Dominion of The Beast Masters

The roar of the crowd filled the air, echoing off every corner of the massive arena.

Eratz stood in the center, his body aching but his spirit soaring as thousands of voices cheered for him. It felt surreal.

He took a moment to catch his breath, wiping sweat from his brow as he waved to the audience, his heart still pounding from the intensity of the battle.

The lights shone brightly, fireworks exploded in colorful patterns above, making the entire arena sparkle in celebration of his victory.

Cassie had her hands covering her mouth, tears glistening in her eyes as she watched Eratz bask in the applause.

Her heart swelled with pride, and she could barely contain her emotions as she looked down at Colin, who was jumping and shouting excitedly.

"Look, Mom! Everyone is cheering for my big brother! He's amazing!" Colin exclaimed, shaking Cassie's arm joyfully.

Roger stood beside them, placing a comforting hand on Cassie's shoulder, his eyes also misting over.

"He did it, Cassie. Our boy showed everyone what he's capable of."

Cassie sniffled and nodded, her tears finally spilling over as she whispered.

"Yes, Roger... He's truly incredible. I'm so glad for him."

Meanwhile, in the stands, Liora locked eyes with Marcus.

Back in the reserved seating area for the Genova Academy staff, everyone was silent.

The director's expression was tight with confusion.

She looked over at Eliza, who was watching Rowan with an uncertain look.

"What's the meaning of this?" the director muttered, her gaze then shifting to Rowan, who seemed lost in thought, his eyes distant as he watched his former student wave to the cheering crowd.

Kenny sat slumped on the ground, his eyes downcast, staring blankly at the floor beneath him.

The cheers of the crowd felt deafening, a reminder of how far Eratz had come, and how much down Kenny was.

In the hotel, Crystal silently rose to her feet and made her way to her room. Her eyes were empty, her expression blank. But as she moved, a slow frown began to form, her thoughts swirling.

"Turn it off, please," Lisa muttered.

Her friend nodded and closed the live stream on her phone, giving Lisa a worried glance.

The first battle had ended, but the night was far from over. After a short break, the fourth match was about to begin.

Catarina blinked, staring at the blurry ceiling above her.

Slowly, the room began to come into focus, and she realized she was lying in an infirmary bed, surrounded by the smell of disinfectants and the quiet hum of machinery.

"Where... where am I?" she murmured groggily, her head pounding.

"Ah, finally awake," Eratz said, grinning.

Catarina's eyes shot open, and she screamed.

Back in the arena, the fourth match was about to begin.

Kenny, still sitting on the ground, was lost in his thoughts, his mind racing with everything he'd seen.

But as the announcer's voice boomed through the stadium, his head shot up, his attention captured.

"Next, we welcome a fighter with over 1,000 wins in the rookie division, the Water Prodigy herself!"

The arena erupted in cheers as Mercury stepped into the light.

Kenny's eyes widened in awe as he watched her enter.

She walked with confidence, the formidable energy of Lugina's Garden washing over her.

She took a deep breath, savoring the moment before walking forward, ready for battle.

In the infirmary, Eratz was watching the live feed on the screen, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

"I'm glad they're letting Mercury fight today too. This will be the perfect opportunity to see her full potential."

Catarina, still hiding under her blanket, peeked out, her eyes narrowing.

"What... what are you doing here?" she mumbled, her voice muffled.

Eratz glanced at her, smiling innocently.

"You've piqued my interest, cat girl. I've never seen someone use a field spell like that, with a monster's appearance. Is it only possible with cats, or can you use it with other beasts too? I thought field spells were only for elemental manipulation, how did you do it? What's your trick? I want to know."

His eyes gleamed with genuine curiosity, but his innocent face was as ominous as the way he stared into her soul, Catarina shrank further under the blanket, trembling slightly.

"P-please... just spare me!"

The announcer's voice boomed across the arena.

"Face to her, another monster with a four digits number of wins in the rookie division, the Flaming Fury herself, Kaida!"

She had striking red hair styled into large, voluminous pigtails, and wore a cropped top with flame patterns and red baggy pants.

Face to Mercury, her petite body made her appear way younger.

The girl seemed annoyed, her eyes scanning Mercury's figure, particularly her chest. She let out an audible groan.

"Boastful."

Mercury blinked, taken aback.

"What... what did I do?"

The announcer's voice echoed once again.

"A battle of two elemental geniuses, the Water Prodigy versus the Flaming Fury!"

The bell rang, signaling the start of the match. Mercury wasted no time, summoning her monsters, Seraph, and her Azure Windrider.

Her opponent responded with two massive fire monsters, each resembling fierce, bipedal creatures. One had flaming fists, a broad chest, and fiery spikes jutting from its back, while the other was covered in molten armor, with glowing cracks running along its muscled frame.

Their hulking forms made Kaida look almost even tinier, radiating intense heat.

Back in the infirmary, Eratz watched with fascination. He tilted his head thoughtfully.

"I wonder... I've met people who only focus on one type of monster, and now I'm realizing my impression was right. It's almost like a handicap, the opponent just have to use the weak element technique."

Catarina, still hiding under her blanket, peeked out again.

"Not against Kaida... she's different. She wouldn't lose even in disadvantage."

Eratz glanced at her curiously.

"You know her?"

