Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 73: The Fifth Round — The Tempest Breaks (Part 2)
The moment the battlefield shifted, the change was so profound that even those in the audience who lacked any real combat experience could feel it instinctively.
Something fundamental had changed.
The storm that had once dominated the arena still raged across the platform, but it no longer carried the same overwhelming certainty that had defined it earlier in the battle. The winds continued to surge in sharp and violent currents, twisting unpredictably and striking with immense force, yet there was now an inconsistency within them.
There was instability.
What had once been a perfectly controlled system of flowing air had begun to falter, revealing subtle imperfections in its structure. These flaws were not obvious at first glance, but they were there, hidden beneath the surface of the storm.
And Aether had found them.
He stood calmly at the center of the battlefield, his posture relaxed and his breathing steady. To an outside observer, he might have appeared almost detached from the intensity of the fight, but in reality, his focus had reached an entirely different level.
His eyes were sharp and unwavering, tracking every movement of the Stormwing Raptor with precise attention. More importantly, he was no longer simply observing the beast itself.
He was observing the storm.
Every shift in airflow, every fluctuation in pressure, and every slight delay in the synchronization of the wind currents was being processed in real time.
Across from him, his opponent no longer carried the same relaxed confidence he had displayed at the beginning of the match. His expression had grown serious, and there was now a clear awareness in his eyes.
He understood.
"You interfered with the airflow," the opponent said slowly, his voice carrying a mixture of realization and disbelief. "You did not try to fight the storm directly, and you did not attempt to match the speed of my Stormwing Raptor. Instead, you targeted the structure that supports the entire system and disrupted its stability."
Aether did not respond immediately.
He did not need to.
The battlefield itself was proof enough.
The once seamless flow of the Tempest Field now showed signs of strain. The wind currents no longer moved in perfect harmony, and there were brief moments where their direction faltered or collided unevenly.
Those moments, though fleeting, were critical.
"You are no longer fighting just the beast," the familiar voice echoed softly within Aether’s mind. "You have shifted your focus to the system it created, and that is far more efficient. However, that approach requires a level of awareness that most people would not be able to maintain."
Aether’s gaze remained steady.
"As long as the system can be broken," he replied quietly, "the result will not change."
The Stormwing Raptor let out a sharp cry that cut through the turbulent air.
Its wings spread wide, extending further than before as it attempted to regain control over the battlefield. The air around it surged violently, and the wind currents intensified once again as the Tempest Field struggled to reassert its dominance.
However, the difference was immediately noticeable.
The storm was stronger than before.
More aggressive.
More forceful.
But it was also strained.
As though it was being pushed beyond its natural limits.
The opponent raised his hand, his expression firm.
"Accelerate," he commanded.
The Stormwing Raptor responded instantly.
It vanished.
This time, its movement was even more refined than before. There was no blur, no afterimage, and no visible trace of its path.
It simply disappeared.
Aether’s pupils contracted slightly, but his body remained completely still.
He did not rely on sight.
He did not need to.
A sharp cracking sound echoed through the air, the unmistakable result of compressed wind splitting space as the Stormwing Raptor reappeared above the Flame Sovereign Pup.
Its claws descended with terrifying speed, aimed directly at the Flame Pup’s back.
"Move upward," Aether said calmly, his voice steady and precise.
The Flame Sovereign Pup reacted instantly, launching itself upward with a controlled burst of flame. Its movement was neither rushed nor panicked. Instead, it was calculated, meeting the incoming attack at exactly the right moment.
The clash occurred in mid-air.
Fire and wind collided violently, releasing a powerful shockwave that rippled outward across the battlefield. The surrounding air distorted under the pressure, and the platform beneath them trembled slightly.
This time, neither side was forced back immediately.
The Stormwing Raptor twisted its body mid-air, using the momentum of the clash to transition into a follow-up attack. Its tail lashed forward, wrapped in compressed wind that carried enough force to slice through solid stone.
The Flame Sovereign Pup responded quickly, shifting its position just enough to avoid the full force of the strike while raising its forelimb. Flames gathered along its surface, absorbing the remaining impact.
The force pushed it backward upon landing, but it maintained its balance.
From the stands, the reaction was immediate.
