Bertolt

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My name is Bertolt Hoover. It is nice to meet you.
Information about myself :

I'm a graduate of the 104th Trainees Squad and former member of the Survey Corps. I'm ranked 3rd, and is described by others as a weak-willed and quiet person rarely seen without Reiner Braun, my close childhood friend.
Along with Reiner and Annie, I am a person that possesses the ability to transform into a Titan and serves an as-yet unrevealed group. It comes from a mysterious homeland outside the Walls, and was on a mission with Reiner to breach the Walls and infiltrate the military in search of something that Reiner refers to as the "Coordinate". As the Colossal Titan, I serve as a major antagonist -- however, the revelation of my true identity illustrates the moral uncertainty of attack on titan.

Personality:

Bertolt is a quiet, young man, identifying himself as someone with a weak will that follows popular opinion. Likewise, their instructor noted him to be a person with great potential, but an utter lack of initiative. He is further described by Eren as being taciturn, and tends to remain in the background unless necessary. By his own admission, he is something of a coward and is noted for his low self-esteem.
His withdrawn behavior initially lead to the impression of him as the least emotionally compromised of the three Titan agents. He showed little attachment or remorse over his actions, seeming to care only about his partner, Reiner. However, when confronted by his former comrades and questioned about their friendship, he reveals himself to be far more conflicted and guilt-ridden than it originally appeared. His claims of not having a choice add a further level of ambiguity to his character, leaving many of his actions in question.

He shows great devotion to both of his fellow agents, Reiner Braun and Annie Leonhart, easily driven to action or anger when he feels either is threatened. Initially, he shows himself to be wary of others (for good reason) and acts as a voice of reason to Reiner, cautioning him repeatedly about lowering his guard. His interactions with Ymir reveal that while his actions have caused considerable suffering, he is not a cruel person and is capable of showing genuine kindness towards others.
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Titan Form:

As the Colossal Titan, he possesses a very distinctive appearance and a number of unusual features. First of all, it is roughly 60 meters tall, making it around four times the height of any other Titan seen thus far in the series.
Bertolt's Colossal Titan form is one of the more heavily deformed Titans seen in the series - it appears to lack skin entirely and its jaw and facial structure seem to be heavily altered from the human form. It is also constantly releasing jets of steam from the surface of its body, in a manner that parallels Bertolt's frequent nervous sweating. Its feet are also quite different to those of a human and other Titans, as they are swollen and pillar-like in appearance. Its physiology is modeled after the male sex, but like all Titans, it lacks sexual organs. He appears to be the only one who doesn't leave the Titan body behind after returning to human form, seeming to evaporate in thin air.

History:

Bertolt comes from a mysterious location simply referred to as his hometown (or homeland), and began a mission to attack humanity in the year 845. Little is known about his life prior to undertaking his mission, other than the fact that Reiner and Marcel were his childhood friends. The exact nature of their group, and their mission is yet unknown. It is stated that their goal was to exterminate humanity, but their mission also involved locating and retrieving the Beast Titan and the mysterious ability called the Coordinate, possessed by Eren Yeager. At some point prior to attacking Wall Maria, he encountered Ymir's Titan form while traveling with Reiner and Marcel. Still in a mindless state, she attacked the three boys and nearly killed Reiner. Marcel ended up sacrificing his life to protect his friends, while Bertolt appears to have fled in terror and possibly abandoned the other two in the process.

Story:

Fall of Shiganshina arc
Colossal Titan anime

After one hundred years of peace and prosperity, Bertolt would first appear over Wall Maria as the Colossal Titan in the year 845, with Eren, Armin and Mikasa as witnesses. Its mere presence is enough to cause considerable panic amongst the population, as it is tall enough to see completely over the wall that is supposed to keep all Titans out. Within moments of its appearance, it lifts its leg and breaches a large portion of the wall, opening a hole enough for other Titans to pass through.
The rubble from the impact further threatens the inhabitants of the wall, remnants of it the size of boulders killing people and crushing houses, one of them including that of Kalura Yeager's. It then disappears after causing considerable structural damage to the wall, but does not attempt to participate in any meaningful way in the ensuing massacre itself. After these events, it is not seen for five years.[2]

