Wukong is sitting in the middle of the arena on his staff, holding his hands to his ears with a happy sigh to really absorb the angry yells of the gods.

"Stupid monkey! Get real! COME ON!" "You gotta be kidding me!" They angrily toss random things into the arena they can find, but naturally can't reach Wukong who's in the middle.

"Mmmmm… yeeeees. Cry louder. Your tears fuel me, losers," He says and gathers up all their rings and wooden staffs all surely magical items. He gathers some rocks from the rubble and sits down in the middle again, making a campfire with the wood. "Hmm…" He looks up at Tyr who's casually sitting and observing him. "Heeeeey Tyyyyr. You got a light?"

Tyr grunts. "What for? It is plenty warm today,"

Wukong looks around seeing a little boy on the human's side who's been given some marshmallows to eat during the fights. "Hey kiddo. Wanna help humanity win against those pesky gods? If so can I have those marshmellows?" He asks with a friendly grin. The boy nods eagerly and tosses them to him. "Thanks kid. You're awesome," He sits back at the campfire, popping the Kintaro-ame marshmallows open he looks back to Tyr. "Marshmallow?" He simply says and the arena falls silent.

"YOU GOTTA BE FUCKING WITH US!" "YOU SCUMMY MONKEY!" "Fuck off with that shit!"

Tyr stands and walks over, drawing his sword, pointing it at Wukong's head nearly touching him, but the monkey king doesn't move. Tyr suddenly swipes it down. "Hiti," His sword lights on fire and ignites the campfire before he sits back down. "Sure. Marshmallows sound good,"

"..." "..." "..." "Those two…" The gods start. "Whatever. We're out of here," The gods angrily start to leave.

"Just you and me now," Wukong says and Tyr shakes his head.

"Not at all," He glances up at the gods' stand, seeing the Thunder Berserker himself, Thor, sitting and watching still. Buddha is also still watching and a few others here and there.

"Oooooh. I see,"

Thor glances over his shoulder in the stands briefly. "You are satisfied with watching from back there?" He says to a pair of large glowing eyes in the dark. One red, one blue.

"Yes… for now," An echoing voice says.

"Very well,"

-Palace of the Duat-

Sobek slides the door to the giant familiar, dark room open, and steps inside. "I can't believe we had to keep Sett in here…" He says carrying a giant golden sarcophagus over his shoulder.

Osiris steps in behind him with a sigh. "It had to be done. Ra knows best after all."

"He does," He slams the sarcophagus down in the middle of the room. The front is neatly decorated to look like Sett peacefully resting. They open it up and Osiris places Sett's wraps they gathered from the arena inside of it and gently close it. Sobek clenches his fist. "I'm gonna miss that kid… it's different knowing he's truly gone…"

Osiris tears up a little. "Yeah… but… I'm glad he can rest in peace now,"

Suddenly they hear someone step in behind them. It is Ra. Silently he walks in up to the sarcophagus. "Dying to a human. How humiliating," He says taking off his necklace and hanging it on one of the swords the carving is holding. "Not how I imagined the end to you, Sett," With that he turns to leave. "I would like you…" He starts, Sobek turning to interrupt Ra's request.

"Lord Ra. May we stay longer? We… wish to pay our respects,"

Ra glares back at Sobek. "Sobek. You will NEVER interrupt me when I speak. I would like you to grieve however long you wish. And when you are done come to the throneroom," With that Ra leaves.

As Ra steps out he pauses briefly. "Hmpf. What is HE doing here?" He says slightly hurriedly walking to the throneroom in the opposite side of the palace, sitting down on his throne with that indifferent look on his face. Just then a carriage from The Mercury Express arrives in front and a certain god steps off. This carriage seems to be personal to this man. Ra glares down at him. "What do you think you're doing here… Thoth?" He asks angrily and Thoth gives Ra a single look before he simply turns to walk towards the room. "Answer me."

"If you need an answer then you are more heartless than even I imagined."

"Just as I am not welcome in Babel so too are you not welcome in the Duat. I would like you to leave,"

"And I would like Sett back. Besides. You have someone to speak with," Thoth gestures behind him as Michael comes walking.

Ra scoffs as Thoth rounds a corner. "What do you want Michael?" He asks casually turning his attention to Michael.

Michael holds out a hand rather dramatically. "I came to you, oh great god Ra, to inquire. Why was it that my promised battle was postponed?! Is this not antithetical to my plea?"

