Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 63: The One Who Came Too Late

The night after Aether’s return to Skygate Academy carried an unusual stillness.

Moonlight poured through the window of his room, casting pale silver across the floor. The academy, which was usually alive even at late hours with distant training and murmurs, seemed quieter than ever—as if something unseen had pressed down upon it.

Aether sat cross-legged near the center of the room, his eyes closed.

The Flame Sovereign Pup rested nearby, its small body curled up as faint crimson flames flickered gently around it. The rhythm of its breathing was steady, calm, almost peaceful.

Inside Aether, the golden energy flowed like a quiet stream.

Stable.

Controlled.

Hidden.

Everything was as it should be.

And yet—

Aether’s eyes snapped open.

A chill had passed through the air.

Not physical.

Not something others could feel.

But real.

Behind that calm surface, something had stirred.

"Someone is watching."

The voice echoed inside his mind.

Gone was the casual amusement it usually carried.

This time—

It was sharp.

Alert.

Aether slowly rose to his feet, his gaze shifting toward the window.

"Where?" he asked quietly.

"Not here," she replied.

A brief pause followed.

"Not yet."

The words lingered.

The unease did not fade.

Even the Flame Sovereign Pup lifted its head slightly, sensing the subtle tension that had spread through the room.

Aether stepped closer to the window, his eyes scanning the academy grounds below.

Nothing seemed out of place.

Students slept in their dorms. The pathways were empty. The night remained undisturbed.

And yet—

The feeling remained.

Like something distant had turned its attention toward this world.

---

"That presence..." she murmured.

For the first time since Aether had met her—

There was caution in her voice.

"...it’s dangerous."

Aether’s expression remained unchanged.

"Stronger than you?"

Silence answered him.

Then—

"Yes."

There was no hesitation.

No pride.

Only truth.

Aether’s gaze hardened slightly.

"Then we deal with it."

"No."

Her response came immediately.

Firm.

Decisive.

"Not yet."

The room felt heavier.

"Listen carefully," she continued, her tone lowering.

"I’m going to disappear."

Aether frowned faintly.

"...Disappear?"

"From you."

That answer did not sit well with him.

"For how long?" he asked.

"Until it’s safe."

Her voice softened slightly.

"But if it senses me... it won’t leave."

The meaning behind her words was clear.

Whatever had appeared—

It wasn’t searching for Aether.

It was searching for her.

---

The contract mark on Aether’s hand flickered faintly.

Then—

Her presence began to fade.

It wasn’t like before, when she would simply remain silent.

This time, it felt deeper.

Like something was pulling her away into a place beyond reach.

"The void will hide me," she whispered.

"Stay calm."

"Act normal."

Aether clenched his hand slightly.

"...And if it finds me instead?"

A soft, distant laugh echoed faintly.

"Then survive."

And just like that—

She was gone.

The connection remained.

But her presence had completely vanished.

The silence that followed felt... unnatural.

For the first time since forming the contract—

Aether was alone again.

---

Far from the academy—

At the place where the ancient ruins once stood—

Nothing remained.

The land was empty.

Flattened.

Silent.

As if the ruins had never existed.

Then—

The air twisted.

Black mist gathered from nothingness, swirling slowly until it formed a humanoid figure.

A man stepped forward from the darkness. His presence distorted the space around him.

Even the air seemed unwilling to touch him.

He stood there quietly, his gaze sweeping across the empty land.

"...Late."

The word fell softly from his lips. But it carried a chilling weight.

He walked forward, each step leaving behind faint traces of black energy that quickly dissolved into the ground.

Raising his hand, he allowed the dark mist to spread outward.

It moved like a living thing—searching, probing, analyzing.

But there was nothing.

No trace of the ruins.

No lingering energy.

No evidence of what had once stood there.

The man tilted his head slightly.

"...Erased."

He crouched down, pressing his fingers lightly against the soil.

For a moment, his eyes glowed faintly beneath the veil of darkness.

Then—

A flicker of understanding passed through them.

"Something was here."

A pause.

"Something important."

He rose slowly.

The black mist around him thickened.

"But it’s gone."

For a few seconds, he remained completely still. He remembered that his master told him to investigate everything about ruins or what they called ruin is a prison. In which a entity is captured, which in its prime can destroy both lower and middle worlds. If not that entity make enemies with upper realms people’s.

He saw there is only dust remaining. He thought for a some time. And then—

A faint smile appeared.

"If the source is gone..."

