Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 107 - 106: A Battle That Never Happened

The forest that stretched beyond the boundaries of Skygate Academy was far older than it appeared at first glance. Towering trees rose like silent sentinels, their thick trunks rooted deep within the earth, while their branches intertwined high above to form a dense canopy that filtered the sunlight into scattered, dim rays. Those faint streaks of light painted the forest floor in uneven patterns, illuminating patches of moss, fallen leaves, and damp soil.

At first glance, it seemed peaceful.

But the silence was wrong.

It was not the natural quiet of a resting wilderness, nor the calm that followed the passing of wind or creatures. Instead, it was a suffocating stillness, heavy with something unseen. Even the smallest signs of life—birds, insects, or distant rustling—were absent, as if the forest itself had withdrawn in anticipation of something that had yet to happen.

After their ambush towards him, Aether walked steadily along a narrow path that barely existed, his steps light yet deliberate. His posture remained relaxed, and his expression revealed nothing unusual, but beneath that calm exterior, his awareness extended outward in every direction. He was not merely observing the forest; he was reading it, sensing the subtle disturbances that betrayed hidden presences.

Within him, the Fallen Succubus remained unusually quiet for a time before finally speaking in a low, thoughtful tone.

"They followed you farther than I expected," she said. "Either they are confident, or they are desperate."

Aether did not slow his pace.

"They are careful," he replied calmly. "That means they are neither reckless nor weak."

His voice carried no concern, only a simple acknowledgment of reality.

He took another step forward.

Then he stopped.

The shift was so subtle that an ordinary observer might not have noticed it at all. There was no sudden tension in his body, no visible reaction, and yet the atmosphere around him seemed to tighten instantly.

He had reached the point.

A few steps ahead, a figure emerged from between the trees.

The person was cloaked from head to toe, their face hidden beneath a shadowed hood. Their presence was controlled and restrained, but there was no attempt to hide completely. It was as if they wanted to be seen, but only at the right moment.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

The air between them felt heavier with each passing moment, as though an invisible pressure had settled over the clearing.

Aether broke the silence first.

"You followed me all the way out here," he said calmly, his tone steady and unhurried, as though he were simply stating an obvious fact.

The cloaked figure tilted their head slightly, as if amused.

"So you noticed," they replied.

Aether did not respond to that. Instead, his gaze shifted slightly—not toward the figure in front of him, but toward the space behind him.

"There are two of you," he said.

The words had barely left his mouth when a second voice spoke from behind him, calm and measured.

"No," the voice corrected, "there are three."

At that moment, the atmosphere changed completely.

From the reader’s perspective, it would feel as though the forest itself had closed in, forming an invisible trap. Three separate presences surrounded Aether from different angles, each positioned carefully to prevent escape. Their coordination was precise, their spacing deliberate, and their patience evident.

They were not ordinary hunters.

They were professionals.

Aether remained where he stood, showing no sign of concern.

"We are not here to kill you," the first cloaked figure said.

Aether’s gaze remained steady.

"I know," he replied.

That answer caused a subtle shift in the tension. The figures did not expect resistance in the form of panic, but neither did they expect complete calm.

The second figure stepped forward slightly, their presence becoming more defined.

"Then you understand why we are here," they said.

Aether did not answer immediately. Instead, he allowed a brief silence to settle, forcing them to continue.

"We want information," the first figure said after a moment. "About what you brought out of the ruins."

Aether’s expression did not change.

A third voice spoke again, this time carrying a sharper edge.

"Your beasts are unusual," they said. "Especially the humanoid one."

Inside his mind, the Fallen Succubus let out a soft, amused laugh.

"So that is what drew their attention," she said. "You tried to hide it, but something slipped through."

Aether remained outwardly calm, but his understanding of the situation became clearer.

The tournament had revealed more than intended.

Even with his restraint, even with his control, the mere existence of something beyond normal classification had been enough to attract attention.

"You are wasting your time," Aether said.

The first figure took a slow step forward.

"That is not for you to decide," they replied.

There was no anger in their voice.

No hostility.

Only determination.

And then—

Everything changed.

Aether moved.

There was no warning, no buildup, and no visible gathering of energy. One moment, he stood completely still, and the next, the world itself seemed to shift.

