Finding Kaoru with a Horror Gate on her neck, Kouga learns of the ultimate Horror Messiah and the goal of the Horror-devouring Darkness Knight. When Kaoru 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 saves 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, Kaoru enters the sanctum of Kouga's training room as she is made familiar with Kouga's armor to ease her worries before he and Rei take their leave to fight Barago and the Eastern Watchdogs after placing a barrier around the manor. Seeing the irony, Kaoru accepts what fate dealt her.