Dominion of The Beast Masters

The days moved fastly as the battles continued in the Greenridge League qualifications.

Each day, the Crescent Moon Agency fighters took to the arena, their victories cementing their place as top contenders.

Mercury was unstoppable. Her mastery of her water field spell and long-ranged attacks left her opponents floundering.

Each battle ended swiftly, the crowd roaring in amazement as her the Raging Wave lived to her name.

Kaida embrased the battlefield both literally and figuratively.

Her combat style was relentless, and her opponents didn't stand a chance as they were consumed by her flames.

The ash and debris of her victories littered the arena, leaving the audience in awe of her power.

Catarina and Ryder faced more challenging battles. Catarina struggled against an opponent with nearly equal speed.

Every move she made was countered, even her field spell wasn't enough and for a moment, it seemed like she would be defeated.

But in a flash of agility and heavy impact, she turned the tide, narrowly securing her victory.

Ryder's battle was a grueling test of endurance. His opponent, a brute with strength-based tactics, battered him with raw power.

But Ryder's ability to transform swiftly between his beast forms gave him the edge he needed. He won by the skin of his teeth, collapsing in exhaustion as the crowd cheered him on.

By the time Eratz stepped into the arena for his second match, the crowd was electric.

His undefeated streak was the talk of the tournament, and everyone was eager to see if this new challenger could finally bring him down.

Across from him stood a boy, barely younger than Eratz but burning with excitement and determination.

The boy grinned, pointing at Eratz with a confident smirk.

"I'm going to be the one to end your undefeated streak!" the boy called out, his voice booming across the arena.

Eratz chuckled, his crimson eyes narrowing as he tilted his head slightly.

"Undefeated? I don't think anyone stays undefeated forever. I just haven't met the right match yet."

The boy's expression faltered for a second but then hardened.

"Well, I'm that match, brace yourself!" he spat, summoning his field spell, a watery abyss filled with piranha monsters.

The water was dense, restricting movement, and the piranhas circled with sharp teeth gleaming in the light.

The audience gasped as the deadly water beasts rushed toward Eratz. People in the stands began to panic, fearing for the safety of their idol.

But Eratz remained calm, almost bored, as he sighed softly.

In an instant, the water around him turned bright yellow, an ocean of electricity engulfing the entire field.

The boy screamed as lightning coursed through him, his piranhas paralyzed and immobilized by the power.

The air crackled with energy as the crowd watched in stunned silence.

Eratz walked forward slowly, keeping the boy electrocuted as he spoke.

"It's useless to focus on things like invincibility, what really matters is being stronger than you were yesterday. You made a big speech, but look at you now. You just look ridiculous. This is why you stay quiet until it's over."

He reached the boy, the intensity of the electricity was even higher, triggering an intense screem.

"You were so confident, so I won't change my strategy now. Give me a reason to respect you."

The boy's body twitched, his eyes rolling back, but with a final effort, he undid his field spell.

His body shook violently, his fists clenching as he tried to stay conscious.

With immense difficulty, he managed to throw a weak punch, tapping Eratz lightly on the forehead.

Eratz smiled.

"That's more like it," he said softly, patting gently the boy's head, before tightening his grip.

With a sudden, brutal force, he drove him head first into the ground.

The impact was thunderous.

The arena floor cracked beneath the boy's body, sending a violent shockwave through the stands.

Dust and debris shot into the air as the earth gave way, forming a massive crater where the boy landed.

The boy's body jerked, his arms and legs going limp as his consciousness slipped away.

His head lolled to the side, his eyes rolling back.

The crowd gasped in shock, their eyes wide. For a moment, there was silence. Then, the applause began, slowly at first, before growing into a roar of joy.

Eratz had won his second match. He was qualified for the finals. The public chanted his name in unison, celebrating the qualification of their local hero.

From the stands, Zara watched in disbelief.

"He's always so violent," she muttered, shaking her head.

But Mercury was on her feet, clapping joyfully and chanting Eratz's name with the public.

"Go, Eratz!" she yelled, her voice rising above the crowd.

Zara raised an eyebrow at her, crossing her arms.

"You know he's a counter to your water-based magic, right? How can you cheer for him? He's your archenemy."

Mercury flashed a confident, mysterious smile.

"It doesn't matter if he's my counter," she said with a grin. "He's my man, and I'll cheer for him no matter what."

Zara blinked, then her eyes widened as she processed the implications of Mercury's words.

"Wait… did I hear that right?"

But Mercury just continued chanting, her voice joining the roar of the crowd.

On the television, an interview with three beast master specialists aired, their faces serious as they discussed the upcoming Greenridge League finals.

"So, who do you see as the favorite to take the league this year?" the first specialist asked, leaning back in his chair.

The second expert, adjusting his glasses, responded after a brief pause.

"Well, I'd say Sia Verizion, the 'Frost Empress,' is a strong contender. Her ice-based field spells are practically untouchable when it comes to controlling the battlefield."

The third specialist nodded.

"That's true, but some argue her reliance on her ice manipulation limits her adaptability. If someone forces her out of her comfort zone, she might not have the versatility to bounce back."

"Fair point," the first expert agreed. "But what about Gabriel 'The Beast Whisperer'? The way he communicates with his creatures is exceptional, especially for someone his age."

