Chapter Summaries

Gu Shun woke in an unfamiliar world with fragmented memories of his death and no strength to move. After a wolf nearly killed him, a blond man shot it and rushed to help, but Gu Shun passed out.

• Gu Shun awoke beneath a tree, discovered that he had died and returned in another world, and recalled little beyond his name.
• A hungry wolf emerged from the bushes while Gu Shun was too weak to stand or flee.
• The wolf lunged at Gu Shun, but a gunshot killed it before it could bite him.
• A burly blond man approached and asked if Gu Shun was all right, and Gu Shun passed out before he could answer.

After waking in Kane Ackerman's home, Gu Shun learned that he had lost his memories and had nowhere to go. Kane and Yumiko offered to take him in, and Gu Shun accepted, beginning a new life with their family and Mikasa.

• Gu Shun woke in an unfamiliar wooden house and realized he had become a boy of about eight or nine.
• Kane Ackerman introduced himself as Gu Shun's rescuer, and Gu Shun admitted that he could not remember his parents or his past.
• Gu Shun met Mikasa Ackerman, and the two shy children introduced themselves before joining Kane and Yumiko for lunch.
• Kane told Yumiko and Mikasa how he had saved Gu Shun from a wolf, and Gu Shun confirmed that he had no family or other place to go.
• Kane and Yumiko invited Gu Shun to live with them, Mikasa welcomed him, and Gu Shun tearfully accepted.

Gu Shun, now registered as Arthur Ackerman, settled into Mikasa’s family and learned about the world of Titans and humanity’s defenses. As his strength and appetite increased, he began investigating the unusual changes in his body.

• Arthur praised the doll Mikasa had made of him, and Yumiko reminded her not to interrupt his studying.
• Arthur had grown close to Mikasa’s family over the three months since they took him in, and Mikasa had begun calling him her brother.
• Arthur learned about the Titans, the three walls, the military branches, and the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear.
• Kane brought Doctor Grisha Yeager to examine Arthur’s growing appetite, but the doctor found nothing wrong and attributed it to an unusual constitution.
• Arthur realized that his strength had become comparable to that of a twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy.

Arthur asked Kane to take him hunting, and Kane agreed to bring him on the next trip under strict instructions. Mikasa stayed behind, and she and Arthur went outside together.

• Mikasa asked Arthur what was wrong, and he patted her head while Yumiko teased her for enjoying it.
• Kane returned from hunting with pheasants and rabbits, then played with Mikasa by tickling her.
• Arthur asked Kane to let him join the next hunt, and Kane agreed on the condition that Arthur follow his orders.
• Mikasa asked to go hunting too, but Kane refused because the forest was dangerous; Arthur comforted her and complimented her.
• Mikasa took Arthur's hand and led him outside to play while Yumiko and Kane watched them go.

Ten-year-old Arthur hunted with Kane, then bought a bracelet and a red scarf for Mikasa’s eighth birthday. At home, he gave her the gifts during the family celebration, and Mikasa embraced him.

• Arthur shot a stag while hunting with Kane, and they took it to Shiganshina District to sell.
• Arthur bought a bracelet and collected the red scarf he had ordered for Mikasa’s birthday.
• Arthur and Kane returned home, where Mikasa greeted them while helping Yumiko in the garden.
• Kane gave Mikasa a snow globe, and Yumiko gave her a floral dress at the birthday dinner.
• Arthur put the bracelet on Mikasa and wrapped the scarf around her neck, and she thanked him and hugged him.

Arthur helped the Ackermans prepare firewood while Yumiko and Kane kept her potentially life-threatening heart condition secret from the children. Doctor Grisha arrived to examine Yumiko, bringing his eight-year-old son Eren Yeager, who met Arthur and Mikasa before going outside with them.

• Arthur chopped most of the firewood while Mikasa watched him and Yumiko teased her about it.
• Kane and Yumiko discussed her serious heart condition, which they had kept secret from Arthur and Mikasa.
• Doctor Grisha arrived at the Ackerman home to examine Yumiko and introduced his son, Eren Yeager.
• Arthur introduced himself and Mikasa to Eren, and the boys shook hands.
• Grisha asked Eren to play outside with Arthur and Mikasa while he examined Yumiko.

Arthur took Mikasa and Eren into the forest, where he showed off his archery and Mikasa saw a spider kill a butterfly. After Arthur explained that creatures had to survive, he brought the children home, where Eren parted from his new friends.

• Arthur got Kane's permission to take Mikasa and Eren into the forest and brought his bow along.
• Arthur shot a falling leaf with one arrow, astonishing Eren, who asked to learn archery but could barely draw the bow.
• Arthur led Mikasa and Eren to a scenic valley, where Eren described town as a cage.
• Mikasa watched a spider kill a butterfly, and Arthur explained that survival of the fittest and natural selection were truths of the world.
• Arthur took the children home, where they said goodbye to Eren after Dr. Grisha finished his examination.

In spring 844, Arthur spent a rainy day at home with Mikasa and her parents, helping conceal Yumiko’s illness while the family shared a quiet afternoon. As rain began to fall, Arthur’s unease grew, leaving the family’s day on the verge of trouble.

