After a summer rain, the wind was strong enough to carry the smell of wet dirt in the ground up to the highest residences of Yendakhor'ghi, literally meaning The Tree of Knowledge in the ancient language of the sentient Owls around the world, at the very top of the tree, Allectus stood on his favourite branch inhaling the smell that came from the ground, calm and patient was the old Owl, his eyes and wings closed, he felt what was to come, a challenger.

"You know the orders right?" Asked a big Owl general towards a smaller soldier, which replied "Indeed, once the man approaches, activate the trap and lock him inside... I just wonder if it will work, if he is a challenger, why would Allectus want to eliminate him before the battle?", the general then explained to the soldier: "Allectus is wise, he knows more than us, and while he often explains his actions beforehand, this time he looks different, only wanting to concentrate his strategies on the challenger, I also wonder what he's up to"

Almost as quickly as he'd come, he was unceremoniously ejected from the Spirit World, and dumped two miles outside of the Yendakhor'ghi, the Tree of Knowledge. Kei'taro could speak some Ancient Owl, after spending some time with a few of them on his travels; but had never been to their revered home of the Tree.

That fact was lost on him, as he recounted the conversation. His brother had resurfaced again, and was making a play for the Spirit World. Rosuto, his father, wasn't upset by the knowledge; in fact, seemed to almost welcome it, as he knew he was the unparalleled King of the Spirit Animals, and all that entailed. He had simply wanted Kei'taro to know that his brother had made his way into the multiverse he now inhabited.

Oh, and he wanted Kei'taro's head on a platter. It was an easy way to not only serve his own powers, but have the abilities of Kei'taro as well.

"Stupid bastard," Kei'taro mumbled for the twentieth time, as he made his way to the Tree of Knowledge; unknowingly of course. To make matters worse, his Father had decided to heal him, after a thorough railroading of the consequences that could have unfolded if Pikatok had of actually died. Kei'taro's eye was functioning and not swollen, but he was still having a hard time seeing out of it.

Pikatok had rough skin.

Chuckle.

He finally approached the tree, watching the owls float and glide about among the branches. Maybe his old pal Gelui would be here. He always made him feel better.

As the man approached the Tree, the scouting owls were acting as out of duty, flying around and not giving a care in the world, but they were actually looking for the challenger, once he was spotted their orders were to activate the trap and kill Kei'taro in one move, the man was walking as normal, he was unaware of the trap, it was the perfect timing.

"Sir, he's on the right spot, activate the trap as our orders say!" Said a scouting owl, "Affirmative, he's done for" said a soldier owl, the trap was now active, two nearby trees fell towards Kei'taro, they would mean death unless he could dodge them somehow, the test was already ongoing, and the falling trees were already part of it.

Each step brought him closer to the Tree of Knowledge, and as he hoped, his friend from travels past. The Tree was large, larger than any other he had before came across. The ground and air were saturated with the smell of wet dirt, telling of a previously fallen rain.

Turning his eyes to the front and upward, he started looking for his friend, wandering if he were truly there. He had told him that he was seeking to return to the Tree of Knowledge at his earliest chance.

Something moved out of the corner of his eye, the Owls seemed to study him with deep regard, and then - as one, they moved with startling speed.

A prelude to the two trees now racing with gravity to the ground. One was to his left, and the other to his right. Oh such massive trees, should they fall upon him, they would surely crush him like a insect beneath a boot.

Options ran through his head, the dirt was too wet to form a formidble sphere of earth that could capture the trees and push them outward to be deflected. He had no ability when it came to manipulating plants, just yet. An idea popped into his head and within moments was placed into action.

Using his powerful legs, he leaped forward and rolled in the dirt; avoiding the first tree and barely making it past the second. The resounding crash scared other birds that lived near the Tree.

"What is the meaning of this?" He growled out harshly, favoring his left eye when looking around. Trees didn't just fall like that; someone, something, here was attempting to take him out. His right hand went straight to Kusanagi and ripped it free of its sheathe.

Two things happened in this; RyuKyu, his spirit animal, a large Arcanine looking beast reared back, afraid of the vicious nature of Kei'taro, and Kusanagi, the snake Spirit of his favored weapon, hissed in glee - he too could feel the killing intent, and through the eyes of Kei'taro, the prey around him.

"S- Sir! The man survived the trap, he managed to evade it despiste our efforts, even though we exectued the task with precis-" The soldier was interrupted by Allectus, who said in a calm tone "I see, it's just as I though, this man... Keitaro, he possesses incredible powers, I can feel them emmanating from here, his spirit is composed not by his only existence, but is also composed of animals, this is truly incredible", Allectus then gave an order: "Show no further resistance, let the man come to me, open the Tree entrance and unlock the stairway to the top, He passed the first task, now it's time for the second part of the test"

The soldiers quickly opened the entrance through the huge Tree, the stairway would lead directly to the top, and all the other branches were locked shut, Allectus was waiting pacifely in the highest branch, Perhaps, today my Key will pass along, I hope it brings peace where it goes... he though to himself, waiting for the challenger.

