It was the end of an era. Humankind, indulgent during peacetime, fell into madness, and was eventually struck by a hammer. Nuclear flames scorched the entire land. Everything was destroyed. Order and human compassion were left in ashes, and the few survivors were left to face the dark end of an era. However, with the world in chaos, a star fell to the surface. One guided by destiny through the darkness, intent on achieving his rule. People call him a savior.




Kings Understand Kings!


Work is being done to the castle, although the people working on it think the Fist King is being unreasonable expecting them to get it finished in 3 days. Nearby, Reina suddenly attacks several soldiers, defeating them in non-lethal ways.



She warns them that they will never know when the enemy will attack, so they should always train as though this is actual combat. She used the back of her sword this time, but those who don't train hard will be cut! As the soldiers resume training, Soga looks at some of their equipment, and sees bent swords and dented helmets. He thinks these guys can't fight properly with such poor weapons and armor. He orders for the blacksmiths to make things stronger.



Soga then tells everyone that they won't be allowed to fight as sloppily as they have been. He says that perfect formations are part of basic strategy, and the fulfillment of the Fist King's ideals rest in their efforts. As training resumes, Reina tells Soga she thinks around half of the soldiers can be used in combat. Soga says it's their duty to make them all serviceable. Reina then asks about the castle, and Soga calls it a disappointment. The foreman has requested an extension, but Reina wonders if Raoh would allow it.



The foreman tells Raoh that the construction will take a week, but they are working as hard as they possible can. They aren't accustomed to this level of work, and they're short on men and materials. He's finding it rather difficult to supervise everything by himself, and asks if the Fist King could possibly offer words of encouragement to the workers. Raoh decides to go outside, and the workers all stop and father around. The foreman asks the Fist King to speak.



Raoh punches him in the head, killing him. He tells everyone that there you have it -they have three days, as the heavens do not wait.



Everyone starts resumes working at a faster pace, and in 3 days, the castle is completed. Soga thinks that the most effective way of making people work hard is terror.



Soga tells everyone that they will now begin raising an army to conquer the small neighboring kingdoms. Raoh yells that they'll make the rats yield before them, and puts on his helmet. Soga thinks Raoh is an interesting man.




The Fist King rises. This news left the petty neighboring kings trembling. Some bravely resisted, but they were crushed by the impassive advance of the Fist King's army. Most kings swore their allegiance to the flag of the Fist King without even fighting.


The cloaked woman sees that another place has fallen, meaning nobody remains to resist Raoh in the vicinity. She thinks things really begin now, and wonders what Raoh is going to do. Inside the castle, Soga tells Raoh they should head west next, and take the Kingdom of Ra, ruled by Gion. Whilst it's a small place, it is a strategic location for transportation, and whoever controls it controls trade. An army is sent out, and the cloaked woman sees it. She thinks the Fist King's strategist is sharp, but thinks this could be Raoh's first defeat.



Later, some injured soldiers return, and tells Raoh, Soga and Reina that their invasion force was annihilated. One of them says that they advanced into Ra, and defeated many of Gion's soldiers, who were weak. Gion's army retreated, and headed into a canyon. They followed them in.



But they then lost sight of Gion's forces. The next thing they knew, they had a herd of a thousand horses charging towards them!



Reina asks if Gion was controlling them, but the solider says he wasn't. It was a herd of wild horses, but they had the ferocious look of wild beasts. The invasion force was instantly wiped out by the horses, who viewed them as invaders in their territory. Reina can't believe they were beaten by horses, rather than Gion's army. Soga says that they'd sent their elite to Ra, and thinks it's impossible they were repelled. Even if there were a lot of them, they were merely a herd of wild animals, so there had to be someone in command. The solider says they did ask an injured enemy solider, who told them that the valley is an evil place that they fear to approach, known as the Valley of the Black King. It is said the horses are led by a beast above beasts: the Black King.



Raoh decides he will go to the valley himself. Soga thinks that's dangerous, but Raoh tells him it is proper for kings to be visited by kings.



At Gion's castle, Gion is laughing at the defeat of the Fist King's army. He considers his scheme to be a big success, as he'd been betrayed by those horses in that valley for too long. If they consider the Fist King's army to be devils, the horses in the valley would also be devils... a devil for a devil. Gion's underlings tell him they're unable to keep up with his mind. Gion says as long as his brain is intact, he won't allow the Fist King to step foot in his kingdom! And he'll lead his force into the valley of devils, and annihilate them as many times as it takes!



