Ciao-su!
The fourth battle is between the Guardians of the Rain Ring,
Yamamoto and Squalo.
Yamamoto!
Well?
Does it hurt?
Before I kill you, I've gotta give you some bad news.
I know all your techniques and how to conquer them!
Target 49 Requiem Rain
He crushed the Shigure Soen Ryu style?
A long time ago, I crushed a man known as the Blade Emperor.
I then went on a journey to find strong opponents to test my newly-mastered skills.
During that time...
I heard rumors of a style in the Far East that had
perfected the art of killing.
That was the Shigure Soen Ryu.
And one day, I found a master of the style and three of his students.
They used the same eight stances you did.
In the end, it was merely a pathetic version of an aging style!
I watched them use all of their techniques,
saw through them, and then I cut them up!
Th-That's...
Probably true.
The speed at which Squalo can defeat
his opponent's techniques is far beyond reflex.
What?
What a mighty opponent...
To best even Master Yamamoto's Shigure Soen Ryu...
Squalo...
It was no stroke of luck that allowed him to defeat the Blade Emperor.
S-So, Yamamoto's techniques won't work anymore?
Nice story.
Yamamoto!
That guy...
The Shigure Soen Ryu I know...
is flawless, ultimate, and second to none!
Master Yamamoto intends to use the Shigure Soen Ryu to the end!
That's crazy!
Are you an idiot?
I won't know until I try!
I'm not gonna hold back anymore.
Squalo's getting serious.
Let's go!
Fragments of the pillar!
That's cheating!
There's no stopping me once I'm on the move.
That technique...
Early Summer Rain!
Yamamoto?
Master Yamamoto!
Why dost thou not move?
What's wrong?
Die!
Yamamoto!
Something's wrong with Yamamoto!
His movements appear to have been halted briefly.
That's...
What Squalo used a moment ago is called Attacco di Squalo.
It's a powerful swing that causes vibrations in the enemy's sword,
which travel through the body and paralyzes them.
He punched his arm to undo it, though. Not bad.
But the Attacco di Squalo contains more force
than being struck with a bat.
He won't be able to use his left arm for a while.
Somethin' wrong, pal? You don't look so good!
Not so fast!
Die!
Ya-Yamamoto...
Yamamoto.
Wh-What an incredible attack...
Neither striking nor stabbing...
It was akin to gnashing the air itself...
That was the Zanna di Squalo.
Boss, I think we've won.
Different day, same outcome, huh?
I suppose that's Squalo for you.
He's fulfilling the Guardian of the Rain Ring's duty to the very end;
putting a clean end to the battle and washing all enemies away.
A Requiem Rain.
No...
Get ready, boy.
I'm gonna finish this.
Dammit...
How can this be so one-sided?
My dad'll be pissed when he finds out I've lost.
Hey! Still wanna go at it?
With your beloved Shigure Soen Ryu?
What's wrong, boy?
The last guy showed me all eight stances.
Though, he died a horrible death after the last one, Stance 8: Autumn Rain.
Stance 8: Autumn Rain?
What's that?
I've never heard of it.
I finally understand, Dad.
Yamamoto...
Yamamoto!
Hey kids, it's time to watch the little sword boy's brutal death!
Lay down! I'll chop you to bits.
Not happening.
The Shigure Soen Ryu is flawless.
He's pretty stubborn.
Bluff all he wants, he can't do a thing in his condition.
Yamamoto!
He can barely stand!
Worthless trash!
I'll start by chopping off that back-talking yap!
Working hard, Takeshi?
Hey, Dad.
Have a snack.
Think you'll be able to master the eight stances?
I'll give it my best.
But I think the one I like most is Stance 8: Pouring Rain.
I dunno why, but it's the simplest to use somehow; I'm not having any trouble with it.
Really now?
I see, I see. You are like him.
What?
You're pretty happy.
Stance 8 was the last one to be developed.
I've been told it was born when a young master of the style tried to save his friend.
I didn't know the stances were made in a certain order.
Everything under the sun has an order.
Pouring Rain was born in the midst of a typhoon.
They say it was a violent, drenching rain.
Let's go.
What're you up to?
Shigure Soen Ryu...
Yamamoto!
He's still...?
No! It won't work on Squalo!
Your head's gotta be empty.
I know that stance.
Just try it! Use Autumn Rain!
It's over.
Shigure Soen Ryu, Stance 8:
Pouring Rain
Pouring Rain.
I knew it.
You bastard!
You can use a style other than Shigure Soen Ryu?
Nope, that was still Shigure Soen Ryu.
What?!
Stance 8: Pouring Rain, was created by my dad.
You bastard!
You can use a style other than Shigure Soen Ryu?
Nope, that was still Shigure Soen Ryu.
What?!
Stance 8: Pouring Rain, was created by my dad.
Yamamoto's dad made it?
I see.
That's why there are eight generations and eight stances.
The Shigure Soen Ryu changes as it's passed down.
It changes?
Most likely, both Yamamoto's dad, and the man Squalo defeated,
learned stances one to seven from the same master,
and they each made a different eighth stance.
Though they used the same name for their style?
The masters of the Shigure Soen Ryu
inherit the stances of their forebearers,
as well as create a new one, which are all passed down.
B-But would that not mean there would be a split every generation,
which would create completely new styles and stances?
It's the opposite.