104th Trainees Squad arc
Bertolt

Eventually, Bertolt joined the military, with aspirations of joining the Military Police and living in the safety of the inner wall. As part of the 104th, he was considered to be one of the best in regards to 3D Maneuver Gear, enough so that Eren Yeager came to him for advice when he was dealing with faulty equipment.
After seeing Eren's determination and desire to join the Survey Corps, he considered himself a coward for wanting to get far away from them. However, Eren encouraged him, saying that after witnessing the attack on his village, no one would blame him for his decision. Eventually, he graduated in the top ten of his class coming in at third place, just under his friend Reiner.

Story
Fall of Shiganshina arc
Colossal Titan anime
The Colossal Titan appears.
After one hundred years of peace and prosperity, Bertolt would first appear over Wall Maria as the Colossal Titan in the year 845, with Eren, Armin and Mikasa as witnesses. Its mere presence is enough to cause considerable panic amongst the population, as it is tall enough to see completely over the wall that is supposed to keep all Titans out. Within moments of its appearance, it lifts its leg and breaches a large portion of the wall, opening a hole enough for other Titans to pass through.
The rubble from the impact further threatens the inhabitants of the wall, remnants of it the size of boulders killing people and crushing houses, one of them including that of Kalura Yeager's. It then disappears after causing considerable structural damage to the wall, but does not attempt to participate in any meaningful way in the ensuing massacre itself. After these events, it is not seen for five years.[2]

104th Trainees Squad arc
Bertolt
Bertolt shortly after enlisting.
Eventually, Bertolt joined the military, with aspirations of joining the Military Police and living in the safety of the inner wall. As part of the 104th, he was considered to be one of the best in regards to 3D Maneuver Gear, enough so that Eren Yeager came to him for advice when he was dealing with faulty equipment.
After seeing Eren's determination and desire to join the Survey Corps, he considered himself a coward for wanting to get far away from them. However, Eren encouraged him, saying that after witnessing the attack on his village, no one would blame him for his decision. Eventually, he graduated in the top ten of his class coming in at third place, just under his friend Reiner.

Battle of Trost District arc
Bertolt appears in front of Eren
Bertolt reappears as the Colossal Titan in front Eren.
Bertolt reappears as a Titan five years later in 850, again breaking through the walls so that its brethren can once again devour the humans inside. It is immediately attacked by Eren Yeager, however, it first repels and blinds him with vapor from its high temperature body before vanishing completely from view.
When Armin, Mikasa and Connie made it to the headquarters, with the help of the Rogue Titan, Armin devised a plan to get rid of the Titans in the supply room. Bertolt, part of the second group, came in from the ceiling and killed his target in one blow. The mission a success and everyone resupplied, he and the rest of the group leave the head quarters.

Reiner Bertolt Annie and Jean
Bertolt and the others witness Eren's rampage.
On the way out, he joins Mikasa and others on the rooftop as they watch the rogue Titan being attacked and eaten by other Titans. Reiner suggests helping it out, but ultimately it ends up not being necessary as the Titan fights his way out and kills the Titan that ate Thomas. After the Titan collapses, he is among the first people to know about Eren's ability. Bertolt joins the Survey Corps with Mikasa, Reiner, Eren, Connie, Sasha, Krista, Armin, Ymir, Jean and a few others.
Clash of the Titans arc
In the aftermath of the failed mission to capture the Female Titan, Bertolt was among the recruits placed under observation at an old mansion and suspected of being a potential spy. He was shown to have occupied his time playing chess with Reiner, and quickly becomes involved in the operation to investigate the Titans that appeared within Wall Rose. Reiner requests his assistance on the Southern squad headed for Connie Springer's village, which is later discovered to be deserted.
That evening, the Southern squad met up with a squad including Ymir and Krista and the decision was made to take refuge for the night in Castle Utgard. At some point during the night, the castle came under attack by Titans and the recruits were forced to defend the interior from the smaller Titans that had invaded. After Reiner took off on his own to investigate, Bertolt offered a strange observation of his friend's "bad habit" of risking himself for others. When a Titan managed to break through a stairwell door, he came to Reiner's defense with a pitchfork and helped fight it off. The two reaffirmed their promise to survive and return to their home together.

