Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 7: The Trial’s Echo

The Skygate training ground remained unusually quiet after Aether stepped out of the trial gate. Normally, new recruits who completed the trial were welcomed with casual applause or a few encouraging words, but today the atmosphere was different. The faction members watching the trial had witnessed something they could not easily explain.

Aether didn’t seem to notice the tension.

He simply stretched his shoulders slightly and looked down at the Fire Pup, who was happily wagging its tail as if it had just finished a routine training session.

"Feeling stronger?" Aether asked.

The pup gave a cheerful bark.

The flames around its body flickered with a deeper shade than before. It wasn’t a full evolution yet, but the difference was clear.

Liora walked closer, her expression thoughtful.

"That wasn’t normal," she said.

Aether glanced at her.

"You’ve said that before."

She shook her head.

"No. I mean really not normal."

Several of the observing faction members nodded in agreement.

One of them spoke quietly to another.

"I’ve never seen a beast show lineage manifestation during its first trial."

The silver-haired elder approached slowly, his calm gaze fixed on Aether.

"From this moment onward," he said, "you are officially a member of the Skygate Faction."

Aether nodded slightly.

"Understood."

But the elder continued.

"However, we will also be observing you closely."

Aether smiled faintly.

"That also sounds expected."

The Fire Pup barked again as if approving of the situation.

The elder looked at the pup for a moment before speaking again.

"Your beast is not ordinary."

Aether responded casually.

"Neither am I."

A few of the nearby tamers exchanged looks.

One of them whispered, "He’s confident."

Another replied, "Or reckless."

Liora crossed her arms.

"He’s neither."

Aether looked around the training ground. The place was large, filled with various training areas where tamers and beasts practiced together. Some of the beasts nearby were powerful creatures that radiated strong energy.

Yet none of them seemed to intimidate him.

Instead, he was quietly observing everything.

"What happens now?" he asked.

The silver-haired elder replied, "Now you begin your training as part of the faction."

Aether tilted his head slightly.

"Training?"

"Yes," the elder said. "Even if your talent is unusual, reaching the peak of this world still requires understanding power."

Aether nodded.

"That’s reasonable."

The elder gestured toward the far end of the training ground where several large buildings stood.

"You will stay in the Skygate dormitory from now on. Liora will guide you through the initial process."

Liora sighed lightly.

"So I’m babysitting again."

Aether raised an eyebrow.

"Babysitting?"

She shrugged.

"New recruits are always trouble."

The Fire Pup barked proudly.

Aether looked down at it.

"She might be right."

---

Later that evening, the sun was slowly setting over Ashvale City.

The Skygate dormitory was located on a hill overlooking the entire academy and the surrounding districts. From the balcony outside his new room, Aether could see the distant skyline of the city glowing under the orange light of sunset.

The Fire Pup sat beside him, watching the view.

"It’s not bad," Aether said.

The pup wagged its tail.

A soft knock came from the door behind him.

"Come in," Aether said.

The door opened and Liora stepped inside, holding a small data tablet.

"I brought your faction ID and access permissions."

Aether turned around.

"That was fast."

"We don’t like wasting time," she replied.

She handed him the tablet.

"This contains information about the Skygate Faction, the academy, and the surrounding regions."

Aether glanced at the screen briefly.

"So basically homework."

Liora smirked slightly.

"You’re going to need it."

She then looked at the Fire Pup.

"It’s already stronger than before."

Aether nodded.

"Yeah."

She studied the pup more carefully.

"I’ve never seen a beast improve immediately after a trial like that."

Aether leaned against the railing.

"Maybe it likes fighting."

The pup barked proudly again.

Liora shook her head.

"You’re hiding something."

Aether didn’t respond immediately.

Instead, he looked out toward the horizon again.

For some reason, ever since the trial gate activated earlier, the strange reddish-golden glow inside his mind had become more active.

It felt like something was slowly awakening.

But he didn’t fully understand it yet.

"I’m not hiding anything," he said finally. "I just don’t know everything yet."

Liora watched him for a moment.

Then she nodded.

"That answer is suspiciously honest."

Aether smiled slightly.

"Glad you noticed."

---

Far away from the Skygate dormitory, inside a hidden chamber deep beneath Ashvale City, several figures were gathered around a circular table made of black crystal. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The atmosphere in the room was heavy.

A projection of the trial gate recording appeared in the center.

One of the figures spoke.

"So it’s him."

Another replied.

"It matches the energy signature."

A third figure leaned forward.

"The child of those two families."

The first voice spoke again.

"He’s grown faster than expected."

The projection replayed the moment when the Fire Pup’s lineage shadow appeared.

The room fell silent.

Finally, one of the figures said quietly,

"Red-gold resonance... it’s confirmed."

Another voice responded.

"Should we report this to the Genesis Evolution Authority?"

There was a pause.

Then a cold answer came.

"Not yet."

The projection ended.

"But keep watching him."

---

Back at the Skygate dormitory, Aether was sitting on his bed reading through the faction information.

The Fire Pup was sleeping beside him, its flames gently flickering in a calm rhythm.

Aether scrolled through the data tablet.

There were records of powerful tamers, ancient battles, and information about the Ascension Gate that existed somewhere beyond this world.

He paused at one particular section.

World Limit: Stage 1 Master Tamer.

Ascension Condition: Beast Commander Rank and Gate Recognition.

Aether leaned back slightly.

"So this world really does have a ceiling."

The pup opened one eye.

Aether looked down at it.

"Don’t worry. We’re going past it."

The pup wagged its tail sleepily.

At that moment, the reddish-golden glow inside Aether flared again.

But this time, something else happened.

For a brief moment, an image appeared in his mind.

A broken gate.

A massive battlefield.

And two powerful figures standing against an army of unknown enemies.

A man surrounded by cosmic energy.

And a woman whose presence felt like a star burning in the darkness.

Aether sat up suddenly.

The vision disappeared instantly.

The Fire Pup woke up and looked at him.

"...That was new," Aether muttered.

The pup barked softly.

Aether rubbed his forehead.

"I think I just saw something."

The pup tilted its head.

"Maybe a memory," Aether said slowly. "Or maybe something else."

He stood up and walked to the balcony again.

The night sky above Ashvale City was filled with stars.

Somewhere out there, beyond this world, the Ascension Gate awaited those strong enough to reach it.

Aether looked at the sky for a long moment.

Then he smiled faintly.

"Looks like things are going to get interesting."

And far beyond the visible stars, the ancient forces that had been watching him were beginning to move.