Dominion of The Beast Masters

Victoria sat on the ground, her hands trembling slightly, as she stared at Eratz. Her composed demeanor and ironclad focus had cracked, leaving her looking vulnerable in a way no one had ever seen.

Eratz was stunned. He had faced monsters, geniuses, and challenges that would break anyone. Still, Victoria, the unshakable pillar of Golden Cosmos, looking at him with such an expression of raw emotion left him speechless.

Victoria inhaled deeply, forcing herself to steady her voice.

"My apologies for the outburst," she said, rising shakily to her feet with the help of Zara and Mercury. "But Eratz…" She paused, her gaze sharp and piercing. "Do you even realize the weight of what you've just said?"

The room fell silent, and everyone froze, waiting for her explanation.

Victoria sat back down in her chair, her posture stiff, as though bracing herself for what she had to share. Her fingers interlaced tightly, and for the first time, there was a visible weariness in her eyes.

"It's a catastrophe," she began softly, almost to herself. She closed her eyes briefly, gathering her thoughts before she spoke again, her tone low and heavy. "Let me explain. The world of beast masters is deeper... darker... than any of you realize."

The others leaned in slightly, their expressions shifting to unease as they hung on her words. Victoria's gaze swept the room.

"You all know the fundamentals of beast mastery. To tame a beast, we must defeat it without killing it. A balance of power and restraint. But… this has always led to a question. One that every beast master should have considered at some point." Her voice dropped. "What happens to a beast when its master dies?"

Ryder tensed. Kaida folded her arms tightly, her jaw clenching.

"For a long time," Victoria continued, "no one knew the answer. Some believed the beasts would vanish alongside their master. Others thought they might return to the wild, reborn as a new creature."

She straightened, though her shoulders sagged slightly under the pressure of what she was about to reveal.

"But one day, we got our answer. Decades ago, a story began circulating. I can't confirm its veracity. It spoke of a beast master so formidable they were deemed untouchable. Their ultimate weapon was a beast of unmatched power, known as the Infernis Striker. This fire-winged creature could unleash an attack so devastating it left entire landscapes scorched. The attack became infamous among those who witnessed its destruction, earning the name Ashstorm Oblivion."

Colin's eyes widened, her calm demeanor giving way to visible discomfort. Milo tugged at Mercury's sleeve.

Victoria's voice grew colder.

"This beast master was a legend in their own right, not for wielding a legendary beast, but for commanding a special one with an attack so unique and terrifying that it was both feared and revered across the world. Yet, no matter how extraordinary, a legend remains a mortal being, bound by the same fate as all others. One day, they died, and with their passing, their legacy of beasts vanished."

She let her words hang in the air before continuing, her voice dropping even further.

"Years later, rumors began to spread. Someone claimed to have encountered a beast… not just similar to the Infernis Striker, but identical. The same fiery plumage. The description of its attack was the same as the legendary impossible attack, Ashstorm Oblivion

.

"

The room grew colder as her words settled in. Catarina's ears.

"That's when the theory emerged," Victoria continued. "When a beast master dies, their beasts do not vanish. They respawn. Somewhere in the world, untamed, in the same state they were when their master died, not older, nor younger, the very same, living once again by themselves, and meeting one day their end."

The air in the room felt suffocating.

Cassie gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth as she gripped Roger's arm tightly. The weight of her words fell like a hammer. Ryder shifted uncomfortably, Kaida's showed an expression of unease, and even Catarina's ears flattened slightly, her tail flicking nervously.

Victoria's sharp gaze swept the room.

"Do you understand what this means?"

Eratz's frown deepened. He understood. Slowly, he murmured.

"It means… if someone wanted my beasts…"
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"They will try to kill you," Zara finished hesitantly, her voice almost a whisper.

The room erupted into murmurs of worry. Cassie and Roger exchanged alarmed glances, their faces pale.

"This is… this is horrifying," Roger murmured. "How can they even think of something like that?"

Milo and Colin looked confused.

"But… Eratz is strong! No one could..." Milo began, puffing out his chest.

Catarina cut him off, her tone unusually sharp.

"It's not just about strength, kiddo. This is different. If someone's willing to kill for power… they won't try to get it fair and square!"

Kaida's lips tightened as she folded her arms.

"Yeah, it depends on who we're talking about. But… who would kill someone just to take their beasts?"

Eratz's voice broke through the tension, quiet but steady.

"Obviously, another beast master."

Victoria nodded slowly.

"Not just any beast master." Her voice was heavy, each word measured. "Someone who has been at the top, or close enough... for so long that she knows what unique beasts like these represent. A master willing to do anything to get them."

Eratz observed her for a moment, then frowned as he processed something she said.

"'She'? Wait, are you talking about someone?"

Victoria hesitated, her fingers tightening around the arms of her chair as if to anchor herself.

"Not just her. Them. There are two... that I know."

The room stilled. No one dared speak as Victoria's voice dropped, filled with an uncharacteristic edge of fear.

"The Queen, and the Star Crusher."

The names landed like a thunderclap.

Catarina's lips parted in disbelief.

"The Queen... The Star Crusher?" Her voice trembled.

Ryder whispered.

"Tamara Regalia... and Kallistra Dyscordia?"

Zara gasped audibly, her hand flying to her mouth.

"Those names… Victoria..."

Victoria nodded, her expression grim.

"You've heard of them. Perhaps not directly, but if you're really a beast master, you have to know at least one of these names. They are the pinnacle of beast mastery. Tamara is the reigning world champion, considered by many as the strongest beast master alive. Kallistra… she's the main reason I'm terrified for you, Eratz."