Ra looks down at him, leaning his head back. "You will get your turn next. What is there to complain about?"

Michael puts a hand on his heart. "A life will be lost meaninglessly because of this Ra. Is that not someone we should attempt to avoid?"

"Do not question me, Michael. Tyr will not lose. And as such we will be ridding ourselves of Sun Wukong, the biggest thorn in the side of the gods since the dusk of The Anima,"

Michael clenches his fist. "I would rather avoid that as well…"

To this Ra taps his staff against the ground, sending an echo into the room. "Silence Michael. You owe him nothing. If you wish to convince me you care for that nuisance then you waste my time. I would like you to leave me be,"

Michael sighs. "But… Should I succeed in my plea with Pandora! Will you then hear me out?"

Ra nods. "I will. You know I do not wish to repeat myself, Michael. … Leave."

Michael gulps and gently bows. "Very well. My apologies for the intrusion," He leaves again, seeing the Mercury Express he arrived in, sitting down with his head in his hands. "To the jade palace, please,"

"Of course Michael. Anything you wish to talk about?" The angel-driver asks and Michael just shakes his head.

"I will have to confer with Master Yu Huang on what to do,"

"I wish you the best of luck,"

As Thoth steps into Sett's chamber he shivers a little. Partly from the cold… partly from utter disgust and anger. "You kept him in here…?" He says making both Sobek and Osiris jerk their heads around seeing him.

Sobek crosses his arms. "What are YOU doing here, Thoth?"

"I am here for the same thing as you," As he steps closer, Sobek turns fully stepping in front of him, glaring down at Thoth.

"You're not welcome here, Thoth. Not anymore. You know that."

Thoth looks up at Sobek and chuckles lightly. "Still mad at me for leaving are you? You're as strong-headed as ever I see. I'm glad. It is my favorite thing about you Sobek, and at times my least favorite thing as well," He says and Sobek huffs lightly, before Osiris pulls him back a bit by the shoulder.

"Sobek… just let him. He's here for Sett, not for trouble,"

Sobek grits his teeth and slowly grows into his primal form. "He abandoned us! You just LEFT! Who the hell do you think you are, coming here so casually!?" He says with a firm point.

Thoth nods and steps up to the sarcophagus, straight past Sobek who looks ready to attack him. He puts his hand on the coffin. "I'm so glad…" He feels a single tear run down his face. "That you cared for him… despite this room. Despite everything," He steps back and takes a deep breath. "Project your anger onto me Sobek. If it helps with your grief, I will take it upon me," He begins to leave again, Osiris pausing briefly before spinning around to face Thoth.

"Thoth!" He calls out, Sobek slowly calming himself down as well. Thoth looks over his shoulder to see Osiris bow. "Thank you for coming. Sett… would have been very happy to see you,"

Thoth smiles gently. "Yes… I imagine he would have. Thank you… for looking after him… and Ra," With that, he too has left, Sobek shaking with rage.

"You THANKED him!?"

Osiris suddenly looks up to Sobek, with an almost eerily aggressive glare. "Sobek… leave that anger elsewhere. We've had enough loss today. Let's not add our friendship to that list,"

Sobek takes a small step back. "Yeah… yeah you're right…" They both sit down and look at the sarcophagus in silence.

-The Jade Palace-

Yu Huang's private carriage arrives, decorated with jade and dragon-engravings. Yu Huang steps out and holds the door open. "Once again, thank you for allowing me to treat you to a humble cup of tea," He says as Izanami and Izanagi exit the vehicle as well, followed by Tsukuyomi and his white drake.

Izanami claps her hands together in excitement. "Oh my. As extravagant as ever, Yu Huang," She says with a smile as they look upon the utterly majestic gigantic palace in front of them. Surrounded by truly glamorous walls with red wooden beams, jade carvings of dragons and angels, ornamented with a single long dragon-statue wrapping all the way around, its head and tail being at the giant gate, easily big enough for even the largest god to enter through. The estate itself floats upon a large cloud with several other large islands around them, each holding a serene piece of nature and with a large jade orb floating above each island seemingly providing the weather on the island. As the gates open they step inside, seeing a humongous garden filled with lanterns floating in the air, a huge tree right in the middle reaching and twisting into the air, somewhat hiding from view the utterly titanic main palace, a single large pillared structure with what must be nearly 30 floors, made of shining white metal and jade, each floor with dragon statues 'guarding' them. Around the entire area are several dragons, just relaxing and hanging out, some resting on the decorative pillars around the walk-way, some flying around and playing with each other, with the larger adults watching their young.

