Zeke shows Eren his life from birth through their father Grisha's memories, hoping to convince Eren that Grisha has brainwashed him. However, they discover that Grisha had instead forsaken his Eldian nationalism and allowed Eren to find his own path in life. Eren tells Zeke that he was mistaken to assume that they were the same, as Eren preserved his freedom he was born with while Zeke is unable to move past Grisha's dream. Undaunted, Zeke states that with the power of the Founding Titan, he can still carry out the euthanization plan. In the memory when Grisha offered Eren to show him the secrets of their basement, he's revealed to be talking to Eren's future self. Zeke and Eren then arrive at the moment when Grisha confronts the Reiss family. As Grisha pleads with Frieda Reiss to save Paradis with the Founding Titan, he reveals that the Attack Titan's ability is that the host can see the memories of its future inheritors. When Frieda refuses to help and cites King Fritz's ideology about how the Eldian people shall accept the world's punishment, Grisha decides to kill the Reiss family and take the Founding Titan for himself. However, he hesitates and realizes that he cannot bring himself to kill, especially not children. Eren intervenes by using his memories of the future to communicate with Grisha, goading him into slaughtering the Reiss family and causing the events of the past to play out as they were meant to. After the event, Grisha breaks down and sees Zeke, telling him that it will be Eren's plan that will come to pass. Grisha then expresses his regret to Zeke for not being a better father to him, visibly moving Zeke. When Grisha pleads with him to stop Eren, he's suddenly knocked out from Grisha's memories and both are brought back to the Paths.

Returning from Grisha's memories, Zeke is horrified to learn that Eren purposely pushed Grisha to acquire the Founder and manipulated his past to ensure the future he had foreseen when touching Historia. Zeke commands Ymir to enact the euthanization plan, but Eren rips free from his chains to rush after Ymir as she advances toward the Coordinate. In a flashback to 2,000 years earlier, Ymir lived in a small rural village which was invaded by Eldians led by Fritz who enslaved the inhabitants. The young Ymir is blamed for letting a pig escape. While she is being hunted down, she enters an ancient tree and falls into a deep pool where a parasitic-looking entity turns her into the first Titan. Still treating her as a slave, Fritz uses Ymir's Founding Titan to destroy Marley's armies and expand the kingdom of Eldia. During this time, Fritz has three daughters with Ymir: Maria, Rose, and Shina. One day, Ymir sacrifices herself to save Fritz from a dissenter, and Fritz orders his children to eat her body so their descendants can keep passing on the power of the Titans. Ymir's soul is transported into the Paths where she spends the next 2,000 years making Titans by hand. Back in the present, Eren reaches Ymir and offers her the freedom to choose her future for the first time in her life. Ignoring Zeke as the one of royal blood, she decides her future lies with Eren. Consequently, the Rumbling begins as the Walls collapse and the thousands of Colossal-like Wall Titans encased within it are released. Pieck, Magath and Floch tumble from Wall Maria while Reiner rushes to save Gabi. Though Armin is relieved that Eren was not on Zeke's side, he realizes every Wall Titan on Paradis was released when only a small group would've been enough to take down the global alliance. Eren, having transformed into his version of the Founding Titan, uses the Paths to telepathically announce to all Subjects of Ymir of his intention to use the Rumbling to exterminate all life beyond the island.

