Shortly after Trey's awakening in Kapan's lab, Iris Hamlet is attacked by the gargantuan Animon Pymant, who brings ruin and destruction upon the undefended town and captures Nada in the process. The Animon proves to be a far tougher opponent than expected, and it is only thanks to Blanco's swift intervention that the day is saved.
The following day, Blanco formally introduces himself to Trey as the founder of AARI, an organization dedicated to studying Talea's history, supporting Lumen across the region, and reconciling the two opposing factions.