Ash slowly pushed himself up from the ground, dust still clinging to his clothes.
His wings twitched awkwardly behind him.
"…Alright," he muttered.
"So what's next?"
The guide responded calmly.
Now comes the difficult part.
Ash raised an eyebrow.
"Difficult?"
You must learn to control your wings. Move them. Balance with them. Attempt short flights. Change direction while airborne. Adapt your body to aerial movement.
Ash stretched his wings slightly. The feathers rustled in the wind.
"…So basically I just practice flying until I stop crashing?"
Correct.
The guide continued.
Once you achieve stable flight control, your third ability will unlock. After that, you will proceed to the final trial of Floor One.
Ash looked toward the distant horizon.
"The trial that lets me reach Floor Two?"
Correct.
Ash nodded slowly.
Then the guide added:
Once you gain full control, you will also be able to retract your wings.
Ash blinked.
"…Retract them?"
Your wings can manifest or disappear at will. This allows you to move normally when flight is unnecessary.
Ash smirked slightly.
"…That's actually pretty useful."
—
Time passed.
The first days had been brutal.
Crashes. Bruises. Broken balance.
More time on the ground than in the air.
But each fall taught him something new.
And then…
—Two weeks later—
Ash shot through the forest like a black arrow.
Wind roared past his ears as his wings sliced through the air.
He twisted sharply, diving between towering trees, barely missing the branches as he accelerated.
His wings folded slightly.
Then—
He burst upward into the sky.
Feathers spread wide as he glided effortlessly above the forest canopy.
No hesitation.
No imbalance.
Complete control.
Ash smiled.
"…This feels amazing."
The guide's voice appeared calmly in his mind.
Flight proficiency: stable.
Ash slowed, hovering in the air.
"So… what now?"
A faint blue interface appeared before him.
Flight Path — Completed.
Ash blinked.
Ability Unlocked: Black Wings.
Ash looked behind him as the massive dark wings extended fully from his back.
The feathers shimmered like polished obsidian in the sunlight.
The guide continued.
You are now ready for the trial of Floor One.
Ash grinned.
"So that means…"
Correct.
You may now proceed to the challenge that will allow you to ascend to Floor Two.
Ash looked toward the horizon.
His wings spread slowly.
"…About time."
Before you proceed, I must inform you of something important.
Ash crossed his arms.
Floor One was designed as a safe environment. A place for participants to awaken and understand their abilities.
Ash thought about the peaceful village, the training grounds… even the tavern that served free food.
The guide continued.
There was no violence here. No battles between participants. Everyone was given time to adapt.
Ash nodded slowly.
"Yeah… it did feel pretty relaxed."
That will change now.
Ash's expression hardened.
Floor Two marks the true beginning of the tower.
The guide's voice became slightly colder.
Consider Floor One a tutorial. From the second floor onward, the difficulty increases significantly.
Ash looked at the horizon.
The guide continued.
For every floor you clear, you will receive money and rewards. The higher the floor, the greater the reward.
"You can earn money climbing the tower?"
Correct.
You may also take jobs or participate in tournaments between floors to earn additional income.
Ash smirked slightly.
"...Interesting."
There was a short pause.
Then Dig added:
Prepare yourself. From this point forward… the real climb begins.
Ash smiled.
"…Good."
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.