From the reader’s perspective, the transition would feel abrupt, almost disorienting, as if reality had skipped a moment.

The Flame Sovereign Pup appeared beside him instantly.

Its body was wrapped in controlled crimson flames that burned with an intensity far greater than ordinary fire, yet they did not spread wildly. Instead, the flames clung to its form, moving with deliberate precision, as if each flicker was guided by intention.

The cloaked figures reacted immediately.

The first one moved to the side with incredible speed, their body blurring as they attempted to reposition. The second raised a hand, forming a barrier of condensed energy in front of them, while the third retreated backward, seeking distance.

But Aether did not chase.

He did not advance.

Instead, he spoke a single word.

"Now."

The Flame Sovereign Pup exhaled.

A wave of fire spread outward from its position, expanding in a perfect arc that covered the entire clearing.

From the reader’s perspective, the attack would appear almost unreal. It was not a chaotic explosion, nor a wild surge of uncontrolled power. Instead, it was a precise, calculated expansion of energy that filled every available space without wasting even a fraction of its force.

The first figure attempted to evade again, moving with incredible speed, but the flames adjusted their trajectory as if they had anticipated the movement.

The second figure’s barrier held for a brief moment before cracking at a single point, where the pressure was most concentrated. That crack spread instantly, shattering the defense completely.

The third figure tried to retreat further, pushing their body to its limit, but the flames reached them regardless.

Not because they were faster.

But because they were unavoidable.

And then—

It ended.

The fire vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.

The forest returned to silence.

The trees remained untouched.

The ground showed no signs of destruction.

And the three cloaked figures—

Collapsed.

They were not burned.

Not injured.

Not even visibly harmed.

They had simply lost consciousness.

From the reader’s perspective, the battle would feel almost surreal. A confrontation that had been building with tension and anticipation had ended in a single, decisive moment.

A battle that never truly happened.

The Flame Sovereign Pup stood calmly beside Aether, its flames dimming slightly as it returned to a neutral state.

"That was efficient," the Fallen Succubus remarked.

"They were not strong enough," Aether replied.

He stepped forward, looking down at the unconscious figures.

"Killing them would be simpler," he added.

The Fallen Succubus chuckled softly.

"But you are not going to do that," she said.

Aether shook his head.

"No. Information is more valuable."

There was no hesitation in his decision.

"Then allow me," she said.

Without waiting for further approval, her presence descended into the minds of the three unconscious figures.

What followed was not visible in the physical world.

But within their consciousness—

Everything changed.

Darkness swallowed them.

A fabricated reality formed, shaped entirely by her will. It was a controlled space where resistance was meaningless, where perception could be rewritten, and where truth itself became flexible.

Her voice echoed around them, smooth and dangerous.

"Let us begin."

Time lost meaning within that space.

Memories surfaced.

Thoughts unraveled.

Information was extracted without resistance.

When it was over, the Fallen Succubus withdrew.

"They are part of a larger network," she said. "Observers and investigators who track anomalies."

"And their focus?" Aether asked.

"You," she replied. "More specifically, your beasts."

Aether nodded slightly.

"As expected."

"The tournament revealed enough to attract their attention," she continued. "Even if they did not fully understand what they saw."

Aether considered this for a moment before speaking.

"Then we erase it."

A faint smile colored her voice.

"It is already done."

Within their minds, memories shifted.

Events were altered.

Perceptions rewritten.

When they awakened, they would remember nothing unusual. Aether would appear to them as nothing more than a talented, slightly unusual beast tamer—nothing worth deeper investigation.

"And I added a false conclusion," she said. "Just in case."

Aether did not ask for details.

He did not need them.

The illusion shattered completely.

The forest returned.

The three figures lay unconscious.

Aether turned away.

"That will delay them," he said.

"For now," she replied.

He did not linger.

"I am not staying here," he said.

"Where will you go?" she asked.

Aether looked toward the distant horizon.

"The Imperial City," he said. "And the Beast House."

There was a brief pause before he added,

"My third contract."

With that, he began walking again, leaving the forest behind.

Behind him, the three figures remained where they had fallen, their memories altered, their purpose undone.

Far away, an observer frowned.

"...Connection lost," they murmured.

For the first time—

Something had gone wrong.

And ahead—

Aether’s path had only just begun.