Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 47: The Ancient Rune Guardian

The massive guardian roared again, the sound echoing like thunder trapped inside the ancient chamber. Its bone-like skull tilted downward slowly as green fire burned inside its hollow eye sockets, casting eerie light across the shattered battlefield. The creature’s six enormous legs dug deeply into the stone floor, cracking the ancient tiles beneath its immense weight. Every step it took sent vibrations through the chamber, as if the ruins themselves were struggling to endure the presence of such a monstrous being.

Dust drifted through the air as fragments of broken pillars lay scattered across the ground. The guardian loomed above everything like a walking fortress of bone and stone.

Aether stood calmly despite the overwhelming pressure radiating from the creature. His sharp eyes carefully analyzed the guardian’s body, watching every movement, every flicker of energy.

The glowing runes along the guardian’s spine pulsed slowly, releasing faint waves of ancient energy that spread outward like ripples through the air.

That was the key.

The core of its power.

But the problem was obvious.

Those runes were positioned along the creature’s back, protected by its massive frame and the towering structure of its six powerful legs. Even approaching the area would be dangerous, let alone landing a direct attack.

Reaching them would not be easy.

Rylan exhaled slowly as he stared up at the towering monster.

"Alright... big ugly monster with glowing weak points."

His serpent tightened slightly around his arm, sensing the danger just as clearly as he did.

"We’ve handled worse... right?"

The Flame Sovereign Pup stepped forward beside Aether. The small beast’s crimson flames flared brighter, responding instinctively to the guardian’s oppressive aura. Heat shimmered faintly around its body as it prepared for battle.

Across the chamber, the other two challengers were also preparing themselves.

The silver-armored woman steadied her breathing, clearly shaken but far from defeated. Her stone panther stood protectively beside her, though its earlier clash with the guardian had left cracks along its granite-like armor.

The black-haired man pointed upward with sharp determination.

"Storm Wing!"

The wind hawk responded immediately, beating its massive silver wings as it launched into the air again. Powerful gusts swirled around it as it began circling high above the battlefield.

For a brief moment, all four challengers understood the same thing.

If they didn’t cooperate—

They would die here.

The guardian attacked first. One of its massive legs lifted slowly before slamming down toward the center of the chamber.

BOOM.

The impact sent a devastating shockwave ripping across the floor. Ancient stone tiles shattered instantly as jagged cracks spread outward like lightning through the ground.

Everyone scattered to avoid the blast.

The stone panther leaped forward bravely, its heavy body moving with surprising agility despite its size. Grey energy began glowing along its claws as it launched an attack.

It slashed at the guardian’s front leg. Sparks flew where the panther’s stone claws struck the ancient armor covering the creature’s limb. The sound echoed sharply across the chamber.

But the damage was minimal. The guardian barely reacted. Instead, its skull snapped downward. Its jaws opened wide before closing toward the panther with terrifying speed.

The woman shouted immediately.

"Back!"

The panther barely managed to dodge the crushing bite. Even so, the creature’s shoulder was clipped by the massive jaw.

The impact sent the stone beast flying across the chamber before it crashed into a fallen pillar.

Rylan grimaced as he watched the exchange.

"Yeah... that thing is definitely stronger than the statues."

His serpent moved next.

"Azure Fang!"

Blue energy concentrated rapidly around the serpent’s jaws as it lunged forward like a striking spear. The glowing fangs sank deep into one of the guardian’s legs.

CRACK.

The rune etched along that limb flickered slightly. The guardian roared in pain. But its response was immediate and brutal. Two of its enormous legs swept sideways like swinging pillars. The serpent was forced to retreat instantly to avoid being crushed.

Meanwhile, the wind hawk attacked from above. It folded its wings slightly before diving downward with incredible speed. Sharp wind blades formed along the edges of its wings.

"Tempest Slash!"

Dozens of razor-like wind blades struck the guardian’s back in rapid succession. Several attacks struck the glowing runes along its spine.

Small cracks formed. But it still wasn’t enough. The creature roared again in fury.

Then its tail—something none of them had even noticed until now—suddenly moved.

The massive bone-armored tail whipped violently across the battlefield. It slammed into the ground with devastating force.

Rylan barely rolled aside in time as stone exploded around him.

"Okay!" he shouted while scrambling to his feet.

"Definitely stronger!"

Aether had not attacked yet. He was watching.

Studying.

Every movement of the guardian revealed more information. Its attacks were incredibly powerful, but they followed clear patterns. The guardian relied on overwhelming force.

Not speed.

And those glowing runes...

They pulsed in a clear rhythm.

Power circulated between them like energy flowing through veins. Aether finally spoke.

"Attack the spine runes."

The others turned toward him immediately.

"That’s where the power gathers."

The silver-armored woman narrowed her eyes slightly.

"How do you know that?"

Aether didn’t answer directly.

