Standing in their place, Masaki and Ryuji faced a Sleek towering about 15 meters tall, resembling a giant lizard.
Looking at the Sleek, Masaki says, "There's no other choice now. Syria, get ready."
Saying this, he forms a lotus with his hands, but Ryuji stops him, saying, "Wait, it has Yumi and Ayato with it."
Masaki replies, "I'll try my best to avoid harming them. You go help this woman."
Though Ryuji hesitates, Syria reassures him, "Trust us, Ryuji. We'll save them."
This assurance calms him down, and Ryuji immediately dashes towards Aunt Haruko.
Back there, Masaki again forms a lotus flower with his hands and says, "Lotus Cannon Attack!"
The Sleek hurls a black energy orb from its mouth. Masaki's pink energy ball collides with the demon spirit's, creating a massive explosion.
The blast was so powerful that it created a huge crater, and nearby houses shattered. Ryuji barely shields himself behind a wall to survive the explosion. Amid the rubble, he spots Aunt Haruko lying injured.
Seeing the destruction caused by his previous attack, Masaki thinks, "I can't use powerful attacks here. Syria, we need to distract it and lure it away."
Syria replies, "Understood."
She channels white energy from herself into Masaki's body. Masaki then pulls out a small rod, which, upon touching, transforms into a gleaming white bow.
As he draws the string, a large arrow appears. Masaki aims straight for the Sleek's eye, but the arrow doesn't faze it. Furious, the Sleek charges at Masaki.
Meanwhile, Ryuji reaches Aunt Haruko and sees a deep wound on her head.
Tearing his shirt, Ryuji bandages her wound and says, "Don't worry, Aunt. I won't let anything happen to you."
He then picks her up and starts running.
Back at the battle, Masaki is dodging attacks as he tries to lure the Sleek. However, this demon spirit was far faster than the previous one, making it difficult for Masaki to avoid its strikes.
Suddenly, hearing the explosion, a crowd begins to gather nearby to see what caused the commotion.
Seeing this, Syria says, "Why are they gathering here?"
The gathering crowd diverts the Sleek's attention away from Masaki, and it lets out an ear-splitting roar in their direction.
The Sleek's roar was so intense that everyone there writhed in pain. Ryuji, carrying Aunt Haruko, also felt the pain but didn't stop running, something inside him giving him ability to withstand that roar.
Masaki quickly pulls out a metal ball, which begins to glow blue in his grip. He throws it into the Sleek's mouth, causing an explosion inside that silences its roar.
With the roar stopped, the people finally see the Sleek. Frightened, they scatter in every direction. Angered again, the Sleek starts moving toward the fleeing people instead of attacking Masaki.
Syria says, "Why is it heading the other way?"
Masaki responds, "It's trying to attack the people!"
Transforming his bow into a sword, Masaki shouts, "Lotus Petal Waves!"
A lotus flower appears behind him, releasing millions of petal waves. Following the swing of Masaki's sword, the petals sweep the people to safety, far from the Sleek.
After securing the people, Masaki directs his sword towards the Sleek. The petals converge like sharp blades, launching an assault on the Sleek.
In response, the Sleek counters with its black flames, burning the petals.
Masaki then plants his sword in the ground and says, "Enchain!"
Blue chains emerge, binding the demon spirit. But it channels black energy into its arm, breaking the chains with a single blow.
Now, the Sleek swipes its claw through the air, unleashing four black streaks towards Masaki. He dodges, and the streaks hit a house behind him, slicing it to pieces in a single second.
Stunned, Masaki realizes, "This attack is too fast and dangerous. Even at full power, I might not be able to stop it."
Meanwhile, Ryuji, with Aunt Haruko safe, has reached a distance. He sits her down and says, "Aunt, just hold on a little longer. I'll get Yumi and Ayato."
Saying this, he heads back towards Masaki and the Sleek.
The demon spirit relentlessly attacks Masaki and the people, its strikes breaking homes, roads, and power poles as if they were made of sand.
Assessing the situation, Masaki urgently calls his comrade, Akari.
"Hello, Masaki."
"Akari, I need help immediately."
"Is everything okay?"
"Nothing's okay. This demon spirit has infiltrated the city center. I can't fight and protect the people simultaneously."
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
Akari ends the call and begins gathering some people.
Masaki struggles to protect the people. The Sleek intentionally targets them repeatedly, giving Masaki no chance to attack.
Syria spots Ryuji running toward them and exclaims, "Why is he coming here?"
Masaki also sees Ryuji and says, "What is that kid doing here?"
Syria replies, "Maybe he's here for those two kids."
Syria shouts to Ryuji, "Ryuji, don't come here!"
Masaki says, "He's too far away. He can't hear you."
The Sleek also notices Ryuji and strikes him with its black streaks at lightning speed.
A loud impact resounds as blood spatters on the ground. Ryuji stands in shock, with Masaki standing in front of him, bleeding from four deep cuts.
Ryuji is completely bewildered but quickly realizes that a swift attack struck nearby, and Masaki had taken the blow to shield him.
Seeing Masaki's condition, Syria says, "Masaki, you're severely wounded. You need to hide and use the Lotus Stand."
Ignoring her, Masaki asks Ryuji, "Hey boy, did you come here for those kids?"
