Lord Saber Stryke locates the still-alive Talpa and does battle with him, but proves unable to defeat him and is knocked into a chasm which Black Blaze jumps after him into. Meanwhile, Ryo, Mia and Ully try to help White Blaze recover from his serious injuries while the other Ronins decide to try to take on Lord Saber Stryke on their own, not sure they can trust Ryo in the fight. When Rowen suggests this to Ryo, he runs off followed by Ully and examines his broken swords, brooding over their destruction. Ully tries to cheer him up, but is interrupted by the arrival of Black Blaze with the Swords of Fervor and Lord Saber Stryke. Lord Saber Stryke challenges Ryo to a fair fight with the Inferno armor for the Soul Swords, but Ryo refuses and Lord Saber Stryke leaves. That night, White Blaze hears Black Blaze roaring and goes after him. The two tigers battle and though White Blaze is mortally wounded, he manages to steal one of the Soul Swords and gives it to Ryo when he arrives, having woken up and found White Blaze gone. With the one Soul Sword in each of their possessions, Ryo agrees to a fight between him and Lord Saber Stryke and tells the other Ronins to stay out of it. Even with the Soul Sword, Ryo is no match for Lord Saber Stryke until he forms the Inferno. At the same time Lord Saber Stryke attacks him, Ryo uses the attack Rage of Inferno on him. Ryo emerges victorious with both Soul Swords while Lord Saber Stryke is mortally wounded. Both Lord Saber Stryke and White Blaze die, but as his last act, Lord Saber Stryke orders Black Blaze to follow Ryo's orders as his new master and Black Blaze merges with White Blaze, bringing him back to life.