Joey took a deep inhale, and then exhaled as she looked up at the tower. “Well, here goes something.” Her eyes lowered to the entrance to the tower and started to walk inside.

It was very quiet inside the tower. Joey’s footsteps echoed loudly with each step she took. Her eyes glanced around the circular structure. The only thing inside seemed to be a winding staircase that was spiraling around the walls as it led to the top.

A groan escaped Joey as she followed the long stairway that stretched out before her. “Why couldn’t the gods have elevators in this realm?” she sighed and rubbed her furry brow. “Is my real final challenge making it to the top without passing out from exhaustion?” Her eyes slowly drifted to the base of the stairs. One last sigh escaped her as she was starting to dread climbing up. “No point turning back. Let’s get this over with.” She walked over and placed one of her hands on the metal railing. A shudder escaped her as she held onto the cold metal. “Should have expected that.” She grumbled as she started her ascent.

Joey’s mind was racing as each step brought her closer and closer to the end of her journey. A nagging feeling in the back of her mind kept pestering her to turn back, run away and just forget destiny. She stopped for a moment and sighed as she shook those feelings away.

“I can’t go back.” she said to herself as she kept climbing up. “Even if I did, where would I go? I'd be stuck in a frozen wasteland for, who knows how long until I starve to death, or the other gods find me and just do away with me?” A sigh escaped her. “Die if I run, die if I fail; and success is living as a female wolf for all eternity…” A chuckle escaped her. “..Ammy said I could visit mom. Maybe I can finally see all my other friends as well? Oh man, they are going to freak out when a talking wolf shows up at their door.” Joey started to laugh once more, however the chuckles were slowly starting to whimper as she started crying.

Several tears started to fall from Joey’s eyes as they fell on the cold steps before her. “What am I doing!? I don’t want this, I want to go home!” She started to sob. “I want to go home! I want to be with my coworkers! I want to chat with my friends online and play dumb games again!” She sat down and the tears were starting to run faster and faster as she started to cry. “Why does this have to happen to me above all else?” she sniffled

Joey’s tears were slowly starting to dry up. She reached up and gave her eyes a rub to the remaining tears that blurred her vision. A sigh escaped her as she was starting to pull herself back together.

“Looks like I was holding back more than I realized.” she sighed once more as she sat on the steps. She shot a quick glance down and then back up to her destination. “Halfway there; now there really is no point turning back now.” Slowly Joey started to pull herself back up to her feet. She still felt lightheaded and was a bit wobbly as she stood back up, but was able to keep her balance.

Joey gave a deep inhale, and then slowly started to exhale as her mind was starting to clear and her focus returned. “Much better.” her tail gave a small wag in glee as she shot a look back at it. “Well, I’ll have a lifetime to get used to that.” She smiled weakly as it wagged more and more.

Joey looked back up and inhaled deeply once. With a second exhale, she seemed to be smiling as she looked forward. “Alright, pity party over. Let’s finish this.” With her determination returning, she resumed her climb.

As she kept moving forward, she could not help but reflect back on her journey through the realm: Yomigami as it flew through the starry void, Tachigami pointing its large blade right at Joey’s face, the Hanagami trio of monkeys goofing around as they played their various instruments among the growing plants, bakugami coming in for a crash landing right near her, Yumigami making mochi and nearly assaulting her with a hammer, Nuregami showing Joey’s first changes as her ears became pointy, outrunning Kasugami in the field and gaining her new lupine legs, Moegami’s smoke filling her face and coughing as it grew out into a snout, getting drunk with Kasugami, practicing her powers with kabegami, having a nice talk with Ko-gekigami and running for her life from his angry father, and finally a talk with Amatarusu.

Despite all she went through, Joey could not help but smile as she reflected on her journey. “It really was quite a trip.” She chuckled. “I will definitely say the sake was good. Also I bet the horse boy would want a rematch.” A laugh escaped her as she gave her head a slight shake.

She seemed quite lost in her thoughts, that before she knew it, she was standing before a door. She seemed puzzled and then shot a glance down to confirm that she was indeed at the top of the tower. “Time flies when you reflect on your past.” She said in awe as she looked back at the door that was before her. Slowly she placed a hand on the door, a shudder escaped her once more as her hand made contact with cold metal. “Death or goddess hood. Either way, it ends here.” Her hand turned the door and it creaked open.

The top of the tower was large and barren. The air was surprisingly calm as no wind blew up there. Joey shot a look around the area, before stepping out of the doorway. “Hello?” she called out as she stepped into the middle of the area. “Hello!? Itegami!?” She cried out again and only silence filled her ears.”I know this is the ice ox, but this is seriously giving me the chills.” She wrapped her arms around her body as a chill went through her. “Wonder when my winter coat will grow in?” She gave another weak chuckle and then went to walk to the tower’s edge.

Joey placed her hands on the parapet that lined the edges of the tower and peaked over the edge. A gasp escaped her as she looked down and saw that she was above the clouds. “How high up am I?” she wondered and moved away from the edge.

The sound of a horn rang out through the area. Joey gasped and looked all around for the source. “Where did that come from?” She cried and saw nothing but a clear sky in all directions.