Eren and the Wall Titans march off to trample the world outside of Paradis. Reiner and Gabi search for Falco who was presumably carried away by Jean and Connie. Reiner was wounded while protecting Gabi from falling debris for his Titan's armor also disappeared. He regrets his failure over halting Eren and urges Gabi to escape and warn everyone, but she points out that Eren must be stopped. Reiner states he has already given up, so he's left behind in a house. The Pure Titans created by Zeke run amok in Shiganshina. Armin, Mikasa, Jean and Connie discuss Eren's actions and an unconscious Falco's fate when a Titan's sudden attack allows Connie to escape with the boy, planning to feed him to his mother to make her human again. In the Titan-filled streets, Gabi saves Kaya from Nile's Titan and the Braus family and Nicolo protects her from the Survey Corps, mending the rift between them. Armin, Mikasa, Jean, and Shadis rally the remaining Jaegerists and Cadets. The soldiers lure all the Pure Titans towards the fort in the center of the district where they work together to finish off their former comrades with Armin killing Pyxis' Titan. The battle ends with all Pure Titans and Marleyan soldiers killed, although the thrilled Louise is injured. Onyankopon and Yelena are baffled to witness the Rumbling. Floch is revealed to be alive as he arrives with an intention to punish the Volunteers. Mr. Braus takes Armin and Mikasa to Gabi who is horrified to learn of Connie's plan and pleads with Armin to convince Eren that not everyone outside the island has to die. Upon learning that the Armored Titan's hardening came undone at the same time as the beginning of the Rumbling, Armin deduces that Eren commanded all Titan hardening be undone, implying that Annie's crystal is now also undone.

As the Wall Titans walk off into the sunset, the people in Trost District argue about the cost in lives and devastation of Eren's strategy caused by the Rumbling. Hitch finds a weakened Annie who has been freed from her crystal and helps her escape from the Military Police. Annie tells Hitch that she no longer wants to fight and wishes to reunite with her adoptive father in Marley. Although he abused and brutally raised her to be a Warrior, he confessed regret at not treating her like a daughter. In Liberio, the Eldians led by Mr. Leonhart try to convince the Marleyan guards about the arriving Rumbling, but they refuse to listen, culminating in Leonhart picking up a fight. Back in Shiganshina, Shadis foresees the Jaegerists taking over the island. He expects himself to be purged, but advises the Cadets to follow them for now. Armin prepares to head out with Gabi to pursue Connie and Falco. He angrily chastises Mikasa for worrying about Eren whom he sees as a lost cause but then apologizes, mentioning that Erwin should have been revived instead of him. Mikasa then notices her scarf is gone. Meanwhile, Floch reveals to everyone that ten months ago, Eren explained his plan to him and that he's always known Eren will manipulate Zeke. Backed by the Jaegerists, he confronts the Volunteers with the reality that their only choice is to accept submission to the New Eldian Empire or death, the latter quickly demonstrated by shooting one of them dead. Floch then tries to convince Mikasa and a shaken Jean to give up fighting and retire as heroes of Paradis, mentioning Hange and Levi's deaths. During the end credits, Falco is now awakened and has lost his memory of the recent battle, although he's uncomfortable about Connie.

In a post-credits scene outside the ruined Wall, Pieck and Magath discuss the Rumbling when they are approached by Hange with the gravely-injured Levi.

The last of the Wall Titans have left the sight of the walls as the civilians continue taking sides in Eren's course of action. After taking out the pursuing Jaegerists, Hange sets up camp in the forest and stitches up Levi's wounds. Wondering about living isolated in the woods, they receive Eren's message to the Eldians. Later when Hange and Levi find Pieck and Magath, they offer to ally with them over Levi's goal of killing Zeke. Connie arrives with Falco in Ragako village where he suggests an awkward task to Falco so he could eventually feed the boy to his immobile Titan mother. Being interrupted by Armin and Gabi, he takes Falco up to the Titan's mouth by force, but the despairing Armin jumps into it instead. He is saved by Connie who changes his mind about his mother. They all return to Shiganshina where they happen to encounter Annie who joins them, abandoning Hitch in the process. Meanwhile, Mikasa refuses to join the Jaegerists and recovers her scarf from Louise whose injuries appear to be fatal. Floch prepares to have himself and Jean execute Yelena and Onyankopon for treason against the Eldian Empire. Onyankopon tries to convince the Jaegerists that massacring the world is insane to no avail. He turns to Jean who is about to shoot him but instead fires four shots into the ground. Answering this, Pieck's Cart Titan form suddenly appears and grabs Jean, Yelena, and Onyankopon in its mouth, taking them to Magath, Levi, and Hange who have joined forces. At the same time, Jean's shots are also a signal to Mikasa and Connie's group to leave with supplies, Annie, Falco, and Gabi. As they leave, Annie notices someone in a window having seen them. They then join up with Reiner in their mission to save the world.

