Kafka Hibino works as a cleaner disposing the carcasses of kaijus after they have been eliminated by the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force, a military organization that protects Japan from kaiju. Initially wanting to be part of the Defense Force, Kafka gave up after failing to pass the exam before he got too old, but finds out the Defense Force has recently raised the recruitment age to 32, making him eligible again. At work, Kafka and his new coworker and aspiring Defense Force Member, Reno Ichikawa, ar
While Mina orders her squad to move to the location where a kaiju was reported, Kafka and Reno leave the hospital to hide from the Defense Force. As the duo is escaping, Kafka detects a yoju that emerges from the underground and attacks a nearby house, trapping a woman and her daughter. Kafka steps in and kills the yoju saving the mother and daughter with the daughter thanking him for his help. Kafka changes back to his human form and escapes the area with Reno. Mina and her squad arrive at the
Reno tells Kikoru that he and Kafka work as kaiju cleaners, swaying her doubts. Kafka and Reno begin the physical part of the test, which Kafka barely passes, and move on to the aptitude test. The proctor for the exam, the vice-captain of the Third Division, Soshiro Hoshina, explains that the recruits need to eliminate a large group of yoju led by a honju in a training area. The recruits are outfitted with power suits, made from kaiju muscle fibers, that empower them, boosting their physical cap
Kafka and Reno try to support other recruits due to the duo's low firepower. Kikoru runs past other recruits eliminating all yoju and the honju, ending the aptitude test. Kikoru is attacked by an intelligent, humanoid kaiju that revives all of the yoju and the honju, making them stronger in the process. The humanoid kaiju orders the honju to attack Kikoru who tries to fight it off. A flashback reveals that Kikoru's father, the Director General of the Defense Force, Isao Shinomiya, demands from h
With the test finished, Reno and Kikoru are inducted into the Defense Force as officers while Kafka is accepted as a cadet to be further trained on Soshiro's recommendation who points out Kafka's contributions in the aptitude test to the selection committee. Secretly however, Soshiro suspects that Kafka is hiding something as his vitals were not being picked up when the 9.8 fortitude level reading appeared during the test. Kikoru talks with Kafka and Reno about Kafka's power and promises to keep
The Third Division begins an operation to eliminate a large fungal type honju that emerges in Sagamihara. Mina uses her personal weapon, a massive handheld cannon, to eliminate the honju while utilizing her full unleashed combat power. The honju's destruction releases a swarm of smaller yoju that start approaching the city. Kafka and the rest of the division are tasked with eliminating the swarm to prevent further devastation. Kafka struggles to help in combat due to his low unleashed combat pow
The humanoid kaiju attacks Reno and Iharu, severely injuring the latter. Reno tries to contact the rest of the Third Division but the humanoid kaiju reveals that it formed a "mimetic space" that blocks communications and that allows it to remain hidden from the Defense Force. Reno and Iharu try to defeat it but are easily dispatched. As the humanoid kaiju is about to kill the both of them, Kafka arrives and easily defeats it. However, a pair of Third Division officers appear preventing Kafka fro
Kafka tries to defend himself long enough to escape without hurting the vice-captain. Soshiro locates Kafka's core intent on destroying it but Kafka successfully counters his attack, breaking the vice-captain's sword, and escapes while avoiding detection. Soshiro informs Mina that he suspects that Kaiju No. 8 might be a daikaiju, a rare and powerful type of kaiju. The humanoid kaiju, now identified by the Defense Force as Kaiju No. 9, kills a man and absorbs him, taking his appearance and goes i
The group of flying kaiju land on the Third Division base and begin their assault. Soshiro leads the defense efforts as Mina is still away at headquarters. Kafka identifies the kaiju as wyvern types that are usually solitary and relays this information to Soshiro and the rest of the division. Soshiro deduces that the wyverns are banding together under a leader. The leader is identified as another intelligent, humanoid kaiju with a fortitude level of 8.3 classifying it as a daikaiju. The humanoid
Soshiro's battle against the humanoid continues, but his suit ceases the full output due to the strain it's causing on his body. During the battle, he recalls being told by his father and superiors to give up on joining the Defense Force since he cannot wield firearms well enough. To his surprise, Mina asked him to join her division because his skills might be useful against future smaller kaiju and because she cannot wield blades herself. Remembering the trust Mina showed him, Soshiro continues
The top brass of the Defense Force, led by Isao Shinomiya, order the Third Division to hand over Kafka to headquarters in the Ariake maritime base his transport being overseen by the deputy director of the Defense Force, Keiji Itami. While detained, Kafka is informed by Mina that she and the rest of the Third Division do not see him as an enemy and will do everything they can to help him avoid disposal. Mina affirms Kafka's desire to be by her side saying that she waits for his return. Reno, Iha
The fight between Kafka and Isao continues as Keiji notices that Isao seems to be testing Kafka rather than trying to kill him. Kikoru realizes that her words got through to her father. Kafka becomes more powerful, increases in size and overwhelms Isao. In Kafka's subconscious, the mysterious kaiju devours him and he falls into an abyss. As a berserk Kafka is about to strike Isao, in the abyss Kafka imagines Mina grabbing his hand who says that she will always wait for him. This causes Kafka to
Kafka goes on a mission with his new squad and faces Kaiju No. 9 once again.
A challenge begins for the next generation of the Defense Force.
Kaiju No. 9 appears for the third time, splitting in two and overwhelming the Defense Force.
Kaiju No. 9 reveals his true plan.
Narumi and Kikoru's resolve is renewed. Kafka is forced to face the price that comes with his power.
Reno Ichikawa has been chosen to wield the power of Numbers Weapon 6, the most powerful of them all.
Iharu and Reno’s trust in each other becomes a powerful weapon that leads them in battle.
Kafka learns to fight without having to rely on Kaiju No. 8's power.
A horde of Kaiju appear all over Tokyo at the same time!
The battle with No. 9's Kaiju begins in earnest.
The Defense Forces suffer severe damage from a fortitude 9.0 Kaiju that appear at the capital.