Charge (Chapter)

With Erwin's horde of Titans bearing down, Hannes screams for the soldiers riding the Armored Titan to bail off. The wave crashes into Reiner, who must abandon his run and fight, while Ymir shields Historia from a grasping Titan. Then Erwin gives an order that stuns his own troops: charge straight into the swarm, because this moment decides mankind's fate and humanity stands no chance without Eren.

Needing both hands against the Titans, Reiner stops shielding Bertolt, and Mikasa immediately closes on the pair. Mid-command, a Titan's jaws clamp down on Erwin's right arm, yet he keeps roaring at his soldiers to press on. The charge breaks through at terrible cost. Mikasa's strike at Bertolt misses, and a Titan seizes her and squeezes her ribs until Jean stabs its eye to free her. Armin then makes his move, taunting Bertolt with the invented claim that Annie is enduring endless torture in far-off Utopia District. Bertolt's grief boils over into a promise to kill them all, and in that unguarded instant Erwin slashes him away from Eren, whom Mikasa carries off as the retreat is called.

Elsewhere, Historia records her first Titan kill defending Ymir, and Connie drags her back despite her protests that Ymir's life depends on her staying. Desperate to halt the escape, Reiner begins hurling Titans like projectiles. One throw knocks Eren and Mikasa from their horse, and as they rise, battered and dazed, they find themselves staring at the Titan that devoured Carla Yeager five years before.

Erwin orders a direct cavalry charge into the Titan swarm to recover Eren.

A Titan bites off Erwin's right arm while he continues urging his soldiers forward.

Jean rescues a badly injured Mikasa from a Titan's crushing grip.

Armin's fabricated story of Annie's torture rattles Bertolt long enough for Erwin to cut Eren loose.

Reiner's thrown Titans unhorse Eren and Mikasa, leaving them face to face with the smiling Titan.

Charge is chapter 49, the third of volume 12, published September 9, 2013 in Japan as part of the Clash of the Titans arc. It follows Someone, precedes Scream, and the anime adapts it in an episode of the same name.