Based on the manga by Atsushi Ohkubo (who’s also the creator of Soul Eater ), the Fire Force anime made its long-awaited return with season three. Fire Force Season 3 continues the heated adventures of Shinra and Fire Force Company 8, and it’s been a good time to be a fan of the anime series. Before the story picks back up again, let's recap the Fire Force arcs so we’re prepared for when the anime continues. From Shinra’s introduction to the second Great Cataclysm, let’s go over the story arcs in order! FIRE FORCE ARCS IN ORDER Fire Force Season 1 Introduction arc VS. Special Fire Force Company 5 arc VS. Special Fire Force Company 1 arc Preacher Pursuit arc Asakusa arc Vulcan's Workshop arc Netherworld arc Fire Force Season 2 VS. Special Fire Force Company 4 arc Fifth Pillar arc Chinese Peninsula arc VS. Holy Sol Temple arc Haijima Industries arc Iris arc Joint Investigation arc Stigma arc Fire Force Season 3 Obi's Rescue arc Return to St. Raffles' arc Arthur's Adventure arc Stone Pillars arc Fire Force Season 1 Introduction arc ( Episodes 1 – 4 ) The Introduction arc of Fire Force is exactly that: the start of the Fire Force story. Not only does it introduce the series' characters and some of their enemies, but it also sets the rules that the series will follow. In Fire Force , there are people in the world who can manipulate fire to varying degrees, with some of them fighting monsters called infernals. The main character, Shinra Kusakabe, is a new recruit with Company 8 and can shoot fire from his feet to power his flight and kicks. The arc starts with Shinra meeting his soon-to-be company mates as they’re fighting an infernal at a train station. He later gets acclimated and reunites with his rival from training, Arthur Boyle. The two rookies bond as they go on missions, compete against other rookies and learn how the Special Fire Force operates. RELATED: A Beginner’s Guide to Fire Force VS. Special Fire Force Company 5 arc ( Episodes 5 – 7 ) In the VS. Special Fire Force Company 5 arc, the feud between Company 5 and Company 8 gets fully fleshed out. It’s made clear that part of the tension comes from the shared history between Iris, a nun with Company 8, and Hibana, the captain of Company 5. The two were the only survivors of a tragic accident when all of their friends at a convent burst into flames unexpectedly, and it sent their lives in very different directions. Hibana focused on studying spontaneous combustion, sold her research off to the highest bidder and continued to conduct research for them with a position they handed her as a reward. Iris stayed committed to the belief system they were raised with and focused on helping people. After Hibana fought Shinra, and the rest of Company 5 fought in their respective duels, the two companies flip from enemies to allies. VS. Special Fire Force Company 1 arc ( Episodes 7 – 9 ) With the help of the research capabilities of Company 5, Company 8 continues its investigation into spontaneous human combustion. In the next arc of the show, Shinra goes undercover in Company 1 to see if they’re involved. While doing this, he meets a new recruit named Tamaki and three priests who all utilize heat in their own unique ways. He also comes face to face with Lt. Burns, who was at the scene when Shinra’s childhood home burned down and his mother died. During the investigation, Company 8’s members track down the person who’s been causing spontaneous combustion by letting bugs bite people in the hopes that the rare few would get the ability to manipulate fire. Rekka, the Company 1 member in question, went as far as to kidnap children to use as test subjects. After the adventure (and meeting some rather mysterious people in white robes), Tamaki joins Company 8. Preacher Pursuit arc ( Episodes 10 – 11 ) The Preacher Pursuit arc operates as a transition after all of the action and new lore that came before it. The captains of all of the Fire Force squads are summoned to meet the Emperor in the heart of Tokyo, who lets them know of a new threat. Meanwhile, Shinra finds out that he may have a special ability called an Adolla Burst that allows him to tap into stronger, purer flames. He also finds out that his younger brother, Sho, is still alive and working with the group in white robes called the White Clad. The last half of this arc is a flashback that shows how Company 8 was formed by Captain Obi, Takeshita, and Maki, all finding their paths aligning for a common goal. The arc also features an introduction of every other captain and, as many fans still enjoy, the introduction of Benimaru Shinmon, one of the series’ strongest characters. Asakusa arc ( Episodes 11 – 14 ) The Asakusa arc focuses on Company 8’s efforts to build a relationship with the independent Company 7 based in Asakusa. Company 7’s captain is a man named Konro, but because of a disease he contracted by overheating during a fight, his