Chairman of Toyo Electric Power Co. Katsumasa Hayami's coup broke out.
But, in this confusion,
there were those who acted separately from Hayami's intentions.
Their objective was…
Ohma Tokita.
MELEE
METSUDO KATAHARA CHAIRMAN OF KENGAN ASSOCIATION
It's too bad, Hayami.
You said you knew it all along.
How?
It doesn't matter.
If we kill the commander, it's our win.
Oh, hey. We still have an interesting guy left.
Back off.
He's mine.
I didn't like him from the moment we met.
Quit barking, loser.
You're just a dropout who couldn't become the Fang.
Shit! Just how many of them are there?
Kaneda, I'm counting on you.
Cosmo hasn't recovered yet.
What? You want to go back?
What are you talking about?
I can't leave Adam on his own.
Adam is holding out to let you escape.
We must get out of here and call for help!
If we can get to--
Hold it.
Cosmo Imai and Suekichi Kaneda, right?
You two are supplementary targets.
Who are you guys?
The people at the top are having an important meeting right now.
So, we need you to keep quiet for a while.
President Ohya told me about them. They're Toyo Electric Power's Guardians.
But why now?
You don't want to die, do you?
Just stay still. That's all I'm asking for.
A willow-leaf saber.
If that hits us, it'll easily chop our heads off!
Hey, Cosmo!
You see,
it's my third round tomorrow.
This sword cuts well. I think I'm gonna keep it.
Are you regretting this, asshole?
You picked a fight with the wrong guy.
Cosmo, don't! You'll be sliced in two!
I don't know what you're up to, but you can't keep that up forever!
He's dodging it!
I can feel it. I'm onto something.
I have to master it.
This kid, he's trying something out.
Don't underestimate me.
KAZUO YAMASHITA PRESIDENT OF YAMASHITA CORPORATION
Mr. Yamashita.
HARUO KOHNO FIGHTER FOR NENTENDO
Haruo!
Run.
I found you.
You're Ohma Tokita's employer, correct?
This building will collapse soon.
Take Ohma Tokita with you and escape while you can.
W-Who are you?
You're telling us to escape while attacking us?
Don't get me wrong.
You think I'm letting you go out of good will?
"Keep Ohma Tokita alive."
That was my only order.
Keep him alive?
Who gave you the order?
You don't need to know.
Even if you knew, there's nothing you can do.
Ohma!
You've woken up!
I guess he's able to move.
Hayami's Guardians will show up soon.
I need to hurry.
I don't need that guy anymore.
That man attacked us and told us to run…
Right, let's kill him.
You're way too obvious.
You won't even be enough for my morning exercise.
Get lost.
OHMA TOKITA FIGHTER FOR YAMASHITA CORPORATION
He moved immediately into his fist range and nullified his sword range.
Pulling off such moves when he's heavily wounded…
Come to think of it, he no longer looks unstable.
I'll say it for the last time.
Get lost already.
Seems like you do qualify as a "Vessel of the Tiger."
What do you know about me?
Orders are absolute.
I'll have to take you by force!
That's Ohma's Life Advance!
I had completely forgotten its real name until now.
"Possessed by a God."
POSSESSED BY A GOD
I guess you're not lying.
So, you're the Bugs' messenger.
"The Bugs"?
Stay back, Kazuo Yamashita.
I don't think he's gonna back down.
The enemy is in perfect condition and he can even use Life Advance!
What are you going to do, Ohma?
Get ready, Ohma Tokita.
Okay, take a break until morning.
Make sure to rest up, Ohma.
How many days has it been?
Not that it matters.
With these shackles on my hands and legs,
there's no way I can beat Niko however many days I try.
Hang on. If I think about it,
why did he put these weights on me?
Niko didn't care about how much they weighed.
Never mind.
They're about 40 kilograms in total.
Man, you really don't care, huh?
That means, these aren't for strengthening my muscles.
It's unnatural for me to fight Niko with a handicap when he's stronger than me.
What is he trying to do?
Think.
Damn it. I don't even have the energy to get up.
I need to rest in a comfortable position.
Th-That's it!
NIKO TOKITA NIKO STYLE, OHMA'S MASTER
Not bad.
You got a hit at last
You've finally reached the starting line for mastering the secret technique.
The real training starts now.
Take your weights off, Ohma.
I'll take mine off too.
Don't die on me, Ohma.
He had twice the weight I had on.
You really are…
a monster.
