The arena doors burst open.
Medics rushed in.
"Clear the way!"
Vail was carried out on a stretcher, his body barely holding together. Blood stained the cloth beneath him, his breathing shallow but steady.
Ash followed closely behind, his eyes locked on him.
"…He actually did it."
The recovery station was unlike anything Ash had seen before.
Bright lights.
Strange devices.
Glowing liquids flowing through transparent tubes.
They laid Vail down as multiple medics moved instantly.
"Injuries: multiple fractures, internal bleeding—"
"Stabilizing."
Mechanical arms descended.
A faint hum filled the room.
Nanotechnology.
A glowing liquid spread across Vail's body, seeping into wounds, repairing flesh, reinforcing bone.
Cracks… closing.
Blood… stopping.
Slowly—
His breathing stabilized.
Ash stood near the entrance.
Watching.
Silent.
Minutes passed.
Then—
Vail's fingers twitched.
His eyes opened slightly.
"…You're still here."
Ash let out a small breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"Yeah."
He stepped closer.
"You good?"
Vail didn't answer immediately.
He stared at the ceiling for a moment.
Then—
"…I'll live."
A pause.
Ash crossed his arms, a small grin forming.
"That was insane."
"Remind me to never pick a fight with you."
Vail turned his head slightly.
"…It was closer than I thought."
His voice was calm, but weaker than usual.
Ash nodded.
"…Still."
He looked at him seriously now.
"You're alive."
Silence.
Then—
The announcer's voice echoed faintly in the background.
"The winner of the thirteenth match is: Lume."
"Fourteenth match… Ash versus Mako… will begin shortly."
Vail spoke.
"It's your turn now."
His eyes met Ash's.
Sharp.
Focused.
"Win."
Ash held his gaze for a second.
Then smirked.
"Leave it to me."
He turned and walked toward the exit.
But as he moved—
The smirk faded.
Without another word—
He stepped back into the arena.
Ash entered from one side.
Mako from the other.
The air felt heavier now.
Everyone was watching.
Mako cracked his neck, eyeing Ash.
"Don't get the wrong idea."
Ash stopped a few meters away.
"Just because your teammate beat Garruk…"
Mako shrugged.
"…doesn't mean I'm scared."
He smirked.
"I didn't even like that guy."
Ash raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"He just looked strong."
Mako's grin widened.
"So I followed him."
A pause.
"…Guess I was wrong."
Ash's expression hardened.
"Following someone else's strength without thinking for yourself?
He stepped forward slightly.
"…That's not intelligence… that's cowardice."
The arena fell silent.
Mako's smile faded—
just a little.
"Begin!"
CLANG!
Ash didn't hesitate.
**Black Wings**
His wings burst out—
Black feathers slicing through the air.
BOOM—
He launched upward—
then dashed forward at full speed.
Too fast for most to follow.
But Mako…
didn't move.
For a split second—
Ash was already in front of him.
Then—
FLASH.
A sharp, violent motion.
SLASH.
Ash's eyes widened.
A deep cut tore across his chest.
His momentum shattered—
and his body slammed into the ground.
THUD.
The crowd gasped.
Ash coughed, sliding across the arena floor.
Blood spread across his shirt.
"…What—?"
Mako stood where he was.
Calm.
Unmoved.
Then he stepped forward.
Something… was different.
From his face—
a long, jagged blade extended outward.
Like a living saw.
Sharp.
Serrated.
Terrifying.
He was a Sawshark vessel.
"I forgot to mention…"
His voice dropped.
Cold.
"…I'm not like Garruk, who was just strong."
He ran his hand along the blade.
"…I'm deadly."
Ash staggered back, clutching his chest.
Blood dripped from his fingers.
He forced himself up.
"…So you're a sawshark."
Mako smirked.
"Now you get it."
BOOM—
Mako lunged forward at incredible speed.
"Too late, though."
SLASH!
Ash dodged.
He flew backward with his wings.
But—
Mako followed.
"Those wings…"
He tilted his head.
"You're proud of them, huh?"
A grin spread across his face.
"…It's not fair."
SLASH.
A brutal, precise strike—
Ash screamed.
One of his wings—
Severed.
Blood exploded across the arena.
The crowd fell silent.
Ash collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily.
His remaining wing trembled.
Mako laughed.
"Let's see you fly now."
Ash pushed himself back.
Jumped—
but his balance broke.
He landed hard.
"…Tch."
Mako stepped forward.
"Let's end this."
He rushed in.
Fast.
Deadly.
But this time—
Ash's eyes changed.
His survival instinct kicked in.
Everything slowed.
He saw it.
The angle.
The timing.
The strike.
He moved.
WHOOSH.
The blade missed.
Mako's eyes narrowed.
He attacked again.
WHOOSH.
Dodged again.
Again.
And again.
Mako grinned.
"Let's see how long you last."
He kept attacking.
Faster.
Sharper.
Relentless.
Ash kept dodging.
Barely.
His breathing grew heavier.
His vision shook.
Blood loss catching up.
"I can't keep this up…"
Then—
Ash steadied himself.
"I had a week here…"
His voice was low.
Focused.
"There's something I didn't show anyone… not even Rennik."
Mako paused—just for a moment.
Ash's hands tightened.
"My new ability…"
His fingers—
shifted.
Dark.
Sharp.
Curved.
**Sinister Claws.**
His feet followed.
Grip tightening against the ground.
Mako smirked.
"…So what?"
Ash lifted his head.
Eyes locked in.
"You might be stronger than me."
A step forward.
"…but I'm faster."
Another step.
"And with my eyes..."
"And I can dodge everything you're about to do."
A pause.
His stance lowered.
"So let's end this."
BOOM—
Ash rushed forward.
Not straight.
Not predictable.
Erratic.
Unreadable.
SLASH.
SLASH.
SLASH.
Claws tore across Mako's body—
Face.
Chest.
Arms.
Legs.
Fast.
Relentless.
Precise.
Mako tried to counter—
but he was too slow.
He staggered back.
Bleeding heavily.
"…Is that all you've got?"
He forced a grin.
Even as he shook.
"I'm not done!"
He burst forward—
one final charge—
faster than before—
everything in one strike—
Ash's eyes widened—
SLASH.
A devastating cut tore across Ash's torso.
But—
He didn't stop.
He moved.
and drove his claw—
UP—
straight into Mako's jaw.
CRACK.
Mako's body lifted off the ground—
then crashed down.
Silence.
He didn't move.
Ash stood there.
Breathing heavily.
Barely upright.
Blood dripping.
One wing gone.
"…It's over."
"The winner of the fourteenth match… is Ash!"
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.