At the center of Tanuki Lord Danberu's fortress his soldiers piled onto Ichi. Black energy wrapped around his body and Tanuki went flying, transforming into birds in mid-air and winging out of the way. They shouted curses at the usually strong bastard flumoxing about. Despite their furry bodies of all shapes and sizes trying to pin Ichi down he easily repulsed them into the air.

"Pile on! Pile on!"

The Tanuki quickly went into a frenzy as they turned into elephants and strange massive beasts and flung themselves onto Ichi. Looking up at the sky full of Tanuki trying to crush him with their weight he sped out from under their plunging bodies. The thuds landed behind him and in front of him as he dodged around what falling Tanuki he could in all different forms.

A giant squid thudded on his head. Luckily he had the black energy to repel the massive squirming beast. Ichi didn't think they would be that aggressive from the start. If he wasn't a druid, he would have died instantly from even one hit. Ichi let loose, forming a sphere around himself. Avalon was still at his back, Ichi feared he'd knock the bloated Tanuki forms into it and hurt Rikya inside.

He stood there with the sphere up as elephant men and racoon-dog pounded on the outside. Ichi shook his head at the sight, hoping that his stupid amount of black energy would be enough to keep him alive.

Then Tanuki started peeling off, one by one massive fat tentacles roped around each soldier ripping them off of the black sphere. Ichi saw the beast towering above him, an Elder Kraken. As the last of the tanuki pulled off, the Elder Kraken turned into a Tanuki in golden robes.

Ichi had gotten used to seeing animal people since he spent time in the Red Abbey, but this Tanuki stood at least half his height higher than him. The big fat body and bulging eyes looked unreal as the Tanuki approached him.

"Please excuse my troops. They were always rowdy, but they have gotten rowdier. I am Tanuki Lord Danberu. You are Ichi, Son of Danzaburo, yes?"

Ichi took down the black sphere and nodded at the Tanuki.

"Those are quite potent abilities you have. Surely a lesser Tanuki would have died! I apologize. I had spread word that a black golem would be appearing thanks to that ninja girl Oni, but it seems that didn't deter them."

Danberu sneered at his troops. They scattered, turning into mice and birds in packs and flocks as they vanished into buildings.

"Ruling Tanuki is more about cleverness and strength than authority. You'll never tell a Tanuki what to do and have them do it, unless they've already decided it was a good idea. Care to come inside?"

Ichi didn't feel safe bringing Rikya with him. Satou though, she took out Myon and Syon. She also had that 'druid-killer' weapon that Ichi made.

"Is Satou around?" Ichi said warily.

"Ah, distrustful, are we? No matter. She's watching the supply line the ninja girl set up for us. Stern girl, Satou. Come with me."

Danberu turned and Ichi followed. Better to get an idea of what Satou thought of the Tanuki here from her mouth than Danberu. The welcome wasn't pleasant.