Dracula reveals that while drunk, he had accidentally gambled away the secret to his powers to the Japanese vampires in exchange for a motorcycle.

He agrees to help them defeat the Japanese vampires, despite his hatred of Buffy, claiming: "Nobody steals from Dracula."

On their flight to Tokyo, Willow approaches Satsu and comforts her about the tension between her and Buffy following their one-night stand.

Tracking them, she finds herself alone in an alley where Toru has strategically left a mysterious, glowing red ring on the ground for her to pick up.

Aiko reaches for it, when suddenly the vampire gang's witch Kumiko flies overhead behind her with the Scythe.

The last panel is of Kumiko flying triumphantly into the sky, revealing a far larger ring device on the roof of a building.

As Buffy interrogates him, he confesses all of Toru's plan to use the lens to magnify Kumiko's spell and take away the Slayers' powers.

Satisfied with the information, Buffy lights him on fire, pointing out that she made no promise to spare him if he talked.

Xander and Renee discuss awkward situations before first dates and wind up kissing, much to Dracula's discomfort.

Outside of Toru's flat, Buffy, Renee, Xander, Dracula, Satsu, Andrew and Leah are ready to attack the army of about a thousand vampires.

Willow is locked in an aerial battle with the vampire witch Kumiko, who reveals that they are both students of the unknown power Saga Vasuki and thus knows the counters to her spells.

As Willow begins to lose consciousness, Buffy steels herself, then jumps from the penthouse to stab Kumiko midair.

Dracula, unable to perform the spell himself because he will be affected as well, directs Willow on the incantation to remove the vampires' special powers.

At the same time, Willow is magically communicating with the snake woman (presumably Saga Vasuki), Xander is scattering Renee's ashes, and Dracula is leaving by ship.

[1] Writer Drew Goddard previously worked for the television series' last season, penning numerous episodes such as "Selfless", "Conversations with Dead People", and "Dirty Girls".

[5] However, Whedon has profusely denied these claims, adding that it was a logical step for the character in light of the series.

Whedon has also been supported by the issue's writer Drew Goddard, Season Eight editor Scott Allie, and reportedly a large number of fans over the Internet.