Ash frowned slightly.
"…Wait."
He looked at the guard.
"…If we use the Multiplication Ticket… on the Skip Ticket…"
A short pause.
"…Would that let us skip ten floors instead of five?"
Silence fell.
Nyro blinked.
Korin's eyes widened.
The guard nodded once.
"…Yes."
Silence.
Heavy.
Ash exhaled slowly.
"…That's a huge advantage."
He looked at the others.
"…What do you guys think?"
Nyro crossed his arms.
"…It is."
A short pause.
"…But unlocking an ability could also be huge."
He glanced at the tickets.
"…There are abilities we still don't have."
"…Abilities that could save our lives on the next floors."
Ash nodded slowly.
"…True."
Then—
Ravok spoke.
Calm.
Measured.
"…Even without multiplying it… we could still skip five floors."
A short pause.
"…So using the Multiplication Ticket to unlock an ability…"
"…Wouldn't be a bad option either."
Ash looked back at the guard.
"…Do we need to decide now?"
The guard answered immediately.
"…Yes."
A pause.
"…You must declare the purpose of the Multiplication Ticket now."
"…Will it duplicate another ticket…"
"…Or grant an ability?"
Another pause.
"…However…"
"…You do not need to activate it immediately."
Ash narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…And the Skip Ticket?"
The guard raised one finger.
"…The Skip Ticket must be activated while all members of the squad are present."
"…On the same floor."
Silence settled.
"…If your squad becomes separated across different floors…"
"…The ticket will no longer function."
Nyro whistled softly.
"…So if we ever split up…"
"…We lose the chance to use it."
The guard nodded.
"…Correct."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Strategic.
Ash exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
He looked at the others.
"…Let's make a vote."
A short pause.
"…Would you rather skip ten floors…"
"…or unlock an ability… and still keep the five-floor skip?"
Silence followed.
Then—
Ravok spoke first.
Calm.
Decisive.
"…I vote for unlocking an ability."
Ash looked at him.
Ravok crossed his arms.
"…Because the stronger the ability…"
"…the longer it usually takes to unlock."
A short pause.
"…If we can obtain one instantly…"
"…it saves us months of training."
Nyro nodded.
"…I second that."
Korin shifted nervously.
"…M-Me too…"
"…I think we should unlock an ability."
Ash looked at all three of them.
Then nodded once.
"…Alright."
A short pause.
"…That's unanimous."
Ravok turned toward the guard.
"…Is there any ability that cannot be unlocked using this ticket?"
The guard shook his head.
"…No."
Silence followed.
"…Any ability available to your animal classification…"
"…can be unlocked."
Ash narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Even the rare ones?"
"…Yes."
Ash nodded slowly.
"…Then we've decided."
The guard gave a small nod.
"…Very well."
He raised one hand.
"…You now possess one Ability Unlock Ticket…"
"…and one Skip Ticket."
A short pause.
"…Proceed when ready."
Moments later—
Light engulfed them.
The teleport activated.
—
They arrived on the Fifth Floor.
Forest.
Dense.
Massive trees towered overhead—
At least three times larger than normal.
Thick trunks.
Heavy branches.
The canopy swallowed the sky.
No villages.
No movement.
Nothing visible in the distance.
Except—
A mountain.
Huge.
Dominating the horizon.
Ash narrowed his eyes.
"…Dig."
"…Is there any ability you recommend unlocking?"
The guide responded calmly.
The strongest ability within any animal classification…
…is known as its pinnacle ability.
Ash frowned.
"…Pinnacle?"
…It is an ability that pushes your animal's nature…
…beyond its natural limits.
…Granting you powers that even the animal itself has never achieved.
Silence followed.
Nyro blinked.
"…Wait…"
"…The animal itself hasn't achieved it?"
Correct.
Ravok stepped forward slightly.
"…What is it called?"
A short pause.
Then—
The guide answered.
Calm.
Clear.
…Primal Unity.
Silence lingered.
Thick with tension.
Unsettling.
Powerful.
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.