Ash didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't react.
The falcon smirked.
Satisfied.
Then spread his wings.
"…Pathetic."
With a powerful flap—
He rose into the air.
Turning to leave.
Ticket secured.
Victory within reach.
But then—
Something shifted.
A faint sound.
Behind him.
The falcon froze mid-air.
Slowly—
He turned.
Ash stood.
Silent.
Still.
Head lowered.
Blood dripping from his head and arms.
Not staggering.
Not panicking.
Focused.
The air around him felt heavier.
Different.
The falcon frowned.
"…So you can still move?"
Ash lifted his head.
Gray eyes locked forward.
Calm.
Cold.
"…Come."
The falcon smirked again.
But this time—
There was irritation behind it.
"…Fine."
His wings spread wider.
"…I'll end this properly."
"…You won't get back up this time."
Then—
WHOOSH—
He vanished.
**Sky Blitz.**
A blur circled Ash.
Up.
Down.
Sideways.
Behind.
Fast.
Too fast.
CRACK—
A strike slammed into Ash's shoulder.
Pain shot through his arm.
He staggered—
Barely staying upright.
Again—
WHOOSH—
Another strike.
CRACK—
His body screamed in pain.
Blood splattered.
Ash gritted his teeth.
But this time—
His eyes tracked slightly differently.
Watching.
Not reacting.
Studying.
WHOOSH—
Another attack—
Ash shifted left—
Too slow—
CRACK—
Hit again.
He stumbled.
Almost losing consciousness.
But something clicked.
Not random.
Patterned.
WHOOSH—
Down.
Sideways.
Behind.
Up.
Ash inhaled slowly.
"I see…"
WHOOSH—
Strike.
CRACK—
Hit again.
But now—
He understood.
After moving in each direction once—
He strikes.
Every time.
The falcon circled again.
Faster now.
Confident.
Dominant.
Sideways.
Up.
Behind.
Ash lowered his stance slightly.
Ready.
Down—
WHOOSH—
The falcon lunged.
Ash moved—
This time—
Clean.
No hit.
The falcon passed by.
Surprised.
"…Lucky."
Again—
Down.
Sideways.
Behind.
Ash watched carefully.
Up—
WHOOSH—
Attack.
Ash ducked.
Clean.
No contact.
The falcon slowed slightly.
Confused.
"…What's going on…?"
Ash exhaled slowly.
Calm.
"…You're fast."
A pause.
"…But also predictable."
The falcon snarled.
"…Shut up."
Sky Blitz—
Full speed.
Sideways.
Up.
Down.
Behind—
WHOOSH—
Final strike.
Exactly the same.
Each direction once.
Every single time.
Ash moved—
Forward.
Not back.
SLASH—
His talons tore across the falcon's left wing.
Blood scattered through the air.
"…GH—!"
The falcon spiraled downward out of control—
CRASH—
He slammed into the ground.
Hard.
Ash descended slowly.
Landing in front of him.
Calm.
Controlled.
"…You rely on speed too much."
A pause.
"…It makes you repetitive."
The falcon struggled to rise—
"SHUT UP!!" he screamed.
Wing damaged.
Unable to fly.
Weaker.
Ash launched upward—
Then—
CRASH—
His heel slammed into the falcon's stomach at full speed.
Air exploded from his lungs.
The falcon collapsed.
Still.
Ash reached down.
Bloodied.
Picked up the glowing ticket.
Held it tightly.
"…Not yours."
Ash sat down.
His body shaking.
Breathing rough.
Pain burned through his ribs.
Footsteps approached.
Fast.
Ravok appeared first.
Korin followed close behind.
Both stopped.
Seeing the falcon lying motionless on the ground.
Ash looked up at them.
A faint grin formed.
"…Hey."
Korin stepped forward nervously.
"…I-Is everything okay?"
His eyes widened.
"…Y-You look really beaten…"
Ash let out a short breath.
Then pointed weakly toward the falcon.
"…Still doing better than him."
Ravok glanced at the fallen falcon.
Then back at Ash.
Understanding immediately.
Ash reached into his hand.
The glowing ticket rested in his palm.
He tossed it toward Ravok.
"…Here."
Ravok caught it cleanly.
Ash exhaled slowly.
"…I'm going to rest for a bit."
A short pause.
"…You can handle the rest… right?"
Ravok looked down at the ticket.
Then nodded once.
Calm.
Confident.
"…Leave it to me."
Ash lay down on the ground.
Breathing heavy.
Above them—
The battlefield continued.
Unfinished.
Danger still moving.
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.