The black dome stood in the distance behind Ichi and Renya. They faced each other, Ichi tugging at his black tie and shedding his blazer while Renya wore full black armor. The maid skirt was gone, and Ichi felt glad for it.

Ichi cricked his elbow and summoned his energy, shealthing his white shirt in a thin black aura. He held out his hands, making two fists.

Renya closed the distance first, kicking Ichi in his head.

"Wavr's was better." Ichi said as he pushed it aside.

He gave Renya a stiff front kick knocking her back. She twisted in the landed with all limbs to the ground before attacking again. This time, eight punches to Ichi's flank and chest. Ichi saw four, so he blocked four. The rest hit, but Ichi didn't move. Renya's fist stopped on the black energy. She held it there pushing forward with all her strength.

Ichi used his palm to tap her chest and she bounced back. Renya shrugged as she stablized herself, shaking her head.

"It's useless. Can't I use the sword?"

A black sword lay in a sheath leaning on a tree trunk. Renya looked at it wistfully as Ichi followed her eyes.

"Renya, you might win you use that black sword. It's only fair that the stronger opponent gets a handicap."

"Aren't you the stronger opponent?"

Renya closed the distance in a moment and grabbed Ichi from a crouch, trying to toss him in the air. However, her arms looped around him and couldn't apply any force. Ichi canceled her force with the black energy. She was clutching something that didn't allow itself to be moved.

"Usually, I'd go for an environmental attack here, but ruining the forest by picking up a tree seems useless as well."

Renya said that below Ichi's chest as she released him. In a series of quick punches Ichi tried to corner her, but her speed and sense for where his punches aimed left him hitting air.

"It's a stalemate. How boring." Renya said.

Ichi frowned as his mouth creased down. His punches didn't even look like they were anywhere near her, as if she was swaying in the wind when he punched.

"You didn't get better, did you?"

"Of course. I have the memories of my fight against you, against Myon two years ago, and recently fights against every maid."

Ichi relaxed as he saw his hits not going anywhere. Renya kept learning when he was tired, Renya kept thinking when she was tired. There should be a limit to potential, shouldn't there?

He changed strategy, crossing his arms.

"Okay. Then, Renya, can you think of a way for me to win?"

Renya looked to the sword. Then, she pointed at it. Ichi shook his head.

"I might actually win, if I used 'Flawless Strike'."

"Then, how about letting me try my magic?"

Ichi grimaced. He didn't like the idea of taking the same attack again, that one where Renya sandwiched Ichi against Scipio, and then even went on to scratch Scipio himself.

"What's your magic called?"

"'Derivative'. The portal to Avalon was only something I could make using it's upgraded form. The 'Maid Knight' title made it more flexible."

Ichi scratched his head.

"Alright."

And with that the sword disappeared, and a hail of strikes like rain landed on Ichi. It felt unfair that he couldn't even see Renya move this time. This is probably her serious speed. However, not a single strike could break through that unreasonable black energy. Renya spared the ground around Ichi as a storm of black with a dash of blonde hair blurred around him. Ichi felt dizzy and his heart pounded just watching her move, however, he could still watch.

Renya stopped sheathing her sword as she walked a few steps away from Ichi, twirling her hands behind her back and above her white and black swishing tails. She leaned her head down in the full black armor that didn't even have a glint to it in the sunlight.

"More power. I'd probably need a druid-killer weapon, wouldn't I? It's unfair."

Ichi expected this result. He left Renya a few days to recover. A week had passed and Oni didn't return. Ichi wondered if he should decide to push ahead into the Spirit World, but Renya and Rikya hadn't even mentioned it. He guessed they were both under enough pressure in Avalon already, where the only enemy was an obedient maid. Even though it was Rikya's idea to take Myon and Syon hostage, she hadn't brought it up even once, and neither had Ichi. Ichi didn't like it. What was different from the village.

Well, for one, maids.

"Sword."

Ichi held out his hand. Renya turned, and flicked the blade at him. It spun in the air as he snatched the handle, slashing forth.