Tsukuyomi looks utterly shocked as he steps inside. "It has been too long. I forgot what a beautiful home you have, uncle Yu Huang," He says as the little drake suddenly jumps off Tsukuyomi's shoulders and flies up to a giant white adult drake which seems to instantly cuddle with it and it gives an appreciative grunt towards Tsukuyomi. "So many dragons…"

Yu Huang smiles. "Thank you, nephew. I will have to let my angels know that they are doing a terrific job. More So than I already do," Yu Huang is stopped in his tracks when a giant dragon lands in front of him, a long slender body with horns and a sharp beak. "What is the matter?" He inquires and the dragon suddenly ROARS in his face and spreads its wings intimidatingly, Tsukuyomi instinctively grabbing for his blade but Yu Huang just gives the dragon a scratch on the chin. "Yes yes, Kazemaru. I am happy to see you as well. But I have guests. I hope to see your eggs hatch soon," He claps it and it flies off towards one of the islands. Yu Huang pats his outfit down. "My apologies. They are quite… excitable sometimes," He sees Tsukuyomi holding his blade. "Tsukuyomi, my dear nephew. Relax. None of the dragons here mean any harm," He says guiding them into the palace, where they see a young man, with a lean figure, in ornate blue and jade green armor, with pointy ears and one of his eyes appears to be made of jade but still has a pupil, with a large blade at his side, shining through its ornate holster with jade green.

He bows with a gentle smile. "Greetings esteemed guests. Let me humbly welcome you to the Jade Palace."

Izanagi strokes his beard a bit looking at the boy. "Hmmm… It has been a long time, so correct me if I am mistaken but… is that you, Ao Kuang?" He asks and the boy bows.

"Yes sir. It is I, Ao Kuang. A pleasure to have you here. However… I must apologize. We were not expecting guests in the middle of Ragnarok so the palace is a mess," He says with a gesture to the room. Izanagi and Izanami both naturally accept the apology.

Tsukuyomi looks around. He can practically see his own reflection in the wooden beams with how sprinkly clean this place is. "A mess…?" He mutters and Ao Kuang spots him.

"Oh! I was told there were three guests. Wait… Tsuku!?" He says with childishly sparkling eyes.

Tsukuyomi turns to the side and pulls up his mask a little. "Yes. Good to see you again. Please. No-" Before he can finish Ao Kuang has sprinted up and hugged him tightly, picking Tsukuyomi off the ground, who simply hangs there, with a dead-pan look of annoyance in his eyes. "... Hugs."

"It's been so loooong!" He excitedly sets Tsukuyomi back down and the ninja swiftly fixes his outfit.

"Yes… it has. It seems you have not changed much in that time."

Ao Kuang laughs as he follows after his father who is chatting with Izanagi and Izanami. "But you certainly have! Your arms look very sturdy and you are a lot less soft than when… ah," He stops himself as Tsukuyomi pulls his mask up again.

"Silence. Please," They enter the main hall of the palace, what would be the equivalent of a 'living room' in an ordinary residence. At LEAST 100 meters from one end to the other. About a fourth of the wall is made of glass showing a gorgeous underwater visage, with giant leviathan dragons swimming around, each one majestically swimming along with a few small hatchlings swimming up to the glass as they see the group enter, calling out to Yu Huang, flipping around a bit.

The middle of the room has a gigantic long table with room for at least 25 people either side and Yu Huang pulls out the chair at the end of the table. "For the lady," He says and Izanami blushes happily before sitting down.

Izanagi smirks. "Planning to steal her from me, Yu Huang?" He says and the two old men laugh as Tsukuyomi and Ao Kuang sit down as well, Yu Huang sitting between Tsukuyomi and Izanami.

"I would not stand much of a chance, if that were the case, but I can assure you not. I am married to my job if anything, hohoho," The three elder gods laugh, Ao Kuang and Tsukuyomi wincing at this strange discussion. "Now then. Tea!" Yu Huang claps and a group of servants dressed in traditional chinese robes come walking with freshly brewed tea, Yu Huang thanking each of them as they arrive to set down cups, plates and the teapot itself. "Thank you. You all are invaluable staffmembers. Be sure to take good care of yourselves," He points to one of them. "Oh. You. Take a week off. Your wife is pregnant is she not? Due soon?"

"Y-yessir! But… it is quite alright. I can work until she goes into labor!"