Jean envisions a secure future and a happy life with his wife and child. He is brought out of his dream by Hange, who asks him and Mikasa to join the remaining Survey Corps and Marleyans to stop Eren's intended genocide. Though Jean initially pushes back on Hange's offer, he eventually agrees after being reminded of Marco. At their camp in the forest, Magath clashes with the Survey Corps about which side started the conflict and prompts a heated debate over who are the real "devils". Annie confronts Mikasa over whether she would be able to kill Eren if she cannot convince him to stop the Rumbling. They are about to fight over the matter but then agree to first try asking Eren. While the group eats Hange's stew, the flying boat comes up as an option to reach the Founding Titan, but Eren's destination is yet unknown. When Yelena insists she doesn't have a clue either, Magath and Pieck reveal that she is actually a Marleyan, having faked her background to join Zeke. Hearing this, Yelena counters by forcing Reiner, Annie, Armin, and Jean to confront their own actions they had committed under the idea of "saving the world", including how Reiner and Annie caused Marco to be eaten by Titans, thus preventing the exposure of the Warriors. Furious at Reiner's self-pity over Marco's death, Jean savagely attacks and beats him, but the others intervene. Gabi pleads for Jean's help to save her family in Marley, but he storms off. The next morning, Jean returns and agrees to join their alliance. As they head towards the port in order to take the flying boat, he apologizes to Gabi. Though he admits that he is still unable to forgive Reiner. Pieck goes forward to scout and they discover that the Jaegerists have control of the port and Floch has taken Kiyomi Azumabito hostage.

Hange and Magath survey the occupied port, noticing that the flying boat is still intact, but the Jaegerists might destroy it any moment. An enormous amount of steam indicates that the Wall Titans have already crossed the sea, so the group must act fast. It becomes clear that they need the Azumabito engineers to service the boat and prepare it for flight. However, this would mean defending the Azumabito from the Jaegerists, even by wiping out all of them which Connie protests against. Annie and Reiner conclude that the Survey Corps members should not battle their former comrades. Magath tortures Yelena to make her reveal Eren's destination; she considers talking if the group brings her with them. Having a change of heart, Magath apologizes for burdening the young with the past and asks the Survey Corps to temporarily overlook the bloodshed, but Armin refuses while believing in a peaceful solution. Floch and Kiyomi have a disagreement over the new world order when Armin and Connie ride to the port, announcing to Floch that the Marleyans have escaped by sea, and that they need the flying boat to pursue them. They find it ready to be destroyed by explosives with Samuel and Daz standing guard. While initially suspicious of Armin and Connie, the two are eventually convinced to disarming the explosives. Floch remains doubtful and attempts to kill the remaining engineers, but is distracted by Kiyomi. Then Mikasa breaks into the building to save them. Floch escapes outside and announces Mikasa, Armin, and Connie to be traitors. Jean, Hange, and Magath manage to take the Azumabito into the basement for safety. An all-out battle ensues with Reiner and Annie arriving and transforming into their Titan forms, beginning to attack the Jaegerists. On the dock, Armin tries to stop Daz from re-arming the explosives only to be shot by Samuel. Connie and Armin wrestle with them to prevent the boat's destruction, with Connie eventually shooting and killing Daz and Samuel. Armin recalls Bertholdt crying about how someone must stain their hands with blood.

The engineers inform Hange's group that it will take at least half a day to get the flying boat ready. They realize that it will be too late to save Liberio at the Wall Titans’ pace. Kiyomi suggests they can leave by ship and take the boat to the Marleyan coastland city of Odiha, where the Azumabito own a hangar. Magath rushes Kiyomi and the engineers to the dock while Annie and Reiner use their Titans to protect them along with the ship from Floch and the Jaegerists. Mikasa, Hange, Jean and Connie help to fight off their opponents. Seeing the Titans struggling, Falco makes up his mind to fight. Pieck joins the fray after delivering Levi, Gabi, Yelena and Onyankopon to Magath. Hange spots a train of Jaegerist reinforcements which suddenly explodes and derails. Falco charges into the chaos, transforming into the Jaw Titan. Managing to barrel through the fight, Floch attempts to destroy the ship's hull with a Thunder Spear but is shot down by Gabi and falls into the sea. Falco eventually loses control and attempts to eat Pieck, but Magath manages to extract him from his Titan. Noticing a captured Marleyan cruiser at the shore, Magath decides to remain behind to destroy it and runs into Shadis, who had followed them to the port and taken out the train. The two men exchange words of mutual respect then destroy the cruiser at the cost of their own lives to save the world while the others sail off to Odiha.

