The gunshot echoed.
BOOM.
For a split second—
Silence.
Then—
Chaos.
"Move! Push forward!"
A tall man stepped ahead, pointing toward the field.
"We attack first! Take their flag before they even react!"
"Idiot."
Another voice cut in.
"If we leave the base unguarded, we lose instantly."
"Then split!"
"Half go, half stay!"
"No!"
A third voice shouted.
"If we split, we get weaker!"
"Full push! Overwhelm them!"
Voices overlapped.
Arguments clashed.
No one listened.
Ash stood still.
Watching.
No structure…
No discipline…
Just noise.
He stepped forward slightly.
"…You're all thinking too small."
For a moment—
A few people looked at him.
"We don't need everyone attacking."
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
"Send a few fast ones. Keep the rest here."
A pause.
They looked at his forearm.
Then—
A scoff.
"And who put you in charge?"
"Yeah, crow boy thinks he's a strategist."
Laughter.
Dismissive.
Ash didn't react.
He just looked at them.
…Not worth it.
Then—
One of them stepped forward.
A grin on his face.
"Forget all that."
Ash recognized him.
The Lion.
The one who had stood behind him during the Ruler's speech on day one.
He cracked his neck.
"If we ALL attack…"
His eyes lit up.
"…they can't stop us."
Silence.
Then—
Murmurs.
Agreement.
"Yeah…"
"Rush them."
"End it fast."
The decision was made.
A bad one.
Without structure—
Without defense—
Without thinking—
They moved.
A wave of bodies rushing down the mountain.
Ash didn't move.
Snow shifted slightly beside him.
Someone else…
Still standing.
Not following the crowd.
Ash's eyes shifted.
"…So I'm not the only one."
The other figure hadn't moved.
Not even a step.
"…What about you?"
Ash spoke without looking directly at him.
"Why stay back?"
A brief pause.
"Everyone else already rushed in."
The man answered calmly.
"…Because they're dumb."
Ash glanced at him now.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Messy brown hair. Lightly tanned skin.
He wore a split black-and-red hoodie stretched over a muscular frame, dark jeans torn at
the knees, and heavy boots planted firmly in the snow.
He didn't move much.
Didn't fidget.
Just watched.
His gaze wasn't loud or aggressive—just confident, like someone who never doubted his ability to handle whatever came next.
"I'm not," said Ash.
Silence.
Then—
"If nobody defends the flag, we might as well give up."
His voice was steady.
Controlled.
"I will act as the guardian of the flag."
Ash raised an eyebrow.
"…Finally, someone thinking."
Ash studied him for a moment.
Then—
"…Name?"
"Ravok."
Ash nodded once.
"Ash."
Ravok's eyes shifted toward the battlefield.
Then back to the base.
"They called you a crow, right?"
Ash smirked faintly.
"…Yeah."
Ravok continued.
"You take the flying ones."
"I'll handle the rest."
Ash glanced at him.
"…You sure about that?"
A faint, confident grin appeared on Ravok's face.
"I won't let them get past me."
A pause.
Then—
Ash's wings shifted slightly.
"…Alright."
The wind shifted.
And from the distance—
Movement.
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.