Taking on Suger R. Hill, who has been undefeated since his debut as a pro,
is the man with the AI-equipped Gear, the fighting engineer...
the maverick of the Shirato Group, Shirato Mikio!
These two top ranked fighters, each considered a favorite for entry into Megalonia,
are going to collide over the final available slot!
The winner of this match is considered likely to become the Final One,
but do you think there's any room for "Gearless" Joe to make his presence felt?
He's got popularity and notoriety on his side,
but to be honest, he just lacks skill compared to these guys.
This is all about two men in this match,
and the chances for Joe making it in are close to zero.
What the hell?
They're totally ignoring Joe.
Don't worry about it.
This match doesn't actually decide anything.
Whoever gets into Megalonia is ultimately decided by the people who own it.
In other words, the promoters.
But isn't Shirato the owner?
So if Mikio wins his fight, he's gotta be getting in.
If this match decided who got in...
Nobody would be happy.
What do you mean?
Am I wrong?
This match is basically just setting the table for your brother.
I doubt the public is gonna accept that.
They're gonna wonder if you forgot a certain someone.
Team Nowhere
I hear your fighter is actually too injured from his match with Aragaki
to be fighting anyone at the moment.
Oh, the kid's in top shape.
Everyone gets a fair chance, right?
I hope things turn out well for you two.
After all, Megalonia is open to anyone...
With the exception of those who don't use Gear.
At least she's honest.
Mikio's reading all the other guy's moves.
Even Suger's switch-ups aren't making a difference.
That AI Gear of his
probably determines the most cost-effective attacks and defenses
given what's going on in the match.
So the Gear is calling the shots, and not him?
He's down!
A KO at 2:50 into the second round!
The winner is Shirato Mikio with Team Shirato!
To be able to pull a stunt like that on a fighter like Suger...
His face might piss me off,
but the guy didn't get where he is just by nepotism.
You've finally made it this far, Shirato.
Your entry into Megalonia is all but guaranteed, with this win.
Damn idiots. That's not your call to make.
Pops!
This means I have a ticket into Megalonia...
Or rather, I wish it did.
There's still one thing I need to do.
Would you get this damn thing off me? I'm not your dog—
We've done it, Joe!
We've finally made it!
To truly be the Final One,
there's one fighter I simply can't ignore.
"Gearless" Joe. Which of us is fit to fight in Megalonia?
Let's settle it in the ring.
I guess the thing about luck is that you never see it coming!
We've managed to come this far on a fake ID!
It may as well be the real thing, now!
Doesn't this seem a little too good to be true?
You've got a point. This is Shirato we're going up against.
I can't blame you for thinking that.
But no matter what kind of trap they're trying to snare you in...
once we get in the ring, we've got the edge.
He's right, Joe!
I mean, yeah, his Gear is pretty good,
but Pops and I have seen you get stronger through your fights.
There's no way you can lose. I'm sure of it.
In that case, I can't keep sitting around.
Yes, you can, dumbass. You're in no shape to move around yet.
I'm fine.
Sachio...
Joe.
Take your shirt off for a sec.
Damn...
You've fought non-stop over a short window.
And I think the match with Aragaki was you hitting your limit.
Don't worry about it! They're just bruises.
You don't get it, do you?
You're exposed when you get in the ring.
That makes every one of those bruises a target for the other guy.
You wanna tell them "Please hit me here"?
And I'm not worried about you, kid.
But you've got a better chance of winning if you're fully healed up.
Getting rest is part of your job, too.
Especially if you wanna come out on top at Megalonia!
Director Asamoto...
Are you serious about having a match between that gearless fighter and Mikio?
Is that a problem?
But by beating Suger,
Mikio has been confirmed as the Final One.
Can't his comments just be dismissed as a bit of lip service?
We can't very well pretend it didn't happen, considering it was done in the ring.
I mean, didn't the president set up this previous match
because she expected Mikio to win?
So there's no need to test him any further.
I have to agree.
The purpose of this committee
is to make Megalonia, one of Shirato's biggest ventures, a success.
Which should make it obvious who the last entrant is.
I doubt your predecessor would've ever hesitated so much over a decision like this.
Am I wrong?
We're the ones who set the rules.
Even if he's a member of the company, he's merely a fighter in this context.
We have no reason to accommodate his whims.
Then...
I understand how you all feel.
I'll make the final decision.
The committee seems set on Mikio entering the tournament.
I'm not sure the executives will tolerate much more stalling.
The Suger match had the opposite of the intended effect.
We may have underestimated his Gear's effectiveness.
To think it had come so far...
Are you implying Yuri's integrated Gear is inferior?
No, not at all.
But... it seems that Mikio has more support than we anticipated.
If we can't keep him from entering the tournament,
it could adversely affect our agenda for Megalonia.
I suppose I'll have to use him to stop my brother, after all.
I think so.
But to think that he'd suggest the match himself...
Do you think Mikio realized what you're after?
I honestly can't say.
Shirato Mikio VS "Gearless" Joe: Will it happen!?
A match to decide who becomes the "Final One"!!
Team Nowhere's trainer: "We're going all the way in Megalonia!!"
Well, it's finally here.
Team Shirato has made an official offer.
The contract signing is gonna be soon.
So you weren't feeding me a line to get me off your back, huh?
To be honest, I didn't think you had a chance in hell at getting into Megalonia.
