Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 53: The Guardians of the Pillars

The moment the summoning circles ignited, the entire chamber trembled as if the ruins themselves had awakened from a long slumber.

Ancient runes burned across the massive circular hall, flooding the air with pale golden light. The four stone pillars at the center pulsed with tremendous energy, each one linked to a glowing summoning circle where enormous shadows were beginning to take shape.

The temperature inside the chamber seemed to rise as ancient power surged through the runic formations carved into the stone floor.

Cracks spread outward across the ground as waves of energy burst upward from the summoning circles.

Dust rained down from the towering ceiling as the ancient mechanisms of the ruins fully activated.

Rylan stared at the growing silhouettes emerging from the glowing circles and slowly lowered his usual joking expression.

"...Yeah," he muttered quietly. "Those are definitely big."

Lucien didn’t respond.

His sharp silver eyes were already focused on the massive creature forming inside his summoning circle.

The armored woman silently stepped into a battle stance beside her stone panther, her sword sliding smoothly from its sheath as she prepared herself for the fight ahead.

And Aether stood calmly in front of his pillar.

The Flame Sovereign Pup stood beside him, its crimson flames rising slightly higher as it sensed the powerful enemies about to emerge.

Then—

The first guardian fully stepped out of its summoning circle.

--

From Lucien’s summoning circle rose a massive beast constructed from black stone and silver metal.

The creature resembled a gigantic wolf, but its body was formed entirely from layered stone plates fused together with glowing ancient runes that pulsed with blue energy. Metallic fragments reinforced its limbs like armor forged for war.

Its glowing eyes burned with intense blue light as it stepped forward.

Each movement caused the ground beneath its claws to fracture with loud cracking sounds.

The ancient voice of the ruins echoed once again.

"Trial Guardian: Runic Ironfang."

Lucien’s silver wolf immediately stepped forward with a deep growl vibrating from its throat.

Lucien smiled faintly as he studied the massive guardian.

"Well," he said quietly.

"Let’s see if you’re worth the trouble."

The Ironfang lunged forward with explosive speed.

Lucien’s wolf vanished into motion instantly.

Claws clashed against stone as the battle erupted violently across the chamber.

---

Across the hall, Rylan’s summoning circle exploded with swirling water-like energy.

Something massive began rising from within the glowing ring.

A long serpentine body slowly lifted from the depths of the summoning circle.

The creature resembled a colossal serpent—but far larger and more monstrous than any normal beast.

Its body was covered with crystalline blue scales that shimmered like polished gemstones.

Four clawed limbs extended from its sides, each ending in razor-sharp talons.

Water-like energy flowed across its body in swirling currents as if an ocean lived beneath its scales.

The chamber’s voice echoed again.

"Trial Guardian: Abyss Coil Serpent."

Rylan stared at the enormous creature for a moment.

Then a wide grin slowly spread across his face.

"Okay... now this is interesting."

His serpent companion hissed excitedly, its body crackling with faint blue lightning.

Without hesitation, both of them attacked together.

Lightning energy surged through the air while waves of water power burst outward from the guardian.

The battle began instantly.

---

The third summoning circle cracked open like shattered glass under immense pressure.

From within the broken light, a massive stone construct slowly stepped forward.

The creature towered over the woman and her beast, standing nearly twice the height of a grown man.

Its body was assembled from ancient marble blocks bound together with glowing red runes that burned across its surface like veins of fire.

Its arms ended in enormous hammer-like fists capable of crushing solid stone.

The ancient voice declared its name.

"Trial Guardian: Colossus Sentinel."

The silver-armored woman immediately raised her sword.

Her stone panther let out a powerful roar before leaping forward.

The Colossus Sentinel lifted one massive arm high above its head.

Then it slammed its enormous fist downward.

The chamber shook violently as the battle erupted.

---

Finally—

The last summoning circle flared to life beneath Aether’s pillar.

But the energy within it looked different from the others.

Darker.

Heavier.

Even the runes surrounding Aether’s pillar flickered strangely as if reacting to the presence emerging from the circle.

Something slowly began rising.

Unlike the other guardians, it wasn’t massive.

But the presence it carried was far more unsettling.

A tall figure stepped out of the glowing circle.

Its body looked vaguely humanoid.

But its form was made entirely from shifting black mist intertwined with ancient runes that glowed faintly across its body.

Its arms were unnaturally long, stretching almost to its knees.

Its face had no features.

Only a smooth mask-like surface carved with faint glowing symbols.

The chamber’s voice spoke again.

"Trial Guardian: Abyssal Warden."

Rylan glanced over briefly while dodging a strike from the Abyss Coil Serpent.

"...Okay that one looks creepy."