Instead, he simply pointed. The runes along the guardian’s spine suddenly glowed brighter for a brief moment before dimming again.

The others noticed it too.

Rylan grinned.

"Alright then."

He pointed upward toward the circling hawk.

"Bird guy! Distract it!"

The black-haired man scowled slightly at the nickname but understood the strategy.

"Storm Wing!"

The wind hawk dove downward again, unleashing a powerful tornado attack directly toward the guardian’s face. The swirling wind cloud blinded the creature momentarily.

At that exact moment—

Aether gave a quiet command.

"Crimson Step."

The Flame Sovereign Pup vanished in a burst of crimson fire. A flash of flames appeared behind the guardian. The pup reappeared directly beneath the creature’s spine. The flames around its body intensified dramatically.

"Flame Crown."

The fiery beast leaped upward like a blazing comet. A brilliant ring of fire formed around it, spinning like a burning halo. Then it slammed directly into the guardian’s back.

BOOM.

The explosion shook the entire chamber. One of the glowing runes along the spine cracked violently.

The guardian roared in pain.

For the first time—

It staggered.

But the creature was far from defeated. Its massive body twisted violently in response to the pain.

One enormous leg swung backward. The Flame Sovereign Pup was struck and thrown across the chamber like a blazing projectile.

Aether’s eyes narrowed slightly. The pup crashed into the ground but quickly stood again, shaking off the impact. Its flames flickered for a moment, slightly weaker than before. Rylan shouted from across the battlefield.

"You okay?!"

The pup barked defiantly.

Meanwhile, the guardian had completely lost its patience. Green fire erupted from the glowing runes along its spine.

Energy surged through its entire body like a raging storm. The air suddenly felt heavier.

Dangerous.

The silver-armored woman realized it immediately.

"It’s charging an attack!"

The guardian lifted its skull high. The green fire burning within its eyes grew brighter and brighter. Energy gathered inside its open mouth.

Aether’s instincts screamed danger.

"Move."

The beam fired.

A massive blast of green energy shot across the chamber like a destructive cannon. The beam tore through the ancient ruins with unstoppable force.

Several stone pillars were sliced clean in half.

Entire sections of the chamber collapsed.

Rylan barely managed to drag himself behind a large piece of fallen debris.

The wind hawk escaped high into the air. But the silver-armored woman wasn’t fast enough. The beam grazed her side.

She cried out as the burning energy tore through part of her armor. Her stone panther rushed forward immediately to shield her.

Seconds later the beam faded. The attack ended. But the chamber had been devastated.

Half the pillars had collapsed, leaving the battlefield covered in rubble and broken stone.

Dust filled the air. Rylan coughed while pushing himself upright.

"That thing is insane..."

Despite the destruction surrounding them, Aether remained calm. His eyes focused on the guardian again.

The cracked rune on its spine flickered erratically. That damage had weakened it.

But one broken rune wasn’t enough. They needed to destroy more. Rylan stood again, wiping dust from his face.

"Alright... round two."

His serpent hissed loudly, eager to continue the fight. The wind hawk circled above once more. Even the injured stone panther slowly returned to the battlefield. No one was ready to give up yet.

But before anyone could launch the next attack—

The labyrinth shifted again. The ground trembled violently beneath their feet. Stone walls began sliding across the chamber with deafening grinding sounds. Entire sections of the room began separating from one another.

Rylan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"You’ve got to be kidding me."

Massive stone barriers rose from the floor like towering gates. The battlefield was being divided. The ruins themselves were interfering.

Within seconds—

The chamber split into multiple isolated sections. Aether and Rylan were forced into one side.

The other two challengers were trapped behind a newly formed wall on the opposite side.

The ancient guardian remained in the central section. Rylan stared at the towering stone barrier now blocking their former allies.

"Well... there goes the alliance." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Aether’s gaze shifted back toward the guardian. The creature was injured.

Angry.

And now completely focused on them.

Rylan sighed heavily.

"Great."

He glanced toward Aether.

"Guess it’s just us now."

The Flame Sovereign Pup stepped forward once again. Its crimson flames reignited stronger than before. Aether spoke quietly.

"Finish it."

The real battle was about to begin.

Far below the labyrinth...

The mysterious observer watched the events unfold through floating magical projections that hovered in the darkness like silent windows into the battle above. The awakening of the ancient guardian.

The destruction of the chamber.

And most importantly—

The strange challenger who continued to defy expectations. The energy surrounding Aether had grown stronger during the battle. At one moment it had even briefly disrupted the rune systems controlling the labyrinth itself. That had not happened in centuries.

The ruins were reacting.

Testing him more aggressively.

The observer remained silent.

But its interest had clearly deepened.

The trials ahead would become even more dangerous. The labyrinth would not stop until the strongest challenger remained.

And somewhere within the deepest chamber of the ruins—

A secret waited to be discovered.

For now, the observer continued watching.

Patiently.