As we exit the gates, Katrina steps outside, and closes the doors behind us.

[Goodbye, Katrina. I hate you.]

Turning, she says with a serious growl, "Never come back here again. Or else I'll-"

"Or else you'll what?"

All of us jump, turning in surprise to see Noah standing some distance away, arms crossed and an annoyed expression on his face.

Katrina's spear is in her hands faster than I can see it, and the other humans start leaning forward. "Uhhh, Katrina, I really wouldn't advise-"

She's already gone, streaking across the ground to bury her spear up to her front hand in Noah's stomach.

He glances down at it passively, then looks up at Katrina. "Do you know how much this T-shirt cost?"

She steps back, yanking her spear out and getting in a combative stance. "I don't care. You might have some sort of regeneration, but I can still beat you!"

She swings it in a wide arc, screaming a battle cry, and neatly bisects Noah across the stomach. His top half jumps in the air, then lands back on his waist with a smack.

He crosses his arms. "That's getting annoying."

Katrina winds back. "Cannon Thrust!"

Reversing her grip, she slams the now-glowing butt of her spear into Noah's chest, and he's launched backwards at least a hundred yards, flipping to land on his feet and somehow canceling his momentum.

We all start moving forward to get a better look. Not that he needs help - we just want to see the action. And maybe make sure he doesn't kill her.

Spinning her spear, she aims the tip at him and shouts, "Forest of Flame!"

A barrage of fireballs explode from her spear, colliding directly against Noah's still form.

She charges. "For Xylphys! For glory! FOR HUMANITY!"

Her spear raises in the air and shoots down in a piercing attack that Noah takes full in the forehead.

She stands back, grinning wildly at her success.

Noah sighs, the spear sticking out of his skull. "See, this is what I meant. You went straight for the jugular. Metaphorically, of course, but still. It's annoying to say the least."

Katrina stumbles backwards, her face displaying shock as he yanked the spear out of his head. Looking down at it with a clear expression of distaste, he sighs again, teleporting backward a fair distance.

She charges back in, gauntleted fists raised, and he makes a slight downward slapping motion.

The ground in a two-hundred foot diameter around Katrina is instantly crushed in the shape of a handprint, and she's practically flattened from the force. Stones jut out around the crater, and I carefully avoid them to get closer.

Noah leans down to Katrina as she forces herself to one knee. "Listen. If you ever threaten Null again, I'll..."

He gets much closer, whispering into her ear. I can't hear what he's saying, but it's enough to make the blood rush from her face. She looks much less scary.

Standing, he gives me a thumbs up. "You're all good, Null. See you soon!"

And he vanishes.

Alice rushes to Katrina, saying, "Are you okay? That was-"

She raises a hand, forestalling the fhuma's approach. "No. Don't - don't get any closer. I'm going home."

Standing, she limps toward Xylphys, and we watch her leave.

The handprint in the ground doesn't disappear.

I'm the first to say it.

"Let's avoid annoying Noah."