As the South Star fades, the North Star appears. Kenshiro's new journey has begun. Souther, the strongest of the South Star six holy fists, calls himself the Holy Emperor. He has made his ambitions clear to rule the end of the century.

Souther: I am the Holy Emperor, Souther. Even Raoh, the Fist King, has avoided fighting with me. I am the Holy Emperor, Souther! Drive the troops forward -plunder the Earth bare! Bring all lands down beneath the banner of the Holy Emperor!

Then Shu, of the South Star white heron fist, appeared before Kenshiro! He had pledged himself to fight as a resistance.

Shu: So you're Kenshiro?

Kenshiro: Your eyes... are you blind?

Shu: The eyes of my soul are wide open. My name is Shu, Shu of the South Star white heron fist.

Kenshiro: The South Star white heron fist?

Shu: Yes. I'm one of the South Star six holy fists, following my star's destiny as we fall into this chaotic era. I've heard a lot about you... Kenshiro, I'll take you on!

Shu attacked Kenshiro with a weapon, but Kenshiro smashed part of it to pieces. Shu knew that such childish tricks wouldn't work on Kenshiro. Later, Shu said that he could not forgive those who try to steal the light from children who aim to shine brighter. Kenshiro remembered that he had heard those words once before.

In a wasteland with no tomorrow, the battles continue between the Holy Emperor's forces and the resistance.

I'm the Holy Emperor, Souther!
Both Love and Compassion are Forbidden!!

Shu tells Kenshiro about the Holy Emperor. It all began with the collapse of the South Star six holy fists, which was due to Yuda's ambitions. But it was Souther who set Yuda's plans in motion. Souther had been waiting for the end of the century, when the nuclear war happened. Souther's star is the polar star of the Southern Cross. It's also known as the star of leadership, or the star of tyranny. It's a star with no friends or family, all Souther has is himself as the star of the emperor. The other five stars orbit around his, and the South Star holy fists cannot defeat him. Shu says the only thing he can do is defy Souther's rule.

Shu's son, Shiva, then appears. Shu introduces him to everyone, and says that he volunteered to fight among the youth troops. Bat is surprised by that -Shiva looks younger than him!

They head back inside, where another kid called Ryo brings them some food. Shu asks Ryo if he's eaten, and he says he has. But Shu tells him not to lie, and says he can see into people's minds. He tells Ryo to go ahead and eat that with the other kids. Ryo tells him that he hasn't had anything to eat, but Shu says it's nothing to worry about.

Ryo takes the plate of food to some other children. Bat complains that he's hungry, whilst Shu says that their food will run out eventually. They have to do something whilst they still can. Ryo's father then returns to the base with some other men, and have found several boxes of food.

Shu asks them where they got it from, and they say that they attacked one of the Holy Emperor's platoons -it turned out they were a supply unit. The food gets passed around, and Shu takes some of it.

But the moment he takes a bite, he warns everyone not to eat anything. He says that this is a trap -this food has been poisoned! Nobody had eaten anything yet apart from Ryo, who suddenly loses color.

He coughs up blood, and is clearly about to die. Kenshiro comes over and hits a pressure point on his back. He passes Ryo back to his father, and seconds later Ryo's color changes back to normal. Ryo's father thanks Kenshiro for saving his son.

Shiva thinks Kenshiro is a great man, who isn't just strong, but has the ability to save people's lives. Shu tells Shiva that he must have realized by now that Kenshiro is the only one who can defeat the Holy Emperor. He then tells everyone to throw the food away, which everyone does. The kids start crying, as Shu tells Kenshiro that this is how the Holy Emperor does things.

Shu takes everyone out to a graveyard, and says that the children here have all died fighting the Holy Emperor. His eyes have lost the light, but not the tears. Souther will use any means to kill those who oppose him, even if they're children -that's how ruthless he is.

Near the Holy Cross mausoleum, flamethrower man tells everyone to clear the way -the Holy Emperor is here for an inspection! He burns up anyone who gets in the way of the road, and tells everyone else that if they don't want to end up like that, they'd better hurry up and kneel.

Nearby, Souther approaches, along with several other men. The villagers mutter that Souther is evil, but one of them then gets burned alive. Flamethrower man says if they get in the way, they'll just be killed. But someone then takes his weapon, and kicks him in the face.

