Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 105 - 104: The First Key, The Next Step

The balance within Skygate Academy had begun to shift, though not in any way that could be easily observed or openly acknowledged. There were no sudden explosions of conflict, no visible disruptions that forced attention, and no dramatic announcements that signaled change. Instead, it unfolded quietly, steadily, like unseen currents beneath a calm lake, gradually pulling everything toward a point that had yet to fully reveal itself.

To the majority of students, the academy remained exactly as it had always been. The training grounds were once again filled with determined individuals pushing their limits, striving to improve their control over their beasts and abilities. The classrooms echoed with lectures from instructors who spoke of strategy, evolution theory, and combat efficiency. The corridors buzzed with conversations, most of which revolved around one topic—the upcoming National Emperor Championship.

That announcement had ignited something within the student body. Ambition burned brighter. Rivalries sharpened. Every individual who had even the slightest chance of qualifying began preparing with renewed intensity, knowing that what lay ahead was not just a test of strength, but an opportunity to rise beyond the boundaries of the academy itself.

Yet amidst all of this movement and energy, Aether remained unchanged.

He stood alone at the far edge of a secluded training ground, a place far removed from the noise and activity of the main areas. The ground beneath him was smooth and undisturbed, the air still, and the surrounding space empty of any other presence. It was a place chosen not for convenience, but for isolation.

He was not training.

He was thinking.

His gaze rested on nothing in particular, yet it carried a depth of focus that suggested he was observing far more than what lay before him. His mind moved through possibilities, calculations, and decisions, each one building upon the last.

"You are planning something again," the Fallen Succubus said within his mind, her tone carrying a quiet curiosity.

Aether did not deny it. There was no reason to.

"Yes," he replied calmly. "I need to contract my next beast."

The statement was simple, but the implication behind it carried significant weight.

His current strength had already reached a point where imbalance was no longer just a minor issue—it was becoming a fundamental problem. The Flame Sovereign Pup had grown rapidly, its control and output surpassing what most students in the academy could handle. Its flames, once wild and unstable, had been refined into a precise and devastating force under Aether’s guidance.

And then there was the Fallen Succubus.

She was not merely a contracted beast. She was an existence that operated beyond conventional classification, her presence alone altering the framework of what Aether could perceive and achieve. Her knowledge, her awareness, and her nature placed her far above anything that could be measured within the academy’s standard systems.

Yet despite all of this, Aether himself remained limited by his current level.

"You are holding too much power without expanding your core," she said, her voice losing its earlier lightness as it became more analytical. "That imbalance will not remain stable forever."

Aether nodded slightly. "I am aware."

If he continued to grow his beasts without increasing his own capacity, the strain would eventually reach a breaking point. It would not happen suddenly, nor would it be immediately obvious, but the consequences would be inevitable.

"If I do not stabilize it," he continued, "it will become a weakness."

That was not an outcome he was willing to accept.

He shifted his gaze toward the distant horizon, where the towering walls of the academy marked the boundary between structured safety and the unknown world beyond. Far in the distance, faint outlines of mountains could be seen, their peaks rising into the sky like silent sentinels guarding territories that few students had ever explored.

"There are external zones," Aether said. "Areas where rare beasts appear, where natural evolution paths are not restricted by artificial systems."

The Fallen Succubus’s tone sharpened slightly. "You intend to leave the academy."

"Not immediately," Aether replied. "But soon."

The decision had already been made. What remained was preparation.

While Aether began laying the foundation for his next step, far away from the academy, another chain of events had already been set into motion.

Within the Liora family estate, activity had increased significantly. Orders were issued with precision, communication channels activated, and multiple search routes deployed across different regions. The materials Liora had requested were not something that could be obtained through simple transactions or standard acquisition methods.

They required effort.

Influence.

And risk.

Inside a sealed chamber deep within the estate, one of the elders stood before a floating crystal artifact, its surface shimmering with faint patterns of energy. This was no ordinary object—it was a high-tier communication device capable of connecting distant locations without delay.

"Report," the elder said, his voice calm but authoritative.

