The ring of cats jeered at each other as they lost steam. Their will to fight was draining fast. The corpses around Avar were too many. Even the bakeneko, of all shapes, sizes, and experience in combat, began to understand they couldn't win. At first, this caused them to yell even harder at their fellows to get them to attack instead of challenging Avar themselves.

All of the cats understood at a glance. This was someone they shouldn't be fighting. However, that only drove them on. Their instinct was to 'obey', and the majority rebelled against that notion. Some of the bakeneko even kneeled. Then, Avar gave them orders to go to a cave. The group peeled off at Avar's orders, including most of the older bakeneko. It was as if they became his servants. To the bakeneko, they could only think of it as some kind of foul magic.

The older ones among them that camefrom the Bakeneko Kingdom understood what Avar was. They were to either submit to Avar's rule or leave. The social order of the bakeneko was simple. The bakeneko lords have 'authority', and certain bakeneko will follow them blindly. Old bakeneko knew it was useless to convince the bakeneko that rebelled.

Even though Avar was told it was useless to convince them, he thought a demonstration of his ability might be enough. That lead to the unfortunate slaughter.

The bakeneko lord Avar, who only a week ago considered himself a normal cat, had become accustomed to sudden kneeling. It was strange. He was young himself and avoided other bakeneko like a plague, so why did it become like this? No amount of thought solved the problem. Swinging his sword however, did.

Avar shook his head as another one charged. The herd of cats cheers began to die down. Silence covered the field as they noticed silence filling the air from others. Bored looks were traded between the cats. They began to flake off from the group in pairs then packs. Avar stood amongst the corpses thinking about proper burial rites when that human came back.

The human wielded a strange black blade that had no reflection of light, as if tar had been scrapped across the metal.

Avar had only heard stories of humans while he was living in the chaos of the city of Prsuka. They had less fur than he imagined. Avar avoided slightly as Ichi's sword struck out to a point just outside of Avar's side. Avar could only wonder what Ichi was aiming at. Each strike seemed to carry such power and precision, as if they were all intended to fell an enemy in one blow.

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Not a single one was accurate. Not a single one hit. After a flurry of strikes which blurred before Avar's eyes into a black mass, he decided to stand still to test a theory.

Again, the strikes rained on everywhere in the air but his body. Avar chuckled as he enjoyed the wind the strikes blew on him.

"Human, this is some impressive swordplay. If only you could impress me to death, then there would be no need to cut me at all."

Ichi's face soured at the comment. A black energy blew out from his body, knocking corpses into the air. Avar shrouded himself in a golden aura, but it wasn't necessary. The black energy didn't even push on his body. Avar's eyes watched as dead leaves around his feet didn't even swirl.

Avar felt offended. This was clearly a superior opponent. He would need to use magic to contend with that black energy, he would need to put some serious thought into his sword strikes if they were aimed at his body.

"Are you even trying? Or, is this an introduction?"

Avar could only think Ichi was joking or trying to communicate something through this fight. This must be how humans communicate? Then, should he respond?

However, Ichi was trying his best. He couldn't see what he was doing wrong. Even if ever strike and wave of black energy missed, he clearly targeted each one at Avar.

"This is dumb." Ichi said.

He changed to bigfoot form and Avar let out a note of surprise. The massive hairy fist stopped just in front of Avar. Ichi could feel his large muscles, his entire arm, pushing against the air, and yet there was nothing there stopping him. To test, Ichi aimed a punch near Avar instead of at him. It hit the dirt just fine.

Ichi stepped back, grabbing a clump of the ground and heaving it at Avar. However, Ichi must have thrown wrong. The dirt swerved mid-air as if he really aimed somewhere else.

Ichi turned back into human form sneering at the grey blue bakeneko. Avar returned his stare with amusement. His one golden eye shimmered as he drew his sword. A thunderous voice hit the both of them from above.

"Stop."

A flaming phoenix tiger landed on Ichi like a rock. Danberu transformed back into his massive tanuki form, picking Ichi up by the scruff of his neck. Danberu moved his face close to the human in his grasp, asking the only question possible.

"What are you doing?"