Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 110: Unfinished Business



Ryder fought relentlessly against Raya, but it was pointless.

Her massive, six-armed samurai beast moved with terrifying speed.

Every swing of her blade sent waves of energy crashing toward him.

He couldn't keep up, couldn't dodge, couldn't...

He woke up with a gasp.

He blinked, disoriented, his breathing heavy.

Mercury, Catarina, and Kaida stood around his bed, watching him.

"Ryder! You're awake!" Mercury's voice was a mix of relief and concern as she leaned closer.

Catarina flicked her tail nervously, giving a small, relieved smile.

"Nyaa, you really scared us there."

Ryder blinked, still disoriented, glancing around at the worried faces of his teammates.

He took in their expressions before looking down at his own body, realizing that the injuries he remembered had somehow vanished.

"What... what happened?" he murmured, confusion thick in his voice. "Did I... already fight Raya?" he whispered.

The girls exchanged glances, unable to meet his eyes at first. Finally, Kaida stepped forward, placing a firm but gentle hand on his shoulder.

"You did your best," she said quietly, her voice steady. "But Raya... she's in a league of her own."

The realization hit Ryder like a punch. His head lowered, and a wave of disappointment washed over him.

"So, I lost..."

Mercury's expression softened as she placed a comforting hand on his arm.

"Hey, you gave it your all. It's your first tournament, and you faced one of the toughest competitors out there. Don't let this one match define you."

Catarina gave a small, sheepish laugh, scratching the back of her neck.

"And, uh... sorry if I was a bit over-the-top with all the cheering this week. Maybe I should come up with a quieter 'you can do it' for next time."

Kaida crossed her arms, her usual fierceness returning.

"Losing isn't the end, man. Use this as fuel. We're all here to get better, not just win every time. You'll come back stronger."

Ryder clenched his fists.

"I know... but... Fuck... I wanted to win... Like you... I wanted to prove I belong here," he said, his voice shaky.

Kaida sat beside him.

"Don't be stupid, man, this is just one battle. What counts is how you come back from it."

"Absolutely," Mercury agreed. "We're a team. We'll help each other get stronger."

Ryder forced a small smile, grateful for their support, though the sting of defeat still weighed heavily on him.

Just then, the door swung open, and a familiar voice broke the tension.

"Ah, finally awake," Eratz said, strolling in with a white towel slung over his shoulder.

All heads turned to him in surprise.

"Eratz?" Mercury jumped. "What are you still doing here?! What's about your match?"

Eratz shrugged, leaning casually against the doorframe.

"Already done. Had enough time to take a bath and everything."

Catarina's eyes widened, and she nearly choked.

"You're serious? You already finished?" she asked, completely taken aback.

Eratz smirked, enjoying their reactions. "Should have been even shorter, I wanted to take a bath for dramatic effect but I dropped the soap in the process and my honor forbid me to take it back."

Mercury walked over, giving him an appraising look.

"You're not hurt or anything, right?"

Eratz put a hand over his heart.

"Only my heart, everyone got an interesting challenge and I'm here completely and utterly bored."

The others couldn't help but laugh, though Mercury's gaze lingered on him a little longer than necessary.

Eratz's attention shifted back to Ryder, and he gave a small nod.

"You okay, Ryder?"

Ryder looked down, his hands clenching slightly.

"I... I'm sorry. I lost." His voice was barely above a whisper, the weight of disappointment

clear.

Eratz leaned in, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, don't sweat it. It's just your first tournament. We've got time to get stronger. Let's train harder together after this."

Ryder nodded, his face contorting as he tried to hold back tears.

"I... I really wanted to do better for all of you..."

Mercury squeezed his shoulder gently. "We're proud of you, Ryder. You've come so far.

Losing one match doesn't change that."

Ryder's resolve finally cracked, and a few tears slipped down his cheeks.

"Thank you... all of you. I'll do better next time."

The team gave him a moment, each of them silently vowing to help him come back stronger.

Back in the arena, the final matches of the first round were concluding. Bastian faced off against Ophelia Winters, securing a win with his strength and strategy.

Back in the arena, the final battles of the first round raged on. Bastian's agility narrowly outmatched Ophelia Winters, securing his place in the next round.

Alaric triumphed over Leona Greaves with a precise and calculated approach, while Fenris barely edged out a victory against Amara Solis in a close, nail-biting match.

Ren's finesse overwhelmed Titus Voss, and in two closely fought battles, Ari Dales bested Xyla Nore, while Lila Wynne triumphed over Viktor.

With all matches completed, the announcer's voice boomed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the first round of the Greenridge League Finals is now complete!"

The fighters, both winners and those who lost, lined up in the center of the arena.

The chairman stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over them.

