After a long time wandering in the desert, Ken is taken prisoner while wandering into a village looking for water. There, he shares a cell with a young thief named Bato (Bart), and befriends his cell …

Ken rescues an old man named Smith from Spade, a member of the Four Jacks working for the King organization. The old man seeks to deliver a bag of rice seeds to his village, hoping to harvest them for…

Bato spots Rin in a truck full of captured villagers being taken to the village of Dorado, which is occupied by the King gang. On their way there, Ken encounters two of remaining Jacks, Diamond and Cl…

Ken learns that the prisoners that were transported with Rin were taken to a prison camp in a nearby valley. Ken manages to break the imprisoned villagers free, but during their escape they're all sla…

Having learned that King is none other than his old friend turned nemesis Shin, Ken remembers how a year ago Shin defeated him in combat, engraved the seven scars on his chest, and kidnapped his fianc…

Ken and his friends arrive at an oasis under the surveillance of God's Army, a fanatical military group composed of former special forces members. Ken becomes a target for this group after Ken kills o…

The members of God's Army conduct a full-scale search of the oasis for Kenshiro. When the search team begins to execute random villagers to lure him, Ken allows himself to be captured in order to infi…

Ken penetrates the headquarters of God's Army and confronts their leader, the Colonel, a deluded follower of Shin who has mastered the art of Nanto Muonken.

Ken and his friends visit a village where young men and women are offered as slaves to Madam Patra, a local sorceress who controls the village's water supply.

Ken ventures into Patra's lair at Dragon God Mountain to save the young villagers. There he faces Patra's partner Dragon, a firebreather who attempts to coerce Ken to his side.

Ken and his companions meet Taki, an old friend of Bato. Taki takes them to his home village where Auntie Toyo, an elderly woman who takes care of orphaned and abandoned children, is trying to dig a w…

After Toyo is killed by Jackal, Ken leaves Bato and Rin to watch over Toyo's orphans while he chases after Jackal's gang. While searching for clues to Jackal's destination, Ken encounters Fox, Jackal'…

Ken chases Jackal to the ruins of Villainy Prison, a place that used to imprison the most vicious of criminals. Hoping to defeat Ken, Jackal releases Devil's Rebirth, a giant demon-like killer who has…

Ken and his friends visit a village where their local doctor, a man named Duran, offers his hospitality. However, Duran's former partner-in-crime, Dante, is hired by Shin to hunt down Ken. Dante takes…

Ken and his friend must save a haunted village from Zaria, a witchdoctor who uses a strange hypnosis technique that turns villagers into mind-controlled slaves.

Ken is caught at the middle of a gang war between the Scorpions and the Snakes, each seeking to recruit Ken to their side.

Shin gathers his entire army for a meeting as he officially declares war against Kenshiro. Barcom, the General of King's army, tells his men how Ken defeated some of Shin's best fighters. Meanwhile, Y…

One of King's subordinate gangs attacks a village Ken is visiting, while Yuria attempts to escape from Southern Cross with the help of her young maid Saki.

Ken is forced to return to Jeena village when Garekki of the Gold Wolf gang attempts to invade it, while Saki's elder brother, Temjina, escapes from Southern Cross, seeking to tell Ken of Yuria's wher…

With Ken having learned the location of the city of Southern Cross from Temjina's dying words, Shin deploys a giant gunship as his last resource.

With Ken presumed dead, General Barcom leads a mutiny against Shin, seeking to take over the King gang for himself. Elsewhere, Joker searches the wreckage of the gunship for Ken's body, unconvinced th…

With Southern Cross left in ruins following Barcom's revolt, Shin is left by himself in his own palace, protected by the few followers he still has left. Ken confronts Shin for the first time in a yea…

Ken is recruited to serve as guardian of a village threatened by the Fang clan and becomes acquainted with their female leader Mamiya, who is a deadringer for Yuria. Elsewhere, a man named Rei, master…

Rei is hired by the Fang Clan to infiltrate Mamiya's village as a spy, where he meets Ken and his friends. However, he becomes attracted to Mamiya and switches sides.

When Mamiya's younger brother Ko is captured by the Fangs and publicly executed, Ken and Rei sets out to punish the ones responsible. Rei reveals his motive for searching for the Man with Seven Scars.