subordinate Benimaru is the strongest member of the team. While Shinra and his company mates try to learn about Asakusa’s culture, the White Clad starts their plan to destroy the town by turning multiple people into infernals. Vulcan's Workshop arc ( Episodes 15 – 18 ) The next arc focuses on the research and development part of the Fire Force world. It takes us deeper into the function of the shady and powerful Hajima Industries. It also introduces Victor Licht, who was sent to infiltrate Company 8 as a spy. Meanwhile, Company 8 sends members to try and recruit the best mechanic in the area: Vulcan. Vulcan refuses to work with any Fire Force brigades or Hajima industries, as they’ve spent years manipulating his family’s business. By the end of their time together, Vulcan warms up to the group and commits to helping them with inventions, even if he won’t join them officially. Netherworld arc ( Episodes 19 – 24 ) The Netherworld arc is when we get to see just how much of the world in Fire Force was destroyed in the Great Cataclysm. There had been remnants of a society much like our own, but seeing that the forbidden underground plane in the show was really just an abandoned subway system revealed how much the world had moved on. In another altercation with the White Clad, Company 8 heads down to the Netherworld to take down Dr. Giovanni, who was revealed to be a double agent for the Fire Force and the White Clad. Everyone in Company 8 takes on strong opponents and unlocks their potential, and Shinra gets closer to learning more about his younger brother, Sho. Fire Force Season 2 VS. Special Fire Force Company 4 arc ( Episodes 1 – 2 ) The next Fire Force arc showcases Shinra and Arthur visiting Company 4 to learn more about the former’s Adolla link and what it might mean. Company 4’s leader, Soichiro Hague, meets with Shinra and kickstarts his Adolla link. However, Shinra’s body is temporarily taken over by the spirit of Amaterasu, the first person to have an Adolla Burst, making her the First Pillar – a designation for people with a special connection to Adolla who have ties to a larger plot. While Arthur fights a possessed Shinra to bring him back, the latter is also revealed to be a Pillar. Meanwhile, the Fifth Pillar is about to be awakened somewhere nearby. Fifth Pillar arc ( Episodes 3 – 6 ) The Fifth Pillar is revealed to be a young woman named Inca who has the ability to predict when and where fires will appear through a strong sense of smell. Members of the White Clad and the Fire Force each try to recruit her to their side of the ongoing battle. During the chaos, the White Clad turns more people into infernals with their bugs, and a demon infernal appears to add to the destruction. As the Fire Force is distracted by the immediate danger, Shinra chases after Inca. Chinese Peninsula arc ( Episodes 6 – 10 ) After gathering allies, Company 8 sends Shinra, Arthur, Tamaki, and Viktor on a joint mission with members of other Fire Force companies to learn more about the Great Cataclysm. The collective group takes a trip to what was once China and finds a world that’s very different than their own (there are talking animals). The group is later attacked by hooded infernals who are more intelligent than what they’ve faced so far. Meanwhile, Shinra is able to use his Adolla Burst to connect with the spirit of a woman in a black dress who got an Adolla Burst during the Great Cataclysm and has been living in a reactor that keeps the surrounding forest alive. She asks Shinra to help protect the forest from the fight currently going on outside. Vulcan and Viktor continue researching the reactor and discover that it’s likely powered by the human sacrifice of someone with an Adolla Burst, meaning the one in Tokyo is likely also powered by another captive person. They also deduce that the White Clad is working on the orders of an individual called the Evangelist, who is planning to start another Great Cataclysm. VS. Holy Sol Temple arc ( Episodes 11 – 13 ) The first half of this arc features a team-up of two fan favorite characters taking on the Holy Sol Temple completely on their own – Benimaru and Joker. The unlikely pair fight their way to the very center of the Holy Sol Temple, only to be confronted by Captain Burns, who decides to work with them on their investigation into the church. It’s later revealed that the child who survived being bitten by one of Rekka’s bugs is named Nataku Son. The latter half of this arc involves Viktor Licht reporting back to his boss at Hajima Industries, who denies the idea of human sacrifice and orders Licht to bring him Shinra. By now, Licht has grown to genuinely care for the members of Company 8 and confesses that he was sent to spy on them, but no one is surprised. Licht then agrees to go to Hajima industries with Shinra as bait to rescue the children the corporation is experimenting on to try