Following Keita's sudden death, Hibiki remains visibly shaken due to the fact that they couldn't prevent it. As Merak arrives in the city, Yamato has JP's members move Hibiki into position to intercept it. At the Osaka Juso Ohashi Bridge, the Japanese military tries and fails in their attack against Merak while Botis and "The Anguished One" discuss the state of affairs. With of the loss of most Osaka's spiritual barriers, Merak fully manifests itself and makes its way to the final barrier - "Tsutenkaku". Meanwhile, as Hibiki is deployed into the field, Hinako and Io discuss his mental state due to Keita's death. Meanwhile at the Umeda Sky Building, JP's summoners try to stop Merak with a swarm of Itsumade but it kills them all in an instant. As Io heads to Hibiki's location, Merak then launches a devastating ice attack, at the "Tsutenkaku" barrier, which survives, but the attack leaves a path of destruction and kills many more people, upsetting Hibiki. Not wanting any more people to die, Hibiki abandons his post and proceeds further up the battleground to confront Merak. Io arrives just as Hibiki departs and Yamato sends a "replacement" for Hibiki. Hibiki arrives at the current battleground at Kawaramachi in the Osaka Chūō-ku Ward and intervenes in Hinako and a platoon of JP's summoners fight against Merak. Hibiki has Byakko unleash a strong lightning attack at Merak, which doesn't have any effect. Merak counterattacks and Hinako protects Hibiki but gets severely injured which then shatters his fighting resolve. In the wake of the attack, the "Anguished One" approaches Hibiki and introduces himself as Alcor. He informs Hibiki, that because of his "choice" to fight, Io has taken his place at the final defensive line, causing Hibiki to head over there. Io's feelings allow her to summon Kikuri-Hime and proceeds to attack Merak with support from the JP's summoners. Although Kikuri-Hime manages to severely damage Merak, it sheds its outer layer and begins charging up i (thetvdb.com)