In the Warring States Period of ancient China (475-221 BCE) Shin and Hyou are war-orphans in the kingdom of Qin. They dream of one day proving themselves on the battlefield. One day however Hyou is taken to the palace by a minister. Winding up on the losing side of a power-struggle Hyou manages to return to the village barely alive. Shin then meets a boy who closely resembles Hyou Ei Sei. For now he is the king of Qin; later he will become the emperor Shi Huangdi.