WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 4, Episode 7 of Attack on Titan, "Assault," now streaming on Crunchyroll, Funimation, Amazon Prime and Hulu.
Season 4, Episode 7 of Attack On Titan raises the stakes ever higher with an intense battle scene featuring Eren, the Marleyan Shifter Titans and the Survey Corps. In one pivotal moment, War Chief Zeke Yeager tells his Warrior Unit that Eren Yeager is not his enemy, and to redirect their attention to someone else. The Warriors are shocked but listen as he calls out Levi Ackerman from the shadows. But why would Zeke be more fearful of a mere human when Eren is right there before him, in his Titan form, wreaking havoc on Liberio?
Because of Willy Tybur's speech in Episode 5, "Declaration of War," citizens and officials of Marley have one real enemy: Eren Yeager. This is why it's such a surprise for Zeke, the leader of the elite Shifter Titan Warrior Unit, to be so vocally afraid of Levi, instead. But who can forget the epic battle in Season 3, Episode 17, "Hero," between Zeke as the Beast Titan and Levi? While Erwin's heroic charge distracted the Beast Titan, Levi was able to quickly take it down. Levi's takedown was high-octane and left no room for error. Zeke wound up with Levi's blade down his throat, staring up at him from the ground.
Zeke Yeager is very familiar with what Levi is capable of and therefore warns his Warrior Unit of what the captain is capable of. But that doesn't stop Levi -- or Mikasa, the other Ackerman on the field of combat. Zeke only really seems to fear Levi, but Mikasa is just as deadly as her distant relative. Together, they decimate the Warrior Unit in what seems like seconds. When Porco Galliard's Jaw Titan sees the Colossal Titan emerge in the distance, he forgets Zeke's warning altogether, though, and charges in anger towards Eren. Mikasa and the Survey Corps take this chance to begin their assault.
Before he knows it, the Beast Titan's nape is slashed by none other than Levi, who looks mighty angry. Levi then stands atop the massive body and pulls out a grenade, throwing it down onto the back of Zeke's neck. We don't know yet whether Levi killed or captured Zeke, but both Porco Galliard and Pieck Finger see their leader fall before anyone else. Their motivation skyrockets at this point and they're ready to take on the Survey Corps in full force.
The Cart Titan is quickly taken down by the Survey Corps next and its entire gun team is almost instantly killed. The only Marleyan Warrior Titan now at that point is the Jaw Titan, who charges at Eren. But Eren is never alone throughout all of Attack On Titan -- Mikasa is always right there beside him. Any time Eren is ever in a vulnerable position during this battle, in swoops Mikasa to defend him from the Jaw Titan. It's pretty intimidating that one mere human can challenge the Jaw Titan in its more powerful form.
Even more impressive is how the fight ends. When Porco sees the airship flying and realizes it's the Survey Corps escape route, he switches gears and heads towards the ship. But Mikasa quickly cuts him off by slicing off his back feet in one swift movement, literally bringing him to his knees. It's then that Eren is able to grab him and use its jaw to crush the War Hammer Titan's crystal. It's clear that without Mikasa's help, even the Attack Titan would flounder.
It is easy to see why Zeke was intimidated by Levi Ackerman, but now the entire Warrior Unit knows that the other Ackerman is equally as lethal. Plus, they're both still in Marley, which poses a very serious threat. The Ackermans are quick, efficient and seamless with their weapons. Besides the Attack and the Colossal Titan, Levi and Mikasa are easily the biggest challenges that the Marley military will have to overcome in order to protect their homeland.
