Titans

Within the Paths, Zeke recounts to Armin how life first arose from a drive to multiply shadowed by the terror of dying, and how Ymir Fritz eventually produced an undying body and fled into a realm untouched by death. He confesses that centuries of study never revealed what Ymir actually wants, or why she obeyed King Fritz for two thousand years, though Eren alone understood her lingering bond with the world outside, which is why she followed him. When Armin asks about returning to the outside, Zeke calls it impossible and questions why Armin clings to a struggle driven, in his view, by fear. To live is to die eventually, and death might even free them from being puppets of reproduction.

Armin lifts what looks like a leaf from the sand and describes a childhood race to a tree that Eren proposed, a contest he could never win but which made him feel he might have been born just to run it. Such trivial, private moments, he argues, are precious even though they serve no biological purpose. The object in his hand turns out to be a baseball, and Zeke, remembering games of catch with Tom Ksaver, takes it and admits he would rather have kept playing. Behind him gather the deceased inheritors of the Nine Titans, among them Ymir, Eren Kruger, the Galliard brothers Marcel and Porco, Ksaver, and Grisha Yeager. Zeke tells Ksaver their plan was not wrong, but rebirth would be welcome if it meant playing together again, and thanks his father. Armin apologizes to Bertolt, acknowledging he took everything from him, and the two ask the dead for their help.

Outside, the summoned Titans switch sides. Bertolt's Colossus Titan swats away the Titans swarming Annie, while the Jaw Titans of Marcel, Porco, and Ymir defend the pinned Reiner from the past War Hammer Titans. Jean pulls the injured Pieck to safety. Mikasa seizes the moment to pursue the okapi-shaped Beast Titan that swallowed Armin; Gabi stuns it with a shot to the head from Falco's flying Jaw Titan, and Mikasa carves its jaw open to free him. When its tongue impales Armin's leg, he kills the creature with a Thunder Spear, Connie cuts him loose, and Annie catches him. Armin explains that Zeke woke the sleepers in the Paths, and reasons that Ymir Fritz keeps all Eldians connected because she herself wants a connection, wants something.

Zeke emerges partway from a spine of the Founding Titan, remarks on the beauty of the day he never let himself notice, and calls out to Levi, who beheads him. The Wall Titans halt mid-stride as the Rumbling stops. At Reiner's urging, Jean retrieves Pieck's detonator and, cursing Eren as a suicidal blockhead one final time, blows the Founding Titan's head off. A centipede-like creature bursts from the neck seeking to rejoin the severed head, and Reiner grapples it to the ground. Falco gathers nearly everyone aboard his Titan, Pieck assuring Jean that Reiner's armor can survive what comes next. Once clear, Armin thanks the living and the dead, bids Eren farewell, and triggers his Colossus Titan transformation to destroy the Founder's body.

Zeke explains Ymir Fritz's origin as the first Titan and her escape into the deathless world of the Paths.

Armin's reflection on small precious memories reaches Zeke, who summons the deceased Titan inheritors to fight for the alliance.

The Titans of Bertolt, Ymir, and the Galliard brothers rescue Annie and Reiner, and Mikasa, Gabi, and Connie free Armin from the okapi Beast Titan.

Levi beheads Zeke, bringing the Rumbling and the Wall Titans to a halt.

Jean detonates the explosives on the Founding Titan's neck, Reiner wrestles the escaping centipede-like creature, and Armin transforms to annihilate the Founder's body.

Titans is the third chapter of volume 34 and the 137th of the series overall, drawn and scripted by Hajime Isayama as the War for Paradis arc nears its end. It was published in Japan on February 9, 2021, one day behind the February 8 English release. The anime adapts it within THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2, across the segments Dedicate Your Heart and A Long Dream.

It follows the chapter Dedicate Your Heart and precedes A Long Dream. The title refers to the man-eating giants themselves, which are covered in a separate entry, and this chapter marks Zeke Yeager's death at Levi's hands.