When Phantoms-- beasts made from nightmares and darkness-- suddenly appeared, four girls, the Effigies, each gained a unique power to control one of the classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water. When one Effigy dies, another girl gains her power. Now, with technologies in place to protect the world's major cities from Phantom attacks, the Effigies have become international celebrities, their feats televised and talked about in online fandoms. When Maia unexpectedly becomes the Fire Effigy, and an army of Phantoms prepare for attack, there isn't much time for the Effigies to learn how to work together before the world is destroyed forever.