Author's note: For those who are unaware, the fan art being used for the cover of this story is posted on dokuga and on that site it is larger and looks better. Additionally Dokuga will be where other fan art that I have commissioned for this story will be posted. I go by SonofZhon there also.

Today I will welcome the person in Taiwan who started reading this recently. Hello, I hope you are having a good day.

I know I've said hello to various nationalities in the past but I never get a hello back. Are you all shy?

Chapter 27 Kouga vs Wei

As the challenge was answered, it became evident that it was going to be a one on one duel between Kouga and what he believed was the most powerful of the creatures. He didn't know exactly what the relationship between that one and those copies was, but Kouga got the impression that they were all just one entity spread out into bodies of varying power levels.

In a showing of obvious contempt, the one facing him left the sword that had been resting by his side where it lay and took up a preparatory stance, while signaling Kouga with a one-handed gesture to "come and get it."

Kouga, infuriated by the condescension displayed by this outsider, charged without a second thought.

Wei was deeply amused by the inept attacks of the wolf youkai named Kouga. His method relied on raw power rather than technique and was so sloppy Wei could anticipate the attacks long before their arrival.

Only those strange bracelets which hummed with power allowed Kouga to be much of a challenge to Wei and just barely at that. Kouga's first punch came in high, a right hand hooking down to the left. Wei easily stepped away from it, then leaned in, grabbed the edge of his armor and sent him to the ground. Kouga rolled on his shoulder and came back up, spinning fast to face Wei with his arms ready to pick off any punch or kick thrown at him.

Kouga narrowed his eyes at Wei and then attacked again, leading with a right-handed punch that turned out to be a feint. In going for the block, Wei exposed the left side of his torso and Kouga tried to deliver a roundhouse kick, but Wei realized the trap and stepped in close, jamming the kick before it could reach full extension. In an instant, Wei had a surprised Kouga's extended leg pinned to him, caught between Wei's side and his arm.

A white haze of pain exploded in Kouga's head as an open palm attack from Wei smashed his nose into a bloody mess of cartilage and viscera. Wei then tried to follow up on Kouga's disorientation by aiming a blow with his right heel to Kouga's left knee cap.

Unexpectedly, the wolf prince used his free leg to pull a desperate maneuver; jumping up off of it, he twisted in the air and slammed the arch of his left foot into Wei's jaw with a sound like that of a firearm's report at close range. Continuing the twist, Kouga got enough leverage to kick his right leg free of Wei.

Springing up to the attack once more, Kouga was knocked back down again by the eagle clawed hand of Wei crushing his larynx. Wei smiled down on the wolf prince as Kouga's eyes bulged from his head and his clawed hands went to his throat in a futile attempt to breathe.

'Oh, is the big bad wolf short of breath?' Wei sneered before delivering a roundhouse kick to Kouga's temple as he tried to get back up. Wei looked deep into Kouga's cobalt blue eyes, as Kouga lay on his back, savoring the expression of disbelief in them. Those crystal blue eyes seemed to say, This is how it ends? I knew I was going to die in battle, but like this? With just the sound of me hacking trying to get air? I was supposed to die gloriously, not with my back in the dirt clawing at my throat helplessly.

As Kouga's face became an intensely dark hue of purple, Wei turned to the shaking forms of Ginta and Hakkaku. "That wasn't as satisfying as I would have liked in all honesty. Died too fast and just wasn't the challenge Sesshoumaru was-"

Ginta and Hakkaku didn't know when this monster had encountered Sesshoumaru, but if Sesshoumaru hadn't been able to defeat him they didn't have any hope.

"-and not nearly as satisfying to kill. But since he and you are Japanese..."