John Hensley

In a daze, Masane stumbles home from battle to get some much needed rest. But her rest is to be short-lived as forces begin to gather around her.

As all plot and plan around her, Masane's only concern is how best to tell Rihoko of her impending death. But their outing is interrupted by X-Con's attempting to take down the newest public threat, none other than Masane herself!

While the city heads for shelter, a deteriorating Masane fights off thousands of rogue I-Weapons. And all the while, Maria and her two Sisters are drawing near. Rather than seeking safety, Tozawa has tracked down the media to spill the full story out to the hidden public. The NSWF, Doji Group Industries, all of their dirty little secrets. A break in the battle and it's the Witchblade versus the Cloneblades, but Maria's madness may prove their own undoing. And high atop Tokyo Tower, as events recommence, a solitary soldier takes her place in the cruel history of the Witchblade…

The dark history of the Witchblade and the cold cruelty of corporate cutthroat culture make for desperate bedfellows, and poor Masane's stuck right in the middle of it! Factions within Doji Group Industries are at constant war, with Takayama struggling to maintain the upper hand against his rival Wado, a man capable of dark deeds.

Maria has gained control of the NSWF, but the business of running the organization is the last thing on her mind. Her intent is singular and sinister, her mind unstable: Possess the Witchblade. Aware of the threat, Nishida and Wado work together to attempt the very same thing. Elsewhere, Takayama and Rihoko are out having a not-so-fun-filled day, but things pick up as soon as Masane arrives. She's relieved that Takayama would protect her daughter should something happen in her line of work, for those dearest to the destined seem to be in the greatest danger… But the bond between mother and daughter remains safe in its strength.

Mother and daughter may share four walls, but hearth and home are sadly lacking. Reina dryly interprets her role as a maternal caregiver, taking clinical notes along the way. But their happy little façade is not the only thing starting to crack. Masane, an asylum candidate by this point, ignores the incessant calls from Takayama...

Even warriors need rest, to recover their spirits as much as their physical selves. And as the residents of the Natsuki Building head off for some fun in the sun, beach party style, Masane's left with her own little rain cloud to darken the day...

The NSWF has Masane in captivity and they're wasting no time to study her, digging for insight into the symbiotic relationship between the bearer and the blade. The agency's intent is to use such knowledge to improve upon the original, and the young Maria just might be the first to benefit...

After suspecting that something more than just their Secret Santa game is going on, Sean confronts Christian and Julia about the secret they have been keeping.

Amidst the struggle and the many hardships of life, friendship is a rare and valuable thing. Masane and Tozawa have come to a standstill in their standoff, and in the absence true friendship seems to be blooming. Little Rihoko has also found a new friend… A couple of new friends, actually. While Reina's interest may be alarming, Rihoko's other friend may just be an unhappy accident. Meanwhile, Masane's on the hunt for the newest X-Con on the scene. But Tozawa's latest detective work proves that they are chasing a dead end. What is the difference between man and machine if mortality if taken from the equation?

A case involving a man's torched corpse whose bones and tissues had been harvested leads Nick and Keppler into the disturbing world of illegally sold human body parts. Also available on iTunes

Sean's life is in ruins after learning that Christian is Matt's biological father due to a premarital tryst with Julia.