Under the dark skies covering the entirety of the site known to the locals as Dragon Valley, a place cursed for decades and extremely dangerous for travelers, a great all-out battle is taking place.
Those facing each other here were not human armies, nor groups of yokai under a higher command or even "super powerful men," but rather it was a battle between nature and two young men.
The representative of the first side, nature, is a cataclysmic tornado that extends from the surface all the way into the sky, one that seems to merge lightning, tearing winds, and intense rain within itself.
On the other hand, apparently fearless while challenging that natural disaster, two young men can be seen. One of them was the perfect representative of the aristocracy, elegant, cold, and calculating above all. While the second, who has golden hair, does honor to such a color and seems to be enjoying the moment.
"Come on, come on, try the power of the one who pays to win!"
Creating several cylindrical, metallic, and completely unnecessary objects around himself for what he will do afterward, Asahiko activates for the second time in his life the fragments of the pearl he carries with him, obtaining an exponential increase in all his statistics actively.
Because yes, normally the fragments grant him an improvement passively, initially seen in "better control" of his natural abilities, but they can also be used actively… Just like when he faced Inuyasha a long time ago in that forest.
"... Disappointing, did you also use them to fight against me?"
Speaking suddenly after a chilling silence, Sesshōmaru directs his eyes toward the fragments used by Asahiko, sounding strangely betrayed and disappointed.
Although it should also be known that throughout that entire series of actions and reactions on his part, Sesshōmaru never showed any indication of desire for the fragments even after perceiving their power, but rather he really seems to be analyzing Asahiko.
"What? No, you never even gave me the opportunity, I had to fight you hand-to-hand and I'm a magical character at that."
"You really just saved yourself, Asahiko. If our fight had been dishonest before, we would have to fight here and now to settle it."
"... Yeah, all albinos are crazy. Cough, cough, fire!"
Taking his gaze away from Sesshōmaru, who burns with a thirst for combat, apparently the meaning of his name suits him perfectly, Asahiko lets out a shout and large spheres of golden flames emerge from his cannons.
Surprisingly, this time that attack does cause fire-type elemental damage, obviously thanks to the pearl fragments, impacting like a rain of artillery projectiles upon the tornado.
*Boom* *Boom* *¡Booooom!*
Large chunks of the winds composing the tornado are forcibly pushed aside, creating one opening after another for a moment and thus giving the main attacker, Sesshōmaru, an opening.
The latter, confident as always but also equally methodical with his movements, raises Tokijin toward the cloudy sky and begins gathering a large amount of Ken'atsu/sword aura on its surface.
"It recovers too quickly, you need to concentrate all your firepower on a single section"
"Haa… I'm already starting to miss my idiot albino and empty-headed idiot."
"3. 2. 1. Do it!"
"Full-power fire!"
Firing another barrage of cannon shots that seem to be calculated down to the smallest millimeter, so much so that they all impact the same section of the tornado, Asahiko maintains his playful tone despite following Sesshōmaru's instructions.
Such a thing does not surprise or anger the white-haired young man, but he continues with his plan and upon noticing the opening that leaves Ryukotsusei's body fully exposed, he releases a tearing blue slash toward the dragon.
"AHHGG, DAMN YOU! DAMN ALL OF YOU!"
Growling while shouting at the same time, the tornado completely covering Ryukotsusei rapidly disperses due to the blow, leaving his wounded and regenerating body exposed.
But before our heroes can capitalize on that victory, that impenetrable shield has disappeared. Ryukotsusei transforms the remains of the tornado into an enormous sword that he takes with his jaw, then attacks directly and without hesitation toward them.
That catches them completely off guard, because; why does a dragon use a sword and not his breath? The thing is that he hits them instantly, easily sending both flying a dozen meters, and on top of that the worst thing was that those winds were as hard as steel, causing extra physical damage.
"Fuck, Inuyasha still hasn't-. Oh, what a joke this is!"
Forcibly getting out of the place where he is embedded, the previous attack really hit him hard, Asahiko crawls like a bug to escape from the enormous sword-axe of winds coming toward him.
This made no sense! When he was hit by Ryukotsusei's sword, he used his illusions on the dragon, becoming invisible to his sight and… Ah, right, he can control the weather to sense it.
*Boooom*
Rolling, rolling, and rolling again due to the pressure of the wind released toward the surroundings when that sword tears through the ground, Asahiko quickly gets up from the ground before jumping toward a pillar half-destroyed by the fight.
The truth was it was incredible that one of the pillars was still standing, well actually only half of it, but the important thing is that from here he can have a better line of sight and take advantage of it to analyze the battlefield.
Sesshōmaru fights Ryukotsusei hand-to-hand, despite one of them being a hundred-meter dragon. Inuyasha's group watching from the stands, the truth is it is incredible that they have stayed away despite everything. And our dog boy… Eh, running toward the main battlefield?
"God, I have to go, I've already done all the work and I'm not going to miss the glory at the end."
Slightly frightened by the possible loss of "glory," he really only wants to witness Inuyasha's possible great protagonist moment. He does not hesitate and propels himself at full speed toward Sesshōmaru's battlefield.
There the situation was just as mentioned earlier, the older albino and the dragon were exchanging blows, mainly Sesshōmaru, who takes advantage of his reduced size and high speed to continuously harass Ryukotsusei.
"Get him from the right."
"Wow, thank you very much for asking about my state of health~."
"You're unpleasantly slippery to die from something so stupid, Asahiko."
Dodging the sword formed by the winds by just a few centimeters, Sesshōmaru uses those same winds to propel himself upward, reaching Ryukotsusei's unprotected face.
Of course, the latter does not sit idly by, since despite everything he can still use his dragon breath, the sound attack or even launch a bite, but that is where Asahiko enters the equation.
