Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 101 - 100: The Eye That Should Not Exist

The treasury hall remained silent, yet the silence itself carried a weight that was difficult to ignore.

It was not an ordinary quiet, nor the peaceful stillness of an empty place. Instead, it was a layered silence—dense, watchful, and filled with unseen awareness. Every step taken within this vast chamber seemed to echo longer than it should, as if the very space was observing those who entered it.

Aether stood at the threshold of choice.

Before him stretched endless rows of artifacts, each one carefully preserved, each one radiating a presence that spoke of history, power, and consequence. These were not mere objects stored for display; they were remnants of countless battles, inheritances of powerful lineages, and fragments of forgotten eras.

Weapons forged from ancient beast cores rested upon reinforced pedestals, their edges humming faintly with restrained energy. Evolution materials, refined through generations of research and sacrifice, were sealed within crystal containers, glowing with dense vitality. Artifacts designed to amplify bloodlines or alter the growth of beasts stood quietly, their power concealed beneath controlled layers.

Everything here had the potential to change the future of a beast tamer.

Everything here was valuable beyond measure.

Everything here—was within reach.

And yet, as Aether stood among them, his expression remained calm, almost indifferent.

Because none of it was what he truly needed.

He began to move.

His steps were slow and deliberate, not out of hesitation, but out of precision. His gaze did not linger on the most radiant items, nor did he pause before the most powerful ones. Instead, he allowed his senses to extend outward—not merely to observe, but to feel.

He was not searching for strength.

He was searching for resonance.

Something deeper.

Something that aligned with what he lacked.

The Fallen Succubus’s voice echoed softly within his mind, her tone thoughtful, tinged with faint curiosity.

"For a place that calls itself a treasury of the academy, I expected something more suitable for you," she said. "At the very least, there should have been one artifact capable of matching your requirements."

Aether did not stop walking.

"There are useful items here," he replied calmly. "Several of them, in fact."

He paused briefly beside a row of sealed artifacts, his gaze brushing over them without interest.

"But usefulness," he continued, "is not the same as necessity."

The distinction was subtle, yet absolute.

He resumed moving.

Minutes passed, though in a place like this, time felt indistinct. Each step carried him deeper into the treasury, further away from the more obvious and valuable items, and closer to areas that were less organized, less maintained.

Eventually, he stopped.

Before him stood a small pedestal.

Unlike the others, it did not shine.

It did not attract attention.

It simply existed.

Resting upon it was a bracelet-like artifact, dull in appearance and unremarkable in design. Its surface lacked intricate carvings, and its energy was subdued, almost restrained to the point of being forgettable.

"This one," Aether said quietly.

The Fallen Succubus examined it through his perception.

"...A medium-tier concealment artifact," she concluded after a moment. "It suppresses aura to a moderate degree and offers minor resistance to detection-based abilities. It is functional, but far from exceptional."

Aether nodded slightly.

"It’s not perfect," he said. "But it meets the minimum requirement."

His hand lifted slowly.

Not out of excitement.

Not out of desire.

But out of acceptance.

This was the point where most people would decide.

Where they would settle.

Where they would convince themselves that "good enough" was sufficient.

Aether’s fingers moved toward the bracelet.

Closer.

Closer still.

Then—

He stopped.

Not because he hesitated.

But because something interrupted his perception.

It was not in front of him.

It was not part of the pedestal.

It came from the side.

A faint flicker.

So subtle that it could have easily been ignored.

Golden.

Soft.

Almost unreal.

Aether’s hand froze mid-air.

Slowly, he turned his head.

His gaze shifted toward a neglected corner of the treasury—a section where lesser artifacts had been placed without care. Items that were either incomplete, damaged, or simply deemed unworthy of structured display were piled together without organization.

And from within that pile—

A faint golden glow pulsed.

"...Do you see that?" Aether asked quietly.

The Fallen Succubus paused.

There was a brief silence.

Then she responded.

"...No," she said slowly.

That answer was enough.

Aether’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Then it’s only visible to me," he concluded.

Without another word, he lowered his hand and stepped away from the bracelet.

His attention had already shifted.

The faint glow did not intensify as he approached, nor did it fade. It remained constant—subtle, controlled, and strangely deliberate, as if it was not meant to attract attention, yet refused to be completely hidden.

Aether knelt slightly and began moving aside the scattered artifacts.

Each item he touched was ordinary.

Low-tier materials.

Damaged relics.

Objects stripped of significance.

Yet the glow remained.

Guiding him.

Until finally—

He found it.

A small locket.

It was simple in design, almost disappointingly so. Its surface showed signs of age, its edges worn, its structure lacking any visible craftsmanship that would suggest value.

To an ordinary observer, it would be dismissed instantly.

"...That’s it?" the Fallen Succubus said, her tone clearly unimpressed. "It looks like something that would be discarded without a second thought."

