COSMO IMAI NISHIHONJI SECURITY SERVICES
Why did he cut the fight short?
Saved by the bell.
I no longer have a reason to fight.
I was so close.
I'm so close to being able to change.
-Cos. -Huh?
Akira.
I hate beating around the bush.
I'll be straight with you.
Huh?
I'm not going to use you for the next match.
Nishihonji Security Services is going to switch fighters.
KENGAN ASHURA
HEADSTRONG
Look at how excited they are!
I'm glad they're enjoying themselves.
I owe it all to your deft maneuvering, Nogi.
Don't play dumb.
Hmm?
I know that you're the one
who planted a spy under Chairman Hayami.
You leaked information through the spy and staged a coup.
Hmm? Is that what happened?
I'm so forgetful these days.
You could have taken down Hayami on your own if you had wanted to.
So why didn't you?
You don't get it, do you?
It's a test.
If I didn't have someone new to play with, I'd get bored, no?
You pass, Nogi.
Perhaps you'll end up
being more fun than Hayami was.
Come. Let's have fun together!
Everyone's all fired up!
Can't you just feel the heat, Kaolan?!
You sure get over things fast.
I'm always trying to surpass my own self!
Right, Kaolan?!
Glad to hear that.
I… I can't stop trembling…
What's wrong, Suekichi Kaneda?
You'd never experience this in public. It's the ultimate battle!
How could you not be trembling right now? Am I right?
-Yeah! -Yeah!
Enough of all your incessant yapping!
You're making my wounds hurt!
That's rich coming from you, Sawada!
I've had more than enough of that big head of yours!
What did you say?!
Well, I'll be damned!
Funny how everyone showed up to the arena after all.
Am I right?
That goes for you too, Master.
Huh?! Watch your attitude!
Dr. Hanafusa, thank you.
I'm very grateful to you too, Doctor.
No need to thank me.
Don't worry.
It'll take some time, but you'll make a full recovery.
Right!
I'm so glad, Brother.
Sorry to make you worry, Elena.
But I just don't get it.
Maybe it's because I'm not a professional fighter,
but I don't understand why the losing opponents would want to root
for the one who beat them.
They all want the same thing.
Even the ones who aren't here now.
They all have different reasons,
but they're all waiting for it.
We're all waiting to find out
who's the best.
How's that?!
Does it feel good?
KARURA KURE KURE FAMILY
Do you feel better now, Ohma?
Stop! He's still undergoing treatment.
Ohma!
Sorry. Please continue.
Okay.
Ohma, are you okay?
Yeah.
My body feels unbelievably light.
I'm so glad!
The Kure Family's techniques really are impressive.
Of course.
The Kure Family's techniques can control life and death.
We've been treating you with our secret therapeutic techniques since yesterday.
There's no way you wouldn't get better.
You're the man who might become Karura's husband one day.
We can't abandon you.
Good job, Grandfather!
Yeah. You're incredible.
I'll give you some candy, so get well, okay?
Be quiet, you punks!
Ohma! Grandfather gave us his approval!
Now we can finally make a baby!
You're a strange one.
Huh?
Excuse me, Mr. Tokita.
Mr. Yamashita would like to speak with you alone.
Well, then. Until next time.
Yeah. Thanks for your help, old man.
I did what I could.
The rest is up to you.
Thank you.
Ohma…
You haven't changed your mind?
Nope.
Thanks to old man Kure, I feel great now.
I can fight.
I spoke with my son Kenzo on the phone.
What can I say? I'm such a bad father.
My son had become a recluse, but I ignored him for ten years.
Still, I never imagined he'd become such a big shot.
Anyway, we talked about a lot of things.
I know it wasn't enough to make up for lost time,
but if we're to be family again, like we were long ago…
Oh! That's right!
About my debt, Kenzo said he'd pay it off for me.
Man, what a complete disgrace of a father I am…
Huh?
H-Huh?
That's weird.
Kazuo Yamashita…
You know, don't you? There won't be a second chance.
It was my own selfish choice to compete in the first place.
I've got to see it through to the end.
Please.
Just listen to me… every once in a while.
Kazuo--
Listen to me!
…Yamashita.
Don't you understand?
You're going to die!
Only six months have passed since I met you.
I can't say I've known you for a long time.
But…
I was only able to change
because of you!
Because of you, I…
You're my savior… and my friend.
You're like family to me.
To me,
you are indispensable!
I'm o-older than you, you know!
You're almost the same age as my son!
Listen to me! I'm your elder!
Drop out, Ohma!
I'm begging you…
drop out of the tournament…
Kazuo Yamashita.
Thank you.
I already knew.
Even if Ohma dropped out of the tournament,
he would never stop fighting.
All I can do is watch over him…
and respect his way of life.
He's a beast who seeks out strength.
The Asura, the man who knows no fear!
GAME ONE
Born and raised in The Inside, the most dangerous area in Japan,
he is a god who inherited the mysterious secret arts of the Niko Style!
Standing at 182 cm tall and weighing 85 kg,
his Kengan match record is four wins and zero losses.
