Vanitas and Noé travel to Gévaudan in search of a creature known as the Beast, but things go sideways when they encounter a murderous paladin, a hostile acquaintance, and an old nemesis. Will our heroes survive these threats, not to mention the Beast?

Vanitas tries to convince Jeanne not to slay Chloé. The cause of Astolfo's hatred is laid bare. Jean-Jacques finally learns Chloé's end game and tries to stop her. Vanitas activates the Alteration engine to save Chloé and Gévaudan, but is it too late?