Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 18: Fire Against Stone

The moment Aether stepped forward instead of retreating, the entire arena felt the shift.

Most students expected a defensive move.

Some thought he would dodge again.

But stepping toward a charging Stonebreaker Rhino was something only two types of people would do:

Someone reckless.

Or someone completely confident in their strategy.

The rhino’s charge was already unstoppable.

Its horn glowed with condensed earth energy, and the platform trembled with every step. The air itself felt heavy as the massive beast rushed forward like a collapsing mountain.

Gasps echoed through the crowd.

"Is he crazy?!"

"He’ll get crushed!"

But Aether’s eyes remained calm.

He had already predicted this moment.

Behind him, the Fire Pup’s flames intensified, swirling faster around its small body. Unlike earlier attacks that spread heat across the battlefield, this time the flames were becoming denser — sharper.

More controlled.

Aether had learned something important during the previous exchanges.

Heavy beasts like the Stonebreaker Rhino relied on momentum and defense.

But momentum could become a weakness if disrupted at the exact right time.

And that was what he was about to attempt.

Across the platform, Darek grinned widely.

"So you finally decided to stop running!"

He raised his hand.

"Rhino — crush him!"

The beast roared as the energy around its horn brightened.

The distance between them shrank rapidly.

Thirty meters.

Twenty.

Ten.

Students in the front rows stood up instinctively.

The collision looked inevitable.

But then—

Aether moved.

Not away.

Not sideways.

He stepped diagonally toward the rhino’s left flank.

At the exact same moment, the Fire Pup dashed forward.

"Now!" Aether commanded.

The Fire Pup unleashed a narrow beam of fire directly at the ground in front of the rhino’s front legs.

But this wasn’t just fire.

Aether had trained the beast to alter the intensity and direction of its flames.

The fire exploded across the stone floor, creating a sudden wave of heated air and fractured rock.

The rhino’s front foot landed right on the unstable surface.

And in that split second—

Its momentum shifted.

Not stopped.

But redirected.

The beast’s charge tilted slightly off course.

Just enough.

Aether’s eyes sharpened.

"That’s the opening."

"Flame Spiral!"

The Fire Pup spun rapidly, releasing a rotating ring of fire that struck the rhino’s side.

The impact sent sparks flying.

Fragments of stone armor cracked and fell.

For the first time in the match—

The Stonebreaker Rhino roared in pain.

The audience exploded with reactions.

"He damaged the armor!"

"No way!"

But Darek immediately responded.

"Earth Reinforce!"

The rhino’s body glowed again as new stone layers began forming over the damaged areas.

However, the brief imbalance had already affected its charge.

Instead of slamming directly into Aether, the rhino passed just beside him.

Aether pivoted smoothly.

He had been waiting for this moment.

"Behind it!" he ordered.

The Fire Pup dashed across the platform and landed behind the rhino before it could fully turn around.

Darek realized what was happening.

"He’s targeting mobility!"

Indeed.

Aether had noticed earlier that the rhino’s back legs were slower when turning.

Heavy defensive beasts often sacrificed agility.

The Fire Pup attacked again — a burst of concentrated flames aimed at the hind joints.

The flames struck.

Cracks spread through the stone armor covering the rhino’s leg.

The beast roared again, stomping the ground violently.

Shockwaves spread across the arena floor.

Aether stepped back to avoid the tremor while keeping his focus.

"Good resistance," he thought. "But it’s slowing down."

Across the arena, instructors were now watching with serious expressions.

This was no longer a simple student duel.

This was a strategic combat display.

And Aether was controlling the rhythm.

But Darek wasn’t defeated yet.

In fact—

His anger was turning into determination.

"You think you’ve figured us out?"

He placed his hand on the rhino’s shoulder.

The connection between tamer and beast pulsed with energy.

"Then let’s see if you can handle this!"

The rhino’s entire body began glowing with a deeper brown aura.

The stone armor thickened further.

Cracks on its legs sealed instantly.

The platform trembled even more.

Some students immediately recognized the technique.

"That’s his signature skill!"

"Stone Titan Form!"

Even Liora’s eyes widened.

"That’s a high-level reinforcement..."

The rhino’s size seemed larger now.

Heavier.

More powerful.

Its breathing echoed like thunder.

Aether watched carefully.

"So he was holding back too."

Darek pointed directly at him.

"Now try analyzing this!"

The rhino slammed its feet into the ground and released a shockwave that shattered sections of the arena floor.

Chunks of stone lifted into the air.

Dust clouds filled the battlefield.

Visibility dropped dramatically.

The audience struggled to see what was happening.

But inside the dust—

The battle intensified.

Aether sensed the incoming attack before he saw it.

"Left!"

The Fire Pup moved instantly as the rhino burst through the dust cloud like a moving fortress.

This time, the beast wasn’t charging blindly.

It was adapting.

The rhino swung its massive head sideways.

The horn barely missed the Fire Pup, slicing through the air with terrifying force.

The impact shattered the ground where it passed.

Aether realized something important.

"He’s forcing close combat now."

The rhino’s movements were slower than before but far more dangerous.

Every step created shockwaves.

Every attack covered wide areas.

The Fire Pup circled quickly, avoiding the swings while launching small bursts of fire to test the new armor.

But the flames barely left marks now.

Darek laughed.

"Your tricks won’t work anymore!"

The crowd cheered loudly.

Momentum seemed to be shifting.

But Aether remained calm.

Because he had already predicted this possibility.

Heavy defensive beasts had a transformation phase like this.

Stronger.

But also...

More energy-consuming.

Aether looked down at the Fire Pup.

The small beast was breathing slightly faster now.

This fight had already pushed it harder than usual.

Aether understood something important in that moment.

"This battle isn’t just about winning."

"It’s about growth."

He knelt slightly and placed his hand briefly on the Fire Pup’s head.

"Let’s show them what we’ve learned."

The Fire Pup’s flames flared brighter than before.

Not wider.

But deeper.

More intense.

Across the arena, Riven leaned forward again.

Now he could feel it.

Aether wasn’t just reacting anymore.

He was preparing something.

Something the audience had not yet seen.

Meanwhile, Darek raised his arm.

"Rhino — Final Charge!"

The massive beast roared louder than ever and launched forward again. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

This time, the entire platform shook violently.

Cracks spread everywhere.

Students in the stands felt the vibrations.

The Stonebreaker Rhino looked unstoppable.

A moving mountain.

But Aether stood his ground.

He inhaled slowly.

Then spoke calmly.

"Phase Three."

The Fire Pup’s flames suddenly changed.

Instead of spreading outward...

They condensed into a blazing aura that surrounded both the beast and Aether.

The temperature in the arena rose sharply.

Even students sitting far away could feel the heat.

The rhino charged closer.

Fifteen meters.

Ten.

Five.

And then—

Aether moved.

But not to escape.

He stepped directly into the rhino’s attack range.

Gasps erupted again.

But this time, the Fire Pup moved first.

It dashed forward at incredible speed.

Faster than it had moved in the entire match.

A streak of fire crossed the battlefield.

Darek’s eyes widened.

"That speed—"

The Fire Pup slid under the rhino’s attacking angle and released a powerful burst of flame upward.

The fire struck the underside of the rhino’s armored chest.

A weak spot.

The impact exploded across the arena.

Stone fragments scattered everywhere.

The rhino roared in pain.

Its charge faltered.

And for the first time since the battle began—

The massive beast stopped moving forward.

The audience went completely silent.

Because they all realized something at the same time.

Aether had just forced the Stonebreaker Rhino...

To halt.

And the fight was now entering its most critical moment.