After saving Matoi from the grave monument, Ash is shown a vision from Xion about the key to a new event: the Starting Weapon, a staff which is hidden within a cave in the frozen tundra of Naverius. On his journey, Ash meets a fresh assortment of characters associated with the ARKS. Ulku, a waitress at Franka's Cafe, is eager to prove herself as a future trainee despite lacking photon aptitude. Her childhood friend, Theodor, in contrast proves to be a talented yet meek Force with questionable opinions. Ash and Afin then suddenly find themselves caught in the thick of an epic battle on Naverius' snowy wastelands where they finally come face-to-face with the creature spoken of in rumors, the rampaging dragon named Haddred.