Kenshiro fell down before the South Star phoenix fist of the Holy Emperor, Souther. But, the star of benevolence's tears had summoned the North Star. The scream from Shu, the hero of the resistance, has awakened Kenshiro back to life.

Shu is at the top of the Holy Cross mausoleum. He asks Souther if he's asking him to die carrying this stone, and Souther says he is. Shu says that for the six South Star, he'll place this holy stone. But he warns that sooner or later, this Holy Cross mausoleum will fall by the successor to the North Star divine fist. That's the destiny of the South Star -it'll never shine as the imperial star! Souther shouts for him to shut up, and raises his hand.

This is a signal for an archer to shoot several arrows at Shu, which pierce into him.

Clash of the Two Command Stars, Ken vs. Souther!
Only My Star Can Guard the Heavens!

Kenshiro starts to run run up the pyramid. Shu thinks the end of his life has come, he just wishes that he could have get a glimpse of how much Kenshiro had grown. Kenshiro continues to run.

Down below, Souther is passed a spear. Souther says this is the end, and throws the spear. It strikes into Shu's chest.

Kenshiro arrives seconds later, but then sees something: Shu's eyes have returned to normal. Shu sees Kenshiro, and says he can see.

He looks at Kenshiro, and says that God has granted him one last wish. He tells Kenshiro that he has grown strong, and he can see a resemblance of Shiva in him.

He says that he has no regrets, as the blood of the star of benevolence has led him down the right path. He tells Kenshiro to go on and open the path of this age -he will always be watching him. He then says farewell to Kenshiro, and allows himself to be crushed under the stone he was carrying.

Most people react to this by crying, but Raoh thinks that Shu's death was a remarkable final moment. Kenshiro grabs onto the stone, and thinks about Shu.

Souther reacts by laughing. The hostages think that their light is now gone, and that all that lies ahead now is darkness. The archer who shot Shu scoffs at them, and says that anyone who defies Lord Souther will meet the same fate. They'll all be serving Lord Souther for the rest of their lives!

Kenshiro tells the star of benevolence to live on in his heart. He then stands up again, and tells Souther that once he's done with him, there won't be anything left!

Souther tells Kenshiro those will be his last words. He removes his cape, and starts to walk up the pyramid. He says that it's said that when the South Star fades, the North Star appears, so fighting Kenshiro must be his destiny. He wants to end the South Star's history of humiliation, and settle the 2,000 year long battle.

Kenshiro says that these steps represent Shu's suffering. He wants Souther to climb these steps, and feel the weight of his sins. Souther tells him he's wrong, as to him, these steps represent a countdown to the end of the North Star divine fist. Kenshiro starts to walk down the steps.

The archer takes aim at Kenshiro, and says that Lord Souther shouldn't have to dirty his hands. But before he can fire, Raoh grabs his head and twists it around. He says he won't let anyone interfere with this fight, and breaks the archer's neck.

Souther continues to walk up. As he does, one of the children, Rem, thinks about what Shu had once told him: that children are the lights that seek to shine in the future, and to live strongly. Just as Souther is about to pass Rem...

...Rem rushes forwards, and stabs Souther's leg with a knife. Souther isn't effected at all, and reaches out towards Rem...

...but doesn't touch him. He instead grabs the knife, and pulls it out of his leg. He tells everyone to look at this knife, which he then drops to the ground. He says that the feelings this child had for Shu have caused him to go insane. It's because of love... people must suffer. Because of love... people must grieve...

Many years ago, Souther was an orphan who was left in the care of Ogai, the successor to the South Star phoenix fist. As Ogai had no children, he raised Souther as if he was his own son. The two did things together, such as fishing.

But Ogai started to train Souther in the ways of the South Star phoenix fist. The training was rough, but Souther never considered it painful. One day, Souther tried to slice apart something, but when he hit it, he only ended up hurting his hand. But Souther was more concerned about what Ogai thought, who was watching nearby.

After focusing, Souther tried again, and this time was successful. Souther would endure any lesson, no matter how harsh it was, all for the sake of the compassion Ogai would reward him with after he mastered a new technique.

Back in the present, Souther looks away from Rem, and back to Kenshiro. He says it was when he turned fifteen that something happened...