Hesitating, Ryuji nods, feeling responsible for Masaki's injuries.
Masaki says, "Fine, I can get them away from the Sleek, but you'll need to handle the rest."
Syria protests, "Masaki, you can't fight in this condition. If your spiritual energy depletes, you could die from these wounds."
Masaki disregards her concern and says, "Lotus Wind Steps."
His speed increases so much that the Sleek can no longer track him as he unleashes a flurry of attacks, mainly targeting the arm holding Yumi and Ayato.
It looked as if Masaki had gone mad, relentlessly assaulting the Sleek without regard for his injuries. Eventually, under his relentless attacks, the Sleek drops Yumi and Ayato.
The Sleek tries to grab Yumi, but Masaki blocks it just in time. Ryuji catches Yumi and Ayato, quickly taking them to safety.
The Sleek attempts to pursue them, but Masaki intercepts it.
Elsewhere, Akari and some comrades are rushing to Masaki's aid, her heart filled with only one plea, "Masaki, please stay alive."
Masaki's speed gradually declines, but he continues urging people away from the danger zone.
Meanwhile, Ryuji is taking Yumi and Ayato towards Aunt Haruko.
In the middle of the way, Yumi says, "Big brother, I'm scared."
Ryuji replies, "Don't be. I'm here, and anyway, we're far from it now."
Yumi then says, "No, it's not that. Ayato hasn't said anything for a while."
Hearing this, Ryuji looks at Ayato, whose body had turned pale and appeared lifeless.
He tries to wake Ayato, but he realizes that Ayato had passed away.
Yumi asks, "Ayato is okay, right, big brother?"
Ryuji's face goes pale as tears fill his eyes, but he tells Yumi, "Don't worry, he'll wake up soon."
Reaching Aunt Haruko, Ryuji's heart sinks again; she had also passed away. She couldn't bear her injuries and the Sleek's piercing roar.
Ryuji is devastated. He wants to scream and cry, but with Yumi by his side, he holds back. How could he explain to a six-year-old that her brother and grandmother were gone?
Then Yumi says, "Big brother, I feel sleepy."
Looking at her, Ryuji's heart freezes. Yumi's body had started to pale just like Ayato's.
Desperately, Ryuji pleads, "Please, Yumi, keep your eyes open!"
He gently slaps her cheeks to keep her awake.
But Yumi whispers, "I'm so sleepy, big brother," and closes her eyes.
Feeling her heartbeat slowing, Ryuji performs CPR and cries, "Yumi, please, open your eyes!"
Even after continuous CPR, when her body turns cold, Ryuji lets out a heart-wrenching scream. After giving CPR for a long time, when Yumi doesn't open her eyes, and her body grows cold, Ryuji starts screaming loudly. Memories of this family flood his mind. Tears streamed down Ryuji's face, unable to hold back as he cried over the lifeless bodies of this family.
Meanwhile, Masaki, exhausted from protecting the people, is hit by the Sleek, charged with black energy, causing him to crash hard to the ground.
Syria channels her energy into Masaki and says, "Masaki, why did you do that? You've used up all your strength. Now even I can't help you."
Just then, the Sleek begins to move towards Masaki.
Seeing this, Masaki says, "Syria, I need your full power one last time."
Understanding his plan, Syria realizes what he is about to do.
Masaki forms a lotus with his hands again, gathering the last of his strength, and Syria sends all her energy into Masaki's hands.
Masaki says, "Lotus Cannon…" but this time, instead of a pink energy ball emerging from his hands, the energy begins to build up within them.
The Sleek draws close to Masaki, and he says, "Enough of this... die with me."
He continues adding energy to the pink glow in his hands, making it shine intensely, as if it might explode right then. The Sleek prepares to attack him.
But then.
Both Masaki and the Sleek freeze. They both feel their hairs stand on end as an immensely powerful aura fills the air.
They both look in the direction of this aura's source, and their eyes widen—it was Ryuji.
Ryuji seemed as though he was in a trance, almost sleepwalking.
Shocked, Masaki thinks, "How did this boy's aura suddenly become so powerful?"
Ryuji takes a step forward, creating an intense pressure on Masaki and the Sleek. The Sleek, terrified, tries to flee, but as Ryuji takes another step, it collapses to the ground as if crushed by an immense weight.
Seeing this, both Masaki and Syria are frightened. The Sleek, trying to crawl away, struggles with every inch as Ryuji's approach makes it almost immobile.
Masaki and Syria feel the faint impact of Ryuji's aura, but it's as if Ryuji is intentionally targeting the pressure solely on the Sleek. The Sleek attempts to strike Ryuji in desperation, but he effortlessly stops its claw with his hand.
With closed eyes, Ryuji mutters to himself, "If only I hadn't given Yumi that locket, or if only I had listened to Masaki sooner, you all would still be alive. Please forgive me, forgive me."
Ryuji opens his eyes, and looking at the Sleek, he says, "You won't escape so easily. I'll make you pay for what you've done."
Ryuji screams, and his aura grows even more powerful. Within moments, the Sleek bursts apart like a balloon.
Just then, Akari and her comrades arrive, finding the wounded and stunned Masaki on the ground and Ryuji standing before him like an unshakable force.