This episode takes place in a one-on-one battle between Ayane and Rikku in an underground cavern and its hidden laboratory. In both previews, they clash weapons until Rikku spherechanges multiple times but Ayane negates all of her attacks in her various forms. Rikku uses her special dressphere, the Machina Maw, and Ayane's primary weapon, Tokkosho, is replaced with Fuma Kodachi twin blades to confront Rikku's ultimate dressphere. The Machina Maw lands on the ocean waters creating a devastating wave. Ayane defends herself using her Fuma Kodachi twin blades to make her land on the upper steel ground, and she confronts the Machina Maw in its gigantic state. Tifa awakens in a white room covered in a silk sheet, knowing of her survival in her fight against Hayate and his shinobi (while being held captive in DOATEC headquarters). Her eyes light up as she is being experimented on by DOATEC.