Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 61: The Ruins That Forgot
The Inner Sanctum was collapsing.
The moment the contract had been formed, the ancient balance that had sustained the ruins for centuries began to unravel. It didn’t happen slowly—it broke apart all at once, as if the very foundation of the labyrinth had been waiting for this exact moment.
Cracks spread across the massive stone walls like spiderwebs, glowing faintly with fading runic energy. The symbols that once pulsed with authority now flickered weakly, losing their purpose.
The sanctum... was dying.
At the center of the chamber, Aether stood quietly.
The contract mark on his hand pulsed once, releasing a faint glow of intertwined crimson and gold—then it stabilized, sinking beneath his skin as if it had always belonged there.
He could feel it.
The presence beside him.
It was no longer distant.
No longer sealed.
No longer something trapped behind layers of ancient magic.
She stood a few steps behind him, her wings slowly folding as her crimson eyes scanned the crumbling chamber. There was no urgency in her expression—only calm observation, as though she were witnessing the end of something insignificant.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Then her voice echoed softly inside his mind.
"Time to leave."
Aether gave a slight nod.
Beside him, the Flame Sovereign Pup let out a short bark, its flames flickering as it looked around the collapsing sanctum. Even the small beast could sense the instability spreading through the ruins.
The ground beneath them trembled violently.
A low rumble echoed through the chamber as massive stone pillars began to crack, then collapse. Pieces of the ancient platform broke apart and fell into the endless darkness below, vanishing without a trace.
Without hesitation, Aether turned toward the exit.
The path that once led deeper into the sanctum had changed.
Now—it guided him outward.
The ruins themselves were forcing everything out.
Behind him, she followed silently.
But just before they reached the edge of the chamber—
She stopped.
Aether paused slightly, glancing back.
Her crimson eyes were fixed on the collapsing sanctum.
For the first time, there was something different in her expression.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"After all these years..."
Her voice was soft.
"...it finally ends."
There was no regret.
No sadness.
Only quiet closure.
Then she turned away—
And followed Aether out.
---
The labyrinth outside was no longer stable.
The moment they stepped beyond the sanctum, the full extent of the collapse became clear.
Stone walls shifted violently, grinding against each other with deafening force. Corridors twisted unnaturally, breaking apart as ancient structures failed under their own weight.
The ruins... were erasing themselves.
Aether moved forward without hesitation.
But something had changed.
Unlike before, when every step inside the labyrinth required caution and calculation—
Now, the path ahead seemed to open naturally for him.
Falling debris shifted just enough to avoid him.
Blocked corridors cracked apart at the exact moment he approached.
Every obstacle—
Moved aside.
The same strange golden energy within him stirred once more.
Guiding him.
Protecting him.
Ensuring his passage.
Behind him, she observed this carefully.
"Interesting."
Her voice carried a hint of curiosity.
"The ruins are still favoring you."
Aether didn’t respond. There was nothing to explain.
He simply continued forward.
Step by step. Without stopping. Without hesitation.
Within minutes—
The exit appeared.
A massive opening where the outer structure of the ruins had already collapsed. Sunlight streamed through the gap, illuminating the dust-filled air.
Freedom.
Without slowing down, Aether stepped out.
The moment he crossed the boundary—
Something changed.
The connection with the ruins weakened instantly.
The ancient energy surrounding him faded.
The oppressive aura vanished.
The air felt... normal.
Quiet.
Stable.
Real.
Behind him, she stepped out as well.
But the moment she crossed the boundary—
Her form flickered.
Her wings vanished first.
Then the overwhelming aura surrounding her disappeared completely, as if it had never existed. The immense presence that once filled the sanctum collapsed inward, suppressed entirely.
In her place stood a normal-looking young woman.
Her crimson eyes dimmed slightly.
Her aura—
Gone.
Completely hidden.
No one looking at her now would recognize what she truly was.
She glanced down at her hands briefly, flexing her fingers as if testing the change.
Then she smiled.
"Good."
Aether looked at her.
"You can hide it."
She nodded calmly.
"For now."
Her gaze shifted toward the distant horizon.
"Until I recover enough power."
Behind them, the ruins trembled once more.
A deep, thunderous rumble echoed across the land.
Then—
They collapsed.
The entire structure caved inward, stone and dust falling into the earth as if swallowed by something unseen. The remaining fragments crumbled, sinking into the ground until nothing remained.
No entrance.
No trace.
Nothing.
As if the ruins had never existed.
Aether watched silently.
Beside him, she spoke again.
"No one will find it now."
---
Not far from the collapsed ruins, several figures stood scattered across the open terrain.
Survivors.
Those who had wants to enter the ruins earlier. And two who already participated in ruin challenges.
Aether immediately recognized one of them.
Rylan.
He stood among a group of students, casually stretching his shoulders as if he had just woken from a long sleep. His serpent rested loosely around his arm, calm and unmoving.