Ken, along with Rei and Mamiya, venture into Night Fog Valley in order to confront Boss Fang, the leader of the Fang Clan. Boss Fang orders his right-hand man to do a background check on Ken and Rei.

Ken, Rei, and Mamiya arrive at Boss Fang's lair, only to find out that the gang has tracked down and captured Airi, Rei's long-lost sister.

While pretending to be Ken's fiancee, Mamiya allows herself to be captured by Boss Fang under the condition that he releases Airi. However, Boss Fang does not keep his side of the bargain and forces K…

Ken and Rei defeat the Fang Clan and rescue women. After to Mamiya's village, Airi regains her eyesight and reveals that the man who kidnapped her wore a metal helmet. Elsewhere, a vicious gang leader…

Kenshiro learns that Jagi, an adoptive brother who was also trained in the art of Hokuto Shinken, is trying to tarnish his reputation by committing numerous heinous acts while claiming to be him.

Enraged by the fact that his younger brother was chosen to be the heir to Hokuto Shinken, Jagi continues his rampage of destruction, destroying anyone who reminds him of Kenshiro. But when Ken finds o…

Ken confronts his brother Jagi, who seeks vengeance against Ken, who was responsible for mutilating Jagi's head after failed attempt at killing Ken. During battle, Jagi reveals that he was the one res…

Ken hears rumors that one of his other Hokuto Shinken brothers Toki, a once benevolent healer, is now using his skills to experiment on people.

Ken confronts a group of hunters who were physically modified through pressure point experiments conducted on them by Toki.

Kenshiro confronts Toki in his lair at the Village of Miracles. However, Ken is unconvinced that his adversary is the real Toki, until he reveals the scar on his back, from which Toki gained while res…

Rei and Mamiya arrive to help Ken, revealing that Ken's adversary is not the real Toki, but a former follower of his named Amiba, who had the real Toki imprisoned. Before dying, Amiba reveals that he …

Mamiya seeks clues to Toki's whereabouts and learns that he is imprisoned at the Dungeon of Cassandra, the City of Wailing Demons.

Uighur, the Warden of Cassandra, blackmails a female prisoner named Bella, the successor of the Ranzan Kurenaiken (the Crimson Fist of Lotus Mountain) style, to kill Ken and his friends.

The trio reaches the Gates of Cassandra, where they confront the gatekeepers Raiga and Fuga, the twin successors of the Nishin Fūraiken ("Two Gods of Wind and Thunder Fist") style.

Ken challenges Uighur, the Warden of Cassandra, at the prison's courtyard.

While awaiting for Ken's return, Bat and Rin reminisce of their adventures with Ken and the people they met up until this point. Ken-Oh's Royal Guards arrive at Cassandra to regain their hold of the p…

Ken and his allies fight their way against Ken-oh's Royal Guards into Cassandra, where Toki awaits him.

Ken finally finds Toki, who reveals that Ken-oh is none other than the eldest of the four Hokuto Brothers, Raoh.

While on their way to Mamiya's village, Ken and Toki reveal more about their past with Raoh to her and Rei, unaware that Ken-oh's Invasion Division is already attacking the village.

Ken, Toki, and Mamiya follow a trail of huge hoof prints left by Ken-oh's horse. Meanwhile, Ken-oh's Invasion Squad forces the villagers to pay tribute to him or be sacrifice, but Rin decides to stand…

Rei arrives at Mamiya's village and rescues Rin. He confronts the leader of Ken-oh's Invasion Division, who tries to use Airi as a distraction. But Airi, spurred on by Rin's courage, gains the strengt…

Rei challenges Ken-oh, but proves to be no match against him and is mortally wounded. Kenshiro, unable to save Rei, challenges Raoh himself, but even he too has difficulty defeating him.

Toki arrives at the village and interferes with Ken and Raoh's fight, revealing that Raoh was responsible for the death of their adoptive father Ryuken. Believing that Ken is not ready to fight Raoh, …

Raoh gains the upper hand on Toki, but Ken breaks free of Toki's pressure point and challenges Raoh again. The two fight each to the point where they're both too wounded to continue, ending the battle…

As a result of his injury, Rei is left with only three days to live and symptoms of disfigurement are starting to show. Mamiya ventures into Medicine City by herself to search for a medicine to ease R…

Mamiya is captured by Galf, the ruler of Medicine City. Ken and Rei rescue her, only to discover the "UD" mark tattooed behind her shoulder.

