While exploring a mysterious cave in Egypt, Cheng Sinzan discovers a fragment of the legendary Armor of Mars, specifically a piece of its leg armor. This discovery marks the beginning of a dangerous quest, as he is quickly challenged and defeated by Laocorn Gaudeamus and his henchmen—Panni, Hauer, and Jamin—who claim the piece for themselves. This event sets the stage for the central conflict of the story, involving ancient powers and mystical artifacts.
Meanwhile, in Japan, a group of martial artists celebrating their recent victories comes together. Joe Higashi (nobuyuki-hiyama), a talented Muay Thai fighter, reunites with his friends Terry Bogard (kazukiyo-nishikiori) and Andy Bogard (keiichi-nanba), along with the fiery Mai Shiranui (kotono-mitsuishi). During their gathering, they encounter Sulia Gaudeamus, portrayed by Tomo Sakurai, a young woman fleeing from Cheng, who is now under the control of Laocorn. Sulia reveals that she is Laocorn's younger twin sister and steps forward with an urgent plea for help, explaining that her brother is on a mission to obtain the complete Armor of Mars for his own dark purposes.
Sulia's backstory is deeply intertwined with the history of the armor. She explains that she is descended from Gaudeamus, an ancient warrior whose mystical armor held the power to bring destruction. To prevent such chaos, the armor was split into six pieces, each hidden away to avoid its misuse. Unfortunately, Laocorn seeks to reunite these pieces and harness their power, risking global catastrophe.
The heroes embark on an adventurous journey across different locations, starting with Rhodes, where ancient cave paintings hint at links between Gaudeamus’ techniques and legendary martial arts moves like Tung Fu Rue’s Hurricane Punch and Wolfgang Krauser’s Blitz Ball. Using Sulia's psychic abilities, the group traces the whereabouts of the remaining armor parts. Sulia shares that her bond with Laocorn allows her to sense the locations of the pieces, prompting the team to split into two groups: Terry, Joe, and Sulia head to Turkey and Germany to recover the breastplate, while Andy and Mai travel to Baghdad to find the leg armor, which leads them to China.
Their search in China introduces them to Jubei Yamada, a close friend of Tung Fu Rue, who holds crucial information about the armor. During their confrontation with enemies like Billy Kane and Hauer, they discover that Hauer has taken control of the leg armor. Despite their efforts, Hauer defeats Andy and Mai, claiming the piece for Laocorn. Meanwhile, Terry and Sulia face off against Laocorn and Jamin, with Terry suffering severe injuries. Fortunately, Sulia uses her psychic power and her own life force to heal him, showing her profound bond with her friends.
Sulia tearfully recounts how her father was murdered during a quest for the Armor of Mars, an event that pushed Laocorn into obsession and darkness. Terry, deeply moved and committed to protecting Sulia, vows to stop her brother from achieving his deadly goal.
As the journey continues, the heroes successfully retrieve the breastplate symbolized by Panni defeating Laurence Blood and securing it in Rhodes. Their pursuit then leads them to the final piece—the crown—located at the Dead Sea in Israel. Using Sulia’s pendant, the group locates it, but Laocorn and his forces ambush them upon arrival in Jerusalem. In a moment of sacrifice and desperation, Sulia surrenders herself to her brother to shield her friends.
In a climactic showdown at the Dead Sea, Laocorn assembles the Armor of Mars, which encases him in shimmering vermeil, greatly increasing his power. Despite fierce battles involving Joe, Terry, Mai, and others, Laocorn manages to activate the armor and release its destructive power. Recognizing that her psychic bond with her brother can weaken him, Sulia sacrifices herself by stabbing herself in the chest, urging Terry to destroy the armor. In a poignant act, Terry shatters the breastplate, causing the armor to disintegrate into coins that unite with a statue of Mars, inadvertently reviving the god himself.
Realizing that Laocorn has become a vessel for Mars’ resurrection, he makes the ultimate sacrifice, using all his strength to protect everyone from the returning god’s wrath. Terry, alongside his friends Andy, Mai, and Joe, fights Mars in a harrowing final battle. During this confrontation, Terry’s love and friendship shine through as he fights to save the world. As Sulia’s death echoes in the background, Terry shares a heartfelt farewell, kissing her goodbye.
The story concludes with the heroes narrowly escaping the collapsing temple, with their victory bittersweet. Terry throws his cap into the air, symbolizing hope and the end of their perilous adventure. Through sacrifice, courage, and unbreakable bonds, they prevent the devastating power of the Armor of Mars from obliterating the world, leaving behind a tale of heroism and eternal friendship.
