Kenshiro and Raoh rush toward Yuria, the last general of the South Star! But Raoh, the malevolent star, reached the capital of the South Star first! However, Rihaku's daughter, Tou, stood before Raoh, only to die as she confessed her love to Raoh!

Tou: If you feel any pity for Tou...

Raoh: If you couldn't reach my heart, why didn't you kill me? If you had killed me, on one could have ever had me! And if I cannot reach your heart, Yuria, you must die as well!

Who will meet Yuria? Raoh, or is it Kenshiro? The tension has reached its peak as the time of reunion draws near!

Ultimate Secret Technique, Nil-Thought Rebirth!
Raoh, you've finally been Cornered!!

Outside the castle, one of Rihaku's men tells Kenshiro to come this way. Inside, Yuria suddenly stops, as she's worried about Rihaku. One of the guys with her says not to worry, as Rihaku of the Ocean always thinks two steps ahead before he takes action. Yuria's group continue down the stairs.

Meanwhile, Rihaku mourns over Tou, and says this was her destiny as his daughter. He tells his men to give her a proper funeral, and as they carry her body away, Rihaku thinks that he won't let his daughter's death be in vain. He'll stop Raoh.

Elsewhere, Raoh is smashing the place apart, looking for Yuria. He breaks down a door and sees someone behind it. But as he heads inside, he steps on a wire.

This causes a massive concrete block to drop down, but he punches a hole in it to save himself. Rihaku tells him that was impressive.

Raoh says that in a better world, a military genius like Rihaku would have commanded ten thousand soldiers. He can feel Rihaku's intent to kill, as it covers the entire room like ice. But he says nothing can stop him, and asks if he wants to throw his life away for Kenshiro and Yuria -just like his daughter did. Rihaku says he won't Tou's death be in vain -this place will become Raoh's grave!

Raoh says his finish this now, and grabs all of the wires he can see. This causes multiple projectiles to be fired out, but Raoh rips up the ground to protect himself.

Yuria's group continue down the stairs, as the guards with her explain that she is to meet Kenshiro in the next room. She suddenly stops, as she says she can hear Ken's footsteps. Nearby, Kenshiro follows the guard, who leads him into a large room. He asks Kenshiro to wait here for a moment. Kenshiro asks where Raoh is, but the guard says to forget it, he just needs to meet Yuria.

The guard asks Kenshiro if he can hear Yuria's footsteps. Kenshiro can hear them, and the guard tells him not to worry -Rihaku is risking his life with a plan to stop Raoh. Kenshiro says he cannot meet Yuria now.

He says that as long as Raoh lives, Yuria will not survive. Raoh is the ruler of the century's end, and he will make Yuria, the last general of the South Star, bow before him. Because of that, he's decided that he must fight Raoh first. He tears off a piece of his arm bandage, and places it on the floor.

Outside, Yuria's group arrive outside the room. They go in, only to find that Kenshiro isn't there. The guard explains he couldn't keep Kenshiro here, as he said he must defeat Raoh with his own hands.

Yuria sees the bandage on the floor, and picks it up. She realizes it's Ken's, and she starts to run after him, but then stops. She says she can hear Ken's voice, promising her that he'll defeat Raoh, and return. She says she understands, and will wait. She has waited up until now, and it's her promise to Ken. She'll wait until he returns from his fight with Raoh... as long as it takes.

Rihaku tells Raoh he won't let him pass, at the cost of his own life. Raoh laughs and says he's supposed to be a genius strategist -has he gone mad? He asks if Rihaku seriously believes he can defeat him. Rihaku goes into a stance, and then seemingly grows in size. He leaps towards Raoh and goes to punch him, but Raoh ducks it.

Rihaku attacks again, this time using a kick. Raoh avoids it, and Rihaku ends up shattering a statue with ease. Rihaku returns to his stance:

GOSHA HASUI KEN

(Five Chariot Wave Smashing Fist)

It uses a soft, adaptable form to release endless power! This art of assassination is like a powerful wave, which can crush a rock in the blink of an eye!

Rihaku tells Raoh to die, and charges forward. But this time, Raoh counters him, and punches him in the stomach. As Rihaku falls, Raoh says he won't be crushed by some wild wave.

He starts to choke Rihaku, and demands to know where Yuria is. He also wants to know what Rihaku is planning, but before he can kill him, Kenshiro tells him that's enough -it's time for him to die. Raoh says he must have given up on Yuria, but Kenshiro says it's for Yuria that he'll fight him.

Rihaku asks why Kenshiro didn't flee with Yuria, as he isn't strong enough to fight Raoh. Raoh tells Kenshiro that he will take Yuria, and goes to punch him.

But he ends up being sent flying across the room, crashing into a pillar, due to Kenshiro punching him.

Rihaku is surprised at how strong Kenshiro is, even he hadn't seen this coming. He wonders if Kenshiro's strength has come from his love for Yuria. Raoh gets up, but Kenshiro tells him it's time for him to return to heaven. Raoh tells him he's careless.

He says that no matter how great Kenshiro becomes, he can't defeat him. He's like an infant before the Fist King! And against a strong opponent, his hard fist style grows twice as powerful -nobody can reach his level! He goes to kick Kenshiro, but Kenshiro blocks it with just one arm. Raoh does several kicks and punches, but Kenshiro blocks everything with minimal effort.

Raoh lands another punch, but the only effect it has is that it breaks Kenshiro's bandages apart. Kenshiro then goes to kick Raoh, but he blocks it...

...and throws him to the floor. He goes to punch him, but Kenshiro seemingly warps right through his fist.

Kenshiro reappears behind Raoh. Raoh goes to punch him again, but again, Kenshiro moves out of the way.

Raoh looks at Kenshiro, and says that his movements are just like Toki's. He uses another technique:

HOKUTO GOUSHOU HA

(North Star Iron Palm Wave)

Kenshiro rushes forward incredibly quickly, and moves by Raoh. As he does, he slices Raoh's side, causing blood to spurt out.

Raoh looks at Kenshiro, and says that was Rei's style! He doesn't understand what's happening, as Kenshiro should have been smashed apart twice now. But it was like his body just vanished into thin air. He looks into Kenshiro's sorrowful eyes, and then realizes something... could it be the ultimate secret technique of the North Star divine fist that Ryuken had once told him about? Musou tensei (nil-thought rebirth)...

Raoh stands over the defeated Ryuken. He asks his master one last thing: he has heard there is an ultimate secret technique called nil-thought rebirth. He asks what this secret technique is. Ryuken says even he can't teach it, as in the 2,000 history of the North Star divine fist, nobody has ever mastered it.

He says that the strongest power in this world is emptiness... to rise from that emptiness and still find life. That is nil-thought rebirth. No matter how great Raoh becomes, he will never master this secret technique. The greatness of his ambition will keep him from ever knowing sadness, and only those were bear sadness will master the technique. Ryuken then passes away.

Back in the present, Raoh recalls what Ryuken said to him. He thinks Kenshiro has become the strongest man in the North Star divine fist's 2,000 year history, all by bearing sadness. Spirits of fallen warriors -Souther, Shin, Shu, Rei and Ryuga -all appear behind Kenshiro. Rihaku can see them -the blood shed by those chosen men, that now flows within Kenshiro.

As the spirits withdraw back into Kenshiro, he tells Raoh that Toki is waiting.

NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW

Raoh, the ruler of the century's end, is afraid to fight! A man's powerful will has changed destiny! Next time, on Fist of the North Star: "Will Raoh's Ambitions Perish With His Fall? The Heavens Are Still in Disarray!!"

Kenshiro: The North Star code... I will uphold it.