Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 22: Foundations of a Tamer

The next few days at Skygate Academy passed with a strange mixture of calm and rising tension.

For most students, the academy was entering the most exciting period of the year — the Internal Ranking Tournament. Matches continued daily, alliances were forming, rivalries were becoming sharper, and instructors were watching closely for talents worth recommending to the great factions of the Lower World.

But for Aether, this period meant something slightly different.

Preparation.

Not just for the tournament.

But for everything that was slowly beginning to move around him.

The signal from the Ashen Wildlands had not disappeared. In fact, if anything, it had become clearer over the past few days.

Still distant.

Still hidden.

But definitely real.

And Aether had decided that before moving toward it, he needed to strengthen both himself and the Fire Pup in a more structured way.

Which was why, early one morning, he was walking toward one of the most specialized buildings in the academy.

The Beast Studies Pavilion.

Liora walked beside him, looking around curiously.

"You really plan to attend every advanced class available, don’t you?"

Aether nodded.

"Knowledge reduces unnecessary risk."

She smirked.

"That sounds like something a strategist would say."

"It is."

The Fire Pup trotted happily beside them, occasionally leaving small sparks of flame on the stone path.

When they reached the entrance of the pavilion, they found a surprisingly large number of students already gathered there.

This was one of the few classes open only to higher-potential tamers.

Which meant many strong students were present.

Among them, Aether noticed a few familiar faces.

Including Riven.

The tall student stood near the back of the hall, arms crossed, observing quietly.

Their eyes met briefly.

Riven nodded once.

Aether returned the gesture.

Neither spoke.

But the tension between them had not disappeared.

---

Inside the pavilion, the classroom was shaped like a circular arena rather than a traditional lecture hall.

In the center stood a large platform surrounded by multiple containment barriers.

Professor Halvren walked in shortly after the students settled down.

"Today," he said, "we move beyond theory."

The students immediately became more attentive.

"We will be discussing combat synchronization between tamer and beast."

The Fire Pup looked up at Aether with interest.

Professor Halvren continued.

"Many battles are lost not because beasts are weak, but because tamers fail to understand how to coordinate properly with them."

He activated a projection showing several battle scenarios. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

In one example, a powerful beast lost simply because its tamer issued commands too slowly.

In another, a weaker beast won through perfect timing and coordination.

Aether watched carefully.

Although he already had a natural connection with the Fire Pup, there was always room to improve.

Professor Halvren gestured toward the center platform.

"We will begin with demonstration exercises."

Two senior students stepped forward.

Their beasts appeared moments later.

A wind hawk and a steel-armored wolf.

The demonstration began.

The hawk attacked with speed while the wolf relied on defense and counterattacks.

Professor Halvren explained each movement.

"Notice how the tamer anticipates the beast’s reaction."

"Notice how commands are not shouted, but timed."

"Notice how energy is conserved."

Aether paid attention to every detail.

Liora whispered beside him,

"You’re analyzing everything again."

"Yes."

She smiled.

"I expected that."

---

After several demonstrations, the professor addressed the entire class.

"Now it’s your turn."

Students were divided into training groups.

Aether and Liora were placed in the same group.

And surprisingly—

Riven was also assigned to them.

Liora looked slightly amused.

"Well, this should be interesting."

Riven shrugged.

"I’m here to learn."

Aether nodded.

"So am I."

Their training area was located near one of the practice arenas inside the pavilion.

The professor instructed them to perform controlled sparring exercises rather than full battles.

The goal was to improve coordination and understanding.

Riven summoned his beast first.

A sleek shadow-panther emerged beside him.

Fast.

Silent.

Dangerous.

Liora whistled softly.

"That’s impressive."

Riven replied calmly,

"It’s fast, but still developing."

Aether released the Fire Pup.

The small beast stretched slightly before flames flickered around its body.

Several nearby students watched curiously.

Riven studied the Fire Pup carefully.

"You don’t give many commands during battle."

Aether answered,

"Because it understands most of them already."

Riven nodded.

"That’s rare."

---

The sparring session began.

Instead of fighting directly, they practiced coordinated movement and reaction exercises.

The shadow-panther dashed across the training field with incredible speed while the Fire Pup responded with controlled bursts of flame.

Aether focused not on attacking, but on improving timing.

He tested small adjustments in movement.

Energy flow.

Command timing.

The results were immediate.

The Fire Pup began reacting faster.

More precisely.

Even Riven noticed.

"You’re improving mid-training," he said.

Aether replied,

"That’s the goal."

Liora joined the exercise with her own beast, a wind-type spirit creature that enhanced her mobility.

The three of them continued training for nearly an hour.

By the end, even the instructor observing them seemed impressed.

Professor Halvren approached their group.

"You three are progressing quickly."

Liora smiled.

"We try."

But the professor’s gaze lingered on Aether.

"You’re different."

Aether didn’t respond.

The professor continued,

"You don’t just train strength. You build foundations."

Aether nodded slightly.

"That’s the plan."

Professor Halvren looked thoughtful for a moment.

Then he said something unexpected.

"If you continue like this, you’ll surpass many students faster than you realize."

---

Later that day, Aether and Liora walked through one of the quieter sections of the academy gardens.

The Fire Pup followed them while playing with small sparks of flame.

Liora stretched slightly.

"That training was actually useful."

Aether agreed.

"Yes."

She glanced at him.

"You’re preparing for something bigger than the tournament, aren’t you?"

Aether didn’t deny it.

"Yes."

"The Ashen Wildlands?"

"Yes."

Liora sighed.

"I knew it."

She sat on a stone bench.

"You realize that once we go there, things will become much more dangerous."

Aether looked toward the distant horizon beyond the academy walls.

"I know."

"But you’re still going."

"Yes."

The Fire Pup suddenly stopped playing and looked toward the same direction.

Its flames flickered again.

Stronger this time.

Aether felt it too.

The signal.

It had intensified.

Liora noticed the change immediately.

"It’s getting closer, isn’t it?"

Aether nodded slowly.

"Yes."

Something in the Ashen Wildlands was responding to him.

And based on what he had learned recently...

It was very likely a beast.

Not just any beast.

But one connected to his resonance.

Which meant the moment he stepped into that region...

The next major step in his journey would begin.

However—

Before that happened, the academy tournament was still ongoing.

More rivals were waiting.

And somewhere within the academy...

New enemies had begun to notice him.

Because Aether was no longer just another student.

He was becoming something far more interesting.

And the Lower World had started to pay attention.