Company 8’s junior crewmen take in a day of shopping for some new clothes for Lieutenant Hinawa, but their excursion is interrupted by the appearance of a giant Infernal. The 8th prepares for the annual Special Fire Force beefcake calendar shoot.

Shinra is approved to have a meeting with Company 4 Captain Hague, who may be able to provide information on the Evangelist and Adolla Bursts. However, once the meeting starts, nearly everyone involved begins behaving erratically.

Obi goes to see the chief with news of a fifth Adolla-Burst bearer. Schoolgirl Inca, who has the ability to sniff out fires before they start, becomes notorious as the Fireground Thief, extorting valuables from victims in exchange for rescuing them.

A widespread outbreak of fires stretches the members of Company 8 thin. Shinra tries to keep Charon and his men from taking Inca. With a shortage of ecclesiastical assistance, the crew members cannot put the Infernals to rest fast enough.

Shinra makes an important discovery about how to fight Charon, but incorporating a new hand form into his fighting style proves difficult. The other Fire Soldiers put into action a novel approach toward putting to rest a demon Infernal.

Inca is faced with the decision of whether to go with Shinra and the Fire Force, or to go with Charon and side with the Evangelist. Fed up with always being a step behind the Evangelist’s men, the 8th launches a research expedition to find answers.

The task force arrives on the Chinese Peninsula, and sets off through inhospitable territory toward a spatial rift that they hope will provide the answers they seek. They pick up an unexpected companion along the way who agrees to be their guide.

Shinra hears a voice via an Adolla Link. Scop tells the team about a mysterious woman in black robes that taught him how to speak, and who repaired the Tabernacle. The team’s mission takes a turn when intelligent Infernals show up at the Oasis.

Pan, Arthur and Licht continue to investigate the inside of the Tabernacle, while outside, the rest of the team have their hands full fighting off an Infernal attack. Shinra has an idea as to how to beat them, but needs Ogun to buy him some time.

Through Adolla Links and the assistance of Grace, Shinra learns more about the Evangelist and views Tempe’s memories. The team completes their investigation into the Tabernacle, but draw some unsettling conclusions from what they learn.

After reporting their findings to Obi, the team is dismayed to hear that their discoveries are being quashed by the church, prompting Licht to turn to unofficial channels. Joker approaches Benimaru with a proposition concerning the Holy Sol Temple.

Joker and Benimaru break their way into the church in search of the hidden scriptures. When Benimaru presses Joker for answers as to how he knows so much, Joker tells him about his past, revealing some dark secrets about the Holy Sol Temple.

Burns confronts Joker and Benimaru, then offers them the scant leads he has uncovered during his own personal probe of the Holy Sol Temple. Konro reports Benimaru’s findings to the 8th, and the target of their next investigation becomes clear.