He was back again, the harsh tundra that shines bright white with snow and not much else. There were a people here, and animals, but otherwise this place was virtually devoid of life, as many animals were not accustomed to this level of cold, one that could reach down past your very bones and into your soul to provide a chill. There was nothing here for him, except one thing, and that was what he had sought to avoid before being forced back here.

Rosuto, his father, wanted to speak with him but as always would not jus whisk him away to the land of powerful spirits, but instead, forced him to travel to his domain via specialized gate. There were at least four, but oddly, three of the four were not active. He'd wanted to avoid the guardian of the tundra gate, Pikatok, going so far as to travel the nearly impossible distance and checking the gate that her supremely powerful Husband, Drom, sometimes guarded. When that produced not welcome effects, as the man was missing, he tried the gate to the West, guarded by Limand, the Sceptre of the West.

RyuKyu, did you also find it odd that Limand was not at his post. He mused aloud, fully knowing that unless there was great danger, RyuKyu would not be making an appearance here. He was born of earth and fire, not snow and Frost.

In either event, hand in his newfound weapon, Wukong, a bestial key that took the shape of a decently sized staff, he continued on his trek through the cold. To hopefully garner passage to his father by way it the only gate he had yet to checks. Hers.

On his approach, he thought back to the former times he used this gate. Once resulted in him not only outlasting Pikatok, but beating her as well - even if she did swell his eye. The next, he attempted the same strategy, but she was prepared and managed to avoid it, and land a solid, electrically infused, punch the eye she damaged. He cursed her name every day since, because he lost that eye.

But perhaps he should have thanked her. Without taking that loss, he would not have leaned the truth about his skin, his Creature Skin, that allowed some keys to take over as parts of his body. Alas though, he was back here - going to face her to the third time and as many years it seemed like.

His approach was not stealthy, it would have done no good here, they were solidly in her domain. Having known Pikatok for as long as he had, he could tell what level of power she was, and today, he would be in for the fight of his life. She was bigger, and covered in more fur than a wholly mammoth. There was another dead giveaway to her mood and power. Pikatok lived and died by way of her Anchor. When in an enraged state it was her weapon of choice.

Pikatok, Kei'taro said as he came within hearing distance, You do not seem to be in the mood for this and neither am I. I ask that you kindly just allow me passage. As fruitless as he knew it would be, he had to try. He had grown up, more hair on his face, a little taller, more defined. Without Kusanagi, he seemed more regal, more kind.

His left hand reached up and adjusted the patch of his afflicted eye, a constant reminder of what she had done to him. He didn't need it, his eyes were fixed - but she, nor any opponent, needed to know what was different about that particular eye now.

Kei'taro stared across the fifty foot expanse, all snow, and up towards the giant of a woman. Thunderbird, Kusanagi, and Tortoise Shell would not work this time, but he had another plan that would surely catch her by surprise.

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A heavy sigh parted the lips of Kei'taro, this day would truly not be one of joy and happiness. Only twice before had he seen her in any combination of her present state, and he knew which he feared more. Already a formidable opponent, she was outright unbeatable in this state. Pikatok was a specimen of bestial authority, slightly different than himself. This was the most powerful state he had seen her in, a near complete amalgamation of her powers. What made it worse, in the eyes if Kei'taro, was that she brought along that impossible weapon of hers. The anchor. It was heavy, he could never lift it, but she swung it with finesse and control, like he had once done Kusanagi.

His right hand increased his grip on Wukong, a subtle glow hidden beneath his shirt. In her current state, this battle would need to conclude shortly, though he could see no other way for it. Their engagements never lasted much longer than a couple of minutes, often with him on the losing side.

Pikatok, today is not the day for either of us. My brother is here, I felt the arrival of Yggdrasil, do you know of that transdimensional transport? She had to know what this meant, but he wouldn't reveal it. Not what his brother had done, not what he failed to stop. Not the chain of events that had led them here today, or what other atrocities his brother would commit.

Separated by twenty feet, he was silently glad his eye was covered, so she couldn't see the sadness in it - nor the difference. Perhaps she would think it were just missing.

Pikatok, whatever sadness had befallen you, let it not control you this day. Whatever pain you wish to inflict, allow it to subside. He knew it would not, it would never until her anger was abated.

He kept himself loose and limber, Wukong feeling almost weightless in his hands. He could see each breath, but his eye never left the woman apart from him. Two powers in the animal kingdom, destined to stay locked in battle, until one is the Victor. The woman who was almost all creature or the man who was covered by animal motifs.

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