Kei Uomi is on the verge of giving up his greatest goal: the Global Game Competition (GGC), a prestigious tournament where he aimed to finally prove himself against the elite guild "Meteors." But when two of his teammates—Julie and Ken—drop out due to personal crises, their participation threatens to collapse. In his desperation, he recruits Sunraku and Pencilgon, whose skills he needs despite possible guilt. Only they, Kei claims, can stand up to the top players of the "Meteors."

Meanwhile, Sunraku struggles with the effects of the Lycagon's Curse, a malady that destroys any armor he wears after exactly three minutes—no matter how rare or powerful it is. Through systematic testing, he confirms the ruthless mechanics and adjusts his tactics: armor now becomes temporary buffs, strategically deployed in battles. The blacksmith Bilac, who repairs his legendary weapon Gilta Brill and forges new equipment, is horrified by his reckless experiments.

At the Fifticia Shipyard, Sunraku encounters Rust and Mold, two players pursuing an unusual plan: they deliberately provoke NPC gangsters in a harbor tavern to lure out the childlike NPC "Grand Pirate Stude." Stude, a hot-tempered boy with theatrical flair, reveals a unique quest: the destruction of the ghost ship Crying Innsman, which delivers sacrifices to the dark ruler of the abyss (presumably Ctarnidd). Behind Stude's boastful facade lies the tragedy of his fallen father—a tale of revenge that Sunraku meets with dry skepticism, while Rust grows increasingly impatient.

As the crew prepares the pirate ship Scarlet Whale for departure, a surprise occurs: Psyger-0, Akitsuakane, and Ceecrue emerge from delivered cargo barrels—unwilling participants in the mission. Psyger-0, shy but determined, immediately offers her help, while Akitsuakane asks in astonishment why they were transported in barrels. Ceecrue, ever pragmatic, dryly comments on the efficiency of tight spaces. Sunraku responds with his usual sarcasm: Shangri-La Frontier logic—chaos first, questions later.