Masaki listens to the boy's story and says, "Do you have anything that belongs to your friend?"
One of the boys shows Masaki a watch and says, "Yes, this is his watch, which I borrowed from him yesterday."
Masaki takes the watch and says, "Alright, Syria, you can release them now."
After saying this, Masaki walks away from the boys. As soon as the three boys are freed from Syria's magic, they realize something strange just happened, but they are so scared that they immediately run away.
Syria, frustrated, asks Masaki, "Are you going to tell me what you're trying to do?"
Masaki replies, "You haven't figured it out yet?"
Syria, still confused, says, "No."
Masaki then explains, "The most important thing for a Sleek or a Zuek is the object they are bound to."
Hearing this, Syria starts to understand a bit and says, "So, you mean the Sleek is bound to that locket, but how?"
Masaki says, "Remember the boy's story. No one knew about the Sleek. They all believed the principal was using dark magic. So they killed the principal and trapped his soul in the school."
Syria responds, "And because the Sleek was bound to the principal, it hasn't left the school for the past 12 years. But what does that have to do with the locket?"
Masaki explains, "When we went to the school, we didn't find the Sleek, the locket, or the principal's spirit. This can only mean one thing—the principal's soul is trapped inside the locket, and the Sleek is after it."
Meanwhile, at the Ishikawa family's house,
Yumi was playing with the locket around her neck. Inside the locket, a dark spirit of the principal screamed, while its voice echoed far below the ground, where a massive and dangerous Sleek waited, eagerly anticipating sunset.
Back near the school,
As soon as Masaki tells Syria that the Sleek is after the locket, Syria asks, "But Masaki, how are we going to find it?"
Masaki hands Syria the watch and says, "With this. That boy must have taken the locket. If we find him, we find the locket."
Syria responds, "Alright."
She uses her power to lift the watch into the air and, after a moment, points in one direction, saying, "That way."
Masaki quickly runs in the direction Syria indicated.
After about half an hour of running, Masaki asks, "Syria, how much longer?"
Syria replies, "Almost there. I can sense its growing aura. The boy must be nearby."
Masaki, running in Syria's direction, finally starts feeling the boy's aura too. Within moments, Masaki reaches the riverbank.
Upon arrival, both Masaki and Syria are shocked to find the boy's lifeless body.
Seeing the corpse, Masaki searches it but doesn't find the locket.
Masaki says, "The locket isn't here."
Syria asks, "Did the Sleek get the locket?"
Masaki replies, "No, if that were the case, the Sleek would have already returned to its domain."
Syria asks, "Then how will we find the locket?"
Masaki says, "There's only one way left. We need to search every place this boy went in the last 24 hours."
Syria replies, "But Masaki, that will take a lot of time."
Masaki says, "Yes, and that's why we have to start quickly."
Four hours later,
Ryuji was walking along a street, grumbling to himself, "What a terrible day! Why is everything going wrong today? I had to help Ren prepare for his date with Akari, and now I have to get back home and prepare for Aunt and Uncle's trip. This day couldn't get any worse!"
Ryuji had just finished helping Ren with his date and given him a bunch of advice to ensure nothing went wrong.
Meanwhile, not far from there, Masaki had arrived as well.
Syria, growing anxious, tells Masaki, "Masaki, it's already evening, and we still haven't found any sign of the locket."
Masaki replies, "Don't worry, we'll find it in time."
Masaki continues walking along the street, and Ryuji approaches from the other side. Suddenly, Ryuji feels something that chills him to his core.
Where Masaki stood, Ryuji could see a vast, dull aura spreading about 100 meters wide.
Seeing this, Ryuji says, "What is this? I've never seen such a powerful aura in my life. Who does this aura belong to?"
Although frightened, Ryuji wanted to know more, so he gathered his courage and approached the aura. As he got closer, he saw Masaki.
Seeing Masaki, Ryuji's hair stood on end. He could see the energy radiating from Masaki and noticed Masaki's golden eyes glowing. Ryuji also saw Syria, attached to Masaki's back.
Ryuji, looking at Masaki, thought, "Who is this person? How is he so powerful? It feels like he's not human but a god. And who is that white woman?"
As Ryuji pondered, Masaki noticed him, too. Ryuji's eyes were also glowing gold, which caught Masaki's attention.
Masaki said, "Spiritual eyes. This boy has them too."
Syria added, "Masaki, this boy bears traces of the same aura as the other boy."
Masaki asked, "Are you sure?"
Syria replied, "Yes, maybe he can help us."
Hearing this, Masaki stared at Ryuji. Feeling Masaki's gaze, Ryuji's heart began to race, and he tried to back away, but in the blink of an eye, Ryuji found himself in an empty park.
Panicked, Ryuji looked around, but Masaki said, "Listen carefully, boy. I don't have time to explain everything to you, so just answer my questions."
But Ryuji backed away, saying, "Stay away from me! Who are you? And what is that white woman? How did you bring me here from the market?"
Masaki said, "I told you, I don't have time to answer your questions. Just tell me, have you seen a silver chain with a white ruby locket?"
Ryuji, hearing this, asked, "What does that locket have to do with you?"
Masaki's face lit up, and he said, "So you know where it is? I need to know where the locket is."
Ryuji shouted, "But who or what are you?"
Masaki said, "Don't you get it? I told you, I need to find that locket. Now, tell me where it is!"
Ryuji replied, "I'm not telling you anything. I don't even know who you are. Why is that locket so important to you?"
Masaki was about to lose his temper when Syriah intervened and explained to Ryuji, "Look, we don't have time to explain everything, but listen. I'm an Angel Spirit, and Masaki here is an Angel Warrior. Our job is to eliminate the demons that are created from human negative energy, demons that pose a threat to humanity. We call them Sleeks. Right now, a very powerful Sleek is after that locket. Believe me, anyone near that locket is in grave danger, so please tell us where it is."
Hearing this, Ryuji thought about the locket with Yumi and realized that if these people were telling the truth, Yumi, Ayato, and Aunt Haruko were in danger. Meanwhile, as the day faded, the Sleek continued to move toward the surface.
Finally, Ryuji said, "Alright, I'll tell you where the locket is, but in return, you have to help protect the people near it."
Syriah replied, "Don't worry, that's what we do."
Masaki approached Ryuji, grabbed his hand, and said, "Lotus Steps."
Instantly, Masaki leaped so high into the air that the entire city was visible below them.
Masaki asked, "Tell me, where is it?"
Though initially terrified, Ryuji gathered his courage, thinking of Yumi, Ayato, and Aunt Haruko, and pointed toward their house, saying, "There, in that house."
Understanding Ryuji's direction, Masaki landed in front of Aunt Haruko's house at lightning speed. The impact of Masaki's landing cracked the ground beneath his feet, but he protected Ryuji from the shock.
Ryuji rushed inside and immediately asked Aunt Haruko about Yumi. Masaki followed close behind. Aunt Haruko was confused about what was happening, but she trusted Ryuji and told him that Yumi was in her room.
Hearing this, Ryuji ran toward Yumi's room, with Masaki following. Ryuji burst into the room and found Yumi and Ayato there.
Ryuji shouted, "Yumi, the locket—"
But before he could finish, the ground split open, and the same Sleek emerged, grabbing Yumi. Seeing the Sleek, Masaki was shocked, and when he looked up at the sky, he realized the sun had already set.
Masaki said to himself, "Damn, we're too late."
The Ishikawa house was now in ruins. Masaki and Ryuji stood.