Try to Sing, Villains!
The Counting Rhyme of Hell!!

Kenshiro's group are in a large city. Bat is putting on a show for everyone, dancing around whilst playing his harmonica. Kenshiro and Lin are waiting next to the car.

Bat stops, and tells everyone that's it for the free show. But the real fun is about to start, and anyone who wants to see more just needs to give him any food they can spare. Unsurprisingly everyone starts to disperse, but one kid remains. He tosses Bat an apple and applauds him.

The kid, Sela, wants an encore. Bat starts playing again, but then three guys walk up to him. Sela realizes these men are members of the Snakes gang, and they tell Bat is looks like he's trying to do some business in their territory.

They start to chase Bat, but Sela asks them to wait. They know who he is, and he tells them Bat is a friend of his, so he'd like them to just let this slide. He tosses them an apple each, and promises that if he gets any more fruit, he'll give it to them. They decide to leave, and Bat thanks Sela. He asks why he helped him, and Sela says he wanted to hear his harmonica playing. That, and he also has that cut girl over there with him.

Lin realizes he's talking about her. Later on, the group drive to Sela's home, which is located on the outskirts of the city. They go inside and see there's next to nothing in it, but Sela says it has got a great view. He takes out a telescope and lets Bat use it.

Bat sees a bunch of dead bodies in the city, and Sela says it looks like the gangs have killed more of each other today. He says that two gangs, the Snakes and the Scorpions, are two gangs that just don't get along. The two groups keep getting bigger and bigger, and now each group's got half the city fighting the other half. The Snakes control the east side, whilst the Scorpions control the west. Bat gives the telescope to Lin, who looks at a bunch of people lined up at a well. Sela explains that this is the Snake's well, where people have to exchange a days worth of crops for a cup of water. They watch one man say he doesn't have anything, but still asks for water.

He gets beaten down by the Snake gang. Sela says that nowadays, if you don't have muscles, you have to survive by using your head. Elsewhere, the Snake gang are on the move.

They head towards the Scorpion gang, who are lying in wait. The two gangs confront each other, and their leaders go to talk.

Baron, the leader of the Scorpions, tells Junk, the leader of the Snakes, that it looks like he's still alive. Junk says snakes are tenacious animals. He also says he won't die until he's choked the life out of Baron. Baron asks him if he called him all the way out of here for that, but Junk tells him he was the one who called him out here. Junk draws out his whip...

...whilst Baron pulls out an axe. Before the two can fight, a playing card lands between them. They hear Joker behind them, who says that he was the one who called them out here.

He teleports over to them and says it has been a long time. Baron asks what can they do for him, and he tells them the man with seven scars has appeared in this city. They've sent many masters of the South Star style against him, and all have failed. Which is why he wants the two of them to join forces. He wants the Snake and Scorpion gangs to join forces, and kill Kenshiro. Baron and Junk are reluctant to to do so, but Joker yells that Lord King commands them to do it -they'd better not be thinking of disobeying him.

Joker tells them to kill the man with seven scars, as if they do, they will be given a city bigger than this one to control. Later on, the two gangs ride through the city together, looking for the man with seven scars. Some of them get into arguments over who'll find him first.

Some of the Snakes have info about where Kenshiro is, and arrive at Sela's home. They start attacking the place, but Kenshiro steps outside. Two of them run towards him, but he hits some of their pressure points, killing them both.

Sela is amazed by Kenshiro, as Bat tells him the North Star divine fist is invincible. Kenshiro confronts the remaining gang member, only for him to throw his club at Lin.

Sela jumps in the way, and he gets struck in the head. He's alright, but the gang member is able to get back to his car, and escape.

Another vehicle then pulls up, which has Baron in it. He tells Kenshiro the Snakes are nasty guys, and he's not here to fight him. Instead, he asks Kenshiro if he'll join with him. If he helps him destroy the Snakes, they'll have control of this whole area. He thinks if they work together, nobody could stop them. Kenshiro says very well.