After a second Titan managed to enter and injure Reiner, he helped Ymir toss it out a window. Afterwards, he begins to behave in a withdrawn manner and responds to questions about how Reiner was in the past with a strange comment about how Reiner had changed and was no longer a "warrior". However, he refused to elaborate further on the subject.

Eventually, their superiors were killed by the attacking Titans and the rookies were left defenseless. This drove Ymir to reveal herself to be a Titan, using her powers to protect the others. He, along with Reiner, were shocked to recognize her as the Titan that had killed their friend, Marcel, several years earlier.

Mikasa attacks Bertolt.
The group was eventually rescued by Hange Zoë's squad and evacuated to the wall, with the intention of regrouping with their main forces. Injured and distressed over their ordeal, Reiner broke down under the stress and confessed everything to Eren while Bertolt watched in growing distress. Having been revealed at the Colossal Titan, Bertolt was attacked and nearly killed by Mikasa.
Reinar and Bertolt awaken their titan forms
Bertolt and Reiner transform into their Titan form.
Critically wounded and terrified, he transformed into a partial Titan form and began to attack the soldiers on the Wall while Reiner attempted to kidnap Eren. In the chaos, he managed to capture Ymir and an unnamed soldier, swallowing them both whole. Afterwards, he countered an attack by Hange's squad through generating intense heat and steam, burning anyone that got too close. He remained in a skeleton-like state, burning to prevent any attack against him.
Bertolt falls on Eren and Reiner
Bertolt falls on Eren and Reiner.
As Reiner roared to signal his distress. In response, Bertolt toppled from the wall and landed on top of Eren and Reiner, exploding upon impact. The resulting explosion wounds most of the Scouts, and allows them to successfully capture Eren and flee the scene. He emerges from his Titan form carrying Ymir and wearing the stolen gear of a soldier he devoured, suggesting further unknown abilities possessed by his group. Several hours later, he takes refuge with Reiner and their two captives in the Forest of Giant Trees. However, he is mostly silent during the following arguments and discussions, only speaking up when prompted by Ymir or Eren.
Bertolt responds to Reiner's strange behavior with great distress, and is shown to have known about it long before anyone else. He is able to bring his friend back to reality by informing him that he is not a soldier, but rather that they are both "warriors". Ymir guesses this to have been the cause of previous tensions between them that she had observed.

Eren later confronts him about his role in the death of Carla Yeager, demanding to know what he thought when he learned about the suffering he'd caused. He responds with a vague comment about having felt sorry for him, horrifying Eren and leading him to scream at them both. While Reiner and Eren argue further, he remains silent and observes the efforts to sway Ymir over to their side.[3]

Though she agrees to work with them, Bertolt remains unconvinced and warns Reiner that she cannot be trusted. He brings up the death of their friend, who was devoured by Ymir, though Reiner reassures them that she can be trusted since her only consideration is Krista's safety. Bertolt worries he may be slipping into his delusions again, but is reminded that Krista has value to them since she's a member of the Reiss family and may be able to provide them with important clues. They discuss their mission to find the "coordinate", which may or may not be Eren, and Bertolt expresses his eagerness to go home and never return to the human lands. Reiner responds by teasing him, demanding that he confess his feelings to Annie once they make it home. Bertolt attempts to protest, but Reiner claims his tendency to stare at her gave him away.

The pair notice a signal flare and realize the rescue team has already found them, and prepare to flee. While Reiner subdues Eren, Bertolt confronts Ymir over the death of his friend. She states she has no memory of having done it, but apologizes to him and asks if he hates her. He admits he isn't certain, but he can't hold her responsible since none of them wanted to devour humans. He asks how long she wandered as a mindless Titan, and implies that he and Reiner may have also spent some time trapped in their Titan forms in the past.