"Today, we witnessed incredible skill and courage," he began. "To those who advanced, congratulations. To those who did not, hold your heads high. Your journey does not end

here."

He gestured toward the defeated fighters. The crowd rose to their feet, giving them a standing ovation.

Ryder stood among them, looking up at the cheering audience. He felt a mix of emotions but managed a small smile.

As the applause continued, Sia murmured something and Nyx, who stood beside her, widened

her eyes in surprise, but she nodded.

The announcer continued.

"Now, it's time to reveal the matchups for the Round of 16!"

The big screen lit up, names shuffling before settling into pairs:

1. Sia Verizion vs. Ren

2. Bastian vs. Viktor

3. Mercury Banks vs. Jaden

4. Gabriel vs. Fenris

5. Eratz Pandora vs. Alaric

6. Catarina vs. Ari Dales

7. Kaida vs. Kuro

8. Raya Kobayashi vs. Lila Wynne

A dark smile tugged at Mercury's lips as she saw her pairing on the screen: Jaden. This was the opponent she had been hoping for, a chance to settle things and stand up for Milo. Her eyes

gleamed with fierce satisfaction.

"Finally," she murmured.

Catarina noticed and leaned over, curiosity in her gaze. "Hm? You're actually happy about this

matchup?"

Mercury nodded, a hint of excitement in her eyes. "I've been waiting for a chance to tear the

wings off this butterfly."

Across the lineup, Ren's face had gone pale, his heart pounding as he realized he'd be facing

the Ice Empress.

A tight knot formed in his stomach, and his hands felt clammy.

He glanced at Sia, who stood composed and calm, her icy blue gaze never wavering. Next to him, Alaric swallowed hard, his eyes landing on Eratz's name beside his. He let out a defeated sigh, muttering to himself,

"The Apex Predator... just my luck." He groaned softly, clenching his fists until his knuckles

turned white.

Ari Dales took a sharp breath as he saw he'd be facing Catarina. He'd seen her last match, her agility, her confidence, it all made him nervous.

"Well... better than anything else," he whispered, trying to psych himself up. Catarina, meanwhile, caught him looking and flashed a mischievous grin, clearly enjoying his unease. Raya was paired with Lila Wynne, who shifted uncomfortably, clearly unnerved. She tried to keep her composure, but her hands fidgeted, her eyes darting toward Raya.

"It's definitely rigged," Lila said. "They just wanted to get rid of us." After the match-ups were announced, the fighters were given a few hours of free time before

the next round. Everyone had their own way of dealing with the anticipation.

Kaida stretched her arms with a yawn, glancing around.

"I'm hitting the bed early. Gonna need every ounce of energy to crush my match tomorrow,"

she said with a grin, giving everyone a quick wave before heading off to her room.

Catarina, already fidgeting, smirked.

"No way I'm missing out on exploring this town. Gotta see what it's got to offer, nya!" She

winked, flicking her tail as she glanced at Eratz and Mercury. "Catch you guys later."

Eratz hesitated, glancing at Mercury.

"I was thinking of going out to hunt some new creatures," he said, his tone leaving room for something else, a silent offer, a willingness to shift his plan if she wanted something

different.

Mercury's lips curved into a slight smile, her eyes meeting his with an understanding that

went beyond words.

She didn't need to say anything, just a nod, quiet and steady. Her gaze held a warmth that

seemed to tell him.

"Go on, do what you want. I'll be here." she said softly, giving him the freedom he was

looking for.

He grinned, nodding.

"Alright. Catch you later." "Make it worth it," she added, a warmth in her eyes that lingered as he turned to leave.

They shared a brief moment, a silent understanding, before she added.

"I'll get my payment after the tournament."

Eratz chuckled.

"Noted."

With that, they each went their separate ways, each ready to take a moment alone before the

intensity of the next day.

Later, Eratz was perched atop one of the tallest buildings in town, the view unfolding beneath

him like a tapestry of lights.

The city stretched out under the night sky, bustling but calm, as if holding its breath.

The cool night air was refreshing, and for a moment, he felt lighter, like he was floating above

everything else.

He smiled to himself, feeling an unfamiliar sense of peace.

"It's not every day we get to see things like this," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper.

But as he watched the lights flicker below, a thought tugged at him, a small regret that he hadn't brought his family out to enjoy the moment, too.

They didn't get nights like this often, and it felt strange to experience it alone.

He sighed, half to himself.

"Maybe I should head back and find them..."

A soft voice drifted from the shadows, breaking the quiet.

"There's always time to do what you want," the voice said calmly, almost gently. "You justNôv(el)B\\jnn

need to remember to enjoy it... like you did before."

Startled, Eratz turned, scanning the shadows. Sitting cross-legged, calm and almost ethereal,

was Raya.