His whole body was wounded.
Broken bones and ruptured muscles.
He no longer felt any pain.
Chills ran down his entire body.
He could barely stand.
But…
My body feels more stable than ever before.
Niko mentioned it before.
Is this how it feels to stand with your bones?
You've endured the training well.
What you really seek can be found beyond death.
So, grab on to life.
The accumulated damage.
Malnutrition and extreme fatigue.
His body, that had reached its limit,
exhibited an extraordinary level of concentration.
I can see.
I can feel the surrounding area with my five senses.
And I can feel Niko's movements too!
His final strike is Ironbreaker!
I'll just have to blow up the venue.
Katahara, I'll drag your Kengan Association down with me.
W-What?
Why? Why won't it detonate?
It's over, Katsumasa Hayami.
The bombs won't go off.
So, it's you.
You're the traitor!
I've already notified the Heavenly Wolves about your plan.
The bombs were defused during the second round.
All your Guardians should be suppressed by the Kure family by now.
Damn you, Katahara.
How could you!
You seem to have misunderstood.
I'm not the one who hired Hassard.
That's right.
The man who hired me is…
HIDEKI NOGI PRESIDENT OF NOGI GROUP
Mr. Hideki Nogi.
Nogi?
Are you telling me that rookie has outsmarted me?
He rescued me out of the sea
and asked me to be the secret messenger who corrects the wrongdoer.
The man saved my life. I must return the favor.
You did quite well.
You may have surpassed me if we went against each other one-on-one.
But that great power of yours proved to be fatal.
Tripped up by those who you considered to be beneath you.
This is a very fitting end for you.
Well, I guess it was a good time killer.
Good work, Hayami.
You bastards!
It's me.
I see. Hayami's plan failed, huh?
After all the help I gave him.
Saved by the bell.
I no longer have a reason to fight.
Hey!
W-What the hell!
He defeated a guy using Life Advance as if he were fighting a child.
A-And…
What was that last move?
Excellent.
Niko Style secret technique, "Demon Slaughterer" has been passed on.
Death to an evil.
I am justice.
SEISHU AKOYA FIGHTER FOR WAKASAKA LIFE INSURANCE
I thought something shady was going on.
You're the hitman working for Toyo Electric.
Seishu Akoya.
It's you.
Don't kill him. That's our master's order.
Coup suppressed.
What a carefree bunch.
They don't know what went on behind the scenes.
Come on, that's fine.
The threat is gone.
Do you really think that?
It seems like the Bugs, who controls Asia's underground society,
were pulling the strings.
Those pests.
They used Hayami as their puppet
and planned to take over the Kengan Association from the inside.
Well, they'll probably lay low for a while after what happened today.
By the way, I've also received a curious report.
Apparently, they were trying to kidnap Ohma Tokita in the confusion.
So, that man has been marked by the Bugs too.
Who on earth is he?
I wonder.
Those who don't know what went on are acting so complacently!
We were able to prevent it beforehand,
so it's probably better that they don't know.
I don't know if we can call that preventing it beforehand though.
SHION SORYUIN DIRECTOR OF KOUOU EDUCATION GROUP
It just means that it wasn't a big deal for Chairman Katahara.
I'm sure he can cover it up any way he wants.
I'll never understand how these big shots think.
That sort of secretive nature is so scary.
Right, President Ohya?
KEN OHYA PRESIDENT OF GINOKUNIYA BOOKSHOP
I know that the Chairman didn't change, but President Hayami has fallen.
The Japanese economy will be in chaos.
There you are.
I haven't spoken to you in a while.
Hey, how much do you know?
What are you talking about?
Come on. You're still gonna play dumb after all this?
Three more.
When I win, you're gonna tell me everything.
Ohma.
Something feels different.
His aggressive aura has vanished.
It's like…
he's had a realization.
Hey, Ohma!
You always go off on your own!
Kazuo Yamashita. I can go wherever I want to, right?
You're not fully recovered yet! Do you understand that?
Yeah.
Sorry for the trouble.
Ohma. I need you to listen to me just this once.
Yamashita Corporation…
will forfeit the tournament.
Ohma!
Ohma.
I don't even feel pain anymore now.
Three more to go.
I just need to last…
for three more matches.
The King of Stranglers versus Ashura!
Both suffering full body wounds,
but with minds as serene as still water.
Overflowing with only the will to fight!
Next episode: "Headstrong."
Subtitle translation by: Aya Kudo