In a futuristic Japan, following a devastating global conflict, scientific advancements have reached unprecedented levels, allowing humans to extend their lives and alleviate suffering through advanced cybernetic technology. With humanity interconnected in a network of minds and identities known as ghosts, the greatest danger comes from cyber terrorists who can seize control of people’s bodies and memories. The emergence of a ghost-infecting virus called Fire-Starter, which leads to the assassination of the Japanese Prime Minister, prompts Major Motoko Kusanagi and her elite team of operatives to investigate its origins. As they probe further, they uncover evidence of governmental corruption and a mysterious broker with a disturbingly familiar appearance. This film continues the storyline from the Pyrophoric Cult episode of Arise, resolving lingering questions from that narrative arc.