Narration opens up a flashback to set it ten years ago at the refugee residential area in Hakata, Fukuoka. Kaibutsu are attacking as random unseen people are screaming about an attack. A hero was eaten too in this incident, and someone asks Mokdai if he's okay as they tell him to get a hold of himself. They or someone else since nobody is named here tells him to stand up and run since that's all they can do. They're unfortunately caught by the monsters soon after, and Mokdai panics, unable to bring himself do anything for [Name Redacted Due to Monster Metaphysics].
The girl and guy caught by the Kaibutsu yell for help before the thing eats them. Mokdai then takes over narration to talk about the friends he grew up with and shared a dream with were eaten that day, and all he could do was watch. With no heroes around and his friends being taken away, all he could do was tremble and watch. Even now it's still the same thing. A monster has appeared in front of him, and all he can do is watch. It was a source of endless frustration that he couldn't bring himself to do any more than that, but that's what happened. If he had the courage, heart, and body more fitting of a hero, could he have been a hero too?
Back to the present, the giant Kaibutsu is roaring, and you are surprised by its sudden appearance as well as its size. Akashi is also flabbergasted at its presence now, but Mokdai says it wasn't always there. It's less a singular monster and more of a fusion of the tiny ones coming together. Gammei is shocked into disbelief at this, but Suhail says that this is a thing that he's heard about before. There's a bunch of kinds of Kaibutsu, and the majority of them just turn giant on their own, but there kinds like amoebas that gather together and fuse into one giant piece. That would make this one similar to the one Mokdai had seen before, and this monster being a fusion means it has multiple cores, making it harder to destroy. And since you don't know how many make up this one, you'll have to crush them all.
Akashi is shocked at the hurdles they're now facing, and the Kaibutsu roars as it starts heading into town. Not long after that do the sounds of screaming, destruction, and explosions begin rising at its feet. Gammei is alarmed at this as he says the damage will be magnified if this continues. Victom says that evacuation is only done for the Raidark premises, so you'll have to stop the monster fast. Mokdai is quiet for a bit before he says it's impossible, prompting you to turn to him and ask what he means.
Mokdai says it's impossible, then reckless to try to stop the giant monster. Once it's gotten into that state, it won't be going down quickly or easily. That's how it happened back in Hakata. Victom remembers the incident that Mokdai is talking about, and Gammei asks him about it. Victom explains that a hero that used to help him was sent to Fukuoka. He fought the same kind of Kaibutsu as the one you guys are facing now, together with the heroes already over there. In the end, he and several other heroes died that day.
Akashi is shocked by the statement, and Victom continues on by saying that having to find several cores and destroying them is one of the hardest things you can do. You have to force the Kaibutsu to stop while it's constantly moving around and wrecking the city, then destroy its cores. Fukuoka stands a testament as to how difficult that is since it's still not completely rebuilt back to how it was.
Gammei asks if he's saying it's possible someone is going to be dying on the job here, and Suhail accepts that that's the case solemnly. Victom says that stopping the monster is going to require a certain amount of determination. Despite and because of that though, the Kaibutsu cannot be left alone. Victom then picks up the rope he saved the party with earlier, then quickly heads towards the monster. Gammei notes that Victom was always a reckless sort of guy, but he agrees with what he's said. It's going to be dangerous for the general citizenry as well as you guys, so you have to go after the thing. He slowly walks off after Victom, and after you observe this you ask Akashi what he thinks.
Akashi quietly thinks to himself for a moment, then balls up his fists as he says he'll be going and asks if you'll support him. Mokdai is shocked by this decision, and you either respond by agreeing after a moment, commenting that he's made up his mind, or argue how dangerous this is. In A, Mokdai protests to you guys about how dangerous this battle is. In B, says he is since he's a hero, which is followed up by Mokdai's protest as above. In C, Mokdai agrees with you as he attempts to talk Akashi out of this like in the other branches.
Anyways, Mokdai says this is totally different from having to defeat a bunch of individual Kaibutsu like back in the park incident. Here you have to fight a super strong monster while destroying a bunch of cores that you have no idea as to the numbers of. He argues that a newbie like Akashi isn't up to it, but Akashi argues back and asks if he's saying he should just sit back and watch. Mokdai doesn't have a response to that, and Akashi says he ended up becoming a hero, so he feels he should carry out that responsibility as best he can. If he'll regret not doing anything later, then he'll go for doing it now.
Mokdai asks if Akashi is scared and if he's really going to fight against something he's not sure he can win against. Akashi admits that of course he's scared, and that his legs are shaking right now. This is the first fight where he really might have to put his life on the line after all. But if he can do something about that giant Kaibutsu and prevent someone from being erased from peoples' memories, then he's going to go. He wouldn't want to deal with having that happen to him either. He smiles to Mokdai as he says this, but his legs are visibly shaking like he's told you earlier.
Mokdai is still concerned for Akashi, but Suhail approves of Akashi's resolve. He pats Akashi on the back with enough force that he almost knocks him over, though Suhail just laughs it off himself. He talks about how there are times when people have to move forward, no matter how hard their life is that moment. Times like when something important to you might get trampled underfoot and broken, or times when you have to reach out to grab something that brings you hope. He then asks Akashi if this is one of those times for him, and Akashi silently nods. Suhail smiles broadly at that, then offers to fight alongside him. He really likes kids who have that level of determination in the face of their fears and says it's just so fun to see. You are comforted by his offer and thank him.
Mokdai sadly notes how cool Akashi and Suhail are, then notes that that's how feel like heroes. He figures that must be why they are heroes now while he's just there standing in terror. Akashi tells him his reactions are normal, and that he'd run if he could do so. Mokdai is surprised by this and asks why he's fighting then, so Akashi says he just wants to do what he can, like he said before. It's not like he became a hero because he wanted to look cool. When he gave up on his dream, someone taught him to not give up and fight on. He stood up because of that, and he chose to give it his all at the things he can do. Being cool or not doesn't figure into it.
Suhail agrees with Akashi's point that looking cool or not is not something to be caring about. Really, can you actually stand it if other people got to judge how you behave to that degree? If you're up against a super huge enemy and shaking in your boots at the thought of it, it still doesn't change the fact that the winner is the one who's still left standing after the fight. Mokdai thinks on Suhail's last point, and Suhail says that the ultimate thing is whether you can live your life happily. At the very least it's not as though he finds enjoyment in all the dangerous battles he's gone through, so he fights so that he can feel all the fun and joy wholeheartedly until he's satisfied. Mokdai then expresses some amazement at him and Akashi.
Suhail says it's time to go and tells Akashi he'll take with him until you guys catch up with the others. He actually picks Akashi up and carries him under his arm, then fires out his chain like a grappling hook. The whole force of it all causes Akashi to complain to Suhail about being gentler because it hurts as it is. Mokdai thinks out loud about continuing to fight without giving up or caring about whether you look cool or not. You then suggest to Mokdai that you guys too since you need to help Akashi and the others and that that's what you guys can do. Mokdai then agrees, picking up his camera equipment and running after you as you guys head into the episode battle.
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