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"Meow! You just wait! I'll call someone to turn you into sashimi!"
Chen hissed at the lake, imitating a Spinosaurus. But as a tiny black kitten, she was about as threatening as a marshmallow.
The Legendary Fish ignored her and swam away.
"Hateful!" Chen slapped the water. "You dare look down on cats?!"
Splash.
No reaction.
"How about... we go back and tell the Boss?" Nitori suggested.
"No!" Chen turned away, nose in the air. "If Leo finds out I was bullied by a fish, I'll never live it down! The Yakumo Family has standards! I will handle this professionally!"
(Translation: I'm going to call in a ringer.)
Nitori dried Chen's fur. Chen put on her yellow raincoat and marched toward the Beach.
The River.
Leo sat in the pavilion, fishing for Catfish.
Kogasa (human form) sat beside him, staring intensely at the water.
The Umbrella (One-Eyed Xiao San) was also fishing.
It stuck its long, pink tongue into the river and wiggled it like a worm.
Chomp.
A nearsighted Catfish bit the tongue.
"Woo!"
The Umbrella flicked its head back, tossing the fish onto the bank.
Leo stared at his empty bucket.
"Is this Newbie Protection?" Leo muttered. "Or does the weirder bait catch faster?"
He had been fishing all morning with zero bites. The Umbrella had caught three.
SNAP.
On the other side, Kogasa got a bite. She yanked the rod with blacksmith strength.
The bamboo rod shattered into splinters. Kogasa fell backward.
"Are you okay?" Leo helped her up.
"I'm fine," Kogasa dusted herself off. "This rod is too weak. Do you have a sturdier one?"
"No... wait." Leo looked at her. "You're a Blacksmith, right?"
Kogasa nodded. She rolled up her sleeves, flexing non-existent muscles. "I forged Reimu's Exorcism Needles!"
(Which Reimu then used to exorcise her. Irony.)
"Let's forge our own rod," Leo decided. "Solid steel. Iron wire line. We'll catch the Dragon King."
He packed up his gear and dragged Kogasa toward the Blacksmith shed.
The Beach.
Kagerou Imaizumi sat under the eaves of the cabin, cleaning fish.
Inside, racks of drying seafood—scallops, octopus, sea cucumbers—filled the room. Waka had been busy.
"Meow! Sister Wolf!"
Chen ran up to the cabin.
"Is Sister Fish home?"
The Yakumo Family motto: If you can't win, call for backup.
"It's Chen," Kagerou wiped her hands. "Waka is in the sea. What's wrong?"
"Aow!" Chen wailed. "I was bullied by a fish! I need Sister Fish to help me get revenge!"
Kagerou blinked.
Bullied by a fish?
"I see. Wait here."
Kagerou gave Chen a dried scallop to gnaw on and went to the shore.
"Waka!"
Splash.
Wakasagihime surfaced. She was draped in seaweed, holding two red snappers.
Ptoo.
She spat a pearl onto the sand. (Her inventory was full).
"What's up?" Waka asked.
"Chen is here. She says she was bullied by a fish and needs a hitman."
Waka blinked.
"A hitman? Me?"
She puffed out her chest.
"Show me the target."
The Mountain Lake.
The Legendary Fish was resting on the muddy bottom, feeling smug. It had successfully defended its territory against the feline menace.
Nothing can stop me. I am the Legend.
Suddenly, the water pressure changed.
A shadow loomed over the lake.
Wakasagihime dived in. In the water, she was no longer the weakling who got carried by fairies. Her tail propelled her at torpedo speeds.
She found the Legend.
"Are you the one who bullied the Boss's cat?" Waka telepathically broadcasted.
The Legend narrowed its eyes.
A Mermaid? Here?
"This is my territory," The Legend grumbled. "Go back to the ocean."
"Not until you apologize to Chen," Waka crossed her arms.
The Legend scoffed.
Water Style: Hydro Pump!
It fired a jet of water.
Waka didn't dodge. She slapped her tail.
WHAM.
The Hydro Pump was deflected. The shockwave stunned the smaller fish in the area.
"Oh?" The Legend was intrigued. "A challenger?"
Waka smiled.
"Let's dance, Fatso."
The Battle of the Lake Kings began.