In a post-credits scene on the ship, Hange informs the group that Marley and Liberio cannot be saved, much to Annie's distress. After being convinced to stay, Annie once again questions Mikasa whether she can let Eren be killed to stop the Rumbling, admitting that she is tired of all the violence.

Months before the assault on Liberio, the Scouts arrived on the Marley shoreline. On their way to visit Azumabito at her home, they witness the persecution received by Subjects of Ymir firsthand after rescuing a young thief named Ramzi from a mob of Marleyans. Azumabito informs the group that Marley has begun cracking down on Subjects of Ymir who escape their internment camps through use of blood tests. Hange hopes to forge peace by allying with the Subjects of Ymir Protection Group. Discovering that Eren has gone missing, Mikasa tracks him down to Ramzi's home. Eren questions Mikasa's loyalty to him, asking what he means to her, to which she is taken aback and calls him her family. The rest of the group catches up and they spend the night partying with Ramzi's family. The next day at the Protection Group's assembly, the representative of the Protection Group declares that Subjects of Ymir who don't view themselves as Eldian should be freed, while the "devils" of Paradis should be exterminated, which receives cheers from the audience. Eren departs and doesn't contact the Scouts again until the assault on Liberio. Mikasa ruminates on that time and wonders if different choices had been made, could things have turned out differently. Flashbacks reveal Eren meeting Yelena and agreeing to follow Zeke's euthanasia plan while actually informing Floch and Historia of his real plans, with the latter initially opposing him before choosing to become pregnant to extend her and Zeke's lifetime thus indirectly aiding Eren, and Zeke telling him that Ackermans are not compelled by blood to protect a host and that Mikasa is devoted to him simply because she loves him. Eren tells Zeke that he wants his friends to live long, happy lives after his death. In the present, the Global Alliance makes a futile attempt with their navy to stop Eren and the Rumbling from reaching Marley. They are easily destroyed by the Titans and Eren declares his intention to destroy the world as he and the Colossal Titans set foot on the mainland.

Chapter 1 – The Rumbling: The Rumbling continues, with the Colossal Titans killing countless people, including Ramzi and Halil and Grisha's parents, and destroying civilizations all over the world. Meanwhile, the ship carrying the scouts and warriors arrive at Odiha. Thinking her father is already dead, Annie decides to stay behind on the ship with Gabi, Falco, Yelena, and the Azumabito, while the remaining warriors, scouts, and Onyankopon take the flying boat to stop Eren. The next day, just as the group are about to take off, Floch, having survived the battle at the port, damages the hull of the flying boat before being killed by Mikasa. However, before the flying boat can be properly repaired, the Rumbling arrives. Hange appoints Armin as the next commander of the Survey Corps before going up against the Colossal Titans alone, buying the others just enough time to get the aircraft off the ground. Hange is welcomed to the afterlife by Erwin, Moblit, and the other deceased scouts. They assure Hange that the duty as commander has been fulfilled.

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Chapter 2 – Sinners: En route to Eren, the scouts and warriors discuss plans to confront him, with Armin still believing in a peaceful resolution. During their conversation, Eren suddenly brings them into the paths dimension, explaining that in order to stop the Rumbling, they must kill him. He further elaborates that he will not take away their freedom to do so, just as he has the freedom to keep moving forward with it. Back on the ship, Falco reveals to Annie that his Titan might have the ability to fly. Many refugees from Liberio, including the Warriors' families, escape to Fort Salta, a Marleyan base. As they arrive, they see a number of airships launching an assault on Eren and his Titans. However, the airships are quickly destroyed by the Beast Titan, which materialized on Eren's skeletal form, leaving everyone utterly hopeless. Just then, the flying boat arrives and the scouts and warriors jump from the aircraft. Pieck and Reiner transform, with the latter managing to pin the Beast Titan down. Armin calls out to Eren, asking what about him is free.