Everything seemed normal.
Too normal.
Aether began walking toward him.
She followed quietly behind, her presence completely concealed.
As Aether approached, Rylan looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment—
Something flickered.
Recognition.
Faint.
Uncertain.
Then—
It disappeared.
Rylan frowned slightly.
"Hey..."
He tilted his head, studying Aether.
"Do I know you?"
Aether stopped in front of him.
The answer came without hesitation.
"No."
Rylan scratched the back of his head.
"Hmm... strange."
He let out a short laugh.
"Feels like I’ve seen you somewhere."
Aether said nothing.
Instead, he observed.
Carefully.
Rylan’s expression was natural.
Unforced.
There was no trace of memory.
No awareness of the sanctum.
No recollection of Lucien.
Or the battle.
Her voice echoed softly in Aether’s mind.
"As expected."
"They forgot."
Aether responded silently.
"Why?"
Her answer came immediately.
"The ruins erase what they cannot allow to spread."
She paused briefly.
"Only the chosen one remembers."
Aether understood.
The ruins had protected their secret.
By erasing everyone else’s memories.
---
Nearby, the silver-armored woman stood beside her stone panther.
Her expression was slightly confused, as if she were trying to recall something just beyond her reach.
Rylan spoke again.
"Last thing I remember... we entered the ruins."
He looked around.
"After that—it’s all a blur."
He stretched his arm, testing his strength.
Then grinned.
"But hey... I got stronger."
Aether’s gaze sharpened slightly.
He could feel it.
Rylan’s aura had increased.
Not dramatically.
But clearly.
Two levels.
The same applied to the armored woman.
Her voice confirmed it.
"They are rewarded."
"But only with power."
"Not knowledge."
Rylan laughed.
"Worth it."
He turned back toward Aether.
"You came out too, right?"
Aether nodded.
"Yes."
Rylan extended his hand casually.
"Well... guess we’re both lucky."
Aether looked at the hand for a moment.
Then he took it.
"Guess so."
Rylan smiled.
"Name’s Rylan."
"Aether."
Rylan blinked.
"Yeah... definitely feels familiar."
He paused.
Then shrugged.
"Whatever."
As the survivors slowly began leaving the area, conversations filled the air.
Light.
Casual.
Unaware.
No one questioned what had happened.
No one spoke of the Inner Sanctum.
No one remembered Lucien.
To them—
He had simply been another participant who entered the ruins.
Nothing more.
Aether stood quietly.
Beside him, she remained completely unnoticed.
"You’re smiling," she said softly.
Aether didn’t deny it.
"It’s convenient."
She let out a quiet laugh.
"Indeed."
Her gaze drifted toward the horizon.
"For now."
Then her tone shifted slightly.
"But this won’t stay hidden forever."
Aether already knew that.
Power like hers—
Could not remain concealed indefinitely.
---
By the time Aether returned to the academy, everything had already begun settling into normalcy.
Students who had entered the ruins spoke casually among themselves, sharing vague memories of exploration and trials.
But nothing more.
To them, the ruins had been nothing more than a strange testing ground.
No one spoke of the sanctum.
No one spoke of the final battle.
And no one spoke of her.
Aether walked through the academy gates calmly.
The Flame Sovereign Pup followed beside him, its flames flickering softly in the evening air.
On the surface—
Nothing had changed.
But everything was different.
Inside his mind, her voice echoed once more.
"You’ve returned to your little academy."
Aether replied calmly,
"For now."
She smiled faintly.
"Good."
"Grow stronger."
Her voice carried a darker edge now.
"Because when the time comes..."
Her crimson eyes gleamed within the depths of his consciousness.
"We will need it."
---
Far away from the academy—
Where the ruins once stood—
Nothing remained.
No entrance.
No energy.
No trace.
Only empty land stretched endlessly under the sky.
As if the ancient structure had never existed.
But deep beneath the ground—
For a brief moment—
A faint trace of crimson energy flickered.
Then—
It disappeared.
Completely.
The ruins had fulfilled their purpose.
And erased themselves from the world.
Back in his room, Aether stood near the window.
Night had fallen.
The sky stretched endlessly above the academy, filled with distant stars that flickered quietly in the darkness.
Everything looked the same.
Peaceful.
Unchanged.
But he knew better.
He raised his hand slightly.
The contract mark glowed faintly beneath his skin.
A reminder.
Of what he had gained.
Of what now stood beside him.
Behind him—
A presence appeared.
Her form materialized slowly, flickering into existence like a shadow given shape. Crimson eyes glowed softly in the dim light of the room.
She looked at him.
Silent.
Then she smiled.
"Let’s begin."
The Flame Sovereign Pup’s flames flickered in response.
The night remained quiet.
Still.
Unmoving.
But something had already begun.
And soon—
The world would start to notice.