Souther sits alone outside the dojo. He hears Ogai's voice, who tells him that he must defeat the enemy who attacks him -this will be his first serious battle, and he must fight blindfolded. Ogai tells him not to hold back, as this is the trial of succession. Souther puts on the blindfold, and then waits.

Someone tries to attack Souther from behind, but Souther senses it. He leaps out of the way of his opponent's strike, and then hits him back.

His attacker lands hard. Souther removes his blindfold and goes to check on his opponent... and is horrified to see that it was Ogai himself. Ogai congratulates Souther, but Souther wants to know why his master didn't avoid his strike. Ogai says that even if he'd tried, Souther's attack was too swift for him to dodge.

Ogai says he has nothing left to teach Souther, and tells him not to cry. The polar star of the South Star, the South Star phoenix fist, also has the order of a sole successor. To be defeated by the new successor is part of their fate. The true path to succession has no room for sympathy. He tells Souther that he has no regrets, and has seen the polar star of the Southern Cross in Souther's eyes.

Ogai then passes away, leaving Souther distraught. He takes his master's hand, and wonders why this had to be. He thinks that if it's this distressful, and if it's this painful... he doesn't need it -he doesn't need love!

Back in the present, Souther says that from then on, love meant nothing to him. It instead meant that the star of the Holy Emperor had been awakened. An emperor has no need for love, and those who bare fangs at him face only death! Kenshiro says he will shall fight for the sake of love. Raoh doesn't think Kenshiro can win, unless he solves Souther's secret.

Souther reminds Kenshiro that he's fallen before him once. He tells him to challenge him all he wants, but the North Star divine fist won't defeat the Holy Emperor. He'll fall to his God-given body, and he can perish along with the love he believes in! Kenshiro tells him that love will never perish.

Souther tries to attack him, but Kenshiro pulls back and then does a flip kick, which hits Souther.

Souther falls down some of the steps, but lands on his feet. Everyone realizes Kenshiro just used one of Shu's techniques, which frustrates Raoh -why doesn't Kenshiro use the North Star divine fist? Toki says Kenshiro is repaying Shu for his death.

Kenshiro tells Souther that he wanted to land at least one wound on his body using Shu's fist. But the fist that'll defeat Souther is the fist of tempest, the North Star divine fist! Souther laughs and calls him a fool. He thinks Kenshiro must want to prolong his suffering, and then orders for the sacred room to be opened.

Down below, a soldier pushes in a certain brick. This causes a hidden wall to open up on the pyramid, revealing the corpse of Ogai.

Souther says that the Holy Cross mausoleum is his final tribute to his great master. It's also the tomb of his emotions for love and sympathy. He had abandoned both love and sympathy, and whilst Kenshiro's fist may wound him, it'll never drain him of all his blood. Kenshiro says he's said this before: once he's done with him, there will be nothing left.

Souther tells him to come on, and tells him to strike. Kenshiro goes to kick him, but Souther blocks it. Kenshiro follows it up with a rapid series of kicks.

However, Souther isn't fazed by then, and says that won't work. He says Kenshiro must have no idea why it doesn't work on him, and then goes to strike back. But Kenshiro rushes forward...

...and plunges his hands straight into Souther's chest. He's hit pressure points, but again, it does nothing. Kenshiro lifts Souther up, and holds him above his head. He can feel Souther's heartbeat, and then realizes...

Souther tells Kenshiro to die, and strikes him several times on the head. Kenshiro is sent crashing down the steps, and lands near the bottom of the pyramid.

Raoh thinks there is no way Kenshiro can win. Souther declares that the polar star of the South Star shines in the heavens -who will fall next before the South Star phoenix fist? Raoh yells at him to stop gloating.

Toki then says he knows what Souther's secret is, and walks towards the pyramid. But as he takes a step onto it, Kenshiro tells him to stay back -he doesn't need any help! Suddenly, Souther stumbles, and a small pressure point on his head blows apart.

He doesn't understand how this has happened. Kenshiro rips his jacket and shirt off, and says he's solved the mystery!

NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW

The secret of the Holy Emperor is finally revealed! Souther, you shall crumble with the Holy Cross mausoleum! Next time, on Fist of the North Star: "Souther, the Sorrowful Holy Emperor! You Were Exhausted with Love!!"

Kenshiro: The rage of the tempest is calling me.