Ryu infiltrates the Shadow clan fortress to visit his uncle, the clan leader Murai. During their chat, Ayane delivers news of a raid on the Hayabusa village. Fighting his way back to his village, Ryu encounters Doku, who has killed the Hayabusa shrine maiden Kureha and has taken the Dark Dragon Blade. Ryu is cut down by Doku with the stolen Blade, but he is brought back to life as a "soldier of revenge" by a falcon, the spiritual animal of the Hayabusa clan. Seeking vengeance for his dead clan and the death of Kureha, Ryu learns from Murai that the raiders were from Vigoor, so he stows away on an airship bound for the empire...