His body began to shift.

The darkness receded.

His form changed.

"...then the witnesses will speak."

---

By morning, the area was filled with people.

Adventurers gathered in small groups, talking loudly.

Students who had entered the ruins stood nearby, exchanging confused expressions.

Everyone was asking the same question.

"What happened here?"

"I swear the ruins were right here yesterday!"

"Did they collapse?"

"I don’t remember leaving..."

The man moved among them quietly.

No longer wrapped in black mist—

He now appeared completely ordinary.

A simple coat.

A calm demeanor.

A notebook in hand.

A reporter.

He approached a group of adventurers with a polite smile.

"Excuse me," he said.

"I’m documenting unusual phenomena. Were you here when the ruins disappeared?"

One of the adventurers scratched his head.

"Yeah... but honestly, we don’t remember much."

The man tilted his head slightly.

"Not much?"

"Yeah."

The adventurer frowned.

"It’s weird. We entered the ruins even it is selextion round but we didn’t remember but happen back then and how we enter and exit... and then everything’s blank."

"Next thing we know, we’re outside."

Another adventurer added,

"But we got nothing. Only those who make it to final, i think they got something."

The man’s eyes sharpened slightly.

"How do you know who are got to finals and what they got?"

The student, look around him and then said to reporter in low voice.

"I heard rumours about them, that they got stronger after exit the ruins mean they at lest reach the final stage, as only who reach final stage before get level or rank up"

He said’

"Stronger?"

"Yeah, like two levels or something."

The others also verified the same thing.

The man smiled faintly as he wrote something down.

"Interesting."

---

He moved from group to group.

Every answer was the same.

They entered.

They forgot.

They gained power.

Nothing more.

But one detail stood out.

"Three people made it further than the rest."

A young student mentioned.

"They came out last."

The man paused.

"Do you know who they are?"

The student shook his head.

"Just rumors."

"That’s enough," the man said quietly.

---

By midday, he stood alone at the edge of the empty land.

A small paper rested in his hand.

Three names were written on it.

Aether.

Rylan.

And—

The silver-haired girl. (Alice)

The man looked at the names silently.

Then his finger tapped the last one.

"...Let’s begin."

---

Back at Skygate Academy—

Life had already returned to normal.

Students filled the corridors.

Voices echoed through the halls.

The upcoming academy exams had become the center of attention.

"I heard only three people get selected for the national tournament."

"Top factions will be watching this year."

"Yeah, it’s a huge opportunity."

Aether walked through the crowd calmly.

The Flame Sovereign Pup followed beside him.

Everything appeared unchanged.

But the silence inside his mind felt unfamiliar.

Her presence—

Gone.

Hidden.

For now.

---

Inside the training hall, Aether stood alone.

The wide arena stretched before him.

He exhaled slowly.

Then spoke quietly.

"Start."

The Flame Sovereign Pup moved instantly.

Crimson flames spread across the battlefield in controlled patterns.

Precise.

Measured.

Aether watched carefully, analyzing every movement.

Refining.

Improving.

Without distraction.

Without interruption.

He had already made his decision.

The upcoming exams—

He would win.

The national tournament—

He would enter.

Because now—

He needed more than just strength.

He needed position.

Influence.

And access to something greater.

---

Far above the academy—

On one of the highest towers—

A silver-haired girl stood quietly. Her actual name is Alice Heartgold.

Her gaze overlooked the entire campus.

Her expression was calm.

But her eyes held faint confusion.

As if something important was missing.

Then—

A voice spoke behind her.

"Beautiful view, isn’t it?"

She turned instantly towards the sound, she already contacted to her beast which is ready in his fighting stance whenever he got out. She saw a man stood there.

Calm.

Polite.

Ordinary.

"I’m a reporter," he said with a faint smile.

"I heard you recently returned from the ruins."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Yes."

The man stepped closer.

"I’d like to ask you a few questions."

She hesitated.

"About what?"

The man’s smile deepened slightly.

"About what you don’t remember."

For a brief moment—

The air around them turned cold.

---

Back in the training hall—

Aether paused.

A faint unease passed through him.

It disappeared just as quickly.

"...Strange."

The Flame Sovereign Pup tilted its head.

Aether shook his head.

"It’s nothing."

But somewhere within the lower world, a entity which can destroy empires and large guild, is actually disguise as a reporter, and report about ruins destruction—

Something had already begun.

Something that had arrived too late.

And now—

It was searching.

---