Ken and Rei learn that Mamiya was once kidnapped by a man named Yuda, who also murdered her parents. Rei reveals that Yuda is in fact, one of the Six Sacred Fists of Nanto along with Rei himself and t…

Ken and Rei arrive at Blue Town assist a young group of rebels seeking to rescue their female friends and family from Yuda. However, the "Yuda" at Blue Town is actually a decoy. The real Yuda is revea…

Ken and Rei return to Mamiya's village, with Rei at the verge of death. Toki offers to push a pressure point on Rei's body that will grant strength and increase his lifespan for another day, but the e…

Yuda and his gang arrive at the village and takes Mamiya captive in order to challenge Rei to a match. Yuda reveals that he has harbored resentment towards Rei ever since they've trained together, due…

Yuda's henchmen causes a flood in the village that makes Rei stuck to the ground, giving Yuda a slight upper hand. However, Rei overcomes this and defeats Yuda with his ultimate technique. Yuda accept…

In his last moment of life, Rei secludes himself from his family and friends and reminisces his adventures with Ken and co. while awaiting death. After dying, Ken cremates his body by burning the cabi…

With Rei now dead, only three of the Six Sacred Fists of Nanto remain and Kenshiro sets off to find the remaining ones. One of them, a man named Souther, has proclaimed himself to the "Holy Emperor" a…

Kenshiro meets a blind martial artist rebelling against Souther named Shu, who is also one of the Six Sacred Fists.

While saving a group of children slaves from Souther's troops, Ken remembers that he once fought Shu in the past, back when he was still a child.

When a young member of Shu's resistance is killed, Ken must protect the fallen rebel's fiancee from Garzus, one of Souther's men.

Ken finally comes face to face with Souther. However, the Holy Emperor stands immune to Ken's Hokuto Shinken techniques.

Defeated by Souther, Ken is captured so he could be used as a sacrifice for the completion of Souther's Holy Cross Mausoleum. However, Shu's young son Shiva sets off to infiltrate Souther's lair and s…

Ken is rescued, but at the tragic cost of Shiva's life. However, with Ken still injured from his fight with Souther, Shu decides to hide him and challenges Souther for the sake of his people.

Shu is defeated by Souther and is forced to carry the stone that will serve as the summit of Souther's pyramid. Sensing Shu's struggle, Ken awakens and quickly regains his full strength.

Ken arrives at the Holy Cross Mausoleum and witnesses Shu's public execution at the hands of Souther. But before dying, Shu miraculously recovers his eyesight and sees the now grown Kenshiro before dy…

Before accepting Kenshiro's challenge, Souther recites his tragic childhood and his motive for building the Holy Cross Mausoleum. Ken fights Souther again and struggles, until he finally fathoms the s…

With Ken aware of his weakness, Souther uses the ultimate technique of his Nanto Hō-ōken style as a last resort. The stage is set for the final round.

Raoh regains his full strength and seeks Koryu, Ryuken's former rival, to test his power, while Toki, who was once willing to settle using his skills to heal the weak, has regained his determination a…

Raoh challenges Koryu to battle to gauge his strength. Toki learns of Raoh's recovery and is determined to stop him at any cost.

Toki and Raoh's past is revealed as the two are reunited at the place where they were adopted by Ryuken.

Determined to fulfill the childhood promise he made to his brother, Toki fights Raoh to a death match.

Ken meets Ryuga, a martial artist and servant of Raoh whose astrological sign is a solitary star that is neither, part of Hokuto and Nanto.

Ryuga, who swore royalty to Raoh and his tyranny, witnesses Kenshiro's compassion to others and is determined to find out which of the two brothers is more to fit to lead the world.

Ryuga challenges Kenshiro to test his strength, but Ken is unwilling to fight back.

Determined to challenge Ken, Ryuga decides to lure Ken to his lair by kidnapping and wounding Toki.

Ken sets foot into Ryuga's lair, determined to save Toki and finish his battle with Ryuga once and for all.

While cremating Toki's and Ryuga's remains, Ken remembers where it all began - with his old nemesis Shin, the man who engraved the seven scars on his chest and once kidnapped his beloved Yuria.

Ken reflects on the life of his ally Rei, the man who sacrificed his life to save Ken.

