Nyro ran.
Boots pounding against the forest floor.
Branches whipped past his face.
Behind him—
Heavy footsteps.
Fast ones.
And something else…
Scraping.
Digging.
Tracking.
"…Tch…"
He didn't slow.
Didn't look back.
But he could hear them.
Three of them.
Team Five.
Still chasing.
Closing in.
Then—
BOOM—
The ground shook.
Nyro glanced sideways—
An enormous arm swung toward him.
Elephant vessel.
Huge.
Massive.
Too close.
Nyro twisted sharply—
Barely dodging the grab.
Wind exploded past his face.
"…Slow."
He slid backward, steadying himself.
His hand moved instantly—
Reaching behind his back.
Blowgun ready.
Water gathered in his mouth.
Condensing.
Pressurizing.
**Water Bullet.**
He fired.
BOOM—
The shot struck the elephant directly in the skull.
A clean hit.
Precise.
But—
The elephant only staggered.
Didn't fall.
Didn't collapse.
Just… slowed.
"…Damn…"
"His hide's too thick…"
Nyro wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Dry.
"…And my water bullets are getting weaker…"
"…I'm dehydrated…"
"…I need water."
He reached for the canteen at his hip—
But before he could take a sip—
The ground beneath him shifted.
CRACK—
Something burst upward—
A claw.
Sharp.
Fast.
A mole vessel erupted from below.
SLASH—
Pain exploded across Nyro's side.
"…GH—!"
He stumbled.
Blood spreading across his shirt.
Not deep—
but enough.
Enough to slow him.
Enough to hurt.
He rolled forward into the bushes.
Breathing hard.
Heart racing.
"…Okay…"
"…Think."
He pressed himself low.
Still.
Silent.
Then—
His body shifted.
Dark lines formed across his skin.
Black streaks spreading along his arms and neck.
**Ripple Camouflage.**
His body blended into the broken light beneath the trees.
Shadows.
Branches.
Movement patterns.
He disappeared into them.
Still.
Silent.
Waiting.
For a moment—
Nothing.
Silence.
Then—
A slow inhale.
Behind him.
"…Found you."
Nyro's eyes widened.
A wolf.
Gray wolf vessel.
Standing only meters away.
Nose low.
Eyes locked on him.
"…I could smell you from the start…"
"…You're done."
The wolf lunged.
Faster than expected.
Jaws snapping forward—
Nyro twisted sideways—
Too slow—
SLASH—
Teeth tore across his leg.
"…GH—!"
Pain exploded through his thigh.
He stumbled.
Barely stayed upright.
Blood dripping now.
More than before.
The wolf landed again.
Ready to strike.
Behind him—
The elephant advanced.
And below—
The ground trembled again.
The mole.
Coming back.
"…Great…"
Nyro exhaled slowly.
Water forming again inside his mouth.
Less this time.
Dryer.
His throat burned.
Each shot draining him.
"…Last shot."
"…Make it count."
They moved.
Closing in.
From three directions.
The ground burst—
The mole surged upward again—
Nyro reacted instantly—
Jumping—
Hands grabbing bark—
He climbed.
Fast.
Desperate.
Boots scraping against wood.
He launched upward—
Landing on a branch.
Just as—
CRACK—
The mole missed him below.
Nyro crouched.
Breathing hard.
Vision sharpening.
**Hunter's Focus.**
Everything slowed.
Below him—
The mole resurfaced.
Looking up.
Exposed.
Perfect target.
Nyro inhaled.
"Got you."
Water condensed.
Smaller shot.
But precise.
He fired.
BOOM—
Direct hit.
The mole's head snapped back.
Body collapsing instantly.
Still.
Gone.
"…One down."
But no time to celebrate.
A growl echoed below.
The wolf remained.
The elephant too.
Still advancing.
Still hunting.
Nyro turned.
Jumped branches.
One.
Two.
Three.
Running across the trees now.
Bleeding.
Slowing.
Dry throat.
No more water bullets.
"…Just a little further…"
Through the earpiece—
Ash's voice faint in the distance.
Somewhere ahead.
Nyro pushed harder.
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring the exhaustion.
Then—
He broke through the treeline.
Landing heavily—
Sliding across the ground.
Ahead—
Ash.
Ravok.
Korin.
All visible now.
Safe zone.
Almost.
Nyro stumbled forward.
Breathing rough.
Blood dripping from his leg.
Behind him—
Branches snapped.
Heavy footsteps followed.
The wolf burst through first.
Elephant close behind.
Still coming.
Still dangerous.
Nyro stopped beside his team.
Bent forward.
Hands on his knees.
Trying to breathe.
Trying not to collapse.
Then—
A crooked grin formed on his face.
"…Hope you guys got some rest."
He glanced back over his shoulder.
Eyes sharp.
Serious now.
"…Because I brought company."
Ravok smiled.
"Finally…"
"My time to play…"
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.