Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 64: The Questions That Should Not Exist
The wind moved quietly across the highest tower of Skygate Academy.
From that height, the entire campus stretched out like a living map—training grounds, dormitories, lecture halls, and distant forests blending into one vast landscape of structured discipline.
Alice stood near the edge, her posture straight, her expression calm.
But her mind... was not.
Ever since returning from the ruins, something had felt off.
Not wrong.
Not dangerous.
Just... incomplete.
Like a memory that refused to surface.
And now—
Someone had come asking about it.
She turned slowly, her sharp eyes locking onto the man standing behind her.
A reporter.
At least—
That’s what he claimed.
"I’d like to ask you a few questions," he said politely, offering a small smile.
His tone was warm.
Approachable.
But something about him felt... empty.
Not weak.
Not threatening.
Just... hollow.
The girl didn’t lower her guard.
"What do you want to know?" she asked calmly.
The man stepped forward slightly, maintaining a respectful distance.
"Nothing complicated," he replied. "Just your experience inside the ruins."
Her eyes narrowed faintly.
"I don’t remember much."
The answer came naturally.
Because it was true.
But the moment she said it—
The man’s gaze sharpened ever so slightly.
"Of course," he said, nodding.
"That seems to be a common response."
He opened his notebook slowly, flipping to a blank page.
"Still... even fragments can be useful."
The girl crossed her arms.
"I told you. I don’t remember."
The man smiled faintly.
"And yet, you were one of the last to come out."
Silence.
A brief one.
But enough.
The girl’s eyes sharpened.
"How do you know that?"
The man didn’t hesitate.
"I’ve been asking around."
He tilted his head slightly.
"You, a young man named Rylan... and another one."
His gaze lingered on her for just a moment longer.
"Three final candidates."
The girl said nothing.
But inside—
Something stirred.
A flicker.
A fragment.
Gone before she could grasp it.
---
The man watched her carefully.
Every reaction.
Every pause.
Every flicker of thought.
Then he spoke again, his voice softer this time.
"Tell me..."
He stepped slightly closer.
"...when you think about the ruins..."
"Do you feel anything?"
The question felt strange.
Unnecessary.
But also—
Uncomfortable.
The girl frowned slightly.
"...What do you mean?"
The man’s smile didn’t change.
"Fear."
"Excitement."
"Confusion."
"Anything that doesn’t quite belong."
For a brief moment—
Her breath slowed.
Because there *was* something.
A feeling.
Faint.
Distant.
Like standing at the edge of something vast and unknown.
But when she tried to focus on it—
It slipped away.
"...No," she said finally.
The answer felt incomplete.
The man noticed.
"May I?" he asked gently, raising his hand slightly.
Alice’s eyes sharpened instantly.
"For what?"
"Just a simple check," he replied calmly.
"To see if there’s any residual energy affecting your memory."
The explanation sounded reasonable.
Logical.
But something in her instincts resisted.
"...No," she said firmly.
The man paused.
Then smiled.
"Of course."
He lowered his hand.
But his eyes...
Didn’t change.
He had already seen enough.
The hesitation in her eye’s.
The flicker in her words.
The instability in her response.
She didn’t remember.
But something inside her knew that she didn’t remember.
And that—
Was more important.
"...Interesting," he murmured softly.
The girl frowned.
"What is?"
He looked at her again, his expression returning to normal.
"Nothing important."
He closed his notebook.
"Thank you for your time."
Just like that—
He turned.
And began walking away.
---
The girl didn’t move.
Her gaze followed him as he left the tower.
Something about that conversation...
Didn’t sit right.
It wasn’t just the questions.
It was the way he asked them.
Too precise.
Too deliberate.
As if he already knew the answers.
"...Strange."
She turned back toward the academy grounds.
But the faint unease remained.
---
As the man descended the tower, his expression changed.
The polite smile disappeared.
His eyes grew colder.
Sharper.
"...She doesn’t know."
The conclusion was immediate.
Absolute.
The memory had been completely erased.
Not hidden.
Not sealed.
Gone.
He walked through the academy corridors calmly, blending into the flow of students.
"...But she felt it."
That was enough.
More than enough.
It confirmed his suspicion.
Something powerful had been present in those ruins.
Something the ruins themselves had chosen to erase.
His steps slowed slightly.
"And if she felt it..."
His gaze shifted forward.
"...then the others might as well."
He stopped briefly in an empty corridor.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the small paper again.
Three names.
His finger moved slowly.
Past the girl.
Past Rylan.
And stopped.
"Aether."
The name lingered.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"This one..."
"...is different."
He couldn’t explain why.