Ken remembers Rei's battle against his rival Yuda, the man who once tormented Rei's beloved Mamiya.

Ken remembers Shu, a selfless man whose encounter with a young Kenshiro led him to his destiny.

Ken remembers Souther, the strongest of the Nanto Seiken masters.

Ken, Bato, and Rin continue their journey and find themselves at a village ruled by a follower of Ken-oh named Bugal, a neat freak who has monopolized the town's water supply for himself.

While infiltrating one of Ken-oh's enlistment groups, Kenshiro confronts Glen the Killer Machine, a man raised to be a fighting machine. After Ken defeats Glen, Glen renounces his evil ways only to be…

Hyui of the Wind launches a war campaign against Ken-oh and his troops on behalf of the Last General of the South Star and attempts to lure Ken-oh to him by wiping several of troops. Hyui is eventuall…

Vowing to avenge his brother star's death, Shuren lights a funeral pyre for Hyui and burns down his home castle, leaving him and his Crimson Army with no home to return to, while Kenshiro goes after M…

Shuren of the Flames confront Ken-oh and uses the Five Chariots Passionate Flame Fist as he attempts to sacrifice his life to defeat Ken-oh by engulfing himself in flames. Kenshiro, Bato, and Rin befr…

Kenshiro fights a gang of four led by a man named Gokure, which causes Fudo to reveal his true nature as one of the Five Chariots sent on behalf of the Last General of the South Star.

Rihaku's agents attempt to persuade Juza, the only member of the Five Chariots that has not joined the Last General's cause, while Kenshiro and friends face a group of bandits pretending to be Ken-oh'…

Juza demonstrates his self-taught style against Gelza, a bandit that has come to his castle reclaim his "women" from Juza, while Kenshiro faces Ken-oh's pike brigade led by Yakob.

Kenshiro and friends find themselves at a village ruled by Dolfi, who oppresses his residents by giving them a false sense of democracy, while Juza is drugged and taken to the Last General's castle, w…

Kenshiro and his friends attempt to find a way to cross a bridge that is under the surveillance of one of Ken-oh's men, while Juza and his gang intercepts Ken-oh and his men

Kenshiro faces Jenomy, an assassin who seeks to make Kenshiro his 10,000th victim, while Juza flees from battle by hijacking Raoh's steed Kokuoh-Go.

Hilka kidnaps two of Fudo's adopted children, Danji and Jiro, in an attempt to sidetrack Kenshiro and his friends from reaching the Capital of the South Star before Raoh.

Kenshiro is forced to make a choice between going to the Capital of the South Star while he is still ahead of Raoh or retreat to help Fudo rescue Danji and Jiro from the quicksand they were thrown int…

Juza returns to Raoh to continue their battle where they left off, while Kenshiro is told by Fudo the true identity of the Last General of the South Star.

Having learned that Yuria survived the destruction of Southern Cross thanks to the interference of the Five Chariots, Kenshiro rushes to the Capital of the South Star with greater urgency, while Raoh …

While Kenshiro and Raoh are mutually approaching the Capital of the South Star, Rihaku tells his daughter Toh about Hokuto Shinken and the history between Kenshiro and Raoh.

Kenshiro faces Ken-oh's shadow brigade, while Raoh enters Yuria's castle first, but instead of finding the Last General, he encounters Toh, who is masquerading as Yuria.

Yuria attempts to escape from her castle in order to be reunited with Kenshiro, while Rihaku challenges Raoh. However, Kenshiro refuses to see Yuria yet, feeling that her life might be in danger as lo…

Raoh is overwhelmed by Kenshiro's newly discovered technique of Musō Tensei and is willing to accept death, until one of Rihaku's booby-traps is accidentally triggered and the floor collapses. Raoh re…

Kenshiro continues to chase after Raoh and rescue Yuria, even with his eyes wounded, while Raoh, having been haunted by nightmares of his near-defeat against Kenshiro, seeks to conquer his fear.

Fudo, who was once a terrifying bandit until he learned the value of life from a young Yuria, is challenged by Raoh, who seeks to conquer his fears by defeating the only other man whom he ever feared.

Raoh appears to have gained the upper hand against Fudo, but Fudo's courage and paternal love allows him to persist further in battle, causing Raoh to instinctively retreat and Raoh's army to interfer…

At Fudo's funeral pyre, the sole surviving member of the Five Chariots, Rihaku, remembers the sacrifices of his comrades as they fought to protect Yuria from Raoh.