• Arthur stayed home from hunting with Kane because of the persistent rain and Dr. Grisha’s expected visit.
• Mikasa showed Arthur an embroidered handkerchief depicting their family, and Arthur praised her work.
• Yumiko tattooed the family crest on Mikasa’s wrist and told her to pass it on to her children someday.
• When Mikasa asked where babies came from, Arthur told her a story about storks, and Kane and Yumiko backed him up.
• As drizzle started outside, Arthur watched the rain and felt that something terrible might happen.

Arthur’s family was attacked by four armed bandits, and Kane was killed as he opened the door. Arthur killed two attackers before being shot in the shoulder, while Yumiko rushed for the rifle and Mikasa watched in terror.

• Kane opened the door despite Arthur’s warning, and a bandit stabbed him in the chest.
• Arthur hurled a table knife into Noff’s throat, killing him, then dodged a gunshot that grazed his arm.
• Arthur wounded one attacker in the thigh and killed him with a slash to the throat.
• The gunman shot Arthur through the shoulder while his accomplices held him off.
• Yumiko ran toward the rifle above the fireplace as Mikasa wept beside her fallen father and wounded Arthur.

Arthur and Yumiko fought the attackers, but Yumiko was killed while saving Arthur, and Mikasa awakened a mysterious strength to kill the man strangling him. Mikasa believed Arthur had died and nearly took her own life, but his heartbeat returned, leaving her relieved to find him alive.

• Yumiko shot the gunman to save Arthur, but the axe-wielding attacker stabbed her in the heart.
• The attacker knocked Mikasa down and strangled Arthur after Arthur fought back and badly injured the gunman.
• Mikasa overcame her hesitation, awakened a mysterious strength, and stabbed the attacker through the heart.
• Mikasa found Arthur without a heartbeat and nearly killed herself, but Arthur's body twitched and his heartbeat returned.

After the attack killed Mikasa’s parents, Arthur woke and comforted her, promising to protect her for the rest of his life. He and Mikasa left together, with Arthur wrapping the scarf around her neck and calling her home.

• Arthur woke coughing, and Mikasa helped him sit up and reassured him that she was safe.
• Arthur saw Mikasa’s injuries and blamed himself for Kane and Yumiko’s deaths, but Mikasa told him it was not his fault.
• Arthur realized Mikasa had killed the man who nearly strangled him and noticed that his gunshot wound seemed to be healing.
• Mikasa grieved over her parents’ bodies, and Arthur embraced her and promised they would remain a family and that he would protect her.
• Arthur picked up the scarf, wrapped it around Mikasa’s neck, and took her hand as they left to go home.

After Arthur and Mikasa buried Kane and Yumiko, Dr. Grisha and Eren arrived and learned what had happened. With their home no longer safe, Grisha invited Arthur and Mikasa to live with his family, and they agreed.

• Arthur burned the four beasts' bodies, then comforted Mikasa as they cleaned and buried Kane and Yumiko.
• Mikasa laid wildflowers on her parents' grave and resolved to grow strong enough to protect Arthur.
• Dr. Grisha and Eren arrived, and Arthur recounted the tragedy to them.
• Grisha blamed himself for arriving too late, while Eren angrily condemned the criminals and Grisha rebuked him.
• Grisha invited Arthur and Mikasa to stay at his house, and Eren welcomed them into his home.

In Year 845, Arthur and Mikasa gathered firewood with Eren, who woke from a strange dream in tears and seemed confused about their appearance. On the way home, Eren challenged the Garrison soldiers for taking their peaceful lives behind the walls for granted, then ran off, leaving Arthur wondering whether he would always live within the walls.

• Arthur and Mikasa gathered firewood while Eren slept beneath a tree, and Arthur carried Eren's share too.
• Mikasa woke Eren, who recalled a long dream, cried without knowing why, and made confused comments about her hair and Arthur's hair.
• Eren asked Arthur and Mikasa not to tell anyone he had cried, then argued with Hannes and the Garrison soldiers about their complacency.
• Eren condemned life inside the walls as being like penned-up livestock and ran off, while Arthur and Mikasa hurried after him.
• Arthur wondered whether he would spend his whole life within the walls as Hannes's companions mocked Eren and asked if he wanted to join the Survey Corps.

Arthur, Mikasa, and Eren watched the Survey Corps return from an expedition devastated by casualties and with no results. After Eren attacked a civilian who insulted the soldiers, Arthur dragged him away and warned him that his recklessness would get him killed if he joined the Corps.

• Eren hesitated when Arthur asked whether he wanted to join the Survey Corps, but rushed to the city gate when the bells announced its return.
• Arthur found crates for himself, Mikasa, and Eren to stand on as they watched the battered soldiers enter the city.
• Moses's mother recognized her son's ring on a severed arm, and the officer admitted the expedition had achieved nothing.
• Eren struck a man who mocked the Survey Corps, and Arthur pulled him into an alley to stop him from fighting.
• Arthur released Eren, picked up his scattered firewood, and warned him to overcome his recklessness before joining the Survey Corps; Eren followed Arthur and Mikasa home.

