Ash didn't move.
Blood covered his body.
His chest barely rose.
Barely fell.
Breathing—
Shallow.
Weak.
Silence surrounded him.
Then—
"ASH!"
Nyro's voice tore across the battlefield.
Sharp.
Desperate.
BOOM—
A blur streaked past him.
Shira lunged again—
Fast.
Relentless.
Nyro twisted sideways—
Barely dodging.
Behind him—
Virella advanced.
Slow.
Patient.
Deadly.
Nyro fired—
BOOM—
A water shot tore through the air—
Striking her shoulder.
"…ASH!"
He glanced back—
Still no movement.
Still no response.
"…Wake up!"
Korin stood behind him.
Shaking.
Frozen.
Watching.
Nyro stepped forward—
Positioning himself between Korin and the attackers.
Protecting him.
Alone.
Two against one.
Nyro wiped his mouth.
Dry again.
Too dry.
"…Not now…"
Meanwhile—
Across the battlefield—
Ravok and Leonis collided again.
CLASH—
Claws met fangs.
Neither slowing.
Neither retreating.
Ravok lunged—
KNEE—
CRASH—
His strike slammed into Leonis's ribs.
Leonis skidded backward.
Sand tearing beneath his feet.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
One hit.
Heavy.
Devastating.
Leonis answered instantly—
WHOOSH—
A punch snapped toward Ravok's jaw.
CRACK—
Ravok's head turned—
But he didn't move.
Didn't fall.
Didn't stagger.
Just… smiled.
A savage grin spread across all three faces.
"…This is fun."
"…Let's see which one of us falls first."
Leonis smiled back.
Pride burning in his eyes.
"…Perfect."
"…This is how true kings fight."
Ravok stepped forward—
Heavy.
Dominant.
Leonis moved first—
WHOOSH—
A slash cut across Ravok's side.
Fast.
Clean.
Blood followed.
Ravok didn't retreat.
Didn't slow.
KNEE—
CRASH—
His strike slammed into Leonis's stomach.
The impact echoed.
Leonis coughed—
Sliding backward.
That single hit—
Heavy.
Far heavier than his own.
Leonis wiped blood from his mouth.
Smiling.
Excited.
"…You hit harder…"
A short pause.
Ravok answered immediately—
"…and you move faster."
Then—
He moved.
A brutal uppercut shot upward—
Fast.
Violent.
But—
WHOOSH—
Leonis dodged at the last possible second.
Too fast.
Too precise.
Then—
CRUNCH—
Leonis countered.
His fangs sank deep into Ravok's shoulder.
Blood splattered across the sand.
Ravok groaned in pain.
Low.
Deep.
But he didn't step back.
Leonis' fangs were still buried deep in his shoulder—
Blood spilling down his arm.
Then—
CRACK—
Ravok moved.
A devastating punch exploded into Leonis's face.
Full force.
Brutal.
Leonis was torn backward—
SLAM—
His body crashed into the ground.
Hard.
A sharp sound followed—
TCHK—
One of Leonis's teeth flew from his mouth—
Spitting across the sand.
Before he could recover—
Ravok stepped forward.
Raising his foot.
Ready to crush his skull.
STOMP—
WHOOSH—
Leonis rolled sideways at the last possible instant.
Barely escaping.
Then—
From the ground—
THUD—THUD—
A brutal double kick slammed into Ravok's shin.
Direct hit.
Pain shot through Ravok.
But he didn't retreat.
Didn't hesitate.
GRAB—
His hand clamped around Leonis's leg.
Unbreakable.
"…Got you."
SLAM—
Ravok hurled him to the left—
CRASH—
Then—
To the right—
BOOM—
Sand exploded with each impact.
Leonis growled—
Twisting violently—
Breaking free at the last second.
Both fighters stepped back.
Breathing heavier now.
Blood dripping.
Muscles trembling.
But neither bowed.
Neither yielded.
They moved again.
Punch.
Kick.
Claw.
Fang.
Kings.
Alphas.
Refusing to fall.
Strike after strike echoed across the battlefield.
But slowly—
Subtly—
Something shifted.
Leonis's movements…
Slightly slower.
His breathing…
Heavier.
His stamina…
Fading.
Ravok noticed.
And pressed forward.
Harder.
Relentless.
Dominant.
Now—
Ravok was taking control of the fight.
Leonis wiped blood from his mouth.
Smiling.
Even now.
"…Not done yet…"
Ravok answered coldly.
"…Yes."
"…You are."
GRAB—
His hand clamped around Leonis's head.
Unforgiving.
Unbreakable.
Leonis struggled—
Too slow.
Too late.
Ravok's jaws opened—
Fangs bared.
Ready to crush his skull.
But—
"…Stop."
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.