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.

By working together, Miria and Claire were able to defeat the Male Awakened One, which surprised the handler observing the battle but the team are left with injuries all over the place. In the meantime while they recover from their injuries, they begin talking about their past and it seems like they all have something in common that led to them being teamed up together. It is revealed that they have all experienced the Awakening process in the past.