Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 35: Lightning Against Flame

The moment the Thunderclaw Direwolf leapt into the air, the atmosphere inside the arena changed dramatically.

Lightning crackled across the battlefield, spreading through the elevated platforms like a living storm. The spectators could almost feel the static energy in the air, and many students leaned forward in anticipation.

This was no longer just a test match.

This was a clash between two fighters who were both capable of reaching the very top of the academy.

And everyone could sense it.

The Direwolf’s body became surrounded by arcs of lightning as it descended toward the Fire Pup with incredible speed. The attack was not reckless; it was precise, timed perfectly to strike from above while the battlefield heat created by Aether limited escape routes.

But Aether had expected this.

He had been waiting for it.

"Now," he said quietly.

The Fire Pup’s flames surged upward like a rising pillar, meeting the incoming lightning head-on.

BOOM.

The collision sent a shockwave across the arena.

Students in the stands gasped as sparks and embers scattered across the battlefield. The impact forced both beasts to separate for a moment, landing on opposite platforms again.

But this time, the energy surrounding them was far more intense.

Valen smiled slightly from his position above.

"You handled that better than I thought."

Aether replied calmly,

"You’re faster than most."

Valen tilted his head.

"That’s not a compliment."

"It’s an observation."

---

The Fire Pup shook its body, small embers floating around it as its flames deepened in color.

This was no longer the relaxed training intensity it had shown earlier in the tournament.

Now it was serious.

But even then, Aether continued observing rather than attacking immediately.

Because this opponent required something more than raw power.

Strategy alone wouldn’t be enough.

He needed timing.

---

Valen moved again.

The Thunderclaw Direwolf disappeared in a flash of lightning, jumping between platforms so quickly that many students struggled to track its movement.

"Too fast!" someone shouted.

But Aether’s eyes followed every motion carefully.

He had already begun mapping the pattern.

The Fire Pup moved with smaller steps this time, flames spreading across the platforms like threads connecting different positions.

This wasn’t an attack.

It was preparation.

Valen noticed it immediately.

"You’re building another system," he said.

Aether nodded slightly.

"Yes."

Valen laughed softly.

"You really don’t like fighting without control."

Aether replied,

"Control reduces mistakes."

---

The Direwolf struck again.

This time not from above—but from the side.

Lightning erupted as it dashed across the battlefield, claws glowing with electric energy.

The Fire Pup responded instantly, releasing a spiral of flames that forced the Direwolf to twist mid-air.

But the attack was only a feint.

Valen had moved as well.

He appeared on a platform behind Aether, attempting to force him into a disadvantageous position.

Students reacted loudly.

"He’s surrounding him!"

But Aether remained calm.

Because he had predicted that possibility.

"Second layer," he said quietly.

The flames on the battlefield suddenly connected.

Thin lines of fire ignited simultaneously across multiple platforms, creating a network of heat zones that restricted the Direwolf’s movement.

Valen’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"That’s clever."

The Direwolf landed on a platform—but the heat forced it to move again immediately.

And every time it moved—

Aether learned more.

---

Liora watched carefully from the stands.

"He’s not just defending," she said.

Another student nearby asked,

"Then what is he doing?"

Liora replied,

"He’s slowing Valen down."

---

Back on the battlefield, Valen realized the situation as well.

His Direwolf relied on speed and unpredictability.

But Aether’s system was gradually limiting both.

Valen smiled again.

"Alright."

"Let’s increase the intensity."

The Thunderclaw Direwolf suddenly howled.

Lightning surged across its body, spreading across the battlefield like a storm.

Students gasped as the energy level rose dramatically.

"That’s a high-level technique!"

Even some instructors leaned forward.

Valen’s voice echoed across the arena.

"Storm Step."

The Direwolf moved again—but this time its speed doubled.

It wasn’t just fast.

It was unpredictable.

Lightning trails appeared everywhere at once.

The Fire Pup dodged one strike—but another came immediately after.

Then another.

And another.

For the first time in the match, the Fire Pup was forced into continuous defensive movement.

But Aether did not panic.

Instead, he said calmly,

"Good."

Valen raised an eyebrow.

"Good?"

Aether nodded.

"Yes."

Because now—

He had the full data.

---

The Fire Pup suddenly stopped moving backward.

Instead, it stepped forward.

Students watching the battle were confused.

"Why is he advancing now?!"

The Direwolf attacked again, lightning crashing toward the Fire Pup with overwhelming speed.

But this time—

The Fire Pup didn’t dodge.

Instead, it released a concentrated flame burst that collided directly with the attack.

BOOM.

Energy exploded across the platform.

Both beasts slid backward slightly.

But the Fire Pup remained standing.

Valen’s smile widened.

"So you finally decided to fight directly."

Aether shook his head slightly.

"No."

Then he added,

"Now I understand your rhythm."

---

The next moment changed the pace of the entire battle.

The Fire Pup moved faster than before.

Not just reacting.

Predicting.

Each time the Direwolf moved, flames appeared exactly where it was about to land.

The battlefield turned into a dance of lightning and fire.

Students watching from the stands could barely keep up.

"He’s reading the attacks!"

"That’s impossible!"

But Aether’s calm expression never changed.

Because this had always been the plan.

Study first.

Then adapt.

Then dominate.

---

Valen’s expression became more serious.

For the first time in the match, he stopped smiling.

"Interesting," he said quietly.

The Thunderclaw Direwolf growled as sparks of lightning spread across its body again.

Valen looked directly at Aether.

"You’re forcing me to go further."

Aether nodded.

"That’s the goal."

Valen laughed softly.

"Good."

Then he raised his hand.

Lightning gathered around him and his beast simultaneously.

Students in the arena realized something important.

The fight was about to reach another level.

---

High above the battlefield, Instructor Dren folded his arms.

"Now we’ll see it."

Another instructor asked,

"See what?"

Dren replied,

"Whether Aether is ready to challenge the Top Ten."

---

Back on the battlefield, the Fire Pup’s flames deepened further, heat rising across the platforms.

Aether’s eyes remained calm.

But inside—

He had already prepared the next step.

Because this fight wasn’t just about winning.

It was about proving something.

And the real clash between lightning and flame—

Had only just begun.