The horn rang out again and this time Joey turned and looked towards the sky. Joey’s eyes widened as she saw a starry sky stretch before her. Several of the stars seemed to be glowing bright blue, and Joey saw an outline of an ox for a moment before it faded away.

Joey stared at it for a moment, pondering its meaning, until her tail started to sway rapidly back and forth. “Hey hey! Cut it out.” She snorted and tried to grab the wagging appendage. “Yesh, what has gotten into you?” she wondered as she looked at the tail. Something inside her started to click as she looked at it, and then back at the constellation, and then back at the tail. “I’m guessing you want me to use you?” Joey rolled her eyes. “And I am talking to a tail, just great.”

One more sigh escaped her as she looked back at the constellation. Joey narrowed her eyes and noticed that something was missing. “I see, alright. Let’s do this.” Joey Inhaled and concentrated as she activated her powers. As the world once again turned sepia tone, she concentrated on the constellation.

Joey concentrated and tried to figure out what she needed to do, she felt her tail moving on it;s own to a few spots. “She saw small blots of ink get pressed down in several spots before her. “Well you know me better than I do.” She chuckled as the tail jumped out of her hands and went behind her when its task was done. Joey curiously examined the blots and then sighed. “Alrighty, here we go.” she said and deactivated her powers.

Joey watched the blots form stars as the outline of the ox returned and started to glow bright. In a flash of light, the mighty ox god appeared in the sky.

“Holy..!” Joey gasped as she watched the Ox rear back and then started stampeding around in the sky. As it noticed Joey, it slowly started to get lower with its charges and then jumped in the air and landed next to her.

“Welcome.” it spoke in a deep voice. “I have been waiting for you, the one chosen by the brushes.” He seemed to lower his head and seemed to give a bow before Joey.

“Um, thank you.” Joey said as she was confused by his behavior but quickly showed respect and bowed back.

Itegami raised his head and looked at Joey. “I’m sure you are aware, what is going to happen, correct?” His voice had a hint of sadness to it.

Joey raised her head and looked over at him. “Yes, I am aware. You are going to try and...kill me..” Her voice was nervous as she looked over the white ox.

“Correct. Please understand, I take no joy in doing this. We must make sure that the heir can hold their own as well as the real one could. Should you fail and perish by my horns, I will make it painless and try to provide you with a pleasant reincarnation for a new body in your next life.”

“Err, thanks..” Joey winced slightly as she looked over at the Ox’s sharp horns

“Is there anything you wish to say before we start our battle?” He asked. “Any requests for food or drink? Do you require any rest? I will only fight you when you are ready.” Itegami turned and started to move to the far end of the place that is to be their arena.

Joey looked over her body. Despite her trek up the stairs, she did not feel fatigued from her trip at all. She gave her furry belly a rub and seemed to sigh. “No, No I am ready.” She looked back over at the Ox. “I kept you waiting long enough, it’s time for this journey to end.”

“Very well.” Itegami started to rub his hoofs on the ground. “Show me your true power! LET’S GO!” He roared and suddenly started to charge rapidly at Joey.

Joey yelped at the sudden stampede of Itegami and barely got out of the way in the nick of time. Her body tumbled across the ground and came to a halt. She was able to watch Itegami plow through the parapet and charge off across the sky. “Oh you gotta be kidding me!” Joey cried as she pushed herself off the ground. As she got up, she got a better view of what happened. There seemed to be a path of ice that formed where Itegami was running. “Oh..” she said and looked back at the running bovine.

As it ran on its icy path, Joey saw it grab something from around it;s neck and rear its head back. The sound of the horn once again rang out and the skies above Joey seemed to be getting darker as clouds were forming overhead. “That can’t be good.” Joey said as she tried to keep her eyes on Itegami and the darkening sky.

The horn rang out once more and a light snow started to fall from the clouds. “Definitely not good.” Joey said again as a win was picking up and the snow was starting to fall faster. “Really not good!” Joey cried as the blizzard was starting to obscure her vision


Joey raised her hand as she tried to block the blowing snow from getting into her eyes. “Crap!” she cried and tried to listen in on the sound of the running Itegami. Her ears were shifting back and forth as she tried to pick up on the sounds of his hoofs. “Where are you?” she gulped as she faintly heard him coming. “THERE!” she gasped and tried to move. Joey just barely missed the horns but felt his large body smack into her.

“AAAAGGGG!” she cried as her body was knocked to the ground. She winced and held her side as she tried to locate him.

“I have some wind of my own!” she screamed and tried to focus as the snow kept blowing in her face. It was harder to concentrate, but she eventually got it active. “TAKE THIS!” she cried and drew the loop in the air. With a smirk she deactivated the ability and saw it hover in the air before a gust of wind started to blow against the snow. Joey smirked as she watched it, but that quickly faded as the opposite winds started to push against each other and form a tornado in the snow storm.

“Oh crap!” she winced and tried to get away as the mini tornado was sucking up the snow. “Okay so maybe that wasn’t my best idea!” she whined as the tornado was pulling her back.