Actually, I'm amazed it hasn't died out by now.
The techniques are shown to new students only once.
Change doesn't just mean evolution, but sometimes regression as well.
At the same time, the style is claiming to be invincible,
thus deliberately attracting attention from powerful swordsmen.
It's as if it's trying to destroy itself.
And so, when none remain with the talent and spirit to truly master it,
the Shigure Soen Ryu, known as a sword of destruction, will vanish.
Hey, boy!
To be honest, I didn't think you're that good,
and I don't understand why you'd use the back of your blade.
This is supposed to be a fight with real weapons, dammit!
That dumbass is way too soft.
Yamamoto wants to use the back of his blade for the whole fight...
Or what, you have more techniques to show me?
Unfortunately, one to seven are the ones you already know.
You idiot, don't tell him that!
Great! Then you're dead!
Now that I've seen Pouring Rain, I can beat it!
Just what I'd expect...
Sounds good to me.
Okay, here goes.
Shigure Soen Ryu, Stance 9!
Stance 9?!
That means...
Yamamoto's going to use the stance he developed himself.
I see... That style is perpetually trying to surpass itself...
If he can pull it off, then the...
Shigure Soen Ryu really will be flawless, ultimate,
and second to none!
But can you do it, Yamamoto?
What the hell're you doing?
You think this is a baseball game or something?
Sadly, it's the only thing I'm good at.
That strike will end it.
Yeah.
But doesn't he need to use the Shigure Soen Ryu for that blade to work?
No, this is why his dad gave it to him.
If he can't transform the blade,
then he doesn't have the right to inherit the ultimate style.
That's so dangerous...
Don't get cocky, boy!
I'll show you the true might of my blade!
He's deflecting the water!
Scontro Di Squalo.
I didn't think I'd get to see the
secret technique that defeated the Blade Emperor here.
Here I go.
He disappeared!
Shigure Soen Ryu: Stance 9!
He's over there...
He dodged it!
It's not over yet.
What's wrong?
I guess it was impossible...
It's over!
The other direction?
Not bad...
But my blade has no blind spots!
An artificial hand?
Impossible...
What I cut was...
A reflection on the water's surface.
Reflecting Rain
Reflecting Rain!
So this is... defeat...?
What was...
...that?
I think it was a variant of Surging Rain.
With the last swing of his blade, he'd already created that wave.
He lured Squalo out and created a reflection of himself behind him.
And he just came up with that incredible attack now?
I told you, he's a natural hitman.
D-Don't say such disturbing things!
Look.
I won.
He did it...
Yamamoto...
...is the victor!
I can't believe it.
Yeah, didn't see that coming.
Boss?
Xanxus!
I promise you this:
I won't cut my hair until the plan comes to fruition!
It's my sacrifice.
Great.
Swear it too.
Don't cut your hair either.
That's stupid.
Your hand's useless now because of the Blade Emperor.
What can you do?
Don't get the wrong idea here.
I gave up my hand so I could understand the skills of the
Blade Emperor, who doesn't have a left hand.
This is what I'm prepared to do for you.
Just you watch, bud.
The day will come when you'll be glad to let me join you.
Squalo...
Look at you! You lost!
Trash!
I'm through with you.
You don't need to do it yourself.
Shall I?
There'll be a fee though.
Please wait.
It's dangerous to enter the Aquarion now.
The water has reached the designated level
and a vicious marine beast has been released.
You're kidding!
A-A shark?
Now hold on.
What're you going to do with Squalo?
As Squalo has lost, we therefore
can make no guarantees on his life.
Yeah, I figured that was gonna happen.
Yamamoto!
What is he doing?
He's not going to save him, is he?
Are you an idiot?!
Isn't it normal to save him?
That's not what I'm trying to say!
Thy injuries will prevent thee from carrying Squalo!
Huh?
The shark found its prey and is moving in!
It's huge!
Scary. But it can't reach me yet.
Yamamoto!
This is bad.
Put me down.
Don't taint my pride as a swordsman.
But... you know...
Shut up.
Listen, boy, your swordsmanship ain't bad.
You just need to toughen up.
Squalo!
So he ended up as fish food!
What a piece of garbage.
I've been able to wash away the one link to my past.
Damn it...
What the hell?
The battle for the Rain Ring has ended
with Takeshi Yamamoto's victory.
It can't end like this...
We will announce the participants of the next match.
The battle to be held tomorrow night will feature...
Mist.
It's finally time!
What'll we do, Reborn?
Who the heck's the Guardian of the Mist Ring?
It's finally their turn to take the spotlight.
And now what you've been waiting for.
The horoscope for...
...next week!
The best three, maggot!
Lambo-san is here too!
You do this then.
That's right, maggot!
Hold... it... in...
The third sign for next week...
Virgo You'll be able to reconcile with your friends.
...will be Virgo.
Next week'll be extreme!
But my luck goes to boxing!
Hold... it... in...
Libra Getting together after school is lucky.
Number two for next week...
...will be Libra.
I'm lucky every day.
So's Leon.
Hold... it... in...
And the top sign...
Capricorn Helping your teacher is the key to good luck.
...will be Capricorn!
I'll write that in my Book of Rankings!
See ya next time!
That was all Lambo-san!
Ciao-ciao.
Bye-bye.
Next time: The Guardian of the Mist Ring Arrives!?