"Yeah, Gabriel is impressive, no doubt," the second expert said, "but he's still young, and his emotional connection with his beasts can be a double-edged sword. If his creatures get injured, it might affect his focus and strategy in the heat of battle."

The first expert nodded in agreement before offering another name.

"And let's not forget the Apex Predator, Eratz Pandora. He's still undefeated in professional matches."

The room fell silent for a moment as they all considered Eratz's track record.

"Eratz is definitely a wildcard," the third specialist noted. "He's got power, but his unpredictability might be his strength or his downfall. If he faces someone who can outmaneuver his aggressive style, he could be in trouble. It'll depend on who he matches up against in the finals."

"True," the second expert added. "He's dominated so far, but we have yet to see him use a field spell, some even suggest he doesn't know how to do it, and we've yet to see how he handles a real tactical opponent."

The first expert crossed his arms, considering this opinion.

"Didn't he defeat the Feline Phantom? That's quite the opponent I would say."

In a small, dark room, Kenny sat on his bed, staring blankly at the television as the interview played.

His eyes were hollow, his face pale and devoid of emotion. The words of the specialists barely registered as he sat there, his mind a whirlwind of despair.

Later, he wandered through the halls of the academy, his steps slow and heavy. No one greeted him. No one even acknowledged him. He was invisible.

Outside, the rain began to fall, and Kenny stood by the road, watching the cars pass by. His gaze was vacant, his thoughts distant.

"Kenny," a voice called, breaking through the rain. It was Crystal.

Later, they sat in a small café, Crystal sipping a juice while Kenny sat across from her, barely touching the glass in front of him.

"Life outside the academy is amazing," Crystal said, her voice too cheerful, almost strange. "I mean, most people leave in their third year once they get signed by an agency. The ones who stay are… well, you know, the failures."

Kenny looked at her, his expression dead. He forced himself to take a sip of juice.

Crystal smiled and gestured to his drink.

"You like it? It's a new drink sponsoring Eratz."

Kenny's hand twitched, and he spilled the juice across the table.

His eyes narrowed, his voice shaking with anger.

"Why are you toying with me?"

Crystal tilted her head, her smile unwavering as she leaned forward.

"Let me tell you a little story, Kenny," she began, her voice almost playful. "You know the academy, right? It's a place where the strong rise, and the weak... well, they're left behind."

Kenny shifted in his seat, his eyes narrowing slightly, but he said nothing.

Crystal continued, her gaze fixed on him.

"You came in with potential, Kenny. You had talent. People noticed you. But somewhere along the way, you stopped pushing. You let yourself fall behind."

She let the words hang in the air, watching for his reaction.

Kenny clenched his fists under the table, his jaw tightening, but still, he remained silent.

"And now?" Crystal's smile turned colder. "You're about to become a second year, with nothing to show for it. The academy doesn't bet on failures, Kenny. They'll just move on. They'll find a new Kenny among the next first years, or better yet, a new Eratz. Someone with real drive and results."

She leaned back, her tone softening, but the venom still clear.

"You've had every opportunity, but you didn't take it. And now, you're watching your chance slip away."

Kenny's lips trembled as he forced a sick, twisted smile. Against his will, tears filled his eyes as he whispered.

"Why does everyone hate me? Why did you come to me if you were just going to abandon me? I didn't force you, I didn't push you away, I fucking tried! Why are you turning against me?!"

Crystal sighed, patting his hand gently.

"The problem is, I liked Kenny. But you're not Kenny anymore. The Kenny I liked had talent and pride. This… this is just a shell. You know the true value of someone once they get famous, and while some stay the same, you, you became a trash, running from women to women. I'm praising your courage though, going after that bitch after your failures was definitely courage...

Or stupidity. But, in brief, you showed me that I was wrong trusting you, and unless you get back on top, I prefer saving myself from the humiliation of supporting a loser womanizer."

She stood, preparing to leave.

"Think about it, Kenny. You have three weeks before the expedition ends. That's all the time you have left to figure it out. If you get back to Grushia like that, it's over for you."

She glanced back at him, her voice dropping.

"By the way, I saw her last week looking at protections in a shop, You know what it means?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Every second you waste crying, Eratz is rearranging Mercury's guts."

Kenny's face twisted in agony as Crystal smiled and left. He gripped his head, his mind spiraling into dark thoughts.

Outside, Crystal pulled out her phone and whispered to herself,

"Whatever, I can't trust anyone again... Maybe it's time to sacrifice him."

Meanwhile, the soft murmur of rain against the hotel windows filled the hallway.

Lisa stood at the end of the corridor, her hands fidgeting with the sleeves of her jacket.

She had been called by Rowan, and now she was here, waiting for him, unsure of what he could possibly want.

Rowan approached her, with a serious expression. He hadn't given much explanation when he asked to meet, only that it was important.

Lisa had felt uneasy the entire time, a knot of anxiety tightening in her chest as she waited.

When he finally stopped in front of her, she hesitated before speaking.

"What is it?" she asked quietly. "Why did you want to meet?"

Rowan shifted, his eyes meeting hers with a look of determination, but there was a weight behind them, something that had clearly been bothering him for a while.

He let out a slow breath before speaking, his voice steady but laced with regret.

"I need your help," he said. "I'm now sure that we made a mistake. I want to apologize and pay my debt… for what I did to Eratz. I want to prove his innocence."