Ichi explored the empty fortress. Besides a ransacked library that looked like it was torn apart, he found nothing. Even the dungeons and larder were bare. Ichi smelled the faint scent of Myon and Syon. Rikya's prisoners. Satou went with Rikya in Avalon to pick up supplies, so she took them? Ichi didn't like the sound of Syon in Avalon. Ichi didn't like the idea of seeing them again. Bad memories came to mind.

Why did he come to the spirit world again? What was it all for? How about running away? No, wait, would Fubuki even let him? Does he get to keep the maid? She can teleport, so that's handy. What about her range? Is it infinite? So he could anywhere but where Syon was going to be in the future.

Ichi scratched his head. He creaked open the front of the fortress door, and waiting in the center sitting cross-legged was a bakeneko. A grey blue colored one with a white eyepatch. Heavy amounts of dark splotches covered his robe. Ichi closed the door.

That was Avar. Why's he just sitting there? Ichi's hand went to his head. Half the reason he bailed out on the supply run was because of his head. Ichi found out the hard way, hitting your head can seriously impair your functioning for awhile, even if it's a light hit. He felt like he just wanted to roam around until the end of time and never talk to anyone again.

If he knew it was Fubuki who knocked him out, he'd would have forgiven her. Mostly because he wouldn't have found a way to get mad at her.

Ichi didn't know what happened. He assumed he pushed himself too far and blamed himself for not resting enough. It was a long, long fight. Stupid ideas came to him. How about fighting Avar, right now?

Ichi's hand went to his chest pocket, trying to pull out his sword. His head tilted down to look and he realized he already gave Fubuki his blazer. Ichi sighed. He was tired anyways. Why bother?

Besides, what would he do if Avar won again? He really could die. Trying to kill bakeneko just because he almost killed you isn't moral. Ichi reasoned onwards, avoiding the truth that he really wanted to go kill Avar. He comforted himself with promises of later, Ichi thought, later.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

That would be a sensible idea.

Within five minutes Ichi stood outside facing Avar.

"Hey," Ichi croaked out. For some reason calling out to the cat felt like he was talking to a girl he didn't know.

Avar swirled his head around to greet him.

"Lord of Avalon, good morning. If you don't mind, I'm waiting on the Avalon to come back. I can't wait to get back inside that wondrous place."

Avar swirled his head back and ignored him. Ichi thought it strange. The maids and Renya were fond of calling him lord, but this is the first time he saw someone use the title with so little weight. It's just a stupid cat, Ichi reckoned. His desire to kill lowered.

Which was why Ichi drew back his fist. He wasn't mad at all. He shifted into bigfoot form. He wasn't mad at all. A swirling black energy covered his fist. Spider lines of white energy swirled with it.

Ichi wasn't mad. So when shot his fist straight into Avar's head it was something that happens sometimes. Like an accident. This is a vehicular collision. It's a heart attack. These things happen.

A golden aura shimmered around Avar as his body shot across the fortress grounds, knocking into a barracks full of foxes. Strange black and white energy sparkled around the building as it exploded, blowing spirit foxes bodies into the air like leaves in the wind.

Dust and smoke covered the fortress grounds. As it began to settle, Avar walked out of the wreckage, his thin golden aura active. He didn't draw his sword. Holding out his paws wide, Avar appealed to Ichi.

"So violent. I don't remember doing anything to anger you, Lord of Avalon. May we discuss this peaceably?"

Ichi groaned at his words. His hairy bigfoot form had ripped his clothing apart. There was also the matter of responding to the cat, but Ichi just groaned again.

Fubuki would be here in the next second, wouldn't she? Ichi looked right and left, expecting her. No one came.

Meanwhile, Fubuki watched on, thinking it was another one of Master's games.

Ichi, however, had considered it before. Just have Fubuki kill him. But, that wouldn't sate his pride. Ichi shifted out of his bigfoot form, walking away and ignoring Avar's words.

Wait, Ichi thought, why does my head feel better? Oh. Ohhhhh.