Aether did not respond.

Because what he saw—

Was different.

In his vision, the locket shimmered.

Not brightly.

Not overwhelmingly.

But undeniably.

A soft golden light pulsed from within it, as if something hidden deep inside was trying—quietly—to be acknowledged.

"...This..." Aether murmured under his breath.

He reached out and picked it up.

The moment his fingers made contact—

Everything changed.

A faint vibration traveled through the locket, subtle yet precise, as if responding directly to his presence.

Then—

A translucent screen appeared.

It hovered just above the artifact, clear and defined.

Visible only to him.

Aether’s eyes froze.

Because what he saw—

This Should be not exist.

Name: Heaven Eye (Half)

Tier: Mythical (Damaged)

Description:

* Suppresses all external scanning abilities

* Conceals host presence across multiple perception layers

* Blocks curses, tracking imprints, and detection marks

* Partial functionality due to severe damage

* Origin: Unknown

For a moment, Aether said nothing.

He did not blink.

He did not move.

The words remained before him, steady and undeniable.

"...Mythical," he whispered.

Even speaking the word felt unreal.

Because within the known history of the lower realm, mythical-tier treasures were not simply rare—they were nearly nonexistent.

Only two had ever been recorded.

Across centuries.

And both had changed the balance of power wherever they appeared.

And now—

One rested in his hand.

"How is this even possible?" Aether muttered quietly.

The Fallen Succubus’s voice, for the first time, carried a trace of genuine seriousness.

"...It shouldn’t be," she said. "Not here. Not in a place like this."

Aether remained silent.

But his thoughts moved rapidly.

A mythical artifact, hidden among discarded items.

Unrecognized.

Unclaimed.

And visible only to him.

"...Be careful," the Succubus added softly. "Items like this do not appear without reason. If it revealed itself to you, then that means something."

Aether looked down at the locket again.

The golden glow had faded.

It now appeared completely ordinary.

As if nothing had ever happened.

But that did not matter.

Because he had already seen the truth.

And once seen—

It could not be ignored.

He turned.

Without hesitation.

Without doubt.

Because the decision had already been made.

This was what he needed.

Not power.

Not enhancement.

But concealment.

Control.

Freedom.

He walked back toward Elder Kael.

The locket rested quietly in his hand, its presence subdued.

Kael glanced at it.

At first, his expression remained unchanged.

Then—

"...That?" he said, his tone carrying faint confusion.

Aether stopped in front of him.

"Yes," he replied.

Kael frowned slightly.

"You are choosing that item?" he asked again, as if confirming he had not misunderstood.

Aether nodded calmly.

"Yes."

Kael studied the locket more carefully.

"That is, at best, a medium-tier concealment artifact," he explained. "It provides basic suppression of aura and limited resistance to curse-type effects. It is functional, but not exceptional."

Aether said nothing.

Because explaining—

Was not an option.

"Are you certain?" Kael asked one final time.

Aether met his gaze directly.

"Yes."

There was no hesitation in his voice.

No uncertainty.

Only calm certainty.

Kael held his gaze for a moment longer.

Then he nodded.

"...Very well," he said. "If that is your decision, it will be recorded."

As Aether turned to leave, Kael spoke again.

"...Wait."

Aether paused.

Kael raised his hand, and another item appeared.

A suit.

Dark, seamless, and refined.

Energy flowed across its surface in controlled patterns, subtle yet precise.

"This is an additional reward," Kael said. "For the champion."

Aether took it.

"...What is it?" he asked.

"An Epic-tier adaptive combat suit," Kael replied. "It provides significant resistance against elemental attacks. Not immunity—but enough to alter the outcome of most engagements."

Aether nodded.

"...Thank you."

Kael’s expression softened slightly.

"...Use it well."

Aether turned and walked toward the exit.

The massive doors of the treasury opened slowly, revealing the night beyond.

As he stepped out, the hidden presences within the hall watched him.

Silently.

As if aware that something significant had just occurred.

Outside, the cool air of night greeted him.

The Fallen Succubus spoke again.

"...You just obtained something far more dangerous than anything else in that hall," she said quietly.

Aether’s grip on the locket tightened slightly.

"I know," he replied.

He looked down at it once more.

It appeared ordinary.

Unremarkable.

Invisible to those who did not understand.

But within it—

Lay something beyond the comprehension of this world.

"With this," Aether said softly, "no one in the lower realm will be able to see me clearly."

The Fallen Succubus smiled.

"...Good," she said. "Because now, you can finally move without being watched."

Aether lifted his gaze.

The academy lay quiet beneath the night sky.

But he knew—

That stillness was temporary.

Because somewhere—

Far beyond what he could see—

Something had already begun searching.

And now—

It might be searching for him.