Arthur, Mikasa, Eren, and Armin discussed life beyond the walls as Eren insisted on joining the Survey Corps, and Grisha promised to show him the basement. Their conversation was cut short when a fifty-meter Titan appeared and smashed the city gate, leaving the city in chaos.

• Eren promised Arthur he would train so he could join the Survey Corps, but Mikasa vehemently opposed both boys joining.
• At home, Eren told Carla he intended to join the Survey Corps, and Grisha asked why he wanted to go outside the walls before promising to show him the basement when he returned.
• After Carla forbade Eren from joining, he ran outside, and Arthur and Mikasa found him fighting bullies who had attacked Armin for talking about life beyond the walls.
• Arthur sensed danger as the four looked through Armin's books, then saw a huge Titan rise above the wall.
• Arthur grabbed Mikasa and warned Eren and Armin to run, but the Titan smashed the city gate with its foot and sent rubble crashing into the streets.

After a Titan breached Wall Maria, Arthur, Eren, and Mikasa rescued Carla from their crushed home and escaped with Hannes to an evacuation boat. When the Armored Titan smashed through the inner gate, Eren vowed to destroy every Titan.

• Eren, Arthur, and Mikasa found Carla trapped beneath the rubble of her home, and Arthur used a wooden pole to lever her free as a Titan approached.
• Arthur carried the badly injured Carla toward the gate until Hannes arrived and helped the group escape to an evacuation boat.
• Arthur collapsed from exhaustion aboard the boat, and a man examined him and said he would recover with rest.
• The Armored Titan broke through the inner gate, and Eren swore to drive every Titan out of the world.

Arthur woke after collapsing from exhaustion at Wall Rose, where he, Carla, Eren, and Mikasa received temporary shelter and scarce food. As they settled in for the night, Arthur worried about how they would survive after losing their home.

• The refugee boats reached Wall Rose, and soldiers assigned Arthur, Carla, Eren, and Mikasa a place to stay while treating Carla's leg.
• Grisha hurried back from Wall Sina after hearing that Titans had breached Shiganshina District and Wall Maria.
• Arthur woke at dusk beside Carla, learned Mikasa had left her scarf under his head, and asked about Carla's injury.
• Eren and Mikasa returned with relief bread, and Carla shared the food among the children before they persuaded her to eat too.
• Carla, Eren, Arthur, and Mikasa went to sleep, while Arthur stayed awake thinking about their uncertain future.

After reuniting with Carla and Eren, Grisha took Eren into the woods, where a flash of yellow lightning struck and Grisha vanished. Keith returned the unconscious Eren to Carla, while Arthur was left wondering what had happened to Grisha.

• Arthur woke to find Grisha and Keith arriving, and Grisha tearfully reunited with Carla and Eren.
• Grisha woke Eren and took him into the woods, telling Carla they would return soon.
• Grisha led Eren to a clearing and pulled out a syringe, while Keith waited outside the woods.
• A yellow bolt of lightning struck the woods, and Keith found Eren unconscious with Grisha missing.
• Keith carried Eren back to Carla, who quietly grieved, while Arthur wondered what had happened to Grisha.

Eren discovered that his father had really returned the previous night when he found the basement key in his clothes. Later, Arthur fought two Garrison soldiers who insulted the refugees, and the group returned to their lodgings after the officer let Arthur go.

• Eren woke and told Carla he thought he had seen his father, then found his father's basement key and realized the visit had been real.
• Eren found Arthur, Mikasa, and Armin returning from collecting bread, and the friends reunited.
• A Garrison soldier insulted the refugees, and Arthur stopped Eren before attacking and defeating the soldier and his brown-haired companion.
• A Garrison officer heard the refugees explain what happened, apologized for the soldiers, ordered them taken into custody, and invited Arthur to join the Garrison; Arthur refused.
• Arthur told Eren to fight back when others crossed his limits, then returned with Eren and Mikasa to Carla, who warned him not to clash with soldiers again.

As food shortages worsened, Arthur learned the Royal Government was conscripting adult refugees for the Wall Maria Retake Operation, which he recognized as a plan to reduce the population by sending them to die. Zog’s intervention limited Arthur’s household to one conscript, but Arnold volunteered and left Armin behind; three months later, 250,000 refugees were sent into Titan-infested Wall Maria.

• Arthur hunted rabbits and birds, surrendered part of his catch to Zog’s Military Police soldiers, and returned to Carla, Mikasa, Eren, and Armin.
• Eren, Armin, and Arnold told Arthur that Garrison soldiers were forcibly recruiting adults for the Wall Maria Retake Operation.
• Arthur explained his arrangement with Zog, but the Garrison soldiers said Arthur’s household still had to send one adult.
• Arnold volunteered to go, said goodbye to Armin, and asked Arthur to look after his grandson before leaving with the soldiers.
• Three months later, 250,000 conscripted refugees were driven into Titan-infested territory within Wall Maria.