On the day of Walpurgisnacht, Cavefish gets up early and wakes Yuma up to get a head start for the breakfast with extra servings of mashed potatoes. Her friend tells her to give her some time to get ready and Cavefish walks around to wake the others.
She soon returns to Yuma's room and hurries her friend to the mess hall, eager to start breakfast. She wonders if Yuma is in a bad mood like the others, who replies that while she is not in the dumps, there is no need to rush since the mess hall is just down the hallway.
Glad that her friend is not as depressed as the rest, Cavefish pats “Cat Ears” shoulder, who complains that she will never get to live the nickname caused by her weird hair down. The huge girl offers to finally stop if Yuma really doesn't like it, mentioning how she knows what it feels like to have uncomfortable nicknames, but her friend admits that it is sort of cute.
The two of them make it to the empty mess hall and sit down near the food conveyor belt. While Cavefish happily stacks plates of food in front of them, Yuma checks the news on TV and wonders why the Incubators came up with sudden super typhoons as a cover story instead of just coming clean with the public.
While the cover stories work to get people away from witches, lying to them seems wrong to her, but Cavefish reminds her that people do stupid things and would most likely start a crusade to free the planet from the aliens manipulating everything from behind the scenes.
When Yuma lifts her visor again, Cavefish asks what Malal wants, amused about her friend's reaction to her guess. She jokes about Yuma having to wash the Warmaster's car, who drains her coffee, slams the visor shut and replies that she has to do something like that, annoyed by Malal's jokes.
Cavefish offers her help, but Yuma replies that she will be busy herself and tells her about the order to initiate Protocol 8. The huge girl lowers her fork with shaking hands, mentioning that she already expected this order, and gets up with a stiff expression. She grabs her helmet, explains that Protocol 8 is just a long errand that needs to be done right away and dashes off.
According to Malal's orders, the Culexus stand ready in the teleportation facility. A while later, Yuma arrives with the Black Templars while the Culexus rank is preparing for departure, led by Cavefish who greets the new arrivals in her usual friendly fashion. Still awestruck by the huge Culexus, Alondight introduces herself and Enyo and asks about the facilities readiness. Cavefish confirms, joking about the possibility to be tossed into the warp but assures that it has never happened during their previous two uses.
An automated voice rings through the hall, announcing the count down of twenty minutes until the emergence of Walpurgisnacht. Cavefish shouts at the gathered Culexus to be thorough with their final equipment checks, and the Black Templar Marshals excuse themselves to tend to their troops checkups and prayers.
Now alone, Cavefish wonders about the Marshals being a couple, but Yuma urgently changes the subject to her lack of arms. The huge Culexus leads her to an adjacent room, explaining that Malal emptied her personal armory for this mission and that Yuma should take something she can reliably kill things with.
Yuma decides to take a spear and her usual firearms, two Beretta 1991 and a sawed off shot gun. Cavefish mentions that Malal predicted Yuma's choice and wanted her to prepare accordingly, but she decided to ask her friend regardless and only now starts gathering everything up. Yuma wonders about this, and her friend replies that there is a limit to predictions and that some things just have to happen, even if you already know the outcome since there is still a chance for it to turn out differently.
While Cavefish wonders if she is even making sense, Yuma asks if Malal told her anything else. The huge Culexus mentions that the Rank Leader told her she would arrive later due to some urgent business. She wonders why her friend asks and easily concludes that she got in trouble, joking about Yuma possibly upsetting Malal by making fun of Alondight's legs.
Yuma replies that this is exactly what happened and changes the subject before Cavefish can press further, inquiring what Protocol 8 is about. Her friend explains that it is a rank wide announcement to put personal belongings in a labeled box so it can be sent to someone in case of death, too dramatic and heavy in her opinion.
She passes her friend the assembled spear, including a gun attachment, and extra ammo, explaining that she took care of Yuma's belongings while she was running errands and labeled them for Malal's quarters since there was nobody else.
The count down hits ten minutes and the two Culexus return to the main chamber where huge screens transfer the Officio video communications, showing the five locations the other squads are deployed to: New York, China, Egypt, the South Pole and Australia where Kyoko and Sayaka are stationed. The Black Templars are caught in rapt attention, staring intensely at the screens showing the feed from Australia.
Yuma asks the High Marshal what caught their attention like this, who in turn asks about the blue haired girl on the video feed. Yuma tells her about Sayaka, second in command Eversor of the Ninth, and Enyo cuts in to tell her superior that blue hair and a sword don't necessarily mean what she thinks. The moment they see Sayaka's cape however, Alondight recites the description of the First Knight and her subordinate can no longer disagree.