"They are evenly matched now," one student said, his voice filled with disbelief.
"That raptor had complete control earlier," another added. "How did things change so quickly?"
Aether stepped forward slightly, his gaze unwavering.
"Maintain the pressure," he said in a calm and steady tone.
The Flame Sovereign Pup obeyed without hesitation.
Instead of retreating, it advanced.
This single decision altered the flow of the battle entirely.
Until this point, the Flame Pup had been reacting to the Stormwing Raptor’s relentless attacks, adapting to survive under constant pressure.
Now, it began to dictate the pace.
Flames surged outward from its body in controlled waves, each movement deliberate and purposeful. The Stormwing Raptor attacked again, but this time, it failed to find the same openings as before.
Because the Flame Sovereign Pup was no longer reacting.
It was anticipating.
"You have begun to understand the rhythm," the voice in Aether’s mind said, carrying a hint of approval.
"Yes," Aether replied. "The patterns are clear now."
What had once appeared chaotic was no longer unpredictable.
The Tempest Field, despite its complexity, followed a set of underlying patterns that governed its movement. These patterns controlled the flow of air, the timing of attacks, and the positioning of the Stormwing Raptor.
And Aether had deciphered them.
The Flame Sovereign Pup stepped forward once again.
This time, it did not attempt to avoid the wind currents.
It entered them directly.
Its flames intensified, becoming sharper and more concentrated. Instead of being pushed back by the wind, the flames cut through it, disrupting the flow and fracturing the currents.
The Stormwing Raptor’s movement slowed for a fraction of a second.
That moment was enough.
"Now," Aether said.
The Flame Sovereign Pup surged forward, closing the distance instantly. Its claws burned with concentrated flame as it struck toward the Stormwing Raptor’s wings.
The attack connected.
A burst of fire erupted on impact, forcing the Stormwing Raptor backward. Its wings faltered, and the airflow surrounding it collapsed momentarily.
The opponent’s eyes widened.
"You are targeting the point that stabilizes the storm," he said.
Aether remained silent.
The answer was already clear.
The momentum of the battle had shifted.
The Stormwing Raptor attempted to recover, launching itself forward again, but its movements were no longer perfect.
Its precision had faltered.
The Flame Sovereign Pup pressed forward relentlessly, its attacks calculated and efficient.
The opponent clenched his fist tightly.
"Full Tempest," he said.
The battlefield erupted once more.
The wind surged violently, stronger than ever before. The platform trembled under the pressure as the Tempest Field reached its peak intensity.
Lightning flickered within the storm, and the air itself seemed to distort.
The crowd reacted in shock.
"He is using everything he has left," someone said.
Despite the overwhelming power, Aether remained calm.
The Flame Sovereign Pup stood firm beside him.
Its flames surged upward, burning with intense heat.
For a brief moment, fire and storm stood in direct opposition.
Then Aether spoke.
"Condense the flames and focus all energy into a single point," he instructed calmly.
The Flame Sovereign Pup obeyed instantly.
Its flames shrank inward, but instead of weakening, they intensified. The energy compressed into a dense core, becoming hotter and more concentrated.
The Stormwing Raptor launched its final attack, gathering all its remaining power into a single devastating strike.
The Flame Sovereign Pup moved forward.
It did not retreat.
It did not evade.
It advanced directly into the storm.
The collision was inevitable.
Fire and wind met at the center of the battlefield.
A massive explosion erupted, shaking the entire arena.
For a brief moment, everything was obscured by smoke and dust.
The crowd fell silent.
As the smoke cleared, both beasts were still standing.
However, the difference was undeniable.
The Stormwing Raptor staggered.
Its wings trembled.
The storm that once surrounded it—
Was gone.
The opponent stared in silence.
"You broke the storm itself," he said quietly.
Aether’s expression remained calm.
"Yes," he replied.
The battle had reached its conclusion.
Only one final exchange remained.
And the outcome—
Had already been decided.
________________________________________
Hello Guys,
I am little demotivated for some time, please motivate me with donation power stones and coins ao i can write more Chapter, in advance.
Also if got 200 coins i will update all previous Chapter with additional 5 Chapters.🥲😓😓
