After having a dream of herself as a child, reading a picture book titled The Black Flame and The Golden Wind, being attacked by demonic creatures as a golden knight saves her, Kaoru Mitsuki prepares for her debut tomorrow as an artist. Meanwhile, a man named Kouga Saezima just finished his training when his butler Gonza gives him a document that directs him to the art gallery Kaoru is at. After seeing the girl not to be possessed, he follows the frighten girl to the art dealer Taisuke Taniyama, offering to play one of Kaoru's pieces early and asking for the girl to take it to his manor. Once alone, Kouga attempts to kill Taniyama who runs off and put the entire building on lockdown. After taking out Taniyama's traps, with Kaoru in the crossfire, Kouga battles Taniyama until the demon possessing him, a woman-eating Horror named Anglay, bursts out of his host and uses another painting to assume another physical form. Telling Kaoru to run, Kouga transforms into the golden knight from Kaoru's dreams. Though Garo manages to kill the Horror, some of its blood splashes on Kaoru's face and arm. Though he has to kill her for being stained with the blood of a Horror, Kouga spares her life to use her as bait for attracting Horrors. When she comes to, Kouga apologizes for ruining her big break before walking off with her painting.

After having another Horror-related dream, and attempting to dodge her landlord, Kaoru attempts to make some money as a melon bread salesgirl to make ends meet. But seeing Kouga, she runs after to get the money he owes her when she loses him. Entering the chamber of the Eastern Watchdogs to purify his blade, Kouga receives orders to get after the Horror Istarb who possesses the body of Azusa Kujo. Finding Kaoru waiting for him, Kouga gives her a ring as he promises to get her money soon. Meeting with her best friend Asami, Kaoru learns of the IT business proposal Kujo that was doing prior to becoming a Horror's vessel. Kujo instantly develops an interest in the girl as she is about to eat her when after scamming $50,000 yen from her. However, a combination of dumb luck and Garo stopping Kujo with Istarb slain. After learning of Kujo's scamming the next day, Kaoru is relived when Kouga brings back her money. From there, Kouga explains that the Horrors are demons from ancient times that target people with darkness in their hearts, telling Kaoru that hers is pure as he explains the ring given to her is a protective charm. As he leaves, Kaoru questions why Kouga has saved her life.

After finding the victim of a Horror, with the demon nowhere in sight, Kouga brings the dust remains to the Watchdogs who reveal it to be the work of Morax, a Horror that takes the form of timepieces which Kouga has never faced before. Working in a bicycle delivery service, Kaoru is tricked into finding the Saezima estate where Kouga wears her to stay away from any time piece for the day. By then, Kaoru learns of Kouga's Madogu Zaruba, who reveals the ring she wears as actually a part of him to the girl's disgust. Soon after, to further insure her safety, Kouga had Kaoru occupy the guest room with Gonza paying delivery fee as compensation. By nightfall, Kouga finds Morax as he devours a high school girl named Ayano, jump onto another girl to evade the Makai Knight through various hosts. However, taking a delivery for her shrink, Kaoru ends up being taken hostage by Morax as he assumes the form of an old clock tower. Fighting the Horror's defenses, Garo manages to rip out Morax from his vessel and kill him. With Morax dead the building fell apart and Kouga carries the unconscious Kaoru to safety before she comes to. Giving Kaoru back her watch, she attempts to demand answers when she realizes she is behind on deliveries.

After Kouga and Leo finish a training session, Zaruba spontaneously combusts. Kouga calls Jabi to help, who goes off to repair Zaruba, but the man in the red mask appears before her and attacks.