Raoh and the others have arrived at the valley. The solider from earlier says this is the place, but then decides he'll be on his way. He hears a horse neigh, which makes him run away in fear.



Raoh kills him with an aura blast, and says the Fist King's army has no need for cowards. He thinks that man most likely abandoned his comrades, who were begging for help, so he could save himself. He, Soga and Regina then walk into the valley. Soga asks the Fist King something, but Raoh says that as there are only the three of them here, he can call him Raoh. Soga says he can see why their forces were defeated when attacked by over 1,000 horses here. Reina says there's only three of them here now, but Raoh just asks if they're making light of his North Star divine fist. Soga says they aren't.



Reina asks where the Black King and his horses could be, but Raoh has no idea. He believes they'll surely find them if the heavens will it. They round a corner and quickly find the Black King.



They also see that the Black King is surrounded by two tigers. Soga asks what they should do, but Raoh says they'll keep quiet, as this fight is between men. The tigers attack, and bite down on the Black King. He hits the white tiger away.



He also repels the other tiger, but he manages to slash him. Soga wonders why the Black King isn't moving, as a horse's speed is its greatest weapon. They then see why: beneath the Black King is a foal.



Raoh starts walking forward, and goes right up to the Black King. The two stare each other, but then one of the tigers leaps towards Raoh.



Raoh turns around and tells him not to interfere in a conversation between kings. He rips the tiger's mouth apart, followed by the rest of his head. He then goes to the foal, and after looking at it for a few seconds, he grabs it by the neck and then strikes a pressure point on it.



The foal dies, and Raoh tosses it aside. He tells the Black King that he's supposed to be the king of 1,000 horses, but now he's dealt with his burden. He tells the Black King he is now free to fight, so the Black King turns around and kicks him.



Raoh crashes into a cliff. The other tiger then tries to attack the Black King, but gets hit in the face.



Before the tiger can get up, the Black King kills him by stomping on his head. He then goes over to Raoh, who gets up. Raoh says this is how it should be -if the Black King had continued fighting, he would have eventually run out of energy and died with the foal. Kings cannot die, as if a king were to die for the sake of compassion, 1,000 soldiers would also die. If a king were to die of a single kick, his rule would end. Raoh tells the Black King that neither of them are fated to die here.



Reina is about to disagree, but Soga tells her that the foal was already fatally wounded. The pressure point Raoh hit would have made the foal feel no pain. Reina thinks that the Black King has now lost his desire to fight. Raoh tells the Black King that they're alike, and asks if he'll lend him his back, if only until the day he completes his rule. The Black King nudges Raoh's fist.



The Black King neighs, as the other horses appear. Raoh asks if the Black King is allowing his 1,000 comrades to join the Fist King's army, and the Black King nods. Raoh mounts the Black King, and shouts that from this day on, they are all soldiers in his army!



At Gion's castle, Gion is informed by a solider that the Fist King is personally leading his army here. Gion tells him to lead the Fist King into the valley, but the soldier reports the Fist King is with the Black King. Gion urgently checks things out, and finds that it's true.



Gion says they don't have the slightest chance of winning, and orders a surrender. He has white flag raised, and the gates are opened.



Gion hopes the Fist King is having a fine day. Raoh tells him he used quite a clever scheme, but cheap tricks won't work against his fists. Gion apologizes, saying it was merely the foolishness of a lesser being. He asks for forgiveness.



Raoh decides to grant him his request, as thanks to him, he was able to gain a rare friend in the Black King. On the account of that deed, he'll pardon his offenses, and allows him to become a general in his army. Dion says he is very grateful, and swears to do everything in his power to serve him loyally. Raoh tells him that's enough flattery, as he should be thanking the Black King. Outside, everyone starts chanting for the great Fist King.



Later on, Raoh tells the Black King that this will be his first battle, so he will let him choose their destination. As the Fist King and his army head north, they are watched by the cloaked woman. She decides that the time has come for her to see Raoh's power herself. She pulls back her hood.




A beautiful and enigmatic woman who laughs boldly... only a god could have known that her presence would leave even Soga trembling in fear.


NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW

No Castle Can Stand Against Me!

Return to episode overview
Previous Episode
Main Page
Next Episode