The nuclear flames scorched the land, to bring the dawn of a troubled age. Raoh attempted to establish his rule in these times, toppling neighboring country and country. As Raoh moved his army south, they encountered Meioh's army. But behind that army was Gaiya, the practitioner of the ominous black mountain secret form fist. Soga, and then Ryuga are injured by his fists. Raoh easily withstood Gaiya's ultimate technique. However, it became clear that Sakuya was also a practitioner of the black mountain secret form fist. And at that very moment, she was kneeling before the Holy Emperor, Souther.

The Holy Emperor Cometh!

Sakuya tells Souther that she's come here as requested. Souther tells her that her reputation precedes her. He thinks that Raoh isn't the only one who values her strategic ability, and thinks that if a strategist like her joined his army, the world would bow before him. Sakuya says if she was to join. Souther asks if she refuses, and she says she does. Souther thinks she has guts to talk to him without any fear, and finds it interesting. He says he wants her even more now, and asks why she's refusing to join him.

Sakuya says for love. Souther laughs, and says he's never heard of such a ridiculous thing. He thinks she's trying to says that she follows Raoh for love, which makes him laugh even more. Sakuya says all men are intent on staying the course of their rule, and women are intent on following through with their love. Souther says love is disgusting, and something only fools would devote themselves to. He tells his guards to throw Sakuya out of his castle, and then he turns his throne around.

Sakuya returns to Raoh's castle, but is immediately arrested. Soga asks her if she's a practitioner of the black mountain dark form fist. Ryuga says that style hides among people and manipulates them, and asks her what she's trying to do here. Soga asks her who she planned on betraying the Fist King for, and Ryuga says he believes she met with the Holy Emperor. Soga wants to know who the Holy Emperor is, but Sakuya remains silent.

Reina tells Sakuya to say something, but all Sakuya says is that she serves the Fist King. Soga starts coughing, but then orders for Sakuya to be locked up in Cassandra.

Later on, Soga tells Raoh that they should invade the Holy Emperor's territory. There's no time for them to hesitate, as now they've learnt of Sakuya's betrayal, she could have leaked information about them. He says they should attack now, before the Holy Emperor's forces have time to prepare their defenses. Ryuga says he agrees, as the Holy Emperor has already conquered a dozen neighboring countries. He thinks the power of the Holy Emperor's forces is equal to their own. Soga says two kings can't rule side by side, so it's time to determine who is stronger. Raoh says they'll head for the land of the Holy Emperor. Reina goes to Cassandra and sees Sakuya. She asks her if she is a practitioner of the black mountain dark form fist. Sakuya says that Gaiya was her brother.

Reina asks her if she would betray Raoh. Sakuya says she waits the Fist King's judgment. Reina asks her why she went to see the Holy Emperor, and wants to know why she won't say who the Holy Emperor is. Sakuya doesn't answer, so Reina asks her why she came back here. Sakuya says it was for love. Reina asks it it was love for Raoh, and Sakuya nods.

Reina begins to leave, but Sakuya asks her to wait. She wants to know if the Fist King intends to fight with the Holy Emperor, but Reina says she's not obligated to answer a traitor. Sakuya asks her to pass this to Lord Soga, and throws down a bag. She says that Soga should open it if peace with the Holy Emperor is reached. Reina asks if she thinks she'll really do that, but Sakuya tells her she's the only one she can depend on. Reina picks up the bag and leaves.

At the castle, the Fist King's army is about to leave. Soga coughs again, but he tells Ryuga it's nothing. He asks him about his injuries, but Ryuga says he'll forget about them once he's on the battlefield. Reina then appears and passes Soga the bag, explaining what to do with it if peace is attained. Soga thinks that won't happen, but he takes the bag. Raoh then says they'll leave, and the army sets off towards the Holy Emperor's territory. Reina stays behind to guard the castle.

At Cassandra, Toki calls out to Sakuya, and asks them why she didn't tell them that the Holy Emperor is Souther. Sakuya says telling them won't change fate, so Toki asks her why she met Souther. She says that she wanted to see his true form, so Toki asks her what she saw.

She says that by turning his back on love, Souther cannot become a savior. But the Fist King's refusal to accept a burden of sorrow means he can't become a savior either. But she thinks Raoh will eventually walk the path of a savior, otherwise... Toki asks her if she thinks Raoh will be defeated by Kenshiro. Sakuya says she doesn't know, as she's never met Kenshiro. Toki thinks she can't accept because of her love for Raoh.

The Fist King's army arrive in Souther's territory, and come across a group of bandits who they easily crush. Soga thinks these guys are just a gang with no leader, and the gang start to run away, begging for help.

Some of Raoh's men go after them, but suddenly get sliced in half. Raoh instantly recognizes that technique as being a South Star holy fist style. Two men, Riron and Hakka, appear, stating they are masters of the Nanto hien ken (South Star swallow fist) style. They say this is the Holy Emperor's territory, and the Fist King's army doesn't belong here.

Raoh tells them he'd heard of a fool who calls himself the Holy Emperor, which he finds ridiculous. He says he has no intention of retreating from his path, no matter who he faces. Riron and Hakka they'll use their South Star holy fist to block his way, and will attack at the same time. The two leap up and use a technique:

NANTO HIEN KEN OUGI: SOEN RANBU

(South Star Swallow Fist Secret Technique: Twin Swallow Wild Dance)

The two vanish, but Raoh raises his arms and blocks both of them before they can attack. He then uses one of his own techniques:

HOKUTO ENSHOU HA

(North Star Torus Palm Wave)

Raoh releases energy waves from his palms, which defeat Riron and Hakka.