On the field, Mercury's monsters lunged at their opponents, charging powerful water attacks.

But before they could land a hit, the petite girl smirked, her expression twisting with annoyance.

"Let's get real," she muttered, her voice filled with irritation.

Suddenly, the air shifted, becoming red with heat.

Mercury's eyes widened in realization, and she quickly unleashed her own aura, a surge of blue energy clashing against the red.

The arena was caught in the middle of a spectacular scene, the air itself seemed to shimmer, first igniting into blazing flames, then cooling into rushing water, and finally evaporating into steam.

The clashing auras caused the field to transform, the entire area shifting in response to their power.

In the stands, Zara leaned forward, her eyes wide.

"It's a clash of two field spells," she murmured, her voice filled with awe.

The field had transformed into something entirely new, a landscape of swirling mist and steam, reducing visibility a little.

Mercury blinked, taken aback by how quickly their spells had neutralized each other. Her opponent stepped forward confidently, her petite frame surrounded by a fierce red aura.

Red marks began to spread across the girl's skin, glowing with intensity. She held two short hammers in her hands, her fire monsters walking beside her, their presence exuding more heat.

The girl looked Mercury directly in the eye.

"Get ready. I'm not holding anything back."

The beastification of Kaida was unique, her skin marked with glowing patterns, and her eyes burning with energy.

Everyone watched with intrigue, wondering where her weapons had come from, it seemed unlike any typical beastification.

Eratz leaned closer to the screen, his eyes narrowing in curiosity.

Kaida grinned, pointing her hammer at Mercury.

"You think you can match me, water girl? I'll smash your brain out!"

With a powerful leap, Kaida launched herself towards Mercury, her hammers raised high. Mercury's eyes widened, and she leaped to dodge the incoming attack.

Kaida's hammers slammed into the ground, causing a massive explosion of steam and dust.

Mercury realized just how powerful her opponent was, her heart pounding. She clenched her teeth, summoning her resolve.

Her body began to glow, entering her own beastification, melding with the Seraph.

The transformation covered her with sleek markings, enhancing her agility. The two fighters stared each other down, their auras flaring as they prepared to clash.

Kaida moved first, swinging her hammers with reckless abandon, her strength undeniable.

Mercury dodged swiftly, her movements feline-like as she twisted and flipped, narrowly avoiding each crushing blow.

Every time their powers collided, steam erupted, filling the arena. Kaida's attacks were brutal and relentless, while Mercury's were swift and graceful.

They seemed evenly matched, their different styles creating a stunning visual contrast that left the audience in awe.

The monsters joined the battle, Kaida's fire beasts roaring and charging, while Mercury's Azure Windrider soared above, launching bursts of water to counter the searing flames.

The battle grew more intense, each hit more powerful than the last.

The air was filled with the sound of clashing elements, the ground cracking under the weight of their strikes.

The crowd was on the edge of their seats, captivated by the sheer spectacle.

Kaida's monsters were heavier, their movements raw and full of power.

Mercury's monsters, on the other hand, were agile, darting in and out of combat, striking with precision.

But as the battle raged on, it became apparent that something was shifting.

Mercury took a direct hit from one of Kaida's hammer strikes, her body sent tumbling across the field.

Her vision blurred for a moment, her eyes wide with shock.

She pushed herself up, her breathing labored, feeling the need to vomit. She realized that, despite her best efforts, Kaida's raw power was overwhelming her.

Her beastification with her Seraph Panther wasn't enough to match Kaida's destructive strength.

"This... can't be... We are both using beastification... Why am I being so much overpowered?"

Kaida's form seemed different, her beastification was more complete, more intense.

Mercury struck her repeatedly, but Kaida seemed almost unbreakable, eating hits and coming again, each blow only slowing her momentarily before she pressed forward once more.

It had become a battle of attrition.

Mercury moved fast, landing strikes wherever she could, but Kaida's resilience was terrifying.

Each time Kaida managed to land a blow, it was devastating, each impact sending Mercury reeling.

In the stands, Colin watched with wide, worried eyes.

"Mercury..."

Cassie bit her lip, her eyes filled with concern.

"She's strong, Colin. She won't give up."

Eratz clenched his teeth, his eyes glued to the screen. He could feel the intensity of the battle, the desperation in Mercury's eyes.

The two girls were battered, their bodies covered in bruises and marks from the relentless combat.

And then, with one final clash, the two met in the center of the field, their auras exploding outward in a burst of red and blue energy.

Kaida was thrown backward, her eyes going wide, her body losing balance. She stumbled, her legs giving out beneath her.

But just as everyone thought she was done, she froze, her eyes narrowing.

She twisted her body forward, her head slamming into Mercury's in a devastating headbutt echoing in the whole arena.

Everything seemed to freeze in that moment. Mercury's eyes went blank, her body swaying before she slowly began to fall backward.

Time seemed to slow as she fell, her body crumpling to the ground, landing with a heavy thud.

Kaida stood there, her breathing ragged, her legs trembling. She was on the verge of collapsing herself, but she held on, her gaze white.

The crowd held its breath, the tension unbearable.

The announcer's voice broke through the silence.

"Ladies and gentlemen... the winner of this match, the Flaming Fury, Kaida!"

Kaida let out a shaky breath, her body finally giving in.

The crowd erupted in cheers, their voices echoing throughout the arena.