The sound of the horn ran out once more and the blowing winds and snow were tying down. A huge pillar of snow formed in the center where the tornado was formed. Itegami walked next to it and seemed to smirk. “A tornado? Interesting way to remove my blinding snow.” he chuckled. “But let’s see how well you do with this.” He stomped a hoof down on the floor and the pile of snow started to shake

Joey nervously watched what was happening to the pile of snow before her. Her ears were picking up a cracking sound as several spikes of ice were starting to stick out of the mound of snow.

“What, what are you...doing?” She asked and took a few nervous straps back. Her gauze never moved away from the mound of snow.

“THIS!” Itegami cried and stomped his for hoof down once more. The mound of snow shook rapidly as a ball of ice suddenly shot out and went right for Joey.

“Son of a..!” Joey cried and hit the floor once more as the ball of ice shot over her and shattered as it hit the ground. She looked over at the shards of ice in horror.

‘I suggest you look back over here. Also you may want to get up. You are an easy target like that.” The ice ox snorted as Joey looked over just as he was starting to raise his hoof again

Joey seemed to be frozen in fear as she saw Itegami slam his hoof down and another ball of ice was shooting out and making a beeline right for her.


<CRAP!> She mentally cried and at the last few moments, activated her powers to freeze the moment <Crap, crap crap. Um what can I..OH!> a thought came to her as her tail drew two vertical lines. As Time retired, the ball was moving slower than it was and allowed Joey to roll out of the way.

“Close one!” She sighed as time returned to normal and it shattered on the ground where she used to be. She stumbled as she tried to push herself back up on her two feet.

“Don’t let your fear freeze you!” Itemami bellowed as he reared back and slammed both his for hoofs down on the ground.

The mound of snow was shaking more violently than before. “It’s not fear! I just lack my winter coat!” she retorted and carefully watched the pillar. Her hands were clenched tightly as she tried to plan her next move.

“Let’s see you dodge this!” he roared as a line of ice balls shot out right for her. “Time will not save you now!”

As Joey froze time, her mind raced ,What to do, what to do? Too many to dodge…wait!> She remembered the situation with Kabegami <POWER SLASH!> She mentally cried as a line of ink went right through all the spheres of ice

Joey mentally hoped it worked as she ended her magic. Time restored and before both her and Itemami, all the balls of ice shattered into harmless pieces.

“Hmmm, not bad, but how long can you keep it up?” Itegami asked as more ice was shot out.

“As long as I need to!” Joey cried out as she quickly shattered the second volley of ice. She stared at him and then back at the pillar. “Have to get rid of that, but how? What are my options?” she whispered to herself and tried to think as another volly launched “Damn it!” She snarled and shattered that volley.

“Wait, I know.” She smirked “Hey Itegami! Its been a blast..” She smirked and activated her powers as she summoned forth 3 bombs in front of the pillar, and him. “...but how about we end this with a bang?!” she cried as Itegami saw the fuses shrink and the cherry bombs she made exploded.

Three large explosions rang out on the battlefields as smoke and the shock wave spread out across the area.

“Those things pack a bigger punch than I thought. My ears are ringing.” She groaned as she carefully watched to see the results of her attack.

The smoke started to dissipate; Joey could see the pillar of snow was no more; blessed to a small mound with the remains nowhere to be seen.

A snort from Itegami made Joey look in the Ox’s direction. His face was stained with soot and there seemed to be a fracture in one of his horns

“I am not sure why you wish to make jokes with your life's on the line. However I will say that I am not very amused with your sense of humor Joey.” he growled and seemed to be annoyed with her antics.

His icy growl seemed to cut right through her”Um, well, sorry! I do it when I am stressed out or super scared! It’s a defense technique!” She slowly moved back.

“That's so?” he huffed. “Well then, let’s see how your jokes defend you against this!” He took the horn back in his mouth and gave another blow. A deep bellow rang out as he blew. Joey looked all around, wondering what the next attack would be or where it would come from. The horn ran out once more as a rumble started to fill Joey’s ears.

“What is that!? Where is that coming from?” Joey looked around and then her gauze went to the sky once more. Her eyes widened as a large amount of snow was starting to fall in her direction. “Holy…”She gulped loudly as the sound of the horn rang out again.

The rumbling seemed to intensify as the avalanche of snow was starting to fall faster and faster to Joey’s direction. “HEY! HEY cut it out! STOP!” She pleaded and begged as she tried to find any means of escape or to get away from the wave of snow

“Um er, um…” Joey racked her brains out as she tried to think of any solution her powers could do. “Cut? No, plants? No, um fire!? GA!” She panicked as the wave of snow was almost fully upon her. Joey shot a quick glance over at Itegami and only saw him staring intensely at her.

He tried to run towards him, hoping that would be the safer place to be, however it was too little too late as the wave of snow crashed into Joey and started to pile up

<Too heavy…can’t move…breathing…getting hard…> Joey tried to struggle but could barely move her hand. <have to…move…> Joey felt it getting harder and harder to focus as her breathing was getting shallow.

Itegami sighed as he looked over the large mound of snow that he had summoned. “Well, we tried. Don’t fight it Joey, I will honor my words.”