When Touko ventures into the dark forest, a traveling hunter saves her from a vicious fiend—and loses his life in the process. Now the young girl must leave the safety of her village to return her savior's dog and sickle to his family.

On board the armored collection truck, Touko meets fellow reluctant travelers. Meanwhile, in the capital, the orphaned Koushi gets an unexpected offer from a wealthy magnate. Despite his misgivings, this patron could be his ailing sister's only hope.

While Koushi meets his new family and learns about the task before him, Touko struggles to keep her place on the truck. But even if she succeeds, an unexpected obstacle may cut her journey short.

While Touko and her companions flee the wreckage of their trucks, Koushi digs through the archive for forgotten tomes. What he discovers casts his mission in a new light.

The survivors of the dragon attack receive unexpected aid from Akira, a lady fire hunter with an unconventional hound. Later, they come upon an abandoned child...with ties to the group that wants them dead.

Their long journey over, Touko's party rests with Shouzou's family in the capital. Koushi enters the forest with the aid of the enigmatic fire hunter Roroku.

Touko loses her way while running from the city watch and receives unexpected help from Kira. Meanwhile, Koushi approaches Yuoshichi and Roroku with a daring plan.

Touko and Kouji follow a treefolk child into a forbidden area of the capital, where they make a startling discovery. But the spies of the gods are hot on their heels.

War looms over the capital, and Koushi's work with for Yuoshichi Okibi is coming to a head. On the eve of their new weapon's final test, two unexpected visitors complicate the situation. Who can Koushi trust, and what does he truly want to accomplish?

Hinako's illness worsens, provoking a crisis at the Okibi mansion. Meanwhile, Touko joins Akira to confront the gods. New forces and unguessed truths emerge as Flickering Flame draws ever closer.

Fiends flood into the factory district ahead of the spider invasion. Despite Akira urging her to run, Touko stands her ground and joins the fight. But what toll will a real battle take on her? And can anyone stem the tide now?

Koushi struggles to load and operate the Lightning Cannon, but both the gods and the spiders have other ideas. Meanwhile, a chance encounter leads Touko to witness a startling scene.

With the fighting continuing unabated, the treefolk from the forbidden quarter are drawn to the surface, where they encounter a familiar face.

While each divine clan pursues a separate goal, visions of the Flickering Flame lead Touko and Koushi toward the palace. But who is she really, and can they trust her guidance?

While following secret tunnels toward the palace, Touko and Koushi suddenly find themselves in the middle of the dark forest. They still have a letter to deliver, but the divine clans won't make the journey easy.

Koushi finally reunites with Hinako. They set out for the palace, but their path brings them face to face with the last of the capital's treefolk. Meanwhile, Touko and Akira encounter a familiar face of their own.

Takimi confronts Koushi on the palace steps. The medically minded god insists that only his medicine can save Hinako, but Koushi refuses to let his sister suffer any more experiments. As tensions mount, Kira appears—seeming not quite herself.

Yuoshichi is on the rampage, seeking revenge against the divine clans, but with the Flickering Flame now residing within his own daughter, what lengths will he go to in order to achieve his ultimate goal?

A fallbeast suddenly descends on the divine palace, adding to the ongoing chaos. Touko instinctively knows that she must hunt it.