The Rumbling continues, with the Wall Titans killing countless people on the continent of Marley, including Ramzi and his brother and Grisha's parents. Some time ago during their Liberio visit, Eren walks around knowing that in the future he would kill all the people around him in the city, since he senses he's predestined to do so. He figures they will never find a peaceful resolution to ensure the survival of Paradis. Despite having this knowledge, he still saves Ramzi from getting beat up by a group of merchants for stealing. Although the boy is grateful to him, Eren tearfully apologizes, telling Ramzi that the outside world he discovered is different from what he imagined it would be and that he made a wish to wipe it all away as a result. Back in the present, the Rumbling continues to march towards other civilizations all across the world. Eren begins to feel a sense of freedom and reaches out to Armin through Paths to ask if he agrees. Before having the chance to respond, Armin snaps back into reality on the ship that's traveling towards Odiha to prepare the flying boat. After sitting down next to Annie, she thanks Armin for his kindness in coming to visit her while she was trapped in the crystal and refers to him as a good person, as she believes being alone all that time would have made her gone mad otherwise. Armin admits his feelings for her, but refutes her generosity in claiming he's a good person and reminds her that he is also guilty in regards to killing many innocent people now. Armin thinks about the outside world he and Eren imagined as children, and how different it actually was in reality. Despite that, Armin hopes there is something out there in the world they still do not know about.

The scouts and warriors arrive in Odiha to prepare the flying boat. Despite returning Armin's feelings, Annie declines to join the group on the flying boat as she believes her father is dead therefore has no reason to fight. As preparations are made on the flying boat overnight, the group convinces Yelena to divulge where Eren is currently heading. She states that his most likely destination is Fort Salta in southern Marley which contains many of the country's airships, as they are the only remaining obstacles there that stand any real chance of combatting the Rumbling. In the morning, the preparations on the flying boat are nearing its end. As the Azumabito mechanics begin fueling, Floch staggers into the hangar and shoots the aircraft, rupturing the fuel tank before being killed by Mikasa. This delays their take-off and the line of Wall Titans begin to appear in the distance. Hange passes scout command over to Armin and stays behind to buy them some time to fix the flying boat. After repairing the fuel tank, the scouts and warriors along with Onyankopon as their designated pilot depart on the flying boat as the Azumabitos, Annie, Yelena, Falco and Gabi leave on the ship. Hange is killed from the body heat of the Titans while holding them off and is welcomed to the afterlife by Erwin, Moblit, and the other deceased scouts. They assure Hange that the duty as commander has been fulfilled.

The flying boat group is mostly silent as they all deal with the grief of losing Hange. Armin begins to devise a draft plan with his comrades, as he hopes to exhaust all possibilities of a peaceful resolution with Eren through talking before having to use his Colossal Titan shift as a last resort to destroy Eren's Founding Titan. Everyone agrees that there may be a part of Eren that wants them to succeed in defeating him as he has not taken away their ability to Titan shift. During their discussion, Eren pulls all of them into Paths and makes it clear that he will not be dissuaded through discussions and that if they want to stop the Rumbling, they are free to do so by fighting him. Meanwhile, a train of refugees approaches Fort Salta, carrying Eldians from Liberio. Among them are surviving families of the warriors. They hope to take one of the airships into the sky to survive the Rumbling, but to their dismay they see that they are too late as all the crafts have already taken off. Commander Müller reveals to everyone on the ground via loudspeakers that they are conducting a bombing run on the Founding Titan, however they are flying too high as they begin dropping their payloads. During the bombing run, the Beast Titan emerges on the back of the Founding Titan and throws a barrage of debris that destroy the airships and kills everyone on board.

