**…Stop.**
Ravok's body froze.
Muscles locked.
Fangs inches from Leonis's skull.
But—
Not completely.
His muscles twitched.
Shaking.
Fighting.
Resisting.
Slowly—
Painfully—
He forced movement.
Just a little.
Soren's eyes widened slightly.
"…Wow…"
A faint smile formed on his face.
"…Your willpower is insane."
Ravok growled.
Low.
Furious.
Still trying to bite—
Still trying to finish it—
But—
**…Plummet.**
WHOOSH—
Ravok's body dropped violently.
CRASH—
He slammed into the ground.
Hard.
Before he could move—
A shadow dropped beside him.
Virella.
Silent.
Precise.
**Neurotoxin Touch.**
Her tendrils brushed against his neck—
Instantly—
His body locked.
Completely.
Paralyzed.
Ravok's eyes widened.
"…Wait…"
His voice strained.
"…If you're here…"
Slowly—
He turned his head.
And froze.
Nyro—
Gone.
Far away—
Nearly a hundred meters back.
Collapsed against broken stone.
"I used Expel on him."
Soren lowered his hand calmly.
Beside Ravok—
WHOOSH—
Shira appeared.
CRACK—
A brutal kick slammed into Ravok's jaw.
His head snapped sideways.
Leonis stepped forward.
Breathing heavy.
Blood running down his face.
But smiling.
"…You're stronger than me…"
A short pause.
His eyes sharpened.
"…But my team…"
He reached down.
Grabbing the ticket from Ravok's pocket.
"…Is stronger than yours."
Leonis lifted his hand.
Three glowing tickets rested in his palm.
Victory—
"…Let's go get the other two tickets."
But then—
Movement.
Fast.
Desperate.
From the distance—
ASH.
Bloodied.
Broken.
Barely conscious.
But moving.
**…Shadow Step**
WHOOSH—
He vanished.
Reappearing mid-air—
Rushing straight toward Leonis.
One last attempt.
One last gamble.
They saw him.
Reacted instantly.
But—
Before they could strike—
A roar shattered the battlefield.
**HELLISH ROAR.**
Even paralyzed—
Ravok roared.
Inhuman.
Savage.
Unstoppable.
Rage flooded their minds.
Eyes snapped toward him.
Focus stolen—
For one second.
That was enough.
Ash reached Leonis—
SNATCH—
He grabbed the tickets.
Turned—
Trying to fly—
Trying to escape—
But—
His wings trembled.
Weak.
Exhausted.
Too injured.
Too drained.
But—
**Predator's Burst.**
Shira vanished—
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
WHOOSH—
He appeared again.
Beside Ash.
CRASH—
A brutal kick slammed into his ribs.
Air exploded from his lungs.
He tumbled across the ground—
Rolling violently—
And—
The tickets slipped from his grasp.
Scattering across the battlefield.
Silence.
Then—
"…Nice try."
Leonis stepped forward calmly.
Cold.
Confident.
"…But that was only desperation."
He moved—
Reaching down—
About to reclaim them—
Then—
BOOM—
Something slammed into the ground.
Fast.
Rolling.
Unstoppable.
Korin.
**Iron Shell.**
Curled into a perfect sphere.
Covered in hardened scales.
Rolling at full speed—
Toward the scattered tickets.
"I—I won't let their efforts be in vain…"
Shira reacted—
Fast.
Snatching one ticket from the ground.
But—
Before he could grab the others—
BOOM—
A water bullet pierced straight through his calf.
"…GH—!"
He staggered.
Turning sharply—
It was Nyro.
Smiling—
Blood covering his face.
Leaning against broken stones.
But still alive.
Korin reached the remaining tickets—
SNATCH—
Two tickets secured.
He curled tighter.
Locking himself shut.
Holding them.
Refusing to let go.
Soren stepped forward.
"…Stop—"
Nothing happened.
Silence.
His voice caught in his throat.
No response.
No effect.
The required time hadn't passed yet.
His ability—
Still on cooldown.
Leonis moved instead.
Still in hybrid form—
CLANG—
His claws slammed against Korin's shell.
Again—
CRACK—
Shira kicked him violently.
Again—
Virella struck.
Venom touching his scales.
Pain surged.
Blood seeped between the armor.
But—
Korin didn't release them.
Not once.
Not even slightly.
Inside the shell—
His hands trembled.
His body shook.
But his grip—
Never loosened.
Strike after strike landed.
Relentless.
Brutal.
Unforgiving.
He was bleeding.
Breaking.
Weakening.
Still—
Holding.
But—
One strike hit too hard.
Too much damage.
His grip loosened.
Leonis raised his claw again—
Ready to tear the tickets free—
Then—
CLANG—
A bell echoed across the battlefield.
Loud.
Absolute.
Final.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"The trial… has ended."
© 2025 Moku. All rights reserved. The Tower of the Animal Kingdom is an original work by Moku. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.