"You will not. One week. That is an order. If she has not given birth when the week is over, take another."

The man bows deeply. "Thank you! I-I will keep you updated."

Yu Huang turns back to the group and gently pours some tea as a few small dragons seem to have perched themselves on the table and on Yu Huang's shoulders. "My apologies. Dragons are creatures driven by curiosity," He says as Izanami suddenly yelps and Izanagi glares over.

"What is the matter dear!?"

"Hngh… it's just…" Suddenly a serpentine golden dragon pops its head out of her cleavage and lays its head down. "Oh… hello there, little one," She says and gently pokes it on the head. "What are you doing in there?"

Yu Huang chuckles. "I believe he is looking for a warm place to nest."

Izanami giggles. "Naughty dragon," She says as the dragon sees Izanagi looking at it with a deathly glare and it swiftly flies out and twirls around Yu Huang's arm.

However Izanami and Yu Huang simply laugh at Izanagi's grumpy face. "Dearest. Please relax. It is not that serious. You are still the only god who may touch them,"

Tsukuyomi stands very abruptly. "I will… go elsewhere," He says and stomps away. "Who wants to listen to their parents talk about that stuff," He whispers to himself and Ao Kuang excuses himself as well, the two going for a walk in the courtyard.

"Soooo…" Ao Kuang looks up rather curiously. "How are youuuu faring? After that… you know?"

Tsukuyomi picks at his mask again. "I am doing fine. I have focused on my training. I have become a fierce warrior for Shinto."

Ao Kuang smirks. "I see! That is marvelous!" He claps Tsukuyomi on the back and he almost falls over. "Oh. Apologies!" He looks around. "Time surely flies quite swiftly. Remember when we would play here? You would watch me climb the trees? We would play… what was it? Ah. Princess and the Dragon. I was the dragon you were…" He pauses briefly. "Good times,"

Tsukuyomi looks at the tree he remembers seeing Ao Kuang climb when they were little. "I was never allowed," He says leaping into the tree, stepping off each branch as soon as he touches down standing on top of the tree. "I am now,"

Ao Kuang blinks. "Splendid! Such impressive balance!" He claps and Tsukuyomi looks over the courtyard from his newfound vantage point. "Is something troubling you, Tsukuyomi?"

Tsukuyomi looks down. "There is always something troubling us. The trick is to not let it get in the way," He says and Ao Kuang lightly blushes looking up at him.

"You are still the same old Tsukuyomi. I am glad,"

Tsukuyomi looks down at him. "I have changed, no?"

Ao Kuang scratches his cheek. "Not enough to where I do not recognize my friend."

The two spend nearly three hours in the courtyard, catching up, when suddenly they hear Izanagi's voice echo from the palace. "FINALLY! They're fighting again! TSUKUYOMI! AO KUANG! Come!"

Tsukuyomi leaps off the tree he had climbed and lands right in front of Ao Kuang looking into his eyes briefly. "Shall we go?"

Ao Kuang grins slightly. "Certainly."

The two enter the dining hall again and looking at Yu Huang's wall-sized Oracle-sphere projecting the arena into the room. "It seems they are about to resume the battle. Shall we go?" Yu Huang suggests, standing from his seat.

Izanagi nods and helps Izanami to her feet, before scooping her up bridal style. "We shall! Tsukuyomi. Say your goodbyes. Hopefully we will not return until the end of this round."

Izanami smacks his chest. "Darling!? What is this!?"

"Hmpf. It is naught but a gesture."

Tsukuyomi nods. "Thank you for the hospitality uncle. Ao Kuang…" He looks to Ao Kuang and pulls up his mask. "It was good to see you again…" Ao Kuang holds out his arms for a hug, but Tsukuyomi sees it and claps his hand for a swift high-five. "Bye," He says swiftly rushing out to the carriage.

"Did I… speak carelessly?" he questions looking to his father for confirmation.

Yu Huang shrugs a little. "You would know better than I, my son. But he looks quite happy to have come." He picks up a little three-headed dragon which was nestled in his lap. It's head is long and rounded and its scales are smooth. "What say you my little Ejderha? Shall I bring you along?" He asks and the dragon tightly wraps two of its heads around his wrist. "Okay okay. I will return soon, my son," He gives the young boy a kiss on the cheek before heading out.

Ao Kuang looks after Tsukuyomi who is walking along with his father, remembering just earlier when he jumped down and landed right in front of him. He tilts his head a little. "I am glad to see you are in good spirits my friend,"