Chapter 3 – The Battle of Heaven and Earth: The Scouts and Warriors lands on Eren's rib cage, and incapacitate the Beast Titan realizing that it is just a shell with Zeke nowhere to be found. Before Armin has a chance to transform, he is captured in a Titan's mouth. Suddenly, countless versions of the Nine Titans of the past appear on Eren's back, created by Ymir Fritz to defend him. Just as the Scouts and Warriors are nearly defeated, Annie and Gabi appear on the back of Falco's new flying Jaw Titan. Meanwhile, Armin discovers Zeke in the Paths.

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Chapter 4 – A Long Dream: Armin and Zeke have a conversation about the meaning of life and Armin convinces Zeke to share his viewpoint and the two call on the deceased Titan shifters throughout the series to help the alliance. Zeke then materializes on Eren's Titan and allows Levi to kill him, which stops the Rumbling. After Armin is rescued, he uses the power of his Colossal Titan to destroy Eren's Founding Titan, releasing the centipede-like organism, the source of all Titan power, from Eren's nape. Falco flies down to the Liberio refugees, but the reunion between the Warriors and their families is cut short when the source turns the nearby Eldians, including Jean, Connie, and Gabi, into Titans to help defend it. Reiner, Annie, and Pieck engage the Titans and the source to prevent it from reconnecting with Eren while he transforms into the Founding Titan once again to fight Armin, leaving Mikasa and Levi the only ones left who can take Eren down. Jumping off of Falco's back, Levi uses a Thunder Spear to destroy Eren's Titan's mouth exposing his human form within and Mikasa beheads Eren. Ymir is thus freed from the Paths allowing her to pass on, and the Titan powers, along with the source, disappear from the world, turning all the Eldians permanently back into humans.

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Final Chapter – Toward the Tree on That Hill: After Eren's death, a conversation between Armin and Eren is shown where Eren talks about why he treated Armin and Mikasa badly earlier, the effect his possession of both the Founding and Attack titan had on his mind, the revelation that eighty percent of the world's population will be wiped out by the end of the Rumbling, and his realization that it was impossible for him to avoid doing the Rumbling. After repeatedly trying to find a way to avoid the Rumbling, Eren decided to go along with it to protect his friends and ensure their statuses would be elevated to the saviors of humanity in the rest of the world, alongside giving them the long, fulfilling lives he wanted them to have in a world free of Titans. As it ends, it is revealed that the conversation had taken place much earlier but Armin's memories of it were suppressed by Eren until Eren's death, and that Eren did the same with the rest of his former friends. After mourning their friend, Armin decides to take credit for killing Eren so as to cover for Mikasa leaving to bury Eren's head on Paradis, and the Scouts and Warriors are hailed as heroes by the survivors of the Rumbling. Three years later, with eighty percent of humanity decimated, the Jaegerists become the dominant faction of Paradis' military and prepare for a potential future attack from the rest of the world, while the remaining Scouts and Warriors become the world's ambassadors for peace negotiations with Paradis. Mikasa, who had buried Eren's head under a tree that he would frequently rest under as a child (the same tree the show starts near), continues to visit his grave throughout the rest of her life. Many generations pass peacefully before a futuristic Paradis is bombed from above and destroyed in a war. Over time, Paradis is reclaimed by the wilderness, and within this wilderness a lone boy and his dog approach the tree Eren is buried at, which has since grown to resemble the original tree that contained the source of the Titans' power.

The Scouts and Warriors lands on Eren's rib cage and incapacitate the Beast Titan before realizing that it is simply an empty shell with Zeke nowhere to be found. Before Armin has a chance to transform, he is captured inside a Titan's mouth. Suddenly, countless iterations of the former Nine Titans appear on Eren's back, created by Ymir Fritz as a way to defend him from the group's assault. While the Scouts try to rescue Armin, Pieck attempts to decapitate Eren's Titan with explosives, only to have her Cart Titan impaled and lifted away by the War Hammer Titan's replica before she is able to pull the trigger. Bertholdt's Colossal Titan replica appears above the battlefield and bites the head of Reiner's Armored Titan off before hurling the body down at the Founder's ribcage. The Scouts are scattered by the resulting impact, with most of them falling off the spines and forced to hang onto the ribcage so they don't fall. Just as the team is nearly defeated, Annie and Gabi appear on the back of Falco's new flying Jaw Titan and carries most of the team out from harm's way. Levi divides the group into two teams to rescue Armin and to attack Eren's nape. The sight of Falco's Titan inspires the Marleyan military at Fort Salta to keep fighting, but they are soon distracted by the arrival of the Eldian refugees from Liberio.

