Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 65: The Lie That Became Truth

The morning sun rose slowly over Skygate Academy, casting a wide curtain of golden light across the entire campus. The stone pathways glowed faintly under its warmth, while the towering academy buildings reflected the soft brilliance of a new day.

Students had already gathered across the training grounds, far earlier than usual.

The upcoming examinations had changed everything.

Conversations were no longer light or careless. Groups of students spoke in low, focused tones, discussing techniques, strategies, and possible matchups. Even casual sparring had taken on a sharper edge—each strike measured, each movement calculated as if every duel carried real consequences.

For most—

This was just another stage of growth.

Another competition.

Another chance to rise.

But for Aether—

This was preparation for something far beyond the academy.

---

Inside one of the quieter training halls, far from the noise and attention of the main grounds, Aether stood alone.

The vast chamber echoed faintly with controlled bursts of heat.

Before him, the Flame Sovereign Pup moved with precise intent.

Its small body released thin streams of crimson fire that curved through the air like flowing ribbons. The flames traced intricate patterns across the stone floor, spiraling, folding, and tightening into controlled formations.

Each movement was deliberate.

Each flame carried purpose.

Aether’s gaze remained fixed, unblinking, analyzing every shift in the heat patterns and every fluctuation in control.

After a moment, he spoke.

"Focus more on the inner compression," Aether said in a calm but firm tone. "Your flames are stable, but they are still dispersing too much energy outward. If you keep losing heat at the edges, your attack power will never reach its peak."

The Flame Sovereign Pup let out a soft, determined sound, as if acknowledging the instruction.

Its flames flickered, then tightened once more, forming a denser spiral than before.

Aether watched carefully.

Better.

But still not perfect.

He exhaled slowly.

"There’s still a gap," he muttered quietly to himself. "Not just in power... but in control."

Then—

He stopped.

Mid-thought.

The Flame Sovereign Pup froze as well, its ears twitching sharply.

Aether’s gaze shifted toward the entrance of the training hall.

Someone was there.

He hadn’t heard footsteps.

Hadn’t sensed a clear presence.

But something—

Something subtle—

Had reached him first.

And in that exact moment—

A faint voice echoed deep within his mind.

"...Be careful. The one approaching you is not as simple as he appears."

Aether’s expression didn’t change.

But his focus sharpened instantly.

*So... he finally came.*

---

A figure stepped into the training hall.

He looked ordinary.

Unremarkable.

A notebook rested casually in his hand, and a polite, almost harmless smile sat on his face.

"I hope I’m not interrupting anything important," the man said gently, his tone friendly and composed.

Aether turned fully toward him.

His response came without hesitation.

"You are interrupting something important," Aether said calmly, his voice steady and direct. "So unless you have a very specific reason for being here, I suggest you keep your explanation short."

The man paused for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle.

"Well, I suppose I walked into that one," he replied with a light smile. "In that case, I’ll make this as brief as possible."

He stepped forward slowly, careful not to appear threatening, and stopped at a respectful distance.

"My name is Arven," he continued. "I work as a reporter, specializing in documenting unusual phenomena—events that don’t quite fit into the normal understanding of the world."

His eyes briefly shifted toward the Flame Sovereign Pup, observing its controlled flames with clear interest.

"I must say, the level of control your beast is displaying is quite impressive. Not many students at this level can maintain such precision."

Aether did not react to the compliment.

Instead, his gaze remained steady.

"What do you want from me?" Aether asked plainly.

Arven smiled faintly.

"I appreciate your directness," he said. "It makes conversations like this much easier."

He opened his notebook slowly.

"I’ve been investigating the ruins that recently disappeared," he continued. "From what I’ve gathered, you were among the final participants inside before everything collapsed."

Aether didn’t look surprised.

"I was there," he confirmed simply.

Arven nodded.

"Good. That means I’ve come to the right person."

---

Arven’s tone remained relaxed.

Almost casual.

But there was something beneath it.

Something sharper.

"I’ve spoken to several other students who entered those ruins," Arven said as he began writing. "However, their accounts are... incomplete."

Aether said nothing.

"They all describe entering the ruins," Arven continued, "but none of them remember what happened afterward. According to them, they simply regained consciousness outside, with their strength increased."

He paused, then looked up.

"But you were among the last few inside," he added. "Which makes your experience slightly more... valuable."

Aether met his gaze.

"And what exactly are you trying to confirm?" Aether asked, his tone even.

Arven tilted his head slightly.

"I’m trying to understand what really happened inside those ruins," he replied. "So let me ask you directly—what do you remember?"

---

Aether did not answer immediately.

Instead, he turned and began walking slowly toward the center of the hall, as if the question held no real importance.

The Flame Sovereign Pup followed closely.

