Shingeki No Kyojin (Attack on Titans) Chapter 72 – In the final hours before humanity’s final counter-attack on the Titan, the Survey Corps top officials convened for likely the last time before they embark on a mission that will shape the future of the walled city and its citizens.
Everybody in the room knew that there’s still a high chance their latest reconnaissance mission will end to naught despite gaining significant upgrades on their weapons and harnessing the power of titan through Eren Yeager’s titan-shifting ability. However, Levi Ackerman, Hange Zoe and Survey Corps commander Erwin Smith have all come to final resolve in completing the mission even at the expense of their own lives.
At the mess hall, Eren and his fellow squad member received a memorable parting gift. For the first time in months, they would all have to share meat courtesy of Flegel Reeves’ company. As expected, there’s no person more delighted to chew on those hams than Sasha Blouse, the hungry girl of the 104 Trainees Squad. Chaos ensues as Blouse couldn’t control her cravings to the point of driving her to complete madness.
Although they managed to pacify the situation by restraining Blouse, Jean Kirstein triggered fracas anew after calling Eren suicidal maniac. The two traded blows but both were surprised that no one was trying to stop them. Levi eventually ended their fist fight by easily knocking them down. He then instructed everybody to go to bed.
So there were Eren, Mikasa, and Armin reminiscing their journey from being helpless victims of Titan attack in Shiganshina District to possibly becoming humanity’s last hope to gain freedom from the fear of these giant beasts. They also reminded one another the real purpose why they joined the Survey Corps in the first place, and that is to discover the things they learned from the book of Armin’s Grandfather: the sea, flaming water, snowy field of sand and land made of ice.
Finally at sunset, the Survey Corps officials bid their goodbye to the military officials as they were about to begin the plan to retake Wall Maria. For the first time since perhaps the first reconnaissance mission, the Survey Corps were given a morale-boosting send-off by the citizens of the wall.
Bolstered by the support of the people, Smith let out one spirited shout before leading the march towards the Shiganshina District, where the mystery of the titan along with the history of the world is waiting to be discovered. Meanwhile, somewhere in Wall Maria, Bertolt Hoover and Reiner Braun were waiting for the Survey Corps to arrive. Months after their confrontation with Eren, the second round of the Battle of the Titans has become inevitable.