"Stay out of the fight from now on... You're getting in the way." Itsuki awakens his Photon powers and, with Aika's help, defeats the Darker that appeared in real life. From there Aika takes him inside the world of PSO2 to a room on an ARKS ship. ARKS intelligence commander Kasura reveals to him numerous truths. Though Itsuki is confused by the unbelievable news, he understands what he must do.