Rotten wood stunk the air as the darker than black giant robot moved.

The Spirit Gate to Pruska stood outside of Avalon. Located deep in the forest hidden away from the village Ichi got spirited away to six months ago, it was an old shrine covered in a thick carpet of vines and trees. Inside the center doors a blue light pulsed along the rotten wooden floors and walls. The darker than black giant robot Avalon towered outside of it with glowing red eyes.

It walked into the center of the shrine, cracking off the top of the roof. A small blue portal with marble buddha statues sat in front of the robot. The robot dived in headfirst. What was a black shape disappeared into nothingness, leaving behind broken buddha statues.

Inside the cockpit of Avalon, Ichi stood watch as Rikya piloted the robot effortlessly. He gagged remembering the last time he tried it. Renya said something about how it might have something to do with the black goo not reacting well with Ichi. Since the entire robot was made from his black energy combined with Renya's alchemy, and all the maids were made from black goo as well, Ichi excused himself for the sour situation before.

He wasn't good with girls, or robots. Robots was just another item to add to the list. As Rikya made the robot dive into the blue portal, Ichi swore he'd learn something, somehow. He reminded himself helpfully he did ask Fubuki about the druids. That was a start. Renya did give him some pointers as well.

Ichi guessed at it, but sometimes it's better to go ahead. At least he had already decided to go ahead anyways.

Then the inside of the cockpit turned into a washing machine, tumbling Ichi around like a ragdoll. He was glad he had Hifu and Wavr wait outside the portal to the cavern hole on the beach. A blue sea of energy surrounded Rikya and Ichi. The robot from the inside was transparent to both of them. Rikya shielded her body as Ichi flopped her way, and Ichi activated the black energy pushing himself to a wall of the cockpit he couldn't see.

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"Sorry." Ichi said to Rikya as he waved his hand at her.

Ichi laid against the wall as Rikya gave him awkward looks as if asking if he was alright.

"I'm fine. Just, bad position."

Rikya silently accepted Ichi's explaination. She sensed through her mental link to Avalon that she could fly even in this blue energy sea, but her instinct told her to let the Spirit Gate guide them.

If they plopped out anywhere but Prsuka because of her, Rikya would feel guilty. And if they didn't save Satou, she'd feel guilty, and she also felt guilty about having Satou capture Syon and Myon. All of that guilt stewed in her as she stared into the swirling blue energy.

A pinprick of white light opened ahead of them. It grew larger as they approached, swallowing the robot. White blinded Ichi as he toppled to the floor of the cockpit, leaning on the side of the wall as he tried to stand up. His head swum as he breathed hard. Rikya waited for Ichi to recover, thinking it better to spare his pride than to ask if he was okay again.

"Can they come in now?"

"...yeah."

Ichi's response came as his eyes opened. He heard a strange wavering in Rikya's voice. In front of him, hundred of tents and fires spread out leading to a city of colored stone. Walking everywhere he looked were cats. Standing on their hind legs, wielding spears and swords, quarrelling over food.

Ichi heard the steps of the maids behind him. He turned around to see the green and blue hair walk past him. They stood in front of him. Hifu tapped the side of the wall and the robot opened, becoming solid again. She turned her head to Ichi with a smile as Wavr stood next to her silently.

"Numbers of the buggers looks bonkers. Could use a thinning up of the species, I'd say. Clean up this mess, sah?"

Her cheery tone and accompying salute didn't match the feeling in Ichi's stomach. He took a look at Rikya who nodded solemnly. It was Ichi's call.

Looking between the maids skirts blowing in the wind he saw a scarred eye cat lower his spear and start hissing at them. The cats around abandoned their tents, grabbing weapons and hissing as a crowd. Ichi's heart leapt at the sight of the numbers.

"Clean up these stupid cats."