The men of Ken-oh's army are demoralized as news spread of Raoh's apparent defeat after his fight with Fudo. Raoh, realizing that only those who understand sorrow can achieve to master Unconscious Tra…

Kenshiro is taken by Kokuoh-Go to the North Star Mind and Body Training Ground for his final battle against Raoh, as Raoh reveals that he too has mastered the Unconscious Transmigration.

The final battle between Kenshiro and Raoh reaches its conclusion, as the two brothers exchange their final blows.

A recap of Kenshiro's history from the day he first met Yuria as a child at the North Star Mind and Body Training Ground to his final battle against his eldest brother Raoh.

Years has passed since Kenshiro disappeared following his final battle with Raoh and in the years since he's been gone, the Army of the Celestial Emperor has began to expand their territory through th…

A mysterious drifter wanders into a town where the remnants of the Red Dragon Party, a resistance movement that once opposed the Celestial Emperor's army in the past.

An innocent woman is mistaken for Lin and is sentenced for public execution by General Bask in an attempt to demoralize the North Star Army. The real Bat and Lin attempt to risk their lives until a fa…

After being reunited with Bat and Lin, Kenshiro decides to join their cause, giving the North Star Army a needed boost in morale. A bounty is placed on Kenshiro's head and a man named Ein decides to t…

As the North Star Army begins to liberate another one of the Celestial Emperor's areas, Kenshiro is forced to return to Mamiya's village to confront Solia of the Purple Light, a master of Gento Kōken …

While attempting to catch up with Bat and Lin, Kenshiro is confronted by Shoki of the Red Light, a man who once helped Kenshiro in the past, while Bat and Lin lead a desperate battle against the Golde…

Just when Falco is about to execute Lin in front of her supporters, Falco is challenged to combat by the Harn Brothers, Haz and Gil, who are seeking revenge against Falco for killing most of the Nanto…

After Ein decides to switch sides and join the North Star Army, his former recruiter Beron decides to take revenge by kidnapping his "little lady", Asuka.

As Kenshiro and the North Star Army approaches the Imperial Capital, Shoki of the Red Light decides to revolt against the Viceroy Jakoh, who is holding the Celestial Emperor hostage and forcing Falco …

Kenshiro confronts the renegade Gento warrior Boltz of the Blue Light, while Falco hands out a detonator to his lover Myu, which is triggered to destroy the foundation of the Imperial Capital, in case…

Lin enters the Imperial Capital along with Bat and Lin, sensing that the Celestial Emperor is calling out for her, while Kenshiro and Falco begins their battle.

Jako triggers bombs that collapse the ceiling of the cave in order to kill Lynn and Luise, but Ain shields with his body and protects the two sisters; weakened by the impact he still manages with his …

Lin and her group manage to escape from Jakoh's underground dungeon, but at the expense of Ein's life. With the Celestial Empress Lui now free, Jakoh loses his hold on Falco and begins to flee for his…

Jakoh has been defeated, but Kenshiro must continue his journey when Lin is kidnapped and taken to the Kingdom of Shura, a country populated by ruthless warriors said to be the birthplace of the Hokut…

Having been taken to Shura by the Pirate Akasachi, Ken finds a dying Falco, who has traveled ahead to rescue Lin, while Lin is captured by Shura warriors and bribed off as a bride in a tournament.

Ken faces Alph of the Hourglass, a Shura who has won 105 death matches in less than two minutes, while Lin is rescued by Shachi the Rakshasha, a master of the Hokuto Ryūken style.

Shachi challenges General Kaizel, whose style allows him to remove an opponent's internal organs without leaving an open wound. Meanwhile, Kenshiro is taken to meet Shachi's former lover Leia, who pre…

Shachi, in his plot to manipulate Kenshiro into destroying the Rashō, the three main rulers of Shura, begins taking Lin to the castle the third ruler, Han, who also practices the Hokuto Ryūken styles.

As Kenshiro and Han begins their battle, Shachi tells Lin of how he began his Hokuto Ryūken training and the importance of Raoh's legacy to the commoners of Shura.

