Ash leaned against the stone wall of one of the buildings, watching teams walk toward the trial gate.
"Dig."
Yes, Participant Ash.
"What exactly is the trial of Floor Two?"
There was a brief pause before Dig answered.
The trial of Floor Two consists of duels.
Ash frowned.
"Duels?"
Yes. Participants will fight against other climbers in controlled combat trials.
Ash crossed his arms.
"So the tower just throws us into fights?"
In simple terms, yes.
Remember, you are entertainment for the people of your old world.
Ash let out a small breath.
"You're right."
Dig's voice remained calm.
This is also why I previously informed you that Enhanced Perception, while useful, provides fewer direct combat advantages compared to abilities focused purely on fighting.
Ash scratched the back of his head.
"…Great."
Then something occurred to him.
"Wait."
"If the trial is duels… why is everyone so desperate to build squads?"
Dig answered immediately.
If you duel alone and lose, you fail the trial.
Ash nodded slowly.
"Makes sense."
But if you are part of a squad…
…then even if you lose your duel, you may still advance if your teammates succeed.
Ash's eyes widened slightly.
"So if I have three teammates…"
"And they win their duels,"
Dig finished,
Your entire squad advances to the next floor.
Suddenly the chaos made sense.
People weren't just looking for teammates.
They were looking for insurance.
Ash thought about Dig's explanation for a moment.
Then he frowned slightly.
"…But wouldn't it still be the same thing?"
Clarify your question.
Ash crossed his arms.
"Let's say I join a squad. I might win my duel… but if the rest of my team loses, then I still fail the trial, right?"
Yes,
Dig replied calmly.
That is correct.
Ash raised an eyebrow.
"…So it's basically a gamble."
"A dangerous one."
In a sense.
Dig continued,
That is why participants must choose their teammates carefully.
Ash stared at the crowd, watching groups form across the city streets.
Then another thought crossed his mind.
"Wait."
If someone has a really strong animal… someone built for fighting… why would they even bother joining a squad?
He shrugged.
"If they believe in themselves, they could just win their duels alone and pass the trial without depending on anyone."
Yes,
Dig answered.
Your reasoning is correct.
Ash blinked.
"…Then why don't they?"
There was a brief pause before Dig spoke again.
Because squads are not limited to a single floor.
Ash tilted his head slightly.
"…What do you mean?"
In the Tower, squads can function as permanent climbing units.
You may leave a squad if you choose. However, many climbers remain with the same squad for multiple floors… sometimes even for the entire Tower.
Ash looked surprised.
"The entire climb?"
Yes.
Dig continued,
The trials within the Tower constantly change.
Some floors test combat ability.
Others test speed.
Others test intelligence.
Ash listened carefully.
For example,
Dig said,
a participant whose animal is a bear might excel in a battle trial.
But if Floor Five requires a race…
Ash immediately understood.
"…Then someone with a cheetah or a falcon would have the advantage."
Correct.
Dig continued,
And if a later floor were to test strategic thinking or puzzle solving, physical strength alone would not guarantee success.
Ash looked back at the busy streets again.
People shouting.
Recruiting.
Forming squads.
Suddenly the whole thing made more sense.
In the Tower,
Dig concluded,
raw strength alone is rarely enough to reach the top floors.
Ash smirked slightly.
"So the smart move is building a squad that covers each other's weaknesses."
Correct.
Ash scratched the back of his head.
"…Yeah."
"I guess this tower is more complicated than just punching people."
Suddenly—
BOOM!!
A violent explosion echoed from the corner of the street.
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.