Fritz with his weapon slung on his shoulder, idly began running through the next step of his plans. Giving these beastkin conventional firearms was clearly a mistake. Automatic weapons were a clear risk. From everything Fritz knew of their nature, they were too immature to handle the responsibility. No doubt whomever received an assault rifle would start challenging their peers for dominance. Not to mention the inevitable friendly fire. Fritz let his mind wander as he imagined Ada running towards an immense dragon brandishing her mighty AK-47.

No, what they needed was something a bit more archaic. Something that wouldn't cause too much destruction. A musket would harder to train. It would also cause less destruction assuming they ran amok. Cannons would be even better. They would probably like them too. The big loud explosion would get their attention, and make them easier to control. The only issue would be the sheer amount of iron. Ada frowned as she waited for Fritz to come back to reality. Her stomach grumbled at the clear lack of attention.

"Aha! I have found you! My rival! Prepare yourself! Our battle will be epic! Truly this fight will be for the history books!" A male catkin wearing a gi shouted. Fritz and Ada turned their heads towards the sudden noise. The catkin skidded to a halt in front of Ada and Fritz, just outside of their open air workshop.

"You have a rival?" Fritz asked Ada. His eyebrow drew up in incredulous confusion. "Did this happen when I was asleep?"

"Stand back, strange human!" Toshi pointed directly towards Ada. With his other hand he rested it freely upon his eastern-inspired sword hilt. The katana had been polished to a mirror sheen. The catkin gripped it loosely, completely relaxed in his overbearing confidence. "I will prove my strength and my master's superior school of martial arts!"

"Yeah. But. He's so.... He's not a good rival." Ada said dejectedly as she gripped her rapier.

"Gambate Toshi-senpai!" A trio of beastkin appeared from behind the gi wearing catkin. They squealed and jumped up and down waiting for their champion to engage Ada.

"Why does he look familiar?"

"I uh- beat him in the tournament. Remember I kicked his leg? And it went like-" Ada bent her finger at an awkward angle as she scrunched up her face.

"Oh right.... The guy you crippled."

"That was fluke! I have mediated upon my failures! Whatever tricks you have up your sleeve will not work! I will win! Believe it!"

"Mhmmm. I see. Is this common with beastkin? Do they constantly challenge each other?" Fritz asked.

"Of course! It is our people's sacred ways!" Toshi yelled out. "Ada! I will avenge my defeat! Your strength will not prevail this time! Not while my friends are counting on me! Believe it!"

"I'm hungry. I don't want to fight. Neva might kill me if I use the rapier." Ada said with a sigh.

"Your new weapon will not save you! Behold! My ancient master's secret weapon. Toshi waved his curved katana in the air. The blade was immaculately clean and sharpened obsessively. It glimmered in the afternoon light. Toshi's fan girl's screamed in excitement as he brandished the weapon.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"A katana?" Fritz asked.

"Of course! You are well traveled, strange human! Back away! Our fight is about to begin!" Toshi pointed his free hand towards "Right here! Right now! I will avenge my master's honor!" The trio of fangirls squealed like pigs.

"Blood! Feed me his blood! Stab the man now!" Ada's rapier whispered. "Let me feast!"

"Uh, Ada? Do you think it's a good idea to stab him?" Fritz asked.

"No. Neva would get even angrier. She hates my new sword. Even though it's soo cool!"

Fritz unshouldered his shotgun. Conjuring a set of shells, he loaded his weapon.

"Welp, let's do a quick field test. Do you mind helping me real quick Toshi before your fight?" Toshi gripped his katana with both hands, as he lifted his sword high above his head ready to slash down viciously to Ada.

"I cannot! My honor demands I challenge Ada strange human! Stand aside!"

"Fritz, call me Fritz."

"Ada! Witness my power!" Toshi breathed in deeply. His fangirls screamed, just in time to join Toshi's protracted battle cry. Children and priests were approaching the workshop to see the approaching violence. Toshi was close to Ada and Fritz. He was so close it was nearly impossible to miss. Fritz aimed his weapon and fired both barrels. The blast of the shotgun echoed throughout the yard. Toshi was hit square on in the stomach and solar plexus. He instantly collapsed forward, dropping his katana.

The world seemed to stop, as everyone looked towards Fritz. Ada winced as she moved her hands towards her ears. Fritz's ears rang as they adjusted back to the normal sounds of the city.

"Uhghgh.... Guhhhnng. Uhhghghg." Toshi groaned in pain. He had fallen to his knees, clutching his stomach.

Fritz walked towards the downed fighter, kicking the katana away.

"Toshi-sama!" his fangirls screamed in panic. The children and priests looked in shock as Fritz stood over the catkin.

"Rubber bullets." Fritz said casually. "Pack a hell of a wallop. But you'll be fine." He crouched down patting Toshi on the back. His fangirls ran over to protect him. Ada stepped forward blocking their path.

"Uhggghgh...." Toshi groaned. Fritz patted his back.

"Breath, Toshi. I'm glad it didn't blow up in my hands. Ada, what do you think of my new weapon?"

"Can I get one? I can wield it in my off-hand!"

"Maybe later." Fritz said. "Think it will help me with random challengers?"

"Yeah. What happened? How did you hit him all the way over there? You weren't close enough to strike him."

"Ughg!" Toshi groaned. His cheek scraped against the dirt as vomit dribbled out of the side of his mouth.

"Get away from him! Toshi-senpai's clearly injured! Get out of our way! We will protect him no matter what!" One of his fangirls screeched.

"You think to order him? Do you not know who you speak to? He is Freye's champion!" One of the spectating priests snapped.

"Champion? He's the champion?" One of his fangirls asked. Her eyes went wide, as a sudden fear hit her.

"Yup. And I am doing some weapons testing. Toshi's strong. He'll survive." Fritz gave Toshi one last pat on the back, before standing up. Looking around the church's yard. Fritz held up his shotgun into the air.

"The gun is good." Fritz said in a loud monotone voice. "Who would like something similar to kill the undead?"

The promise of power called to them. Fritz could see it in their eyes as they eyed his weapon.

"How about you? Would you like to protect Toshi?" Fritz asked one of the strange catkin's fangirls.

"Ugghh...." Toshi groaned. Tears welled in the beastkin's eyes as she looked at the suffering catkin in the gi.

"I would protect him with my life!" The fangirl said. "I am a proud member of his battle harem!"

"Swing by the guards later. I have a plan. I'm arming this city with new weapons." Fritz said confidently.

"Fritz let's leave." Ada said. "That 'shotgun' was loud. More idiots are gonna come soon to investigate."

Fritz stood up leaving the suffering catkin on the ground. His immaculate white gi was covered in dirt. He wallowed on the ground in pain before Fritz.