Mariya

Mariya (マリヤ) is a minor character from the Strider Hiryu manga. She's only seen in a flashback in Chapter 2, which was later expanded in a special chapter released after the manga's end, Strider Hiryu Gaiden. The manual for the NES Strider states Hiryu eliminated "the sister of a mad A-Rank Strider", which is a mistake on the translator's part, and the line should read "eliminated his sister, a mad A-Rank Strider". In the game itself there's a small hint about this event, when Hiryu makes a passing mention about his sister being similarly insane after defeating Kain. In the manga, Hiryu never uses her name, always calling her "big sister"; her actual name is revealed in the Gaiden special.

Mariya was Hiryu's elder sister, and the first woman to ever reach A-Rank in the Striders. She was noted for her skills and fighting ability, which meant most normal agents were unable to subdue her. Due to this, Hiryu was finally the one selected to stop her rampage.

Story

Manga

Mariya (Manga)

During an assignment, Mariya seemingly went mad and slaughtered several Strider trainees. The mission to eliminate her was deemed too difficult for an ordinary agent and assigned to Hiryu. Upon finding her, Hiryu first attempted to talk to her, but his words had no effect and a battle ensued. After a desperate struggle between them, Hiryu pierced through her torso with his Cypher and win. As she lay dying, tears in her eyes revealed the brainwashing had lost its hold on her. In shock, she uttered her last words, asking Hiryu what had happened.

Shortly after this event, Hiryu left the Striders. He made a symbolic grave outside the house in Mongolia where he moved, and buried his Cypher there. Two years later, Hiryu faced a brainwashed Kain and realized Mariya was being controlled through the ZAIN Project when she went mad.