Prelude to Despair.During a motorcycle race in Germany, a Demoniac attacks German policeman stationed at the race track before taking control of an ambulance and attacking several competitors. Motorcycle star Gerd Frentzen faces off against the Demoniac before armed XAT officers cordon the area. An unknown being in a blue Blassreiter form appears and kills the Demoniac. In the process, Gerd is injured and paralyzed from his waist down. Gerd is disillusioned when he discovers that he is being dropped from the team and Igor will take his place. Some time later, a mysterious doctor, Beatrice Grese, offers Gerd an experimental drug. During an XAT-led operation to track down a Demoniac hiding in an industrial complex, a Blassreiter appears and destroys the Demoniac. XAT officers Hermann Saltza and Amanda Werner are shocked to see the Blassreiter transform into Gerd who has fully recovered his ability to walk. Beatrice Grese seems satisfied with the results of her experiment with Gerd.