and awaken a new Adolla Burst. RELATED: Fire Force Characters From Shinra to Ogun Haijima Industries arc ( Episodes 13 – 17 ) The Hajima Industries Arc is the first time Company 8 and the Hajima have a full-on battle as they fight to save Nataku. The White Clad also joins in on the action, now with Inca’s help, because Nataku’s Adolla Burst is finally activated. Kurono, the Hajima employee who was training Nataku, faces Shinra in battle until Charon interferes. Later, Company 8 meets with the chairman of Hajima, who subtly admits that Amaterasu is powered by a person. Vulcan and Viktor say that they can come up with an alternate energy source that doesn’t involve a sacrifice, and the president agrees to let them try, as long as Hajima gets full control of any results. Iris arc ( Episode 18 ) This brief arc takes a look at how Iris (the most devout member of Company 8) deals with questions about her faith after finding out it was created by the Evangelist. Shinra accompanies her to a temple to bless a new batch of weapons, and a priest is unexpectedly turned into an infernal. After Shinra defeats him, he helps Iris by letting her know that her belief is in the Sun, which is too far and powerful to be corrupted by a person. Joint Investigation arc ( Episodes 19 – 22 ) The next arc focuses more on Maki Oze, who has dinner with her brother, mother, and father, who runs the military. Her brother goes on to investigate the Nether with a colleague until an explosion injures them both, causing Maki’s father to force her back into the military to protect her. Company 2 goes into the Nether to fight the White Clad, only to be overwhelmed by Dr. Giovanni (who’s now powered by the Adolla Burst). Company 8 joins in to help and support Maki, who proves her strength and capabilities to her family. Stigma arc ( Episodes 23 – 24 ) The Stigma Arc is essentially a training arc for Company 8’s rookies. Shinra, Arthur, and Maki all head to Asakusa to simultaneously check on Benimaru and improve the strength of their flames. Maki is able to advance her abilities to gain cat-like abilities, and Shinra improves his speed. The leader of Company 6 is attacked by an Infernal, motivating Benimaru to officially align Company 7 with Company 8 as they prepare to fight the White Clad and the Evangelist. Fire Force Season 3 Obi's Rescue arc ( Episodes 1 – 7 ) The Obi’s Rescue Arc is another major escalation in Company 8’s war with the White Clad after they kidnap Captain Obi and plan to turn him into an infernal. Captain Burns is also convinced that Company 1 should work with the Evangelist after he sees him and essentially has a religious epiphany. Unfortunately, this means he’s now an enemy of Company 8. Shinra makes it all the way to save Captain Obi, with Joker’s help, only for Captain Burns to stand in his way. The two begin to fight, and Shinra’s flames get stronger and hotter than they ever have been before. The arc ends with Company 8 being seen as dangerous criminals. RELATED: QUEEN BEE Shares Fire Force Season 3 Anime Opening Song Live Performance Clip Return to St. Raffles arc ( Episodes 7 – 8 ) Captain Hibana visits the convent where she and Iris were raised and discovers that the nuns were secretly putting bugs into all of the children’s food in the hopes that they could create an Adolla Burst. In reality, all they did was cause a spontaneous combustion that killed most of them. Just as Hibana makes this discovery, Sister Sumire, the nun who raised her, reveals herself to be fully aware of the operation and a Pillar who can cause earthquakes. Arthur's Adventure arc ( Episodes 8 – 9 ) Arthur has a bit of an identity crisis after he, the knight in shining armor, finally gets to face off against a dragon — at least, a man who could grow scales and breathe fire — and can’t beat him in a fight. Vulcan realizes that his sword could be improved and agrees to take Arthur on a quest to find a heat-resistant metal for his sword so it won’t hold him back. Their quest takes them to the Nether by accident, and Arthur reconnects with his parents, who abandoned him to avoid debt collectors. Stone Pillars arc ( Episodes 9 – 12 ) The second Great Cataclysm begins as all eight of the Pillars have been awakened. A giant earthquake causes a giant monster to spawn from the ocean, preparing to attack Tokyo. The military and Fire Force work to fight the monster, while the White Clad is ready to finally set its plan into motion to make up for the failed Great Cataclysm of 250 years before. MORE ANIME WATCH ORDER GUIDES Yu Yu Hakusho in Order Sailor Moon in Order One Piece Arcs in Order Naruto Arcs in Order Dragon Ball Watch Order & Sagas List Cardcaptor Sakura in Order Dr. STONE in Order OVERLORD in Order Fairy Tail in Order Haikyu!! in Order Black Butler in Order Bungo Stray Dogs Watch Order My Hero Academia in Order (Plus Movies) Monogatari in Order KONOSUBA in Order
