The Aether is sortied to counter another Vár Syndrome infection on a New U.N. Spacy squadron, but tensions arise when Mirage is outnumbered in a dogfight and the Aerial Knights come close to killing Walküre, and Hayate is forced to stain his hands with blood for the first time in order to protect her.

As Walküre and Delta Flight pay their respects to the fallen Messer, Arad and Kaname discover the pattern between the Protoculture ruins that could potentially bring the eight billion inhabitants of the Brísingr Cluster under control of the Vár Syndrome. Meanwhile, Grammier VI assumes direct control of the Windermere Kingdom's forces and launches a salvaged ancient ship from the Protoculture civilization for a full-scale assault on the New United Government.

Delta Flight and Walküre arrive on planet Voldor, whose climate has changed since its Protoculture ruins had risen from underground. However, the Aerial Knights arrive within the planet's orbit as a security measure. Freyja is nabbed by Kassim, who apparently has a falling out with the rest of the Aerial Knights. They quickly bond over an apple barbecue due to Freyja being from a village near Kassim's apple farm. Kassim also nabs Hayate, but he lets him and Freyja go, as he is unsure of what he is fighting for. Later, Delta Flight and Walküre reach the ruins, triggering a dogfight between Delta Flight and the Aerial Knights. The singing battle between Walküre and Prince Heinz results in major fold wave disruptions all over the Brísingr Cluster.

Following the crash of their shuttle, Mikumo, Makina, and Reina hide in the forest to evade detection by Windermerean forces. Freyja leads Hayate and Mirage to her village while Arad and Kaname enter an abandoned N.U.N.S. garrison. Mikumo is captured by Roid while Hayate, Freyja, and Mirage are cornered by the Aerial Knights, who confront Hayate over his father's sins and Freya over her betrayal before bringing them to the site of the dimensional bomb.