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Synopsis

In a period marked by swift industrial expansion, a novel pathogen has arisen that transforms people into feral, flesh-driven beings named Kabane. These undead can only be dispatched by destroying their hearts, which sit protected within rigid iron cages. Humanity has withdrawn into fortified settlements called Stations, each separated from the outside by deep moats and high ramparts; inter-Station travel depends on drawbridges for armored Hayajiro trains. At Aragane Station, Ikoma serves as a steamsmith responsible for keeping the transit systems operational, yet he is frustrated by what he sees as human timidity and an inability to confront the Kabane menace. In his spare moments, Ikoma applies his engineering skills to devise an innovative weapon intended to counter the iron-caged threat. When the Kabane attack Aragane Station, Ikoma gains a chance to deploy his creation, and the encounter becomes far more consequential than a mere field test.