Darkness.
Silence.
Then—
A faint sound.
Beeping.
Ash's eyes slowly opened.
The ceiling above him was unfamiliar—bright, sterile, lined with thin strips of white light.
His body felt… light.
Too light.
"…What happened…?"
His voice came out dry.
"You passed out."
Ash turned his head slightly.
Vail stood nearby, arms crossed, watching him.
Memories hit him all at once.
The arena.
Mako.
The blade.
His wing—
Ash's eyes widened slightly.
He pushed himself up.
"…Did I win?"
Vail didn't hesitate.
"Yeah."
A small pause.
"The guard already came. We passed the trial."
Ash exhaled slowly, tension leaving his body.
"…Good."
Vail continued.
"Since Rennik was part of the team until the end, he passed too."
Ash gave a small nod.
"Tch… that traitor."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Ash glanced down at himself.
No blood.
No wounds.
No pain.
Then his hand moved—
Slowly.
Carefully.
To his back.
He froze.
"…My wing."
Vail followed his movement.
"It's been repaired."
Ash blinked.
"…Repaired?"
Vail nodded.
"The medical system in this world restores anything that isn't death."
He gestured slightly toward the room.
"Bones. Flesh. Organs. Everything."
"As long as you have a heartbeat, it can be repaired."
Ash flexed his shoulders slightly and tried to bring his wings out.
Both wings responded.
Whole.
Intact.
But for a split second—
His body flinched.
A memory.
The slash.
The pain.
The moment it was taken from him.
Ash exhaled quietly.
"…That's… convenient."
Vail gave a faint shrug.
"It keeps people fighting."
Ash let out a small breath, then swung his legs off the bed.
"Makes sense. They want entertainment."
Vail turned slightly toward the exit.
"The next floor is waiting."
Ash stood up.
"…Let's go."
They walked through the halls of the facility.
Clean.
Silent.
Efficient.
Eventually, they reached the guard stationed near a massive gate.
A faint glow pulsed behind it.
Ash stepped forward.
"We're ready to move to Floor Three."
The guard looked at them for a moment—
then nodded.
"Very well."
A low hum filled the air.
The space behind the gate twisted—
light bending inward—
until a portal formed.
Bright.
Unstable.
Inviting.
"Participant Ash and Vail, you may proceed."
They stepped forward without hesitation.
The light swallowed them.
And then—
They arrived.
Floor Three.
The atmosphere was different.
Heavier.
Colder.
Snow all around.
Ash took a step forward, scanning the area.
"…A winter floor."
Silence.
Then—
Vail spoke.
"I'm not continuing with you."
Ash glanced at him.
Not surprised.
"…Yeah."
A small exhale.
"I figured."
Vail looked ahead, not at him.
"I want to stay alone for now."
Ash smirked slightly.
"Yeah, that sounds about right."
A brief pause.
"…You did well back there," Vail added.
Ash blinked.
Then shrugged lightly.
"Same to you."
Silence again.
But this one felt… different.
Vail turned.
"Because we were in the same squad, we can communicate with each other even if we're not together."
"So... if you ever need anything…"
"…I'm here."
Ash nodded.
"Same goes for me."
Their eyes met for a brief second.
Then they stepped forward and clasped hands in a quick, firm clap before letting go.
No hostility.
No attachment.
Just understanding.
"…We'll see each other again," Ash said.
Vail gave a small, almost invisible nod.
"Only if you make it far."
A faint smirk touched Ash's face.
"I will."
Vail didn't reply.
He turned—
and vanished.
Ash stood there for a moment, chuckling.
"He really likes to disappear."
Then he turned forward.
"…Floor Three, huh."
His expression sharpened.
"Let's see what you've got."
And with that—
He began walking.
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.