WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Chapter #134 of Attack on Titan, "In The Depths of Despair," by Hajime Isayama, Dezi Sienty and Alex Ko Ransom, now available in English from Kodansha.
In morbidly appropriate fashion for such a tumultuous year, Attack on Titan's latest chapter, #134, is titled "In The Depths of Despair," and creator Hajime Isayama certainly doesn't skimp on the 'despair' part. The last few chapters of the manga, which is steadily lumbering towards its finale like an unstoppable Wall Titan, have flitted between the heroic efforts of the anti-Eren squad and the horrific devastation the most powerful man on earth is wreaking.
Though the carnage has been limited -- comparatively -- to individual lives or the flattening of cities so far, Chapter #134 opens on the series' most widespread destruction yet. Eren's rumbling has truly gone global, and only a handful of his closest friends (and enemies) stand in his way.
This newest release coincides with a fresh update from Isayama on how close his story is to wrapping up. Having confirmed he was five percent away from the end in June, sources claim Isayama has now stated the manga has just one-two percent left to go. Judging by this, Attack on Titan could be over in just a couple more chapters.
This calculation certainly rings true when looking at what's on display in Chapter #134. Having spent so much time trapped with Eren, Mikasa, Armin and their comrades behind closed walls, finally getting to see the wider world they were so desperate to reach should be a joyful moment of catharsis. Instead, we scan across multiple countries, disaster movie-style, as their populations run for fear of being trampled to death. Naturally, Isayama hones in on some of the smaller moments of tragedy to really emphasize the horror of the situation -- lingering on one poor mother toppling over a cliff amid a tidal wave of people while lifting her baby above her in the hopes of it being spared. The crowd takes it from her and dozens of hands continue to raise the infant up, intent on somehow saving it even as they're pushed towards death themselves.
This isn't the only glimmer of hope among the darkness. While zeppelins carrying explosive barrels from a hillside fort barely slow the Titan army down, the Paradisian-Marleyan alliance is now right on top of Eren in his skeletal Founding Titan form. Freefalling from the plane, they immediately engage Eren and his half-brother Zeke -- suddenly manifesting in his Beast Titan form from Eren's body -- to begin the manga's final confrontation.
For Attack on Titan fans, it's still hard to predict the fate Isayama has planned for Eren, though death seems more likely than redemption. The hero-turned-villain could be about to become a father if theories about Historia's pregnancy are to be believed, so as far as the typical death/birth juxtaposition trope is concerned, his chances of survival may be slim. It also appears that Eldia's "enemies" may have well and truly learned from their past mistakes. "We made use of hatred, we let it grow. We believed it would save us," the fort commander broadcasts via loudspeaker. "We took every problem caused by our shortcomings and spat them all out onto an "Island of Devils." And the result was the birth of that monster who has now come to repay us for all of the hate we've even shown."
On the other hand, death might be an easier out for Eren than facing up to his war crimes. The Curse of Ymir already restricts his potential lifespan, so a more fitting punishment might be allowing him to live out the remainder of his days in the captivity he's been so hellbent on breaking out of and going out in a less bombastic fashion. Whatever happens, we're in for a nailbiting wait for the manga's closing installments.
