Dominion of The Beast Masters

A few days later, the lights of the little mall flickered softly, casting a warm glow across the aisles.

The soft hum of background music blended with the sounds of distant chatter and the faint clinking of shopping carts.

The mall wasn't crowded, people moved lazily through the aisles, the occasional shopper wandering in and out of the stores lining the central walkway.

At one end of the mall, a television mounted high on the wall broadcasted the latest news.

It flashed images of a bold, dramatic promotional poster for the first round of the qualifications :

"Tomorrow: The Apex Predator, Eratz, vs. The Bone Crusher, Titus 'Iron Fist' Kalderon!"

The names and titles were striking, drawing the attention of passersby.

Mercury stood nearby, barely noticing the buzz around the screen.

She wore a simple black face mask, dark sunglasses, and a hoodie that did little to hide her from prying eyes.

Her hair was tucked under a baseball cap, but anyone who knew her well might still recognize her.

She had been standing still for a while, her attention fixed on a particular section of the store.

In front of her, a variety of brightly colored boxes lined the shelves, condoms, all in different sizes, brands, and packaging styles. They seemed to mock her as she stared at them.

Her mind wandered back to Cassie's calm but pointed lecture from a few days ago, warning her about the importance of protection.

"You can't rely on luck, Mercury. Take care of yourself."

Mercury sighed, her breath muffled under her mask. She tapped her fingers on the side of her leg, unsure of what to do.

She could just grab a box and buy it, easy, right?

But the thought of facing the shopkeeper, handing over a box of condoms with a straight face... it was more than she could handle at the moment.

Her eyes darted to the cashier, a young woman who looked half-bored, scrolling through her phone.

Mercury bit her lip under her mask, her heart racing at the idea of walking up and dropping the box on the counter.

'No way,' she thought. She couldn't do it.

Her mind drifted, and for a moment, she remembered the warmth of Eratz's touch, the way his hands felt on her skin, the delicious heat melted inside her.

Her face burned, even under the mask, and she quickly looked away from the shelf.

She turned on her heel, deciding to leave the aisle altogether.

'Maybe I'll just get some morning-after pills,' she murmured under her breath. 'Besides, with his stamina, one box wouldn't be enough anyway.'

She adjusted her mask and walked swiftly toward the next pharmacy down the street, hoping to get the sacred pill and be done with it.

As she turned the corner, a familiar voice broke through the quiet night.

"Hello."

Her feet stopped mid-stride. She recognized that voice instantly, and it sent a wave of irritation through her.

Slowly, she turned around.

Crystal stood a few feet away, the faint light from the streetlamp catching the glint of her glasses.

She wore a long black coat that reached her knees, her hair long black hair gliding on her back, and her lips curled in a taunting smile.

The air between them seemed to thicken.

"Fancy seeing you here," Crystal said, her tone light but dripping with mock curiosity. "What brings you out at this hour? Busy night?"

Mercury stayed silent for a moment, her gaze narrowing behind her dark sunglasses.

She could feel the underlying venom in Crystal's voice, but she wasn't in the mood for games.

"Get lost," Mercury replied, her tone flat, almost bored.

Crystal took a slow, deliberate step forward, the soft click of her boots echoing in the empty street.

"Oh, come on, at this point we aren't just acquaintances anymore, we should be more civilized. I'm just out for a stroll. But you... you seem preoccupied. Thought I might find you somewhere more... exciting, given your recent activities.

Are you going home? Or perhaps, an hotel?"

Mercury's jaw clenched under her mask. Crystal's eyes were sharp, glinting with a dangerous curiosity, and her smile widened ever so slightly.

"You and Eratz," Crystal continued, her voice dropping slightly, "you've been... busy, haven't you?"

Mercury didn't respond immediately, but she felt something burning in her chest.

Crystal was fishing for something, some confirmation of what she already suspected, and it only fueled Mercury's irritation.

Crystal tilted her head, stepping closer.

"It's funny, really. Eratz, the boy who was once at my feet, the one I saved from despair and isolation... now so... attached to you. I wonder how far you've gone together."

Mercury's fists clenched at her sides, but she kept her voice calm, laced with the same passive aggression Crystal was dishing out.

"I'm not interested in chitchat, girl. Shut your mouth before somebody hurt you."

"Oh, you're quite the savage, aren't you? Well, I'm not unforgivable, I get it. I did a few interesting things to Eratz, I understand you would hate me,"

Crystal purred, her eyes flickering with malice.

"Between us, there was nothing personal in it. I wanted something, and he got successful that day. Technically you owe meeting him to me, so it's really fairplay. I just hate being ignored... did he ignore me for you? What did you do to hypnotize him?