He gets into Baron's vehicle, and Baron says this is just what he'd expect from the man with seven scars. He thinks he can finally send the Snakes to hell now. They drive away, leaving Bat, Lin and Sela distraught. Elsewhere, Junk learns that Kenshiro has joined the Scorpions, and decides to take up the challenge.

Baron and his gang are on the move. Baron tells them that now the man with seven scars is on their side, they have nothing to fear. They continue to ride on, but then one of the gang gets hit by an arrow, causing him to fall off his bike. The Scorpions come to a stop, and realize that the Snakes are waiting for them on a cliff above.

Junk orders his gang to kill everybody, and they begin their attack. They ride down off the cliff, and soon both sides are taking heavy losses.

Baron says they'll skin the Snakes, and turn them into handbags. He tells Kenshiro to go and fight, but Kenshiro says he'll wait. That way they'll kill more of each other -why make his job any harder than it has to be? Baron realizes he's been had, but Kenshiro says he knew Baron would just kill him once he'd served his purpose. Baron goes to attack him, but Kenshiro jumps out of the car. Some of the Scorpions surround him.

Kenshiro quickly takes them out. Baron pulls out his double axe weapon, and tells Ken to taste his Nanto fusha zan (South Star windmill slash). He tries to hit Ken, but keeps missing. He ends up wrecking his own vehicle.

He goes to attack Kenshiro again, but Ken kicks his axe into pieces, and then hits him in the face. Junk and the remaining Snakes appear, and he tells Kenshiro that was impressive. Kenshiro tells them they're next.

The Snakes attack, but Kenshiro rips off his jacket and shirt, and starts hitting lots of pressure points:

HONSHA BAKURETSU KEN

(Spinning Explosive Fist)

With the Snakes dead, only Junk is left. He pulls out his whip, and tells Kenshiro he's as tough as the rumors say. He asks Kenshiro if he's heard of this technique: Nanto jaben ken (South Star snake whip fist). He hits Kenshiro with the whip several times in a few seconds, then jumps towards him.

However, Kenshiro leaps towards him, avoids his strikes, and kicks him in the face. Junk falls down, but is still alive. He asks Kenshiro how he was able to see the whip. Kenshiro tells him it may have seemed like there were many whips, but in reality there was only one. Against the North Star divine fist, it was no more than a child's jump rope. Junk gets up and asks Kenshiro if he'd consider joining forces with him, so they can take over this town. Kenshiro walks towards him.

Kenshiro tells him to go to hell, so he goes to punch him. As he does, Baron pops up behind Kenshiro, and goes to strike him with an axe. Kenshiro hits a pressure point on Baron before he can strike...

...and then hits a pressure point on Junk. The two gang leaders lock up and start hugging each other. Baron tells Junk to let go.

Junk tells Baron to let him go. Kenshiro tells them that he just used the Hokuto soukin jizai ken (North Star reeling muscle at-will fist), which will make their arms keep squeezing each other tighter and tighter. He thinks they make a lovely couple. As he walks away, Baron and Junk continue to crush each other.

The two then explode, and Kenshiro leaves the battlefield.

At Southern Cross, Joker reports on what's happened. Shin is angry, and says it's not good enough. He tells Joker to gather together the army at once, as he wants Kenshiro buried in the deepest pit of hell. As Joker vanishes, Shin looks up at Yuria, who is playing her harp. Shin says he wants her heart, and to do that, he swears that Kenshiro will die.

Later on, Lin says goodbye to Sela, and tells him to take care. Sela asks her if she can stay behind, as he can get enough food for the two of them. Bat finds Sela's tactics dirty, and uses the car's horn. Lin waves goodbye to Sela, and heads off to the car.

Sela tells Lin here's a farewell gift, and throws an apple to her. She catches it, and Sela shouts goodbye to her. Kenshiro, Bat and Lin drive away.

NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW

As the showdown with our hero's arch rival Shin fast approaches, General Balcom leads his great army to Southern Cross! Next time, on Fist of the North Star: A Man Lives to Fight! The Door to the Showdown Finally Opens!

Kenshiro: You are already dead.