Kurusu rescues Ayame, just as the Kabane appear in the woods surrounding the Kōtetsujō, and everyone gets back onboard. Still fearful of the Kabaneri, the Six Chiefs, led by Akoji, has Ayame hand over the Kōtetsujō's Master Key. To Ayame's dismay, Akoji reroutes the Kōtetsujō for the mountains to provide a shorter route to Kongokaku, in spite of the increased danger posed by the Kabane on the exposed mountain path. Then, Akoji dispatches a chief to get Takumi and fellow steam smiths Kajika and Sukari to the Kōtetsujō's last car with Mumei and Ikoma, and detach the car...