Kenshiro and Rei pursue Yuda, of the South Star of betrayal. However, they couldn't find any traces of him, and so they continued their pursuit to the city of Buldan. But, Rei's final moment draws ever closer!

Rei: The death omen star looks like it will fall any moment...

The Harbinger of Death Approaches! Rei!
The Heavens Plays Cruelly With Time!!

At Yuda's fortress, some of Yuda's men attempt to help Dagar. But he ends up slicing them into pieces. He is still screaming in agony, and starts tearing apart a wall.

He curses Kenshiro for what he's done to him, and hopes Lord Yuda will slice him up good in Buldan. As soon as he says that, several pressure points on his back are set off, putting him into even more pain.

Kenshiro and Rei slowly walk towards Buldan, but Rei falls. He thinks today must be his last day, and wants to hurry, but then he collapses from pain.

At Mamiya's village, Bat says he still can't see Ken or Rei. He wonders where they got to... or could Yuda have beaten them? Lin warns him against saying such things, specially with Mamiya nearby. Bat says Mamiya has been like this all day, and Lin feels sorry for her. Airi says Mamiya has nothing to be sad about -before coming here, her brother trusted nobody, as his heart had grown cold. But after he met all of them, his frozen heart was able to thaw out, and for the first time he was able to open his heart to Mamiya. Because of this, he'll have no regrets if he can sacrifice his own life for Mamiya, and will be content with him living deep in her heart.

Rei wakes up, having had a nightmare about the death omen start falling. He tells Ken he passed out like a fool, and then looks at the sky. He can see the death omen star next to the big dipper. He tells Ken they must hurry, before the death omen star falls.

Kenshiro suddenly has to take action when several pipes are thrown towards him and Rei. The two see a group of young men have confronted them, and they demand that they hand over any weapons they have. Kenshiro tells them they have no weapons, other than their bodies and fists.

The men think they're lying -who's stupid enough to wander the desert without weapons?! They decide to attack, but Kenshiro immediately stops two of them by grabbing their pipes, and launching them up into the air. Rei slices apart two of his attacker's weapons.

Someone then calls out to them, telling them to stop. His name is Nova, and he says that these guys don't look like anyone that they can handle. Kenshiro asks him if he's the leader, and he says he is. He apologizes for his friend's rudeness, and asks them to be forgiven.

He then asks Kenshiro and Rei to lend their strength -although his friends think nobody would ever help them in this selfish world. They say that they have to beat the villains in Buldan by themselves. The moment Ken and Rei hear that they're going to Buldan, is when they decide to listen to their story. Nova explains that they'd lived peacefully in a town to the west of here. It's a small town, but they all cooperated and worked hard...

The town is in front of a beached cruise liner. One day, everyone was going about their daily business, but then Yuda's forces attacked. The group's leader, Golem, says to capture all of the woman, and not let any of them get away.

Yuda's forces quickly overpower the men, and take all the women. Nova's girlfriend, Lan, gets caught be someone. Nova attempts to save her, but he gets shot with an arrow before he can.

With their mission complete, Golem says they can withdraw. They quickly return to their cars, and drive away.

Back in the present, Nova says that all of the women were abducted. The other men says that they all lost their girlfriends and sisters. They had searched for them, which is where the learned about Buldan. Buldan is a city where Yuda's female offerings are gathered. Nova believes it's where Lan and the others will be. But the problem is that the only weapons they have are these pipes, which they can't win with. Which is why they want Kenshiro and Rei's help -Nova begs them to lend their strength, as he wants to get Lan back.

Kenshiro says he'll help. Rei says that they were just on their way to Buldan. Nova's group are all happy, but Nova asks why Kenshiro and Rei will help them -they don't even know them.

Kenshiro says that, like Nova, he once fought to get back the one he loved... Rei snaps him out of his thoughts by saying they need to leave for Buldan.

At Buldan, the captured women are led into a building. They're told that they're lucky, as if Lord Yuda likes them, they'll be fed, clothed and get to live the life of luxury! But if doesn't like them, they'll get kicked out into the desert. Inside, Golem thanks Lord Yuda for coming all this way, and tells him to spend all the time he needs looking at these women they've brought.

The women are led into the room. Yuda tells his forces that they've done good work, and starts laughing. Outside, three of Yuda's men are out on patrol, when they see some movement in the distance. They say Golem had told them to kill anyone suspicious at will...

...so they break down a wall, which Nova's group were hiding behind. Nova and his friends attack...

...but they can't beat Yuda's men. The leader asks them if they're done already, unaware that his two friends have just been hit. He starts to explain to Nova on how you kill someone...