With rumors of Raoh's arrival to Shura spread as a result of Shachi's manipulation, Leia and her brother Tao goes to meet Jukei, the Hokuto Ryūken master who trained the three rulers and Shachi. Meanw…

Kenshiro reflects on what happened since his arrival to Shura, as false rumors of Raoh's arrival are spread thorough the Land. A group "rags" led by a follower of Raoh named Kosem begins to raid a tra…

Rock, Kosem's elder son, decides to carry on Raoh's legend along with his band of six cowboys to form the new Army of Raoh.

Rock is blackmailed by Gammon, the Scorpion Shura, into defeating Kenshiro in order to save a group of captured villagers.

Hyoh, the second ruler of Shura, decides to mobilize his force, vowing to avenge Han's death. Meanwhile Rock and his men decide to challenge Hyoh's army, having learned that Hyoh is Kenshiro's biologi…

Jukei seeks to restore Hyoh's memories of Kenshiro as his younger brother. Meanwhile, Kaioh, the supreme ruler of Shura, kidnaps Lin.

Jukei and Hyoh do battle. Kenshiro battles a squad of Shura warriors on his way to Kaioh's castle, where Lin is being held captive.

Hyoh's battle with Jukei draws to a climactic conclusion as Jukei fails to restore Hyoh's memories, realizing that the seal put on Hyoh's memories was not his own, but Kaioh's. At the same time, Kensh…

After defeating Kenshiro, Kaioh plans on crucifying him in order to put an end to the Hokuto Shinken lineage. However,the plan falls through when Akashachi and his band of pirates come to Kenshiro's r…

Following his father's death, Shachi attempts to escape with an unconscious Kenshiro while Akashachi's surviving men create a diversion to distract Kaioh.

Lin meets Sayaka, Kaioh's sister and Hyoh's fiance, who hopes that someday Hyoh will bring peace to Shura and they will cross the sea together. Elsewhere, Shahci attempts to bring Kenshiro to safety w…

Kenshiro awakens at last when Cain, a Shura who seeks to succeeds the deceased Han as the third general, attacks at the waterfall. Meanwhile, Kaioh kills Sayaka and frames Kenshiro for her death.

Kenshiro and Shachi go to meet up with Leia when they are confronted by a Gyoko, a morbidly obese Shura warrior who kills anyone who reminds him of his obesity. During this battle, Kenshiro declares w…

Kenshiro and Shachi are taken in by Nagato, Hyoh's former right hand man, who turns against his master after he is corrupted by Kaioh's influence following Sayaka's death.

Kenshiro challenges Hyoh, now aware that they're biological brothers. Elsewhere, Hyoh is forcing slaves to work at Raseiden temple when he is confronted by Black Yaksha, a guardian of the Hokuto Sōke …

The bloody battle between Kenshiro and Hyoh continues while Shachi and Black Yaksha look on in horror. Kaioh reveals his true identity to Lin as Raoh's biological brother.

Kenshiro's battle with Hyoh reaches its climax. However, Shachi stops the fight, and Hyoh suddenly regains his childhood memories of Kenshiro. The now reconciled brothers unite to defeat Kaioh.

In the aftermath of Kenshiro and Hyoh's battle, Shachi heads to Taiseiden temple to unlock the secret that could allow Kenshiro to defeat Kaioh. Meanwhile, Kaioh heads out to the holy temple himself t…

In Taiseiden temple, a strange new discovery is made as Shachi makes a valiant last stand to defend Leia from Kaioh.

When he and Kenshiro meet for their last fight, Kaioh remembers the death of his mother, which drove him to abandon all love and affection.

Kaioh strikes a pressure point on Lin that causes her to fall asleep and fall in love with the first person she sees when she wakes up. Afterward, Kaioh and Kenshiro begin their final battle.

Kenshiro and Kaioh's fight goes underground where Kaioh has the upper hand in a pit full of toxic gases. Hyoh rescues Lin from Samoto, a Shura warriors who plans to make Lin his wife.

Accompanied by Black Yaksha, Hyoh is forced to fight Kaioh's elite army when Bat and the Hokuto Army arrive to assist them. Kaioh learns that he is descended from a branch of the Hokuto Sōke bloodline…

Hyoh, Bat and Rihaku bear witness to the final battle between Kenshiro and Kaioh. When Kenshiro deals the winning blow, Hyoh is given the opportunity to finish Kaioh off, but cannot bring himself to k…