Jean and Reiner head for the Founding Titan's nape, joining up with Pieck in an attempt to blow off the head with the same explosives she tried to detonate earlier. On the other end of the Eren's Titan, Mikasa, Conny and Annie attempt to chase down the Titan that captured Armin, but are stopped by the Colossal Titan. Armin discovers Zeke inside the Paths, who explains to him that Eren understood what Ymir could not let go of even after 2,000 years and that is why she sided with him. Zeke does not believe escaping the Paths is possible or worth pursuing given that everything simply dies in the end, but Armin convinces Zeke that even the smallest things in life have meaning. Suddenly, Zeke remembers the time he spent playing ball with Xaver. Realizing he still cherishes those memories, he helps bridge the gap between the previous inheritors of the Titans, allowing Xaver, Grisha, Kruger, the Galliard brothers and Ymir's Titan replicas to break free of the Founder's control to help their comrades battle the remaining replicas. Zeke emerges from one of the Founding Titan's spines and calls out to Falco and those riding on his back, particularly Levi.

While marveling about how nice the day looks, Zeke allows Levi to decapitate him, which severs Eren's ability to continue the Rumbling. Jean gets to the detonator and sets off the explosives around the Founding Titan's neck, decapitating it. However, a glowing centipedal creature emerges from its neck in an attempt to reconnect the head. After being rescued, Armin attempts to use the explosive power of his Colossal Titan's transformation to kill it, but he fails and it runs off towards Fort Salta. Meanwhile, Falco flies down to the Liberio refugees, but the reunion between the Warriors and their families is cut short when the centipede creature turns the nearby Eldians, including Jean, Connie and Gabi, into Titans to help defend it. Reiner, Annie, and Pieck engage the Titans and the centipede creature to prevent it from reconnecting with Eren while he transforms into a Colossal form of the Founding Titan to fight Armin's Colossal Titan, leaving Mikasa and Levi as the only ones left who can kill Eren. Jumping off Falco's back mid-flight, Levi uses a thunder spear to destroy the Founding Titan's mouth exposing Eren's real head within. Mikasa immediately enters the Titan's mouth to behead Eren and permanently end the Rumbling. As a result of Eren's death, Ymir is freed from the Paths which allows her to pass on. The centipedal creature responsible for the source of the Titan's powers vanishes and all surviving Eldians turn back into humans. Armin suddenly remembers a conversation with Eren that the latter intentionally wiped from his memory.

After Eren's death, a conversation between Armin and Eren is shown where Eren talks about why he treated Armin and Mikasa badly earlier, talks about the effect his possession of both the Founding and Attack titan had on his mind, and reveals that eighty percent of the world's population will be wiped out by the end of the Rumbling and that he realised it was impossible for him to avoid doing the Rumbling after repeatedly trying to find a way to avoid it, so he decided to go along with it to protect his friends and ensure their statuses would be elevated to the saviors of humanity in the rest of the world, alongside giving them the long, fulfilling lives he wanted them to have in a world free of Titans. As it ends, it is revealed that the conversation had taken place much earlier but Armin's memories of it were suppressed by Eren until Eren's death, and that Eren did the same with the rest of his former friends. After mourning their friend, Armin decides to take credit for killing Eren so as to cover for Mikasa leaving to bury Eren's head on Paradis, and the Scouts and Warriors are hailed as heroes by the survivors of the Rumbling.

Three years later, with eighty percent of humanity decimated, the Jaegerists become the dominant faction of Paradis' military and prepare for a potential future attack from the rest of the world, while the remaining Scouts and Warriors become the world's ambassadors for peace negotiations with Paradis. Mikasa, who had buried Eren's head under a tree that he would frequently rest under as a child (the same tree the show starts near), sits near the grave and reminisces about life when she and Eren were kids, when a bird comes by and lifts the scarf up as if to wrap it around her, and she thanks Eren.