The Eratz I know is a little sheep, so what exactly did you do?… Maybe giving your body?"

That did it.

Without a word, Mercury stepped forward, closing the distance between them in an instant.

She was so much taller than Crystal, looming over her with a quiet, deadly intensity.

Crystal flinched but didn't move, her smirk faltering ever so slightly.

In one swift move, Mercury swung her arm and slammed her fist into the streetlamp beside Crystal, the metal yielding under the force of the blow.

Crystal's eyes widened, her body stiffening as the shock of it ran through her.

Mercury leaned down, her voice low and ominous.

"Maybe Eratz has his reason to ignore you, but let me make one thing clear, if you ever try me again, I will crush your little head. With my bare hands."

Crystal swallowed, her smirk completely gone now, replaced with something closer to fear.

Mercury's shadow fell over her like a dark cloud, her presence suffocating.

"You can play your sick little games with trash like Kenny," Mercury continued. "but don't ever think you can push me. Keep playing, and you'll regret it. Your face might still be pleasing to someone... Don't be more stupid than usual."

Crystal could feel sweat forming at the back of her neck, the weight of Mercury's threat hanging in the air between them.

She had gotten too confident, too sure of herself after seeing Mercury hesitate in the mall days before and in the forest, but now the cold, terrifying reality set in.

Mercury was not some weak student from the academy. She was on a completely different level than them.

The tension lingered for a moment longer before Mercury stepped back, her eyes never leaving Crystal's.

Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, her steps firm and unyielding.

Crystal stood there for a long moment, her body frozen in place, her fist clutched tightly against her chest.

Her heart pounded in her ears, and the cold sweat on her skin made her shiver.

The night air felt colder now, sharper, and the streetlamp beside her still hummed softly, the dent in its frame a reminder of just how real that threat had been.

It was unbearable, this gnawing frustration, this sickening jealousy.

Crystal's breath came in short, shallow bursts, her mind racing. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, and a sick smile crept across her lips.

"It was a mistake," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with emotion. "It was only my mistake... for having a damn crush for an idiot. Eratz was at my feet, he was just a little puppy... and I hate seeing him with anyone else. Who do you think you are?"

Her eyes followed Mercury's retreating figure, disappearing into the shadows of the night.

The bitterness in her chest burned like acid, but she refused to give up.

No matter how far Eratz had gone, she wasn't done yet.

The following afternoon, the sun bathed Lugina Garden in a golden glow, illuminating the immense crowd that had gathered for the first round of the qualifications.

The energy in the air was electric, every seat was taken.

People of all ages flooded the stands, their excitement palpable as they waved flags and cheered.

Vendors weaved through the crowds, selling drinks and snacks, while the distant hum of conversation and excitement filled the space.

Massive screens around the arena displayed highlights from previous battles, stirring up the crowd even more.

Each clip featured past local champions, titanic beasts, and moments of victory, fueling the anticipation for what was to come.

The entire city seemed to have gathered, and Lugina Garden buzzed like a hive of energy.

This was the first round of the qualifications, and Eratz, still undefeated, was one of the main attractions.

In one of the premium stands Mercury, Zara and Victoria were sitting.

Their expressions were sharp, focused, knowing that today would set the tone for their agency's future.

Despite the roaring crowd, the three of them shared a moment of silence, their thoughts on Eratz and what was to come.

Mercury's nerves were tightly coiled, but she showed no sign of it, not in front of Victoria and Zara.

In different towns, Kaida, Catarina, and Ryder were watching the broadcast on TV.

They sat quietly, eyes glued to the screen, their thoughts on Eratz.

Meanwhile, in a small house miles away from the roaring arena, the atmosphere was suffocatingly quiet.

The television was on, the volume low as the broadcast of the match flickered on the screen.

Marcus busied himself, packing their belongings into suitcases, his movements mechanical, detached from the moment.

His face was hard, as though he refused to acknowledge the significance of what was happening.

Liora, however, was seated on the bed in the next room, her hands folded in her lap, staring at the screen with empty, lifeless eyes.

Her body sat rigid, her expression devoid of emotion. She barely blinked as the camera panned to the grand stadium, the booming voices of the announcers echoing faintly in the background.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first round of the Lugina Garden Beast Master Qualifications!" The crowd roared in response, banners waving, voices raised in anticipation. "We have an exciting match for you today, a clash between titans!"

The massive screen above the arena shifted, displaying the bold names of the competitors.

The announcer's voice echoed as he spoke the words that everyone had been waiting for.

"For the first match, ladies and gentlemen, The Apex Predator versus The Bone Crusher!"