For Ash and Vail,
The next duels passed in a blur, both still shaken by Rennik's betrayal.
Then—
"The eleventh match will now begin."
Ash's gaze sharpened.
"Vail… versus Garruk."
Ash stood up slightly as Vail stepped forward.
Before heading out, Ash spoke quietly.
"…Good luck."
Vail didn't look at him.
Instead, a faint smirk appeared on his face.
"You better win yours too."
And just like that—
He walked toward the arena.
—
The two fighters stepped onto opposite sides.
The massive arena fell silent.
High above, the announcer's voice echoed:
"Eleventh match… Vail versus Garruk!"
A pause.
Then—
"Begin!"
The bell rang.
CLANG!
Vail vanished.
Garruk didn't move.
He simply stood there, scanning the arena.
"…Come out," he muttered.
Silence.
Then—
A whisper.
"Let's end this quick."
Garruk's eyes shifted—
Too late.
A blur appeared behind him.
Vail.
A blade shot forward—
Directly into Garruk's back.
CLANG.
The sound echoed sharply across the arena.
Like metal striking metal.
For a split second—
Nothing moved.
Vail's eyes narrowed.
"…What?"
Nothing.
No blood.
No reaction.
The arena murmured.
Garruk slowly turned his head.
His voice was full of pride.
" …you picked the wrong target."
Vail vanished instantly.
Gone.
The crowd gasped.
Garruk didn't panic.
He stood still.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
A flicker.
Vail—this time aiming for the neck.
CLANG.
He shifted—
Chest strike.
CLANG.
Joints—
CLANG.
Nothing.
Every strike met the same result.
Hard.
Unbreakable.
Vail jumped back, landing silently a few meters away.
For the first time—
Garruk cracked his neck slowly.
"You didn't even bother to ask what I am."
As he stepped forward—
Something changed.
His skin.
It hardened.
Dark, thick plates forming subtly across his body, like natural armor.
Heavy.
Solid.
Ancient.
"I'm an Ankylosaurus vessel."
"…Blades don't work on me."
The pressure in the arena shifted.
Ash's eyes narrowed.
"Oh no…"
Vail disappeared again.
But this time—
He moved faster.
More aggressive.
Striking from different angles.
Left.
Right.
Above.
Below.
A constant barrage of invisible attacks.
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
The sounds echoed again and again.
But Garruk…
Didn't move much.
He watched.
He simply stood there, listening carefully as he scanned the arena.
Then—
For a brief second—
He said.
"…I'm getting tired of this."
His hand shot out.
GRAB.
The air distorted—
And suddenly—
Vail was there.
Caught.
His wrist locked in Garruk's grip.
Ash's eyes widened.
"…He grabbed him mid-invisibility?"
Vail's expression shifted slightly.
Garruk grinned.
"You might be invisible, but I can hear you."
And then—
He lifted him.
And slammed him into the ground—
BOOM!!
The arena floor cracked beneath the impact.
Dust exploded outward.
Before Vail could recover—
Garruk twisted his body.
And swung—
A massive tail forming behind him—
Thick.
Heavy.
Like a living weapon.
CRASH!!!
The tail slammed into Vail's body.
The ground shattered beneath the force.
Stone broke apart.
The entire arena trembled.
Silence fell.
Dust filled the air.
Ash clenched his fists.
"…Vail!"
After the smoke settled—
Vail lay on the ground.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
His body trembled.
His ribs… broken.
Breathing… uneven.
He tried to push himself up—
His arm gave out.
He collapsed again.
Slow. Weak.
Broken.
Garruk walked toward him.
Each step heavy.
Confident.
Unstoppable.
He stopped right in front of him.
"…All that talk."
His voice carried across the silent arena.
"Acting like some kind of hero…"
A grin spread across his face.
"And look at you now."
He leaned down slightly.
"Lying on the ground."
"Pathetic."
Ash gripped the edge of the stand.
"…Vail…"
Garruk turned slightly.
His tail rose behind him.
Massive.
Deadly.
"Let's end this."
The crowd held its breath.
The tail came crashing down—
CRASH—
It hit the ground.
But Vail…
Was gone.
Garruk's eyes widened slightly.
"…What?"
A whisper.
Behind him.
"You talk too much."
STAB.
A dagger drove straight into his eye.
"AAAAAGH—!"
Garruk roared, staggering back.
Before he could react—
STAB.
The second dagger pierced the other eye.
The arena erupted.
"He's aiming for blind spots…"
Ash whispered.
"…He waited until the last second."
Garruk stumbled back, roaring in fury.
"YOU THINK—"
His voice shook the arena.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN BEAT ME?!"
His body trembled with rage.
"I DON'T NEED MY EYES—"
"I'M STRONGER THAN Y—"
A blur.
STAB.
The dagger drove straight into his mouth.
Silencing him instantly.
"I did tell you that you talk too much."
For a moment—
Everything stopped.
Garruk stood still.
Then—
His body dropped.
THUD.
Silence.
Vail appeared a few meters away.
Barely standing.
Covered in blood.
Breathing heavily.
He steadied himself.
The fight was over.
The narrator spoke.
"The winner is …Vail!"
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.