The nuclear flames signaled the end of an era. An age where power was everything, and power was justice. A time where power attracted power, and the weak were oppressed. One man had begun down the path to rule, to quell these troubled times. His name was Raoh. Raoh even imprisoned his own brother, Toki, in the dreadful prison, Cassandra, for the sake of his rule. History was moving along like crashing waves. But despite this, there was a man who remained detached from this.

Demon, Awaken!

Several troops from the Holy Emperor's forces have arrived at the place where a man called Ryurou lives. Ryurou tells them it doesn't matter how many times they come here, his answer won't change. He lives in this forest with the wind, and has no intention of joining the war. One solider asks if he won't come even when the invitation comes from the Holy Emperor. Ryurou asks them to leave.

At Raoh's castle, Gihan flies in, and reports to Soga. Soga then reports to Raoh, and tells him about Kenshiro's recent activities. Raoh finds out that Kenshiro has become stronger, by bearing the burden of other people's sorrow.

Soga says that's correct, and since his fiancee was taken, that was Kenshiro's first step. Raoh says he doesn't understand, but he can say it is very typical of Kenshiro. Soga thinks Kenshiro is a danger to them, as he stands with the people and fights on their side. Some people are now calling Kenshiro a savior.

Raoh says that, like Toki, he'll settle things with Kenshiro eventually. But that time hasn't come yet, as they're still in the process of attaining his rule. And he doesn't consider his own army to be reliable yet. He asks about his soldiers, and Soga says the army is progressing well with their training, and their equipment has improved. But their territory has expanded too quickly, and they lack personnel to support an extended warfront. He doesn't think he and Reina can handle it alone. He thinks Sakuya is useful, but they don't know how trustworthy she is.

Soga says they'll need a brave and wise general to serve as the Fist King's right hand man, if they're to carry out his rule. He has a possible candidate: the man once called the South Star tactician. Raoh says he hasn't heard that name in a long time, Ryurou of the South Star Seagull Fist. Soga says Ryurou grew disgusted by the infighting after the break up of the 108 South Star sects, and went his own way. He's now built a small retreat at the base of a hill, to live in peace. Raoh thinks it would be a waste to leave Ryurou in retirement, and decides to go himself. He wants to see Ryurou's talents.

Elsewhere, Gihan reports to Sakuya. He tells her about what he told Soga in regards to Kenshiro. Later on, Sakuya goes to Cassandra, and visits Toki. She says she has information about Kenshiro, and says he is still alive. But his fiancee, Yuria, was taken after a fight with Shin of the South Star lone eagle fist.

Toki says there are two polar stars in the sky: the North Star and the South Star. Everything was created in pairs, yin and yang, the North Star divine fist and the South Star holy fist. The North Star, which involves attacks to the pressure points causing the opponent to explode from the inside, is yin, then the South Star holy fist, which attacks from the outside to destroy everything, is yang. The North Star and the South Star are two sides of the same coin. Their teacher Ryuken always said that the North Stars should never fight amongst one another.

He says that the North Star divine fist was protected by having one successor per generation. But the South Star was divided into 108 sects, and Shin of the South Star lone eagle fist was considered exceptional among them. Sakuya says that Kenshiro fought desperately to protect Yuria, but was defeated.

However, Kenshiro wasn't dealt a fatal blow. Instead, Shin was cruel enough to make Yuria choose between going with him, or watching Kenshiro die. Kenshiro was given seven scars, in the same formation as the Big Dipper. Toki thinks this must be fate.

Sakuya says what happened had made Kenshiro stronger. Now, he's fighting alone for the sake of all who feel sorrow. Toki says only one who knows sorrow can truly master the North Star's true secret technique. He asks if Raoh has made a move, and Sakuya says he has. Toki tells her that Kenshiro will block Raoh's rule one day. Sakuya then tells him that the Fist King has gone to see Ryurou. Toki wonders if Ryurou would ever follow Raoh, but Sakuya says she doesn't know. The Holy Emperor has sent Ryurou numerous invitations, but he's declined all of them.

Sakuya then leaves Cassandra, but as she does, Reina calls out to her, and asks her what she was talking to Toki about. Sakuya tells Reina about what happened to Kenshiro, and that Lord Toki was concerned with Kenshiro's destiny. But she herself was concerned with Yuria's suffering. Reina thinks if must have been agonizing to heave to leave your lover, or watch him die. Sakuya says Kenshiro was scarred on his chest, but Yuria received a deeper scar on the inside.

She has heard what Kenshiro said when Shin was torturing him: "Don't die, live on for my sake." Reina thinks about it for a few seconds, but then orders Sakuya to never meet with Toki again. She realizes she'll go and see him regardless, and Sakuya says she will.

At Ryurou's place, some villagers use the wind power to charge up some batteries. They thank Ryurou for making these windmills, but he tells them not to thank him. they should thank the wind. The villagers leave, promising to bring some vegetables back with them next time. Ryurou watches them leave, and thinks that the forests were burned by the nuclear flames which covered the Earth. But he believes that the trees will grow back. They live in troubled times, and they're awaiting a big tree to calm the storm.

Raoh then arrives, and Ryurou realizes he must be the Fist King. Raoh calls him the South Star tactician, but Ryurou says he was called that a long time a go, now, he's just a hermit. He thinks he's nobody special, so it's a great honor for the Fist King to visit him himself. Raoh says he sounds like he knew he'd come here already. Ryurou says this is the forest of wind, winds from all over the world gather here, and the wind brings all sort of things, including tales about the Fist King.