Kenshiro has appeared, and tells flamethrower man that he's the one who's really in the way. He blasts him with his own weapon, killing him. Souther and his forces come to a stop behind Kenshiro.

Souther says that Kenshiro has grown so big -for a kid. He asks him what he's here for, and Kenshiro tells him he's here to end his parade. Souther thinks he talks big now, and summons two guards.

The two guards -Beji and Giji -leap down, and attack Kenshiro with knives. Souther says that the two are masters of Nanto souzan ken (South Star twin slashing fist), and the two of them should be enough to take Kenshiro down.

Kenshiro tells Beji and Giji that their show is interesting, and asks to see it again. The pair resume their attack, and Kenshiro narrowly avoids being cut up.

The two throw their knives between each other, at a great speed. They then start to move closer towards Kenshiro.

Their weapons start to cut Kenshiro, and suddenly the two are right next to him. They try to stab him in the back, but he gets out of the way just in time, and strikes pressure points...

...on each of them. They jump back, but say that this time, it won't be as easy. Kenshiro warns them to stop using those weapons, but they ignore him. They resume their attack.

But as they do, they end up throwing their own weapons into each other. Kenshiro tells them that he struck their kyukyo pressure points -didn't they realize that they'd lost their depth perception? Beji and Giji can't believe it, but die moments later.

Souther sees that Kenshiro has gotten stronger, and says it looks like that the potential that Shu saw in him has awoken. He stands up, and wonders if Kenshiro can defeat him.

Meanwhile, at one of Raoh's fortresses, Raoh is informed that Kenshiro has begun to fight Souther. Raoh crushes his glass and says it's too soon -Kenshiro can't defeat Souther!

Souther says he is trained in the greatest art of the South Star holy fist: Nanto ho-oh ken (South Star phoenix fist). He leaps down and says that he's the Holy Emperor -he doesn't need love or compassion. He was born with an emperor's blood flowing through his body, and tells Kenshiro to attack. Kenshiro takes a stance, but asks why Souther isn't doing the same thing.

Souther says that his style has no stance. A stance is a defensive form, but in his art, there is nothing but conquest and advancing -the art of an emperor. Since Kenshiro isn't going to attack, he'll make the first move. He suddenly moves forward at great speed, and nearly hits Kenshiro with a slashing technique.

Kenshiro can't believe how fast Souther is, but tries to punch him. Souther avoids it by leaping back, but is then right back at attacking Kenshiro, using many swipes.

Kenshiro tries to chop him, but Souther avoids it, and then kicks Kenshiro down. Souther tells him that he did well to avoid his kyokusei juji ken (command star cross fist), but compared to his style, it seems like Kenshiro is motionless. Kenshiro tells him not to be so sure about that. He gets up, and says that he's seen through Souther's art.

At the fortress, one of Raoh's guards tells the Fist King that Kenshiro was able to hurt him so badly. The other asks why won't Kenshiro be able to defeat Souther? Raoh says it's true that Kenshiro can see through the opponent's art once he's seen its form. And he may be even stronger than Souther in terms of strength. But until he solves the secret, he can't defeat Souther! That secret is what has stopped him from fighting Souther himself. Back at the fight, Souther laughs off Kenshiro's words about seeing through his art, and tells him to take on his cross fist technique again.

He dashes forward, but Kenshiro seemingly vanishes before he can strike. But Kenshiro then appears under him, and strikes him in the throat.

Kenshiro then hits him with many punches and strikes, hitting pressure points. He ends it with one last punch, and says he's hit the most destructive and lethal pressure point: jinchukyoku.

He reveals that Souther now has three seconds to live. Souther's men can't believe the Holy Emperor could lose. Souther says this is interesting, and decides to count out the three seconds.

HITOTSU

(One)


FUTATSU

(Two)


MITTSU

(Three)

The time is up... and nothing happens. Souther just starts laughing, as suddenly Kenshiro is struck! A cross mark appears on his chest, causing him to heavily bleed. As he staggers back, he doesn't understand -he was sure he hit the pressure point!

Souther says that the North Star divine fist won't work on his body. He says he was born with the body of an emperor, and no one can defeat him!

NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW

Kenshiro has fallen into Souther's trap! Shu's on, Shiva, risks his young life to rescue Kenshiro! Next time, on Fist of the North Star: "The Young Warrior Challenging Fate! The Cry of his Soul moves the Heavens!!"

Kenshiro: The rage of the tempest is calling me.