No answer came, but the oddest thing he'd seen thus far occured.

The Tree opened and revealed a stairwell. Kei'taro was slightly put off by the reveal of such a thing within the Tree, but the need to find out about the impromptu, and quite frankly deadly, attack that nearly brained him.

Turning eastward, he headed towards the Tree of Knowledge, and started up the stairwell - taking the steps one at a time, always ready for an attack to come from any point. The hilt of Kusanagi glowed a faint green, as the power within prepared itself. Oh, he had some type of plan going in - it served him well before, perhaps another would again.

Kei'taro reached the top, and peered around the bark and spotted an Owl, a sagely looking Forest Owl. Was he the leader here?

"Excuse me, Owl - could you explain to me the reason I was accosted BY NOT ONE, BUT TWO TREES?!" Kei'taro roared out, increasing his volume as he progressed. His eyes locked on the Owl. His mind was cloudy, his talk with his father put him on edge; this wasn't like him.

Allectus went straight to the point: "Because the test is already ongoing, congratulations" Said the Owl while turning his head 180 degrees towards Kei'taro, but keeping his body still, "You passed the first part, now, I suppose you are ready for the second half".

The Sage Owl began inspecting Kei'taro in every detail, "Nice blade of yours, could you kindly detach it and fight? Otherwise your jouney will end here, and frankly, it would be a shame if I couldn't see your moves before you pass away", Allectus activated small runestones he had imprinted under his wings, glowing and emmanating energy, it ressonated to the Wingblades in the wall, they quickly attached to Allectus, as if his wings were made of steel.

"Now, lets see if you're worth of my Key!" Said the Owl while leaping towards the man, his wings were quick and would hit him surely, he had little time to think, but he could evade the Tree Trap, perhaps he could do the same against the Owl?

Blade already in hand, Kei'taro was ready to engage the Owl. The blades along the wall shot towards the creature and attached themselves to the wings of the Key Holder; who then launched into an attack. The pattern of it was simple to figure out.

The creature headed straight on, which in hindsight, would probably have displayed a lack of skill in battle, especially since it gave up all pretenses of advantage.

Perhaps he could end the battle in one stroke. As the Owl came, quick as a trained runner, Kei'taro quickly ducked low and slashed Kei'taro down in vertical strike, following the path of his body. Essentially, the blade was aimed to go from top to bottom, following along the path Kei'taro took.

That path, as it were, was also right where the Owl would arrive just a moment later. The blade, if successful, would bisect the bird symmetrically down the center. Kei'taro, at the same time, stopped charging his Kusanagi ability, and instead began sending power into the Eight Legged Freak. This was to enact a deadly combination of the skills of the two keys.

A back up plan in case things didn't quite work out with this one stroke.

As I though, my attack triggered a counter, but he's way faster then I could predict. Though the Owl while spinning his body in the air, blocking the blade with his steel wings, the impact was strong enough to move both fighters away from eachother, he couldn't lose any more time, and jumped against Kei'taro again, this time Allectus was more careful, one shouldn't use the same attack twice, much less in a row.

Allectus would strike with his right wing, while having the left wing to defend himself if needed, he began to feel Kei'taro charging his abilities, but he couldn't predict the effects. "You're faster than I though, challenger, this will be an even match, indeed", Said the Owl while running again, this time more cautiously.

Another direct assault, Allectus was attempting to face the man head on instead of using his formidable abilities to combat him. Kei'taro remained calm, angling slightly so his left was forward, allowing his vision to take precedence. His right eye, while healed, was still out of commission from the hard flesh of Pikatok.

With Allectus closing in, Kei'taro activated Shoot to Kill, and Eight Legged Freak, initiating one of his most vicious combinations. Both Kusanagi, the snake inhabiting the sword of the same name, Brecluse, the Brown Recluse behind the Spider ability of Eight Legged Freak, cackled as their abilities combined. Kei'taro's side burst free, harmlessly, with several more arms - eahc possessing a version of base Kusanagi. They couldn't extend, but they possessed a power just as deadly. Each was coated in a ravenous hemotoxin from the Brown Recluse Spider.

Armed now with a veritable armory, Kei'taro pressed forward and brought in a downward slash two the swords on his left side, to disrupting the intended strike. The bottom would aim for a vital strike at his body. But, using his agility, he brought around those of his right and aimed to puncture Allectus in a spread out fashion. He had one shot with this attack before the combination would end, and he needed to make it count. The four of his right aimed for the Head, chest, stomach, and legs.