Ash opened his eyes slowly.
Bright lights above him.
Clean walls.
A soft hum in the background.
Medical center.
"…You're awake."
A nurse stood beside him.
Calm.
Professional.
Ash blinked slowly.
"…I feel… weird."
"That's normal," the nurse replied.
"The poison has been removed from your system."
A pause.
"But you'll feel soreness and fatigue for a few hours."
Ash swallowed.
"…What about Ravok?"
The nurse hesitated slightly.
Then answered:
"He sustained severe injuries."
A pause.
"But he arrived with a heartbeat."
Another pause.
"He will survive."
Ash exhaled sharply.
Relief washing over him.
"…Good."
The nurse turned toward the exit.
But before she left, Ash asked.
"…Did we pass?"
She glanced back.
A small smile.
"Yes."
"Red Team Victory."
Then she left.
Silence returned.
Ash stared at the ceiling.
Thinking.
"…Dig."
Yes, Participant Ash.
"…How is this fair?"
A pause.
Explain your concern.
Ash exhaled slowly.
"…On Floor Two, Vail fought a dinosaur."
"…On Floor Three, Ravok is a Cerberus."
His jaw tightened.
"…How is it fair when other participants get monsters like that…"
"…while I get a crow?"
Silence.
Then—
Dig answered.
Calm.
Measured.
You are viewing this incorrectly.
Ash frowned.
"…What do you mean?"
Let me ask you something.
Who would win in a fight…
A praying mantis or a lion?
Ash scoffed.
"…A lion."
Correct.
A pause.
Now imagine this:
The praying mantis and the lion are the same size.
Ash blinked.
Something clicked inside Ash's mind.
"…That changes things."
Exactly.
You are not animals.
You are humans with animal abilities.
Not beasts.
Another pause.
It is true that the animal kingdom is unfair. Different animals have different sizes. But if you scale them all to the same size… even an ant could defeat an elephant.
Of course, some animals possess slight advantages due to abilities unique to them—such as a dragon's potential to breathe fire.
But that does not mean your abilities are inferior.
What you lack in raw power…
You can make up for with intelligence, speed, agility, or instinct.
Ash listened carefully now.
Remember the animal you received…
Was not random.
A pause.
It reflects your instincts.
Your tendencies.
Your strengths.
Ash's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So being a crow…"
Is not weakness.
Or strength.
It is identity.
Silence filled the room.
You received the animal that your brain and body can use the best.
In other words…
Only you can make the abilities of the Crow reach their full potential.
Ash stared at the ceiling.
Thinking.
Really thinking.
A few hours passed.
The room was quiet.
Machines hummed softly.
Snow fell outside the window.
Ravok's fingers twitched.
Then—
His eyes opened.
Slowly.
"…Tch."
Ash leaned back in his chair.
A faint grin forming.
"…Damn."
"…You're a heavy sleeper."
Ravok turned his head slightly.
Still groggy.
Still sore.
"…What are you doing here?"
Ash shrugged casually.
"…Two things."
Ravok frowned slightly.
"…Go on."
Ash crossed his arms.
"First—"
A small smirk.
"…We passed."
Silence.
Then—
Ravok exhaled slowly.
"…Didn't expect that."
A pause.
"…But I won't complain."
His eyes shifted back to Ash.
"…And the second?"
Ash didn't hesitate.
Not this time.
"…Join me."
Ravok blinked once.
"…Join you?"
Ash leaned forward slightly.
Serious now.
Focused.
"…Yeah."
"…Join my squad."
"…Let's climb this tower together."
A pause.
Ravok studied him carefully.
"…And why would I do that?"
Ash smirked faintly.
"…Simple."
He pointed slightly toward Ravok.
"You said you were a guardian, right?"
Ravok didn't respond.
Just watched him.
Ash continued.
"…You guarded the flag."
"…You protected me…"
"…And I protected you."
A brief pause.
Then—
"…So let's keep protecting each other."
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Meaningful.
Ash's voice lowered slightly.
More serious now.
"…With you by my side…"
"…I know we can climb this tower."
Another pause.
Then—
"…So what do you say?"
"…Ravok."
Ravok stared at him for a moment.
Silent.
Thinking.
Then—
He laughed.
"Didn't know you were such a corny guy…"
"But it does sound like fun… Count me in."
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.