And being the great support that he is, the best in this game, he easily manages to create another opening by breaking Ryukotsusei's previously impenetrable scales… Momentarily.
"DAMN YOU, I'LL-. AHHHG!"
Instantly ending his tantrum when his head is embedded in the ground due to a good blow from Sesshōmaru, Ryukotsusei remains down for only a few seconds, although he soon raises his head again.
The arrogance that once completely filled those tyrannical eyes can no longer be seen anywhere, but rather the only thing left is the exhaustion and lack of enthusiasm typical of those who have accepted their fate.
It was inevitable, Ryukotsusei had recently emerged from his century-old seal imposed by Inu no Taisho, the first thing he did was fight Inuyasha and Asahiko, then also face Sesshōmaru and afterward all three together… I'm tired, boss!
"Both of you are… Truly worthy opponents, so accept my final attack!"
"Oh, the dragon became good in the end, Ses-. SESSHŌMARU?!"
"What are you doing standing there? He's going to blow himself up and take us with him."
Disappearing even before his words fade into the air, the older albino instantly travels hundreds of meters in a straight line and reaches a safe distance from the suicidal dragon, leaving only Asahiko behind.
But luckily for him, it was actually already time for him to arrive. Inuyasha falls from the skies and positions himself protectively in front of Asahiko. It was just like a movie scene, although the damsel in distress is actually a man and the hero is a savage who does not even know how to wear shoes.
"Stay behind me, Asahiko! I'll handle everything from here!"
"Stay behind? Hahaha, no, no, I'd rather get out of here."
"Wait, what do you mean you're-"
Left there alone, with his hand raised in the air and his gaze fixed on an empty space, Inuyasha grits his teeth until they squeak from the pressure. They left him alone, without anyone, even the ghost who was with him until a few seconds ago left! Yes, the coward Saya would never stay so close to danger.
"You, filthy little Hanyo scum, how dare you-"
"Shut up, damn it! You'd better take advantage of the fact that you're still alive and launch that attack, because now your end has arrived!"
Pointing Steel Fang toward Ryukotsusei, who is charging his final attack right in front of him, Inuyasha smiles full of confidence and narrows his amber-colored eyes, as if waiting for the exact moment.
Of course, that could have raised anyone's suspicion, but since the two are dozens of meters apart, everything manages to fly under the radar.
"Perhaps those two are impossible… BUT I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO DISRESPECT ME, FILTHY HANYO!"
"Then do it if you're so confident, stupid lizard!"
"DIE!"
Unleashing all the strength he had left in one final draconic breath attack, Ryukotsusei manages to illuminate the surroundings for a few seconds, destroying the shadows created by the storm and the imposing mountain they have behind them.
Seeing what is charging toward him, the final attack of an already defeated enemy and clearly resigned to fate, Inuyasha unexpectedly closes his eyes. He could feel how Steel Fang "spoke" to him and "guided" his actions, showing him the place where his "will" and Ryukotsusei's confronted each other… Where the "wound of wind" is strongest!
"Ha… Ha… BAKURYŪHAAAA!"
Slashing toward nothing while at the same time seeming to cut everything, Inuyasha strikes forward with Steel Fang, creating a "pocketing" effect on Ryukotsusei's attack.
This last "pocketing" does not strangle the breath attack, but instead seems to guide it, redirect it, and amplify it toward its wielder, all together with dozens of currents of wild winds resembling waterspouts. Besides parrying it, it sends it back to you even stronger!
"AHHHHGG!"
Letting out a tearing scream/roar filled with exhaustion into the air, literally torn apart by his own attack, Ryukotsusei falls silent when his body is mercilessly pierced and his heart suffers the same fate, thus being devoured by the winds of the Bakuryūha.
Such winds remain for a few minutes, after all they were mainly fed by the dragon's final effort, creating destruction so widespread that even Inuyasha is sent flying.
"Hahaha, I'm the best of the three!"
"I think crashing into that pillar in front of you will make you reconsider your words, my good friend~."
"Huh, what are you talking about, Asahi-? Help me quickly, I can't fly!"
Moving his hands and feet as if he could make himself fly, something Asahiko easily manages to do due to his transformation, Inuyasha is finally saved by the grace of this good friend… Well, perhaps not so much.
…Off-scene…
Taking his gaze away from the almost nonexistent remains of Ryukotsusei, the attack called Bakuryūha certainly fulfilled its purpose. Sesshōmaru narrows his eyes and finally sheaths the sword known as Tokijin.
For a few brief moments he felt an imperative need to throw himself headfirst toward Inuyasha, thus starting another battle between the two of them and, in the process, being able to feel that technique firsthand.
Not because he was a masochist or anything like that, but because he truly wants to reach new heights in individual combat, and although Inuyasha will never be a worthy opponent, tsundere, Steel Fang is certainly worthy of his attention.
"Se… Sesshōmaru?"
"He's going to kill us, Kagome!"
"Calm down, Shippo, I think we're on the same team? Eh… Do you know where Inuyasha is?"
Caressing the silky brown hair of the child with visible fox limbs with her hand, Kagome, who had approached Sesshōmaru at some point while riding the two-tailed cat called Kirara, appears confident on the surface.
"Impertinent woman… Tsk. They should still be alive somewhere up ahead, of course, if Inuyasha didn't end his own life when he launched his attack."
"Thank you, Sesshōmaru!"
"Tsk, give this to Asahiko."
"Is… Is it a letter?"
Looking shocked at the letter handed to her by Sesshōmaru, not expecting such "delicacy" from him since every time they meet they fight almost to the death, Kagome is left blank until the albino disappears into the distance.