His total acquired assets
are 154,230,000,000 yen!
Representing Yamashita Corporation,
The Asura!
Ohma Tokita!
Tokita!
Ohma Tokita…
Elena, where's Ohma?
He entered the ring just now!
Ohma? He looks different from before…
Huh? What do you mean?
He's still changing.
Huh?
VERSUS
At 14, he became the youngest fighter in the history of Kengan matches.
And he's undefeated!
Hailed as a genius by all!
Standing at 171 cm tall and weighing 68 kg,
his Kengan match record is 23 wins and zero losses!
His total acquired assets
are 79,212,000,000 yen!
Representing Nishihonji Security Services,
it's The King of Stranglers,
Cosmo Imai!
Imai! Are you sure you can keep going?!
You're hurt!
That's what a reserve fighter is for!
Nishihonji is such an amateur.
Well, too bad for you, Ohkubo.
That boy totally changed when his back was against the wall.
Don't hate me, boy.
Nishihonji just asked me to fight in your place.
Hey, Imai! Don't do it!
I would switch me out if I were him too.
If I want to fight, I have to prove myself.
Don't worry.
We're not trying to kill each other for real.
This is only a warm-up.
Just a little sparring session to decide who's going to fight.
One match, five minutes.
If no one wins, the referee decides.
Okay.
You'll just have to prove that you don't need a substitute.
You can begin anytime, Master.
Kureishi, you're the boy's master?
No wonder he's good.
All right. Begin!
Objectively speaking, I had the upper hand in experience, size, and skill.
And on top of that, he's injured.
Still, I couldn't dodge that move.
That reserve fighter money went up in smoke, just like my dreams.
You're all beat up, Cosmo Imai.
We both are.
The first time I noticed you was in your match with Sekibayashi.
Now, I finally get to fight you.
We're both far from being in top shape.
But I know one thing for sure.
Right now… I'm the strongest I've ever been.
Yeah.
Neither of us are in perfect condition, but let's make this a good match.
A handshake?
This would be my first one.
Just know I'm going to win, Cosmo Imai.
Both of them are crouching down low!
But it's not out of humility.
Both are on their guards!
They're shaking hands in a show of friendly sportsmanship,
but both are poised for a good fight!
I thought you rigged that match to make sure Ohkubo won.
It surprised me too.
I didn't think you'd really continue to fight.
Cos…
Now that they've shaken hands,
they have reassumed their starting positions.
It's clear to everyone here
that both fighters have sustained severe damage.
Both sides have chosen not to substitute their fighters.
Let's see what fate has in store for them!
Ready…
Begin!
Hey, I thought you were hurt! You're bursting with energy, Cosmo!
Go, Cosmo! Get him!
Those movements…
That's Foresight!
Did he perfect that move in that fight against the Guardians?
It's no use!
As I am now, I won't lose to anyone!
We'll see about that.
He mounted him!
-Choke him! -Kill him!
-Huh? -What's going on? He's not moving!
Kill him!
I thought you were an expert!
If you want to rest, do it at home!
You're no genius, you dickhead!
Move!
You start moving too, Ohma!
-Don't enter if you're not going to fight! -You're not worthy of Kengan!
The crowd's getting riled up because of a little deadlock.
It's only the quarterfinals, and the vibe's already off.
Want me to kill a couple to shut them up?
Just ignore them. The masses are always like that.
What's he doing?!
He let him easily break out of the D'Arce choke.
Wait, was it intentional?
Was it to set up the mount?
If so, then why are they in a deadlock?
Was this part of Imai's plan?
I think it's the other way around.
Huh?
Tokita's the one who's been on the attack.
Imai has been countering,
but he's also been passive.
With his injury,
he can't hold off Tokita forever.
If Imai wants to win, he needs to be more aggressive.
No, Haruo's in the right.
Cosmo's the one in control right now.
Die, both of you! You useless idiots!
Out of my way.
RAIAN KURE UNDER MOUNT, INC. REP. FIGHTER
Raian…
…Kure!
That's right. Just stay quiet.
Now, I've got a question for you two.
What do you think?
Huh? W-What do you mean?
Are you talking about the match?
Answer my question with a question again, and l'll kill you.
S-Sorry!
W-Well, I think that
they're in a deadlock…
Huh?!
I'm sorry! I let myself get carried away by the crowd!
In a deadlock. You're right.
-We're right?! -We're right?!
But let me add that this is no ordinary deadlock.
-Huh? -Huh?
Don't take your eyes off them.
If you keep yapping your heads off, you're going to miss it.
So shut up and watch.
Something changed.
What's going on?
It's about to begin.
What's going on?!
Those are not the movements of an injured man!
Is he doing this on purpose?
He keeps giving up his mount
and holding out against my attacks while resecuring another mount.
Are you trying to say that you're better than me?
Incredible.
Could it be?
Cosmo has the advantage in ground fighting.
Could it be? Is Cosmo trying to…
Subtitle translation by: Arisa Nitta
The genius achieves growth through battle.
The Asura breaks out of his shell and finds a way through.
I don't want to lose!
Next episode: "Reflecting Water."