When the final test of the Defense Force screening exam ends, a mysterious humanoid kaiju revives a neutralized honju and sics it on Kikoru Shinomiya and the rest of the examinees.
As O'Clock and his accidental allies Tiger Bunny and The Rapper try to escape the riot in the underground arena, shadowy figures observe the chaos from afar. O'Clock takes on a hooded fighter who seems to be targeting him specifically.
Having been forced to kill a friend, Denji finds that his brain has turned to mush from despair. Without the motivation to keep going, he seeks help from Makima. But Makima is not what she appears, and Denji's pain is only just beginning.
Mao is confronted by former fellow apprentices who should have died of old age long ago. What is the connection between them and cat demon Byoki? After a major battle, Nanoka returns to the present upset that Mao doesn't seem to care about her.