The Templars fall to their knees in reverence and the High Marshal explains to the confused Culexus that they believe the girl who looks just like the First Knight to be an omen of good fortune and victory sent to comfort them in the coming darkness. While Sayaka notices the camera, flips it off and drags Kyoko and herself out of view, Yuma tells Alondight that their omen is far from being religious, but the High marshal replies that her identity matters not, only that they got to see her.
With only two minutes left, the Templars and Culexus group up under Alondight's command, small units of one Culexus accompanied by two Templars to shield her with strict orders to close in on the witch cocoon to destroy it as soon as they arrive, no matter what happens.
While standing ready for the transport, Cavefish calls Yuma on private vox, concerned about Malal's absence. She tried to contact the Rank Leader to no avail and mentions that she wanted to arrive before commencing the teleport. She always calls ahead of time when she will be late, so Cavefish is rather worried and looks to Yuma for guidance, claiming that she spends the most time with Malal and should know what to do.
Alondight wonders if anything is wrong since Yuma and Cavefish have been quietly nodding at each other for a while. Yuma decides to take the risk of contacting Malal on a mental level, despite the possibility of interrupting her work and receiving a backlash. She pulses a message requesting confirmation to proceed without the Rank Leader. For half a minute, nothing happens, then Malal's reply arrives.
The words “Kharn is gone”, filled with fear and despair strong enough to cause pain, spread out to the entire group of Culexus who cry out in shock. In her death screams, Malal warns them that Kharn could not be stopped and is heading towards Walpurgisnacht. She begs Yuma to go, who roars at the upset group to get moving, followed by Alondight's battle shout as the teleporter tears them out of the world as the count down hits zero.
The group arrives at their destination scattered, their formation broken before it could be formed in the first place. The witch of Kharn awaits them with her host of Daemons. Cavefish arrives far off from the group and, following her own advice, keeps moving forward through the enemies, using her weapon as a club after running out of ammo, until she eventually finds the Templars.
Realizing that her best friend is not with Alondight and Enyo as planned, Cavefish cries for ten minutes straight. Two hours into the fight, their numbers reduced greatly, Yuma finally makes contact with the group. Overjoyed that her friend is still alive, Cavefish tells her what happened to her and asks about the monster in the center of the battlefield. Yuma jokes about the witch not looking nearly as ugly as Kharn, giving Cavefish the good laugh she needed.
Yuma asks if there has been word from Malal, but Cavefish tells her that during the two hours, she could not reach anyone outside their location. However she claims that with Alondight's plan, they do not have to rely on Malal to kill the witch and save everyone.
The beaten up group arrives at Yuma's location quickly and Cavefish, in considerably better shape, lifts her friend up in a crushing hug. Yuma speaks with the remaining Culexus, learns their names and promises to do her best to bring them home before listening to Alondight's plan.
The High Marshal explains that they will exploit Kharn's personal weakness of craving a final sword fight by charging her witch with the main group while a small group consisting of Mordred Pendragon and two Culexus sneak up from behind to exterminate the still sleeping Walpurgisnacht with her strongest skill. While skittish in actual combat, her Sword of Promised Victory is a formidable ability passed on to all Pendragon daughters, with her being the strongest in this generation.
Yuma expresses her concern about Kharn's witch sharing her weakness, but admits that this is the best option they have. Cavefish enthusiastically chooses to accompany Mordred and Yuma follows suit. Alondight admits that Mordred doesn't look inspiring, but assures that she is more than capable as a Black Templar and Pendragon. Should she falter, Yuma should simply remind her of her vows and how she would shame the Pendragon family by failing her duty.
As Enyo walks over to Mordred, Alondight asks for any remaining questions, but Yuma tells her that she has talked enough for the short rest of her life. The High Marshal tells her to be optimistic and that their hopes lie with her, Cavefish and Mordred's ability to hold her sword up despite being scared. Before they move toward Mordred, Cavefish hugs Alondight, lifting her off the ground in the process until the High Marshal shrieks for her to stop.
Enyo asks if Yuma and Cavefish are ready and orders a white clad Templar to give them any ammunition and rations they can spare. Meanwhile Mordred keeps sitting on a pile of skulls, sword clenched, ignoring everything around her while Enyo grows angrier with each passing moment.
She eventually starts talking by complaining about her vanguard consisting of a gorilla and a child in gimp suits and that the High Marshal must either want her dead or be a fool. Enyo growls that they are going to follow the High marshal's plan and tells her to finally prepare herself.
