Joseph barely escapes from the XAT but is seriously injured. He collapses from exhaustion and his wounds. When he recovers consciousness, he finds himself sheltered in a warehouse containing waste disposal.

Malek is devastated by Gerd's death. Joseph is worried about Malek and tries to stay close, remaining within the city. However, a security camera captures his transformation, and subsequently XAT learns his true identity.

XAT agents begin to fall ill, one after another. Then one day, in response to a massive emergence of Amalgams in the city, the agents themselves start turning into Amalgams. A fierce battle breaks out within the XAT ranks who have turned into Amalgams and those who have not, when at last, Joseph regains consciousness.