Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
The battlefield dissolved into chaos.
Fighters scattered.
Clashes erupted across the zone.
Alliances broke.
New battles formed.
A mechanical voice echoed across the battlefield.
Cold.
Unfeeling.
Unavoidable.
"All five tickets have been found."
A brief pause followed.
"Current holders—"
"Team 2: Two tickets."
"Team 4: One ticket."
"Team 7: One ticket."
"Team 10: One ticket."
Silence lingered for only a second—
Then chaos resumed.
CRASH—
Ash twisted sideways—
Barely avoiding the elephant vessel's massive strike.
Sand exploded around him.
Through the earpiece, the announcement repeated in his mind.
"All five tickets…"
Ash's eyes sharpened.
"…All five already?"
He exhaled sharply.
Focused.
"…Then we don't waste time."
He shifted his stance.
Wings flexing slightly behind him.
"…We finish this fast…"
Across from him—
Leonis smirked faintly.
Unbothered.
Confident.
"…You're underestimating us…"
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"…If you think you're finishing this…"
"…and still finding the other tickets."
Then—
Movement.
From the side.
Silent.
Fast.
Precise.
The wolf vessel lunged—
Targeting Leonis directly.
Aimed at the tickets resting at his side.
But—
Leonis didn't panic.
Didn't hesitate.
WHOOSH—
He stepped aside at the last possible moment.
Perfect timing.
Then—
His expression hardened.
Cold.
Predatory.
His jaw shifted—
Fangs forming instantly.
**Prideful Bite.**
CRUNCH—
His teeth sank deep into the wolf's neck.
A brutal sound echoed.
The wolf's body stiffened.
Eyes wide.
Then—
Collapsed.
Motionless.
Nearby—
The elephant vessel froze.
Shock flooding his expression.
For half a second—
He hesitated.
Then rage exploded across his face.
"…YOU—!"
He charged.
Full speed.
Straight toward Leonis.
The ground shook beneath his weight.
Each step thundered.
Closer.
Closer.
Then—
A voice echoed.
Sharp.
Cold.
Unavoidable.
**…Stop.**
The elephant froze mid-step.
Completely.
His body trembled violently.
Muscles twitching.
Straining.
Trying to move—
Unable.
Fear flashed across his face.
Then—
The voice spoke again.
**…Plummet.**
CRASH—
The elephant's massive body slammed into the ground.
Face-first.
Unmoving.
Dust rose around him.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
No one moved.
Not Ash.
Not Ravok.
Not Nyro.
Even the battlefield seemed to pause.
Something about that voice—
Felt wrong.
Nyro frowned.
Eyes locked forward.
"…What the hell was that…"
Leonis chuckled softly.
Calm.
Amused.
"…Oh, right."
A short pause.
"…You haven't met him yet."
He stepped slightly aside.
Revealing the figure behind him.
He had split-colored hair.
White on one side.
Dark green on the other.
The contrast made him impossible to ignore.
His skin was pale, almost unnaturally clean beneath the battlefield dust.
A loose black shirt hung over his frame—one sleeve long, covering his entire left arm, while the
other stopped at the shoulder, exposing his right arm completely.
Dark green pants matched the color of his hair.
Sharp eyes scanned his surroundings calmly.
Watching.
Analyzing.
Still.
Unmoving.
Leonis smiled faintly.
"…This is Soren."
His voice carried pride.
"…A mythological vessel."
His gaze shifted toward Ravok.
"…Just like you."
A short pause.
"…He's a siren."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Ravok stepped forward.
Unimpressed.
Unshaken.
"…Is that supposed to scare me?"
Leonis smirked.
Slow.
Confident.
"…Yes."
Beside them—
The elephant groaned.
Struggling.
Still alive.
Trying to rise.
Muscles shaking.
"…Ngh—!"
Slowly—
He pushed himself upward.
Trying to stand—
Trying to keep fighting.
But then—
A blur dropped from above.
Silent.
Deadly.
A woman landed behind him.
Virella.
Low.
Precise.
Her eyes sharp.
Cold.
Before he could react—
**Neurotoxin Touch.**
Her fingers shifted—
Stretching into thin, translucent tendrils.
Like box jellyfish tentacles.
They brushed lightly against his neck—
And his body froze instantly.
Muscles locking.
Eyes widening.
"…W—What…?"
His body trembled.
Then—
Collapsed.
Completely still.
Unable to move.
Paralyzed.
Virella stepped back calmly.
Unbothered.
Watching him struggle.
Fail.
Leonis didn't even turn.
He already knew the result.
Ravok watched them carefully.
Silent.
Analyzing.
"…They're strong."
His eyes shifted slightly.
Toward Ash.
Bleeding.
Toward Nyro.
Injured.
Toward Korin.
Shaking.
"…Ash is injured…"
"…Nyro too…"
A short pause.
"…And Korin won't be much help in this fight."
His jaw tightened slightly.
Decision made.
"…Then I have no choice."
Ravok stepped forward.
Slow.
Deliberate.
"…I'll handle this."
A deep breath filled his lungs.
Then—
His body trembled.
Muscles tightening.
Bones shifting beneath his skin.
CRACK—
His shoulders expanded outward.
Fur burst across his arms.
Dark.
Thick.
Wild.
His spine arched.
Growing.
Expanding.
His body grew larger.
Heavier.
Stronger.
Then—
Two bulges formed along his shoulders.
Moving.
Pushing outward—
SNAP—
Two heads burst from his shoulders.
And all three heads began to change.
Not human.
Canine.
Massive jaws stretched forward, lined with jagged fangs.
Dark fur covered their faces.
Eyes glowing faintly—
Wild.
Hungry.
Three monstrous hounds now—
All snarling.
**Cerberus Awakening.**
The ground beneath him cracked slightly.
Pressure radiated outward.
A low growl echoed from all three throats.
"…Now…"
A pause.
Three sets of eyes locked forward.
"…We start."
Leonis watched silently.
Unblinking.
Studying Ravok's transformation.
Then—
A slow grin spread across his face.
"…Heh."
A short chuckle followed.
Low.
Amused.
"…This is going to be fun."
He stepped forward slowly.
Unafraid.
"…Did you really think…"
A pause.
"…you were the only one who could power up?"
Leonis inhaled slowly.
Calm.
Controlled.
Then—
His muscles tightened.
Power surged beneath his skin.
Golden fur spread across his arms.
Slow.
Elegant.
Not violent.
Not wild.
A mane formed around his neck.
Thick.
Majestic.
His teeth sharpened.
Lengthening into fangs.
His eyes glowed faintly.
Cold.
Predatory.
His body expanded slightly—
Stronger.
Denser.
More dangerous.
**Lion Awakening.**
A low growl escaped his throat.
Deep.
Dominant.
Not wild.
Royal.
Leonis stepped forward.
Golden mane shifting slightly in the wind.
A faint grin formed.
"…Now this…"
A pause.
"…is a fight worth having."
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.