However, Mordred matches Enyo's growl, telling her not to talk to her like this before angrily pointing at Yuma. She starts to blame her for jeopardizing the mission like Malal said, points out how she showed up two hours late and still wears the cross of Emperor's Champion. While Enyo tries to reign her in, Mordred rises, unsheathes her blade and shakily points it at Yuma, claiming the Culexus is unfit to bear the insignia.
Yuma pushes the blade away with one finger, complaining that she should wait to be sanctimonious until after they are all dead, mentioning that her family name must mean little to her if she makes a fuss like this. Furious, Mordred tries to assault her, but before she can lift her sword again, Cavefish catches her in a crushing hug, completely ignoring the Templar's shouts and struggles.
The huge Culexus lifts Mordred up and uses her large gun to smack the struggling girl's rear like punishing a child, happy to see that it seems to be working. Yuma turns to apologize to the Templars for shaming one of their own, but notices that they are smiling in amusement and satisfaction, murmuring about how they never thought of disciplining Mordred like the spoiled brat that she is.
Mordred eventually stops struggling and quiets down. Suddenly a huge winged daemon drops down, crushing Templars and one of the remaining Culexus under his feet. Enyo pushes Yuma away and shouts at her to get to her designated zone while the Templars deal with the enemy, raises chainsaw blades from her mechanical arm and charges toward the daemon. Cavefish, still carrying Mordred over her shoulder, pulls her friend away and they run without looking back, except for the crying Templar.
After a while, they stop to rest and prepare for the stealthy part of their mission. Looking back, they see the shades of Templars still fighting the daemon. Mordred sobs that her sisters told her the Crusade was heroic, they never mentioned seeing comrades get killed and eaten by things that should not exist.
Yuma explains that a few people sacrificing themselves to save billions is highly heroic and that stories usually leave the part about dead friends out. Mordred replies that the Black Templars are supposed to return home alive instead of being killed without a chance to even draw their blades, slaughtered like cattle.
After a bit, she asks Cavefish to let her down to walk on her own, assuring that she will play her part. The pair of Culexus agrees and asks about her Sword of Promised Victory. Mordred explains that it is a technique passed down in the Pendragon family that focuses the blessing of the Blessed Lady and the First knight to a devastating effect. She channels herself through her sword to gather enough energy to release it in a wave that travels in a straight line and only knows destruction.
When Yuma asks how long she needs to charge up, Mordred lowers her head and admits that she needs five minutes with her current level of training. Once that time passes, everything in the path of her blade will die, even a monster like Kharn.
After a few more minutes of walking, the group arrives at the designated area. Yuma calls Alondight, who tells her that they will start in five minutes and asks the Culexus t keep Mordred safe until they arrive once the deed is done. Before Yuma can respond to the breathless High Marshal, the connection is cut.
Cavefish giggles and wonders if what is coming will hurt. Yuma tells her that she is sure about it and hugs her friend, telling her that she will miss her on a private vox channel. The huge Culexus stiffens, chokes down a sob and echoes her sentiment.
A moment later, the Black Templars begin their charge, and just as planned, Kharn takes the bait and rises from her throne, confidently walking toward the group of knights. While Mordred begins charging her power, Yuma and Cavefish fully release their suit limiters to create disintegrating blasts of anti-magic for whatever comes close.
From their position they can see Kharn obliterate the Templars with ease, her prowess even greater than before and completely lacking in the Warmaster's playfulness. While the dying knights try their best to kill the monstrosity, Kharn laughs and turns around, raising her black blade toward Mordred's building lance of energy in mockery.
Alondight screams at them to abort and run, but Yuma decides to stay and orders Cavefish to put up a shield. Their combined strength is easily shattered by Kharn's assault, sending feedback through their bodies. Their suits already damaged, the pair puts up another shield to block the second attack and as it shatters again, Cavefish falls to her knees.
The huge Culexus pulses weakly that she is in pain and can't see, but Yuma roars at her to put up the shield one again. Staggering back to her feet, Cavefish does as she is told, but collapses from the third strike of the black blade.
While Mordred runs away in terror, Cavefish grabs Yuma's boot, pulsing a weak apology and a scared cry for help. While her friend pours everything she has into stopping Kharn from finishing them off, Cavefish succumbs to her wounds and a complete lack of magic.
When the surviving Templars try to revive Cavefish, they find her body completely reduced to ashes. An analysis of her biometrics reveals that someone has completely drained Cavefish's energy during the fight to use it for it's own gains. Theory has it that Yuma might have used Cavefish's power when she fended off Kharn's giant blade to save them.
In the aftermath, Cavefish's ashes are respectfully gathered and placed in an urn. She is buried on the Officio cemetery, her picture added to the wall remembrance.