"I remember entering the ruins, navigating through a few trials, and then losing consciousness," Aether said in a composed tone. "When I woke up, I was already outside, just like everyone else."

Arven watched him closely.

"Nothing else?" Arven asked, his voice slightly more probing now. "No unusual encounters? No final stage? No hidden chamber?"

Aether stopped.

Just briefly.

Then turned back.

"What final stage are you referring to?" Aether asked, his expression unchanged.

---

Inside him, her voice whispered again.

"Be careful with your answers. He is testing you, not questioning you."

Aether remained calm.

But now—

He was certain.

This man was not just a reporter.

---

Arven smiled slightly.

"That’s interesting," he said, writing something down. "Most people don’t react at all when I mention a final stage."

Aether crossed his arms.

"Then perhaps you’re asking questions based on assumptions rather than facts," Aether replied calmly. "That would explain why your investigation isn’t progressing."

Arven chuckled.

"Or perhaps," he said, lifting his gaze again, "I’m asking questions that others don’t realize are important."

A brief silence followed.

Then Arven shifted his approach.

"Let me ask you something simpler," he said. "Did you gain anything from the ruins?"

Aether looked at him.

"Define ’gain,’" Aether replied.

"A weapon, an artifact, a relic—anything unusual," Arven clarified. "Something that shouldn’t normally exist."

Aether remained silent for a moment.

Then—

He spoke.

"Yes."

---

Arven’s eyes sharpened instantly.

"Oh?" he said, his tone carrying genuine interest now. "And what exactly did you gain?"

Aether began walking again, his voice calm and unhurried.

"I didn’t gain something," he said. "I saw something."

Arven’s attention intensified.

"You saw something?" he repeated. "Can you describe it?"

Aether stopped near the window, looking outside.

"There was something inside the ruins," Aether said slowly. "Something that didn’t belong there."

Arven’s grip on his notebook tightened slightly.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked.

Aether continued.

"It wasn’t part of the trials," Aether said. "It didn’t attack. It didn’t interact with anything."

He paused briefly.

"But it was watching."

---

Arven stepped closer, his voice lowering slightly.

"What did it look like?" he asked.

Aether narrowed his eyes slightly, as if recalling something distant.

"It was difficult to see clearly," Aether said. "Its form wasn’t stable."

He turned his head slightly.

"But I remember certain details."

Arven leaned forward.

"Go on."

Aether spoke calmly.

"It had a humanoid shape," he said. "But its body was covered in shadows, making it impossible to distinguish exact features."

Arven remained silent.

"It had wings," Aether continued. "Two of them. Large. Dark. They didn’t look natural."

Arven’s expression stiffened slightly.

"And...?" he asked quietly.

"It also had a tail," Aether added. "Long, thin, with a distinct shape at the end."

He paused.

"Like a heart."

---

For the first time—

Arven’s composure wavered.

"...That’s not possible," he muttered under his breath.

Aether turned toward him.

"What isn’t possible?" Aether asked.

Arven quickly regained his expression.

"Nothing," he said. "Just thinking out loud."

But his eyes—

Were no longer calm.

---

Aether continued, his tone steady.

"It didn’t move," Aether said. "It didn’t speak. It didn’t react to anything."

Arven asked quickly,

"Did anyone else notice it?"

Aether shook his head.

"Not that I could tell," he replied. "Everyone else seemed focused on something else. It was as if... they couldn’t perceive it at all."

Arven fell silent.

His thoughts raced.

---

Aether stepped closer.

"Why are you asking all of this?" Aether asked.

Arven smiled again.

"As I said, I document unusual phenomena," he replied.

Aether stared at him.

Then said calmly,

"Then you’re looking in the wrong place."

Arven tilted his head.

"What do you mean?"

Aether’s voice remained steady.

"If what I saw was real," he said, "then it’s no longer inside those ruins."

---

Silence filled the room.

Arven closed his notebook slowly.

"You’ve been very helpful," he said.

He turned to leave.

Then stopped.

"One last question," Arven said.

Aether didn’t move.

Arven glanced back.

"Did it notice you?"

Aether met his gaze.

After a brief pause—

"I don’t know," Aether replied.

Arven studied him for a moment.

Then nodded.

"I understand."

And left.

---

The moment he was gone—

The pressure vanished.

Aether exhaled slowly.

"That was closer than I expected," he said quietly.

A faint voice echoed inside him.

"You handled it well," she said. "But be careful. That man is dangerous."

Aether nodded slightly.

"I know," he replied.

---

Outside—

Arven walked calmly.

But his thoughts burned.

"...Wings... tail... humanoid form..."

His eyes darkened.

"...So it really exists."

A faint smile appeared.

Cold.

Calculating.

"Interesting."

And with that—

A hunt had begun.