As the group flees, Ymir notices the signal flares and becomes agitated. She demands that they kidnap Krista, and attacks Bertolt when they refuse. They are forced to land in the trees, and she further physically intimidates and threatens Bertolt until they relent. Once Ymir returns from kidnapping Krista, he straps an unconscious Eren to his back and both cling to the Armored Titan's back as he runs from the pursuing troops. [4]

Realizing how close the troops have already gotten, he shouts at Ymir about having delayed them so much. He demands to know what they've been doing all this for, and whether she intends to abandon Krista inside the Walls to save herself. His words get through to Ymir, and watches the exchange between the two women intently.

A short time later, Mikasa manages to get onto the Armored Titan's back and attacks first Ymir (and Krista) before turning on Bertolt. To escape, he slips down onto the front of Reiner's neck and shouts for him to protect them. In response, Reiner cups his hands around his neck and encloses Bertolt and Eren safely against his neck. Eren, now awake, begins to struggle and ignores all efforts to calm him down. The other members of the 104th Trainees Squad climb onto the Armored Titan's shoulders and begin to shout at Bertolt in his hiding place.

He initially attempts to ignore them, as Jean Kirstein and Connie Springer alternately attempt to coax him out and confront him over his betrayal. At last, he breaks into tears and yells at them that he never wanted to kill anyone. He confesses to having truly thought of the 104th as his friends, stating that their time together was enjoyable. Even so, he refuses to surrender and return Eren, stating that "someone has to do it". [5]

Before he can elaborate any further, Hannes screams a warning to the group as Erwin Smith leads a horde of Titans directly towards them. This forces them to retreat for a time, while Reiner attempts to charge through the oncoming horde in his Titan form. It ultimately proves hopeless, and the Armored Titan is quickly overwhelmed by the large group and forced to begin using his hands to fight. No longer protected by his partner, Bertolt is forced to defend himself when the soldiers return in force and attack him. Beginning to panic, he shouts to Reiner that they have to bring Eren back to their home.

Erwin attacks Bertolt
Erwin releases Eren from Bertolt.
He narrowly escapes another attack by Mikasa, and is confronted by Armin, who reveals that Annie has been captured. Taunting Bertolt, he asks if they intend to abandon their comrade and claims that Annie is currently being tortured by the military. This drives Bertolt into a rage, and distracts him long enough for a wounded Erwin to launch a surprise attack and free Eren. Wounded, Bertolt can only watch in shock as the soldiers begin their retreat. [6]
He remains perched on the Armored Titan's shoulder as it begins to hurl Titans at the fleeing soldiers, slowly healing his injuries. When Eren's power as the Coordinate activates, he senses it and reacts with shock. The partners begin to pursue Eren once freed from the Titan horde attacking them, but this freedom is short-lived. Taking advantage of his new-found power, Eren screams at them to stay away and threatens to kill them. Both react with shock and horror, sensing Eren's power and realizing that it has directed the horde at them once again. Reiner initially attempts to protect him from attackers, but they are quickly overwhelmed and he is forced to fight on his own.

Ymir, Bertolt and Reiner vs Titans
Bertolt, Reiner and Ymir fighting together against the Titans.
His screams draw Ymir's attention, causing her to hesitate in fleeing with the soldiers. Just as a Titan is about to kill him, Ymir appears and rescues him. The three Titan Shifters begin to fight together, while the human soldiers retreat back to the Walls. The narration notes they did not pursue, leaving his fate in the aftermath of the battle unknown. [7] Eren later expresses the desire to catch him and make him pay for his crimes, suggesting that he believes they survived. [8]
This is confirmed in an epilogue, which reveals that he survived and fled back to the ruins of Shiganshina District. The group, exhausted from their two-day ordeal, rest atop Wall Maria while attempting to make sense of things. He questions Ymir about her decision to save his life, and is shocked that her actions were motivated by gratitude for having been saved from her "eternal nightmare". Knowing that she faces an uncertain future when they return with her to their homeland, Bertolt struggles to hold back his tears while thanking her. [9]