Beyond the Horizon.The Vers invasion begins with Landing Castles crashing into New Orleans, Maputo, Beijing, Tokyo and other major cities. Martian Kataphrakts emerge and destroy the Terran defenders, whose conventional weapons are ineffective against the Vers Kataphrakts, which are armed with Aldnoah technology. In Shinawara, while preparing to evacuate, Inaho finds two girls and informs them of the need to evacuate. One of the girls subdue him and asks him what the evacuation is for, prompting Inaho to inform them of the assassination of Princess Asseylum. The girl then reveals to Inaho that Asseylum became ill after making planetfall due to the change in gravity and it was actually a body double that died. Meanwhile, Slaine transports Baron Trillram and his Kataphrakt (named "Nilokeras") to Shinawara in a Sky Carrier while destroying several Terran F-22s. Later, the terrorists who committed the assassination meet up with Baron Trillram, and are revealed to be Vers loyalists. They are killed by Baron Trillram to ensure the truth about the false flag operation is never revealed. Rayet, the daughter of the one of the agents, manages to survive the attack and flees, but is pursued by Trillram. 2nd Lieutenant Marito's squad engages Trillram, but are defeated with multiple squad members killed in action. Inaho and his friends arrive in an APC that is evacuating civilians and manage to rescue both Rayet and Yuki. However, Trillram pursues them in order to silence Rayet, and Okisuke is thrown off the vehicle and killed after being absorbed by Nilokeras's shield. After entering a tunnel and evading Trillram, Inaho receives orders from Marito to draw Trillram's Kataphrakt away to buy more time for an evacuation.