A response came almost immediately, the voice emerging from within the crystal.

"We have located a Dreamspace Crystal."

The elder’s expression remained steady, though a subtle shift in his gaze indicated interest.

"Location?"

"A fractured dream-realm zone," the voice replied. "The environment is unstable, and access is limited."

That answer was expected.

Dreamspace materials did not exist in stable environments. They formed in places where the boundary between reality and illusion weakened, where perception itself became unreliable. Such zones were inherently dangerous, not only because of the creatures that inhabited them, but because the environment itself could distort time, space, and consciousness.

"Secure it," the elder ordered without hesitation. "Immediately."

"Yes."

The connection ended.

Shortly after, the information reached Liora.

She stood within a quiet garden in the estate, surrounded by carefully maintained flora that reflected both beauty and discipline. The atmosphere was serene, yet there was a sense of underlying strength in every aspect of the environment.

The elder approached her, his steps measured.

"We have located one of the materials," he said.

Liora’s gaze shifted slightly, her attention focusing entirely on him. "Which one?"

"Dreamspace Crystal."

A brief pause followed, not of hesitation, but of acknowledgment.

"Good," she said.

Her response was simple, but it carried confidence.

"The second material," the elder continued, "Celestial Silk Thread, will take more time."

Liora nodded. "That was expected."

The rarity of that material far exceeded that of the Dreamspace Crystal. It required interaction with astral creatures—entities that did not exist fully within the physical world. Obtaining it would require more than just searching. It would require precise conditions and careful execution.

The elder studied her carefully. "You are placing a significant amount of trust in this path."

Liora met his gaze without hesitation. "Yes."

Her answer was firm.

Because she already understood something that could not easily be explained.

This was not merely about evolving her beasts.

It was about surpassing limitations.

Breaking through boundaries that others accepted as absolute.

And for that, she was willing to take the risk.

Back at the academy, Aether stood near the boundary walls, his gaze directed outward.

"You are not waiting," the Fallen Succubus observed.

"No," Aether replied.

He turned and began walking back toward the main building, his path deliberate. However, his destination was not the training grounds or the classrooms.

It was the administration hall.

Inside, the atmosphere was quieter, more controlled. Officials moved with purpose, handling requests, processing records, and maintaining the operational structure of the academy.

Aether approached the registrar’s desk.

"I want permission to access external zones," he said.

The official looked up, clearly surprised by the request.

"For what purpose?" he asked.

"Beast contract," Aether replied.

The room seemed to grow slightly quieter, though no one openly reacted. Requests like this were not unheard of, but the timing was unusual. Most students would wait until they had exhausted all internal resources before considering such a step.

"You are eligible," the official said after a moment. "Given your ranking."

He paused briefly before continuing. "However, you will require escort clearance."

"That will not be necessary," Aether said calmly.

The official frowned slightly. "You are requesting solo access?"

"Yes."

There was a long pause.

Such a request was not standard, but Aether’s status as the tournament champion gave him a level of authority that could not be easily dismissed.

"It will be reviewed," the official finally said.

Aether nodded. "That is acceptable."

As he turned to leave, a familiar sensation brushed against his awareness.

Another scan.

This one was more refined, more focused than the previous attempts.

But once again, the Heaven Eye responded.

The golden pulse expanded silently, erasing the intrusion before it could take hold.

Far away, the observer’s expression darkened.

"...Still nothing," he said quietly.

This was no longer a simple anomaly.

It was something deliberate.

"...Increase depth," he ordered. "Use layered observation."

If surface-level probing failed, then deeper methods would be required.

Back outside, Aether stepped into the open air once more.

The sky was clear, the wind gentle, and the academy continued its routine as though nothing unusual was happening.

"They are becoming more serious," the Fallen Succubus said.

Aether’s response was calm.

"It does not matter."

Because his focus had already shifted.

Not toward those who watched him.

Not toward the academy.

But toward what lay beyond.

He lifted his gaze toward the distant horizon, where the unknown awaited.

Soon, he would leave.

And when he did...

Everything would change.