Claire becomes seriously injured in her fight with the Yoma and just before the Yoma could finish them off it is interrupted and quickly escapes. Claire is then taken back to the inn to recover from her serious injuries and Raki waits by her bedside hoping that she'll eventually wake up. Father Vincent decides to cooperate with Claire to help her find the Yoma but something doesn't seem right. Defeating the Yoma is the least of Claire's worries as she begins to lose control.

The team of Claymore reach the mountains and are surprised by what they encounter, a Male Awakened One. Another Claymore and a handler are watching the battle from a distance, but what do they appear to be plotting? The battle reaches its climatic stage, with all but the "Phantom Miria", badly wounded. This may be what the Awakened meant by "true despair", however Claire is one to know what true despair is really like and this is not it.