Lucien also noticed it for a brief moment while directing his wolf’s attack.

His eyes narrowed slightly with interest.

But Aether remained completely calm.

He simply observed the guardian quietly.

The **Flame Sovereign Pup** stepped forward, its crimson flames blazing brighter.

The Abyssal Warden tilted its head slightly as if studying them.

Then—

It moved.

Far faster than expected.

Its arm stretched unnaturally long as it lashed downward.

Aether stepped aside smoothly.

The attack slammed into the stone floor, shattering the ground where he had been standing.

The Flame Sovereign Pup lunged instantly.

Crimson flames burst from its body as its claws struck the Warden’s torso—

But the creature dissolved into mist.

The attack passed through empty air.

The Warden reformed silently behind them.

Aether’s eyes narrowed slightly.

A spirit-type guardian.

Interesting.

The creature attacked again, this time forming long blade-like arms from condensed mist.

The Flame Sovereign Pup blocked with burning claws, sparks of fire scattering across the chamber.

Aether continued watching carefully.

Every movement.

Every fluctuation in the guardian’s energy.

Something about the Warden felt unstable.

Like the ruins themselves were struggling to maintain its form.

And once again—

He felt it.

That strange reaction from the ruins.

The runes beneath his pillar flickered faintly.

The system was reacting to him again.

---

All four battles raged across the massive chamber at the same time.

Lucien’s silver wolf moved like lightning across the battlefield.

It slashed at the Runic Ironfang’s joints while Lucien issued precise commands from behind.

Stone fragments exploded into the air each time the giant guardian retaliated with crushing bites.

Across the chamber, Rylan and his serpent fought in a chaotic storm of energy.

Lightning attacks collided with powerful water blasts as they clashed against the Abyss Coil Serpent.

Rylan barely avoided a devastating tail swing that shattered part of the chamber wall.

"Alright," he muttered while catching his breath.

"This thing hits harder than expected."

The armored woman’s battle was pure brute force.

Her stone panther leaped across the Colossus Sentinel’s massive body while she targeted the glowing joints between its marble plates with heavy sword strikes.

But the guardian barely slowed.

Each hammer-like blow it delivered shook the chamber violently.

Yet despite the chaos filling the hall—

One battle looked completely different.

Aether’s fight was strangely calm.

The Abyssal Warden attacked relentlessly, forming shifting mist blades and elongated limbs that struck from impossible angles.

But Aether never rushed.

Never panicked.

He moved smoothly across the battlefield, avoiding each strike while analyzing the unstable guardian.

The Flame Sovereign Pup attacked only when Aether signaled.

Each burst of flame caused the Warden’s body to flicker slightly as its mist scattered before reforming again.

Aether finally spoke softly.

"Left side."

The pup instantly lunged.

Flames erupted from its claws as it slashed across the Warden’s torso.

The mist-body flickered violently.

The glowing runes across its chest dimmed briefly.

Aether noticed immediately.

So that was the core.

Not physical.

But runic.

Interesting.

The Warden attacked again in fury.

This time its entire body split apart into multiple mist tendrils rushing toward Aether.

The Flame Sovereign Pup roared.

Crimson fire exploded outward like a blazing wave.

The mist burned as the Warden shrieked silently, struggling to reform.

For a brief moment—

The glowing runic core inside its chest became visible.

Aether’s eyes sharpened.

"Now."

The pup lunged forward.

Flames condensed tightly around its claws.

Then—

CRACK

The claws struck directly into the glowing rune core.

The entire chamber vibrated deeply.

The Abyssal Warden froze in place.

Its body flickered uncontrollably.

Then it shattered into dissolving mist.

The summoning circle beneath it went dark.

Aether’s pillar erupted with brilliant golden light.

The chamber’s voice echoed loudly.

"Pillar claimed."

The first guardian had fallen.

Rylan glanced over mid-battle and nearly choked.

"Wait—already?!"

Lucien noticed as well.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Interesting.

Aether stepped back calmly as the pillar’s light stabilized behind him.

The Flame Sovereign Pup returned quietly to his side.

The trial wasn’t finished yet.

Three guardians still remained.

But the moment Aether’s pillar activated—

The energy inside the chamber shifted slightly.

Deep beneath the ruins...

Inside the hidden sealed chamber...

The mysterious observer leaned forward.

The projections showed Aether standing calmly beside the completed pillar.

The runes around him flickered once again.

The observer’s curiosity deepened.

The ruins were reacting more strongly to him with each passing trial.

And soon—

Very soon—

The final gate of the labyrinth would open.

But before that moment arrived...

One challenger would still fall.

And the final three would be chosen.

The guardian battles continued.

The outcome of the Final Selection Trial was approaching.