Raoh wants to know who the Emperor is. Riron says the Holy Emperor is the command star of the South Star six sacred fists, and Raoh knows what that means -the Holy Emperor is Souther of the South Star phoenix fist! He laughs and says Souther was a frequent opponent he fought when he was a child.

Soga says that the Holy Emperor has a force which can't be taken lightly. Raoh says he can't allow Souther to run free, and wants to settle things once and for all. He yells for his men to push forward, as they will push towards Souther's castle.

At Souther's castle, children are being force to work on Souther's Holy Cross mausoleum. A soldier reports to Souther that the Fist King's army is heading here in great force, and that Riron and Hakka have already been killed.

He asks what they should do. Souther says there will be many casualties to both sides if they engage in a head-on battle. His rule has only just begun, so he'd prefer to avoid any unnecessary sacrifice. Yuda appears, and suggests Souther goes to meet with Raoh.

As the Fist King's army continues to advance, Soga says that Souther is constructing a gigantic tomb as a display of his power. Raoh thinks it's considerate of Souther to prepare his own grave. Ryuga believes the Holy Emperor must be using adult slaves to construct it.

Elsewhere, Holy Emperor soldiers are capturing children, to take them to the Holy Cross mausoleum. One of the soldiers tells them that they will get to build the place where the Holy Emperor will eternally rest, so they should be grateful. One woman tries to see her son, but gets kicked. The Holy Emperor's forces then leave the village.

Two children were able to avoid being captured by hiding, and as they reunite with their mother, the villagers then all have to hide. The Fist King's army run through their village.

Meanwhile, Souther asks Yuda what he means. Raoh has already defeated Riron and Jadam, so it will be his fate to clash with him next. But he then wonders if Yuda is suggesting he meets Raoh as an old friend. Yuda says he already has a plan to fool Raoh, and tells it to Souther.

Souther realizes that with Yuda's plan, no matter what happens, he'll lose little. He says Raoh's side has Sakuya, but Yuda says she's lost their trust, as she's been imprisoned in Cassandra. Souther gets up and tells the solider in the room to tell Raoh that he wants to hold a discussion with him.

The Fist King's army come to a stop when they see a single soldier of the Holy Emperor waiting for them. Soga speaks to him, and then tells Raoh that Souther wishes to talk to the Fist King. The location will be the city of Radam, which is a day and a half's journey from here. Raoh decides to accept, as he's interested in hearing what Souther has to say -and there will be plenty of time to defeat him afterwards.

The next day, the Fist King's army arrive at Radam. Soga tells Ryuga that his scouts are checking to see that the place is safe, but so far it doesn't appear to be a trap. Souther then rolls up, as he and his army come to a stop before Raoh. Souther says it has been a long time -over 10 years.

Raoh says that he sees Souther has started calling himself the Holy Emperor. Souther says he was born as the command star of the South Star holy fist, so there's nothing odd about that. Raoh asks Souther if he intends to rule.

Souther asks so what if he is. Raoh says he'll take the heavens with his own hands, so there's no room for Souther. Souther says that when the South Star is in disarray, the North Star appears. He's heard Raoh allowed Kenshiro to become the North Star divine fist successor, and then vanished without a trace. But now he sees Raoh intends to rule in these troubled times.

Raoh says the seat of succession means nothing in the face of his rule. Souther says that if Raoh insists on ruling, he'll back down. He's not that interested in ruling, but Raoh asks him if that's how he really feels. Souther says if they fought right now, neither of them would escape unscathed, resulting in a loss regardless of who survives. Raoh asks him about his Holy Emperor title and his Holy Cross mausoleum, but Souther says the mausoleum will be his grave. All people eventually die, and every person needs a grave. He asks Raoh if he'd like to build him one.

Raoh says he'll decide when he dies. Souther tells him to continue with his rule, as he'll be willing to put away his Holy Emperor title for the time being. Raoh says he will start by taking the heavens, but tells Souther that if he dies in the process, he may proceed -but only if the heavens allow it. Souther says he'll make them, and then asks if they need to sign a contract. Raoh says that's not needed, as a man takes responsibility for his words, otherwise he'll use his fists.

Souther and his army leave. Ryuga asks Raoh if he's sure about this, as surely Souther will become a problem later on. Raoh says Souther didn't now before him, and he presumes Souther has no intention of obeying him. Soga asks why he didn't do anything now, and is about to suggest what he should have done...

...but Raoh grabs him, and asks if he can't trust his decision. His priority is to take the heavens as soon as possible, so if Souther is claming to obey him, he'll allow it. But he hasn't placed his trust in Souther, and when the time comes, he'll smash him with his fist. He then tells the rest of the army that the Holy Emperor has groveled before him, so they'll continue south.

Soga then remembers the bag Reina gave him. He opens it up and reads a note, which states that the Fist King's castle will fall! It's in Sakuya's handwriting, and Soga realizes that she must intend to take their castle whilst they're here.

Sakuya thinks peace should have been reached now, and wonders if this will be the last day for the Fist King. At the castle, a guard asks who's there, but gets sliced apart. Yuda has arrived, along with hundreds of the Holy Emperor's soldiers.

The Fist King's castle will fall. An unknown army has begun attacking the Fist King's castle. Will Raoh make it in time, before the Fist King's castle falls into Sakuya's hands?




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The Fist King's Castle is Falling!