Not yet.
But instinct told him—
If anyone knew the truth...
It would be him.
---
After observing the Alice and questioning her he knew that she doesn’t know what happened in ruins except they participate in some sort of trials.
For a moment, the man considered the second name.
Rylan.
He had already observed him earlier. Also after questioning him, he got the same answer as Alice but one thing got his interest that every time Rylan want fo know those memories he only saw a heart shaped tail. And a fire which can incernate whole universe. Which he know they can we some random fragments of his memory.
Carefree.
Uncomplicated.
Satisfied with his gain.
"...Not him."
Rylan had no doubt.
No hesitation.
No instinctive resistance.
Which meant—
His memory had been erased cleanly.
Completely.
There was nothing to extract.
The man folded the paper slowly.
His decision had been made.
"Aether."
The name echoed quietly.
Then—
A faint ripple of black energy spread from his body.
Invisible to everyone around him.
It moved through the academy like a silent wave.
Searching.
Scanning.
Within seconds—
It found its target.
Inside the training hall.
Alone.
Practicing.
The man’s lips curved slightly.
"...Found you."
Inside the training hall—
Aether stood calmly at the center of the arena.
The Flame Sovereign Pup moved around him, releasing controlled bursts of flame that traced patterns across the ground.
Each movement was precise.
Measured.
Calculated.
Aether’s eyes followed every detail.
Refining.
Improving.
Preparing.
The upcoming academy exams were approaching quickly.
Only three students would be selected. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
And Aether had already decided—
He would be one of them.
He raised his hand slightly.
"Again."
The Flame Sovereign Pup responded instantly.
Flames surged forward, faster this time.
Sharper.
More focused.
Aether nodded slightly.
Better.
But not enough.
---
Far away—
In a shadowed corridor overlooking the training grounds—
The man stood quietly.
Watching.
His presence completely hidden.
Invisible.
His eyes remained fixed on Aether.
Studying.
Analyzing.
"...Calm."
"...Controlled."
"...Interesting."
There was no hesitation in Aether’s movements.
No wasted energy.
Every action carried purpose.
But what caught the man’s attention the most—
Was something else.
"...No leakage."
He frowned slightly.
That wasn’t normal.
If something had truly been inside the ruins...
If something powerful had awakened...
There should have been traces.
Residual energy.
Instability.
But Aether—
Showed nothing.
Perfect control.
Perfect suppression.
The man’s eyes darkened slightly.
"...That makes you more suspicious."
---
He turned away slowly.
For now—
Observation was enough.
Direct action would come later.
Because if Aether truly held the truth—
Then forcing it out too early...
Would be a mistake.
"...Let’s see how long you can hide it."
The man’s form dissolved into faint black mist.
Then disappeared.
Inside the training hall—
Aether stopped.
For a brief moment—
He felt something.
A faint disturbance.
Gone before he could grasp it.
"...Again?" he murmured.
The Flame Sovereign Pup looked at him curiously.
Aether shook his head.
"It’s nothing."
But this time—
He wasn’t completely sure.
--
That night—
The academy remained peaceful.
Students prepared for exams. As it can change their status, future and more important a chance to evolve their beast or get royal beast.
Royal beasts, as name suggest they are beast which royal families of many empires take control full. Means only they can get those beasts. But in this tournament top three have chance to get one out of five selected beasts.
Instructors reviewed their notes.
Everything continued as normal.
But beneath that calm surface—
Something had already begun.
A watcher had arrived.
A target had been chosen.
And the truth hidden within the ruins—
Was slowly being hunted.
--
Standing by the window once again, Aether looked out at the silent academy.
The absence of her presence still lingered.
But her words remained.
Stay calm.
Act normal.
He closed his eyes briefly.
Then opened them again.
Focused.
Determined.
Whatever was coming—
He would face it. He cluthed his fist tightly. As he need more power to do whatever he wants and free his sister find his parents.
After contacting the fallen succubus he already reached in Rank 2 level 6, and for reaching next level he had to form a contract with new beast which he already decided, who gone be his third beast.
---
Far away—
In the darkness between spaces—
A faint crimson glow flickered.
Hidden.
Waiting.
Watching.
________________________________________
Hey guys here is the pet rank status-
1. Flame Sovereign Beast (Pup form) -
Third rank sixth level
2. Fallen succubus (Sealed form) -
Third rank sixth level.
They need to evolve once more for reach the lower world limit.
Guys please 🥺 donate more Golden tickets & Power stones, so i can more motivate whenever i write the Chapters.
Also in upcoming Chapters i will let you suggest the third beast by giving some choices.
