Chitose's words hung in the air, a cold, heavy weight that instantly shattered the peaceful atmosphere of Yuragi-sou. Yuuna was gone. Kidnapped. Ren, who was just moments ago feeling the lingering warmth of his passion with Nonko, felt a jolt of ice-cold dread. The relaxed smiles on Sagiri and Hibari's faces vanished, replaced by looks of grave concern.
"What happened, Chitose-san?" Ren asked, his playful demeanor completely gone.
Chitose, still looking a little shaken, recounted the events in a shaky voice. She and Yuuna had been at the market when a man had suddenly appeared. He was a master of spiritual energy, she explained, and his power was so immense that he had been completely unaffected by Yuuna's spiritual aura. He had moved with a speed and grace that was terrifying, and before she could even react, he had grabbed Yuuna and vanished through a swirling portal.
"He didn't say anything?" Sagiri asked, her hand instinctively going to the hilt of her katana.
Chitose shook her head. "No, nothing. He just… took her."
Hibari, her face grim, added, "And you have no idea who he was? What he looked like?"
"He was very tall," Chitose said, trying to remember the man's features. "He had long, black hair and eyes that glowed with a dark, spiritual energy. He wore a traditional kimono, and he had a strange symbol on the back of it… a dragon."
The description didn't ring any bells for the girls. They had never encountered anyone matching that description, nor had they heard of a spiritual master with such power. Sagiri, with a determined look, pulled out her phone and called her grandmother. Hibari did the same, a sense of foreboding settling over her.
"Grandma, it's Sagiri. We have a problem. A man with immense spiritual energy just kidnapped Yuuna."
A moment of silence on the other end, and then a stern, authoritative voice. "Sagiri, listen to me. Do not, under any circumstances, pursue this man. Do you understand?"
"But Grandma, Yuuna…"
"I said no!" the voice snapped. "This man is not to be trifled with. His name is Ryuuga Genshiro, the Black Dragon God of Shinao's Dragon Grace Lake. He is not a man, he is a force of nature. You are no match for him."
The phone calls ended, but the girls' determination remained. Sagiri, who had lived at Yuragi-sou for a while, had grown incredibly close to Yuuna. She couldn't just stand by while her friend was in danger. Hibari, despite only recently moving in, had also grown fond of the cheerful ghost girl. She had always been a protector of her friends and family, and Yuuna was now family.
Seeing their resolve, Ren stepped forward. "I'll lead the rescue operation," he said, his voice firm and unwavering.
Sagiri and Hibari looked at him, their expressions a mix of surprise and relief. They knew he was strong, but they also knew he was a beginner in the spiritual world.
Ren, however, had a slight problem. "So... where exactly does this 'Black Dragon God' live?" he asked sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Sagiri and Hibari couldn't help but laugh, the tension momentarily breaking. Ren's embarrassed expression was just too adorable. He was so powerful, yet so endearingly clueless at times. It was a stark reminder that despite his incredible abilities, he was still, in many ways, just a normal guy.
But Ren wasn't clueless at all. His Real Illusion was a part of him, and the substitute body he had created for Yuuna was an extension of his power. He could feel it, a faint, spiritual thread leading him to her. However, he knew that letting the girls take the lead would be a better choice. They knew the spiritual world better, and they knew the geography. It would be far easier to follow their lead than to try to navigate an unfamiliar world on his own.
With a quick change of clothes and their weapons in hand, the three of them were on their way. They took a bus to the edge of the city, the urban landscape slowly giving way to a more natural, mountainous one. They were heading towards Shinao's Dragon Grace Lake, a place known only to those in the spiritual world.
As they got off the bus, the air felt different. It was colder, more ancient, and heavy with a powerful spiritual presence. They were at their destination. The rescue mission had officially begun.