Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 5: The Trial of Skygate

The news of the arena match spread through the Ashvale Tamer Academy faster than anyone expected. By the time Aether left the arena, several groups of students were already whispering about the strange fight where a Fire Pup had pushed back a Storm Wolf. Most people still believed it was luck or a mistake during the match, but a few instructors clearly thought otherwise.

Aether walked beside Liora through a long stone corridor inside the academy. The Fire Pup trotted calmly at his side, occasionally glancing around at the unfamiliar surroundings.

The academy interior was far larger than it appeared from outside. Tall pillars lined the hallways, each carved with symbols representing ancient tamers who had once reached the peak of the world and passed through Ascension Gates. Some of those names were still remembered as legends.

Aether glanced at the carvings briefly but didn’t slow down.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

Liora walked ahead with a relaxed pace. "To meet the person who decides whether you officially join the Skygate Faction."

Aether raised an eyebrow slightly. "I thought you already decided that."

"I only recommended you," she replied. "The final decision isn’t mine."

The Fire Pup yipped softly as if curious about what would happen next.

They eventually reached a large chamber at the end of the corridor. Unlike the arena outside, this room was quiet and dimly lit. In the center stood a long table with several people seated around it.

The moment Aether entered, he felt a faint pressure in the air.

These were powerful tamers.

Liora stepped forward.

"I’ve brought the candidate."

One of the elders sitting at the table looked up. He had silver hair and calm eyes that seemed to observe everything carefully.

"This is the one from the arena match?"

"Yes," Liora replied.

The elder’s gaze shifted to Aether and then to the Fire Pup.

"A Fire Pup," he said slowly.

Aether nodded. "That’s right."

The elder leaned back slightly, folding his hands together.

"Sit down."

Aether walked forward and sat across from the group. The Fire Pup curled up beside his chair, its flames glowing faintly in the dim light.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Finally, another elder at the table broke the silence.

"You caused quite a discussion in the academy today."

Aether tilted his head slightly. "I thought it was just a simple evaluation."

A few of the elders exchanged brief glances.

"Simple fights usually don’t involve basic beasts pushing back advanced ones," the elder replied.

Aether shrugged lightly. "Maybe the Storm Wolf was having a bad day."

The Fire Pup barked quietly as if agreeing.

One of the elders chuckled.

"Interesting personality."

The silver-haired elder raised a hand slightly, signaling for silence.

"Let’s be direct," he said calmly. "We are the council of the Skygate Faction in Ashvale City. Before we decide whether to accept you, we need to understand something."

Aether looked at him attentively.

"What exactly is your talent?"

The question hung in the air.

Aether remained silent for a moment.

He had expected this question. After all, the fight in the arena had not gone unnoticed. But revealing everything about his ability would be dangerous.

So he chose his words carefully.

"I’m not completely sure yet," he said honestly. "But it seems my connection with my beast is... stronger than usual."

The elders studied him carefully.

One of them asked, "Have you ever trained beasts before the ceremony?"

"No," Aether replied.

"Any special lineage?"

"Not that I know of."

The room became quiet again.

Liora watched him thoughtfully from the side.

The silver-haired elder finally spoke again.

"Whether you realize it or not, your beast showed signs of accelerated evolution."

Aether didn’t react outwardly, but he paid close attention.

"Is that unusual?" he asked.

Several elders almost laughed.

"Unusual?" one of them said. "Young man, most tamers spend years and vast resources to achieve even the smallest evolution."

Another elder leaned forward slightly.

"And yet your Fire Pup showed early-stage mutation during its first battle."

The Fire Pup tilted its head proudly.

Aether glanced down at it briefly.

"Good job."

The silver-haired elder tapped the table lightly.

"We don’t know exactly what your ability is yet, but we know it’s valuable. That’s why we are offering you a place in the Skygate Faction."

Aether waited.

"There is a condition," the elder continued.

"That sounds expected," Aether said.

A faint smile appeared on the elder’s face.

"You will undergo a trial."

---

The Skygate Faction’s training grounds were located behind the academy in a restricted area where ordinary students were not allowed to enter. The place was enormous, filled with arenas, research buildings, and training zones designed for tamers and their beasts.

As Aether followed Liora across the grounds, he could feel several powerful presences nearby.

"These are faction members?" he asked.

"Yes," Liora replied. "Skygate trains tamers who aim to reach the Ascension Gate one day."

Aether looked toward the distant horizon.

"That’s a good goal."

Liora glanced at him briefly. "You say that as if you already plan to reach it."

Aether smiled slightly. "Why aim lower?"

They eventually arrived at a wide open field surrounded by tall stone pillars. Unlike the academy arena, this area felt more serious. Several faction members were already standing there, observing.

At the center of the field stood a large gate-shaped structure made of dark crystal.

Aether noticed it immediately.

"That looks familiar."

Liora nodded. "It’s a trial gate."

The Fire Pup looked at it curiously.

"What does it do?" Aether asked.

"It measures potential," she said. "Both yours and your beast’s."

Aether looked at the gate thoughtfully.

"Sounds dangerous."

"Not really," Liora replied. "Unless you fail badly."

Aether sighed quietly.

"Comforting."

One of the elders from earlier stepped forward.

"This will be simple," he said. "You and your beast must enter the trial gate. Inside, you will face a simulation created by the gate itself. If you succeed, you will become a member of the Skygate Faction."

"And if I fail?" Aether asked.

The elder shrugged.

"Then you walk away like everyone else."

Aether looked down at the Fire Pup.

"What do you think?"

The pup barked confidently.

"Good enough for me," Aether said.

He stepped toward the gate.

As he approached, the reddish golden glow inside his mind pulsed again, as if reacting to the ancient structure.

The moment he touched the surface of the gate, it activated.

Light spread across the field, and the environment around him began to change.

Before entering fully, Aether heard Liora’s voice behind him.

"Good luck."

He glanced back briefly.

"Thanks."

Then he and the Fire Pup stepped inside.

The world shifted instantly.

When the light faded, Aether found himself standing in a vast battlefield filled with ancient ruins and towering statues of forgotten tamers. The air felt heavier than normal, and distant roars echoed across the land.

The Fire Pup stood beside him, its flames glowing steadily.

Aether looked around slowly.

"This is just a test?"

The pup yipped.

Then, far ahead in the ruins, something began to move.

A massive creature slowly emerged from the shadows.

It looked like a giant stone beast covered in cracks of glowing energy.

Aether exhaled softly.

"Well... that escalated quickly."

The Fire Pup stepped forward bravely.

Aether smiled faintly.

"Alright then. Let’s see what this trial really is."

And somewhere deep within him, the Perfect Evolution Talent stirred once again.