Two Men Betting Their Lives on the End of the Dynasty.
Shishio versus Kenshin, Final Battle!

Is Kenshin prepared for the battle of his life? Yumi leads Kenshin and Sano up the stairs where Shishio and Hoji await on the field. Petroleum is what fuels the fire that keeps bursting out of pipes around the arena. Yumi explains to Kenshin and Sano that Shishio's first goal is to build a petroleum industry, since it will become a major source of fuel in the future. On the field, Hoji expresses his excitement about the battle to Shishio. He wants to witness firsthand Shishio killing Kenshin so that plans may progress faster without the former Battousai around.

The fire burning in Shishio... Kenshin thinks to himself about how this fight all began as he walks up the long flight of stairs. When at the top, Kenshin reminds himself that everything is riding on the line in this fight. The first thing Shishio does is greet Kenshin and Sanosuke. He compliments Kenshin for beating Soujirou without killing him, but asks that he put aside his "stupid" philosophy and fight him with all his strength. Sano butts in, shouting that Shishio is a bit arrogant for someone who's on a losing streak. For that, Hoji promises that Sano, the one who ruined the Rengoku operation, will not escape alive, just like Kenshin. Yumi is thanked by both Kenshin and Sano as she walks over to the side of Shishio.

They're evenly matched! With a watch in hand, Yumi asks that Shishio not forget about the time. Shishio kisses his love before he walks into the center of the field with Kenshin. Both look evenly the same; Kenshin with many bandages around his wounds and Shishio with bandages all over his body. However, when the fight begins, Shishio founds out that both are evenly matched. Even if Kenshin has gone through grueling battles with Aoshi and Soujirou, he still has his strength and speed. Kenshin and Shishio connect swords a few times, but suddenly, Shishio's sword catches on fire as he slashes Kenshin. This is the technique Hoji calls Shishio's Homura Dama.

Mmm... tasty. It takes a little while until Kenshin finds out what's lighting Shishio's sword, human oil. Shishio is impressed with Kenshin's observation skill as Sano almost throws up. Shishio has killed much in the past, but he surprises Kenshin when he tells him that the sword he currently wields is Arai Shatku's final sword meant for killing, the twin of Kenshin's new Sakabatou, Mugen Jin. The battle resumes shortly after. Kenshin foolishly goes for the Ryu Sho Sen; foolish because Shishio had seen the technique already. For his mistake, Shishio catches Kenshin's sword and takes a big bite out of the left side of his neck. Kenshin falls over in severe pain while Shishio wipes away the blood filled in his mouth. The battle has already started and things don't look good for Kenshin.