Guess that's just one more upset for you boys, huh?
That's a rare kind of luck you've got.
Look, Mr. Yabunuma...
What do you think about this deal?
I'm just a middleman.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Sorry to ask you a stupid question, then.
Listen, Nanbu...
There's a rumor I heard.
The owner doesn't want Shirato Mikio getting into Megalonia.
What do you mean?!
Then what is this match about?
Shirato Yukiko wants to keep her brother out of the tournament?
Some people think she's worried about looking like he has an unfair advantage...
But I'm not so sure.
Either way, watch yourselves.
The union between his body and the Gear has worked as well as we had hoped.
I see.
It's incredibly adaptive.
You can hardly call it Gear anymore... it's a part of his body, now.
And the Gear wouldn't have come this far without his involvement.
Yes.
Next!
Hey, Yuri! That's it for today.
I'm starting to think the word "defeat" can't ever apply to you.
To survive in the ring, you have to be the genuine article.
You're right.
President. Mikio has requested you meet him in the lab.
A new model of Gear?
I developed it to beat the champion.
It's not finished, though.
How can I help you, brother?
That should be obvious. The match with "Gearless" Joe.
Right.
It's just what you wanted, isn't it?
You were going to make it happen anyway, weren't you?
I know you were behind the match against Suger, as well.
It hurts me that you thought I couldn't win.
But it didn't turn out as you expected.
So I anticipated your next move would be
siccing that irritating little stray on me.
You never wanted me to get into Megalonia.
And you'll do anything to bring me down.
Just like how you took Shirato from me.
It was Grandfather who chose me to succeed him.
You manipulated him into it, didn't you?
It's fine.
But this is your last chance.
This time, I'm going to be the one chosen.
You make it sound like you're guaranteed to win.
This was a fun chat, Yukiko.
Come on now, everybody, step right on up!
There's no fee to watch,
just buy a bowl of pork miso soup and you can observe all day long!
If you're not gonna eat it, then you can beat it!
Like they say, nothing is more expensive than something free!
Hey, no pictures!
Now, get in line with the rest!
I guess I'll take one...
Yeah, me, too.
Thanks for your business!
They run a tight ship.
You still hurting?
Listen up.
As you know, most Gear reacts to the movements of your muscles.
Because of that, there's a slight delay when compared to a regular punch.
That's the advantage you risked your neck to capitalize on.
But Mikio's AI-equipped model
uses sensors to detect his opponent's moves,
and then the Gear moves his body for him.
In other words, there's no lag in his reactions.
You get it?
Your gearless advantage isn't gonna apply to this next match.
I'll show him I've got more than that.
Don't be stupid!
This guy's been studying you. He can predict your moves!
If you're not careful, you're gonna end up like Suger!
Come on, get ready to take one real quick.
Damn it... Do whatever you're gonna do.
Y-You... That was way stronger...
You said that having strong footing makes for stronger punches, right?
So we tried helping with that.
His Gear might be good, but it won't see this coming.
With a shot like this—
Sachio!
Sorry, Pops...
I know you said Joe had to rest...
Not that.
We're a team, all right?
If you come up with any idea that'll help us get into Megalonia,
then go ahead and try it out.
However...
Don't sneak around doing it without telling the rest of us, all right?
Yeah!
Our chances are better now.
Right, Pops?
Yeah.
But... even if you have a killer punch, it won't matter if you can't land it.
I'm not sure what difference it'll make,
but we need to teach you some new combinations.
Take a shot where I hold the mitts.
We're gonna drill you on all the patterns I can think of.
All of them?
Sachio, don't bother with the clock.
Pay close attention to what he does, and remember any mistakes he makes.
Eyes wide open, all right?
So we're not taking any breaks, huh?
You've got energy to burn, right?
We're doing this until one of us gives up.
We've come pretty far, haven't we?
Yeah.
We can do this, can't we?
Damn right we can!
More precision!
Pull your fist back in fast!
What happened to all that power?!
They actually need me.
So, Dad, Mom, don't worry about me.
"We're going all the way in Megalonia!!"
Damned idiot...
Pipe down, Bonjiri!
Sorry.
It's just really tight.
And we're out! Yeah!
Nice, Oicho! These are first-class seats!
Well, get a load of that!
We can see Big Joe in all his glory now!
This isn't really my style.
It's fine.
Team Nowhere, let's do this!
Joe—
Joe!
Pops...
Thanks for calling me out.
But if you wanna say hello, save it for the ring.
Sadly, there won't be a chance for that.
What do you mean?
You're not getting in the ring.
You don't have the right to...
Isn't that right, Junk Dog the fraud?
The forged ID, the matches you were throwing in the underground...
You've got quite a checkered past.
What'll happen if word gets out?
But it's up to you if you want to proceed.
What's your call? Still want to get in the ring?
You piece of—
Pops...
So the outcome was fixed from the beginning?
Now you know why I chose you.
Megalonia is a stage for the chosen.
And I won't let anyone get in my way.
Not some stray dog... or that woman.
What in the world is happening?
Joe has yet to enter the ring.
If he doesn't arrive soon, Shirato Mikio will win by default.
What happened to Big Joe?
Your last chance is over.
I'm taking it all back.
Everything you took from me.
Round 7 "The Road to Death" If you're crossing this river, don't bother paying for a round trip.