Ryan and the others reached the place where the masked man told them to come.
Ryan: "So… where is he?"
Nahru shouted, "Hey! Come out and give our friend back!"
Then, a masked figure appeared before them—he was carrying Isobel.
Masked Guy: "Did you bring all the scrolls?"
He said this while locking eyes with Damian.
Damian: "Ah… we did."
Ryan then threw all the scrolls toward him. The masked man, in return, threw Isobel toward them. Juliet rushed forward and caught her.
Juliet: "Isobel… are you alright?"
She asked, her face full of worry.
Isobel, wincing in pain, replied,
"Hmm… it hurts…"
The masked man stepped forward to pick up the scrolls—but suddenly Juliet struck Isobel, hard.
All the boys turned sharply toward her, confused.
Masked Guy: "Oh… so you realized it."
Juliet thought to herself, "Wait… she's also a girl…"
Nancy (disguised as Isobel): "How did you know I wasn't her…?"
She said with blood dripping from her mouth.
Juliet: "Because Isobel never says she's in pain. She always replies with, 'I'm fine.'"
Anger burned in her voice as she hurled the fake Isobel away.
"How can a girl…" Juliet thought, both hurt and furious.
Masked Guy: "Fake scrolls, huh…"
Damian: "We knew you'd try to trick us—so we tricked you. Now tell us: where is she?"
Masked Guy: "So we both were thinking the same."
Damian gave a signal to Ryan. Ryan pulled out the real scrolls and placed them gently on the ground, then took a step back.
Ryan: "Tell us where she is… and take them."
The masked man revealed her true location.
Nahru:"How do we know you're not lying?"
Masked Guy: "I have no interest in keeping her. I only pulled the first trick because I knew you would too. Whether you believe me or not is up to you."
Damian: "Juliet, you go after Isobel. We'll handle him."
Juliet: "Okay."
Ryan: "The real scrolls are in front of you. Fight and take them."
The masked man dashed forward, grabbed the scrolls, and opened a portal to escape—but his path was blocked.
Nahru: "Not so fast…"
Masked Guy: "You must be Guardian Zein."
Nahru: "Yes. And I also know about your curse…"
Ryan (thinking): "Curse…?"
The masked man's expression darkened. He pulled out his sword and charged at Nahru. Nahru dodged, but the next strike still caught him.
Nahru (thinking): "Damn, he's so fast…"
Damian stepped up, firing white energy beams. The masked man dodged most, but one struck him. Then the masked man slashed the air—his blade's force tearing through space and hitting Damian.
Nahru: "Damian! Be careful! He's way stronger than he seems!"
Ryan stepped in, transforming his arm into sharp ice blades. He clashed swords with the masked man and landed both ice blades into him.
Ryan: "Got you!"
But suddenly—he realized the real one was behind him.
The masked man struck, but Ryan managed to shield himself just in time.
Masked Guy: "You need much more training… to catch the movements of a shadow."
Frustrated, all the boys launched attacks together—but he soloed them easily. Ryan couldn't understand his abilities. Damian was still new. Nahru's body wasn't cooperating.
Meanwhile…
Isobel lay on the floor, pain wracking her body.
Zoey: "Hi, dear. I'm here to take you with me…"
She picked her up.
Isobel (breathing heavily): "Wait… where…?"
Zoey: "To Shadow. It's a golden chance. We'll use you as a hostage to blackmail your father. Clever, right? Even though Vendine disagreed… once you're in our base, what can he do? What does he think he is…"
She laughed maniacally.
Isobel (thinking): "Oh no… I have to do something…"
She tried to resist—but it was no use.
Back at the battlefield…
Nahru and Damian managed to trap the masked man. Ryan charged in with a burning fist.
The masked man prepared to block, but then—
"Wait… how is he…?"
His focus broke. Ryan landed the hit, sending him crashing into the ground.
Ryan (thinking): "He could've blocked that… What just happened?"
Suddenly, the masked man clutched his head, screaming.
Masked Guy: "Stop thinking about saving… stop… stop… STOP!"
Damian: "What's happening to him?!"
The masked man went berserk. Screaming like a monster, he lashed out wildly. Ryan and the others tried to defend themselves.
Ryan: "What's wrong with him? He's acting insane!"
Nahru: "Oh no… what do we do? He's completely lost it!"
They began to retreat—until a black shadow appeared and swallowed the masked man whole.
Nahru: "Ah… he's gone. Thank God."
Damian: "Someone took him… Wait—he took the scrolls!"
All Three: "WHAAATTTTTTTTTTT!"
Meanwhile, Juliet was on Isobel's trail…
Juliet:"Finally… I'm here. Wait—Master Shun… he's here too!"
Zoey, still carrying Isobel, prepared to vanish.
???:"Stop… and put her down. Gently."
Zoey turned. Behind her stood Shun, and Juliet silently watched.
Zoey: "Who are you? By the way… you're so handsome. Wanna hang out?"
Shun:"Put her down. Gently ! "
He said it in a flat tone—his lifeless eyes radiating quiet rage. He seemed like a monster barely holding himself back.
Zoey: "So… you wanna fight?"
She dropped Isobel and approached.
But before she could blink—her head was already severed.
Shun with emotionless eyes and rage in him : I told you gently
Juliet (thinking): "Wait… how fast…? My eyes couldn't even track him…"
Shun knelt, held Isobel tightly, and began to cry. His monstrous aura melted into something heartbreaking.
Shun ( crying):As long as I'm alive… no one will touch her. No one. I don't care what it takes. I'll keep meddling… I don't care…"
He clutched her tighter, sobbing.
Alex ( inner spirit):"Shun… calm down. Please…"
Juliet stood nearby, tears in her own eyes.
Juliet ( whisper ) : "I understand, Master… I understand…"
Later, in a hospital…
Everyone waited outside Isobel's room.
Damian: "Don't worry, guys. The doctor said she's fine—she just needs a lot of rest…"
Relief washed over them as they looked at Master Shun.
Ryan: "We failed…"
Shun: "That was just the beginning. You must pass this test…"
Ryan: "Ah… I will…"
But Ryan wasn't sad about losing the scrolls—something else was troubling him.
Meanwhile, back at the enemy base…
Vendine was crying uncontrollably.