Finding Kaoru with a Horror Gate on neck, Kouga learns of the Ulimate Horror Messiah and the goal of the Horror-devouring Darkness Knight. When Karou comes to and tell her dream of a man with cross-shaped scar, Zaruba reveals the figure to be Taiga's pupil Barago who became the Darkness Knight and killed Kouga's father. The revelation affects Kouga, who self-deluded himself into thinking a Horror committed the deed, as Kaoru later requests him to kill her if it save the world. However, Kouga refuses as Barago appears and defeats Kouga and Rei. Soon after, Kaoru reveals she met Barago as a child, with Kouga realizing that Barago manipulated the chain of events leading to now. As Gonza tries to cheer Kaoru up as she blames herself for Kouga's suffering while getting original copies of her father's book, Rei suggests Kouga of joining forces to fight Barago and protect Kaoru. By then, Karou enters the sanctum of Kouga's training room as she is made familiar with Kouga's armor to ease her worry before he and Rei take their leave to fight Barago and the Eastern Watchdogs after placing barrier around the manor. Seeing the irony, Karou accepts what fate dealt her.
カオルの首筋に浮かび出た、謎の紋章。ゴンザが魔導書から紋章の秘密を発見する。絶望するカオルを勇気づける鋼牙。希望を持ち始めた二人の前に、黒いマントの不気味な男が現れる。目を疑う鋼牙とカオル。二人の幼き日の記憶に残るこの男の正体とは？