Raoh says he's heard of Ryurou, and knows he once served as the leader of the South Star's army. He also knows Ryurou was a strategist who won countless battles, but then abandoned the South Star after the break up, and went into retirement. But in these trouble times, he needs his power, and wants him to be his right hand man. Ryurou says he parted ways with his South Star comrades because he was sick of fighting. Now, he just reads the winds, and lives with the forest. He's been building wind power generators here, and whilst it was just a small gesture, the villagers were very grateful. They bring him fresh fruits and vegetables to him every day. When he served as a South Star general, he lived in a fancy mansion, but now, he lives in this shack. But it's enough for him to sleep in and keep out of the rain. He loves this place, and has no intention of leaving, no matter what anyone says.

Raoh asks if that even means when he's asked him personally. Ryurou says if he was to fight for someone, it would have to be someone who fights on the side of the people, someone like Kenshiro. Raoh yells at him for refusing his request, but being willing to fight for Kenshiro. Ryurou says that's right, and Kenshiro has changed. He's a different person to the one Raoh once knew. He believes Raoh must know about Kenshiro's battle with Shin, and says that the loss of Yuria opened Kenshiro to sorrow, and made him realize his destiny. Raoh asks him what he means, and Ryurou says Kenshiro's destiny is to become a savior.

He tells Raoh to look at this forest. Raoh says it's nothing more than a burnt forest, but Ryurou says that's not how he sees it. This forest is rich and bountiful, and new plants are growing. In a few years, this place will be a lush forest. He looks at a plant and says it's still weak, and it will wilt if you pull it out. It serves no purpose now, but that's why he's watching over it. He's regulating its wind, and watering it as he waits for it to grow. But it still took many years for its buds to sprout. Raoh asks him what he's trying to say. Ryurou says people are the same: much as trees bask in the sun, sway in the wind and take in water before becoming a forest, a few people become a great mass. All he can do is live with the forest, but Kenshiro is with the people.

He says that Kenshiro is carrying the sorrow of the people by himself, and fighting against their oppressors. The masses have chosen to fight by his side after watching him. He tells Raoh that there is a flood of self proclaimed kings right now, including him. But not a single one has captured the hearts of the masses, they all use power to bring people in line and fear to keep them there. He doesn't think that the masses desire such a ruler, they desire a true savior who will fight along side them against the tyrants. Raoh asks him if he is refusing his offer. Ryurou says that's correct, but if he repents, he may reconsider. Raoh laughs at this.

Ryurou tells him his current methods will never bring true peace, but it isn't too late. He tells him to abandon his rule, and become a leader who acts for the people! If he can create a benevolent country, then Kenshiro, Toki and himself will gladly become his underlings. He's been waiting for Raoh to come here to tell him these words. Raoh yells that he can't do such a thing, as he aims to rule -that was his vow when he left his homeland. He has no time, he must move forward -even if it means stomping or pulling out young plants. He tells Ryurou it's unfortunate, but if he refuses his offer, he must die.

Ryurou says in that case, he'll do his best to serve as his opponent. The two charge towards each other, but as Raoh goes for a punch, Raoh leaps over him, and is followed by a gust of wind:

NANTO RYUO KEN OUGI: SHISHO ZAN

(South Star Flowing Seagull Fist Secret Technique: Break Flying Slash)

Part of Raoh's helmet and armor explodes, and he says this is just what he'd expect of one lauded as the South Star tactician. Ryurou says he's abandoned that name, and is now a mere hermit who lives with the wind.

Raoh asks him if he's abandoned his name, world and life, and goes to punch him. Ryurou kicks his arm, and says if he insists on carrying out his rule, he'll sacrifice his life to fight him -if it will help him learn. Raoh calls him a reckless fool, and wonders why he can't understand. These troubled times call for a demon -who will become one if he doesn't?!

As he tries to punch Ryurou again, he tells him his weak methods can't bring peace to this world. As he yells why Ryurou can't understand this, his helmet shatters. Ryurou says he doesn't know which way is right, which is why he wants to be sure. Two great trees, Raoh and Kenshiro... which of them is the one needed? He drops down...

...as Raoh uses his Hokuto shu renda (North Star collected barrage) technique. Ryurou avoids every punch, and tells Raoh he should know. He strikes Raoh's forehead.

He tells him between a giant tree with thick leaves that overshadow and kill the forest, and a giant tree which grows with the forest, which is the right one? Raoh says there's no need for any debate, and he is neither tree. He hits Ryurou with one punch...

...and defeats him. He tells him that his breathing was ragged before his last attack, and asks if he's sick. Ryurou says he is, and was already on the verge of death. He is satisfied as a martial artist to have fought against him in the end, but tells him to abandon his rule. He wants him to join with Kenshiro, and save the masses.

Ryurou dies, and Raoh says he's willing to step over the corpses of anyone for the sake of the rule he believes in. He tells Ryurou that he cannot grant him his wish. As he mounts the Black King, he says he can't waste time governing this land, as conquering the Land of Asura is his ultimate objective.

He then says he did learn one thing from his battle with Ryurou: he was too weak. Finding himself to be pathetic, he tells the Black King they will return home. As they ride off, they have been watched by another.

He laughed at his own weakness as pathetic. This was when something inside Raoh awoke. People would call his the demon, and come to fear it. Raoh took another step down an increasingly bloody path.


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The Blue Wolf Tears Across The Earth!