...but then finally notices that his allies are dead. Kenshiro then hits a pressure point on his head, and wants to know where Yuda and all the women are. The guy doesn't want to say, but he feels his head start to bulge up. Kenshiro explains that he's hit the pressure point known as kokuketsu, and if he wants the pain to go away, he needs to talk.

The man quickly changes his mind, and points to the tall building. As soon as he does this, his head returns to normal, but he then passes out.

Nova picks up his sword, and tells Lan that he's coming. Inside the building, Yuda and Golem are made aware that a practitioner of the South Star waterfowl fist is heading their way. Yuda says that Kenshiro and Rei are finally here. He orders his men to kill them.

Yuda's men quickly find Kenshiro's group inside the building, and attack them. But Kenshiro immediately blows some of them apart, shocking Nova and his friends.

Rei slices some of the men up, but then stumbles. He tells Kenshiro that he can't collapse here, and says they must go. They head into Yuda's room.

Once they get there, they find that several men are holding Lan and the other women hostage. Golem tells them to do as they say, if they want to keep the women alive. He wants them to throw down the weapons, but Nova refuses. He says they won't bow down to brute force.

He and the others raise their weapons. Golem tells them not to move -do they want the women to die? Kenshiro tells him to look at their eyes -if the hostage are killed, their rage will be directed at them.

Kenshiro says he'll then make all of them pay. He rips off his jacket and shirt, as Rei says that Yuda is the star of betrayal. Even if they have sworn their loyalty to him, he'll turn on them someday. Kenshiro says it again: let the women go, otherwise there won't be a second chance. He points at one of Yuda's guys, and says he'll start with him. The man says he doesn't want to die, and flees.

Kenshiro does this with another man, who also flees. Everyone but Golem decides to leave, and most of the women are released. However, Golem says he won't fall for a bluff like that, and decides to kill Lan.

Before he can kill her, Rei slices his arms off. Kenshiro then hits a pressure point on his head, and tells him it's over. Golem is killed when his skeleton bursts out of his skin.

Rei confronts Yuda. Yuda sees that Rei is still alive. Rei tells him that for the sake of a woman whose past he has dishonored, and to settle matters in his own life, he's going to kill him. He slices the curtain apart, but then realizes...

...that this man is not Yuda. The imposter calls Rei a fool, and reveals that the real Yuda never came to this village. He says Lord Yuda was right, the star of justice is the star of a fool! Rei starts rapidly swiping, causing chunks of flesh to be ripped out of the imposter...

...and he is eventually broken into thousands of pieces. Rei curses Yuda, and wonders where he is. Back at Yuda's fortress...

...Dagar is still in agony, just as the real Yuda shows up. Dagar wonders what he's doing here, as he thought he'd gone to Buldan. Yuda laughs and says he knew Dagar would talk. He wasn't stupid enough to tell him the truth, and thanks to him, he's seen through Kenshiro's techniques -he'll avenge him. He tells Dagar he did good work, but now he can be at ease -and may he die with no regrets.

Dagar realizes he's been used and betrayed. Yuda says it's not betrayal, it's strategy. The South Star six holy fists have many stars among them, and his own is the star of enchantment... or the star of deception. Some call it the star of betrayal, but that's not true. It's a star that shines with beauty and wisdom. That wisdom and strategy are what move the heavens!

Dagar decides he'll kill him, and attacks. But Yuda stops him, and calls him a stupid fool for thinking he could beat him. If Kenshiro could beat him with one arm, then he only needs one finger!

He moves his hand down, causing a streak of light to cut through Dagar.

NANTO KOUKAKU KEN

(South Star Crimson Crane Fist)

The shockwave from its speed cuts straight through the body! Like a beautiful crane stained by crimson blood, the crimson crane fist is an elegant, but deadly, art of assassination.

Dagar is split in half. Yuda says there is no one stronger or more beautiful than himself. He laughs and says that Rei and Kenshiro will be sacrificed for his empire. He then turns around and enters his room.

At Buldan, Nova is finally reunited with Lan. Rei tells Kenshiro that they've been deceived by Yuda again. But what they've seen, in this time of sadness, a little requited love is all that's needed. He then suddenly clutches at his chest.

He falls to his knees, and thinks this is it -how regrettable this has to happen now, before he could confront Yuda. He then collapses...

NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW

Rei's life is slowly coming to an end -what a shame! Will he die without ever defeating Yuda?! Next time, on Fist of the North Star: "Beloved Mamiya! The Harbinger of Death Shines in Those Eyes!!"

Kenshiro: Rei only has a moment left in his life. Begone, death omen star!