I guess he wasn't in this area first time around? He made a weird comment about "surviving" it this time with the girl but the number was the same.. obv he has the future knowledge and experience so he lived through the event already, but myb he was not in the midst of the chaos, just hiding in safe zone?
At what point will they explain the plate system.. he apparently had 68 plates but could not awaken.. does that mean potential innate abilities? what is that..