One thing that excited me about chapter 113 is how it clarifies what Zeke’s true intentions are. During his private monologue, Zeke says that the attack on Liberio was a success precisely because the war potential of the entire world will come to Paradis. The gathering of the nations against the island is a positive thing according to Zeke. It was his plan all along.

This chapter indicates that Eren is fully aware and freely going along with this. It makes me think back to his smile in chapter 100 when Willy invites the world to unite against Paradis. It plays in so perfectly to Zeke’s plan that I have to wonder now if he didn’t help write the speech.

This desire for a world war explains why Zeke is so certain that Levi and the rest of the Survey Corps wouldn’t go along with his plan even if they were aware of it. Zeke knew diplomacy would be their hope and he considered that absolute naiveté and foolishness on their part.



So rather than be honest about his intentions, the plan Zeke presented to them via Kyiomi, was to have the rumbling available solely as a deterrent against attack until they could build up other defenses. This made sense. This was a palatable option. The only person who would suffer is Historia who would need to continue a lineage of royals for 50 or so years.

But its clear to me now this was never Zeke’s true intention or even an option. Everything Zeke has done, from the early meetings with Kiyomi, to having the wine packed onto the first Marleyan survey ships, was done with the end goal of this war in mind. The port was built so enemy ships could invade. The attack on Liberio was done to give them a reason. The wine was tainted to ensure the government of Paradis would comply.

What we don’t yet know is if the end goal is simply to wipe out the entire world’s military defenses or if it is to wipe out the entire rest of the world. Is the planned use of the rumbling to cause the genocide of every other nation or is it just to establish absolute military domination? Perhaps this is where Zeke and Eren differ in ideologies.

Either way, this panel in 108 is exciting. Reiner and the warriors don’t know exactly what Zeke has in mind, but they realize it’s already in motion and likely has been for years. They can’t delay if they want to stop him.