Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 78: Between Two Storms



The world settled into an eerie calm as the last echoes of thunder faded into the distance.

The sky began to clear, revealing streaks of a starry night.

The air was thick with the scent of rain and scorched earth.

Eratz knelt on one knee in the middle of the ravaged clearing, his body heaving with exhaustion.

His field spell and beastification had dissipated, leaving only faint wisps that flickered around him like dying embers.

He raised his hand toward Raijinara's body.

The bird began to dissolve into streams of light, golden bolts of electricity drawn toward Eratz.

The energy surged toward him, enveloping his outstretched hand in crackling light.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

His eyes glowed faintly as the power flowed into him, Raijinara's being absorbed successfully. Sweat and rain mingled on his skin, tracing paths down his face. His eyes trembled slightly, but a slow, satisfied smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

They had succeeded.

Farther away, Mercury stood amidst a gentle swirl of shimmering particles, and face to her, Zephyraquiel, the colossal rain bird she had just defeated.

The lights danced around her, drawn toward her outstretched hand like moths to a flame. As the last of the particles converged into her palm, a brilliant glow enveloped her, and the beast was absorbed in a dazzling display.

The light faded, and Mercury let out a deep, contented sigh before her legs gave way.

She fell backward onto the damp grass, arms sprawled, breathing heavily but smiling wide as she gazed up at the clearing sky.

For a moment, neither of them moved. The silence after the storm was profound, broken only by the distant drip of water from leaves and the soft rustling of the wind.

From the edge of the forest, two small figures emerged cautiously, Colin and Milo. Their eyes were wide with concern and awe as they took in the scene before them. Milo's fairies fluttered nervously around him, their tiny lights flickering erratically. "Eratz! Mercury!" Colin called out, her voice thin against the vast silence.

Eratz turned his head slowly to look at them, his gaze softening.

"Hey, you two," he said, his voice rough but warm.

Milo rushed over to Mercury, the fairies immediately beginning to circle around her.

Their soft glow intensified as they channeled healing energies into her.

"You did it," Milo whispered, his eyes shining. "You really did it."

Mercury chuckled weakly.

"Told you, Hehe..."

Colin hurried to Eratz's side, dropping to her knees beside him, washing him under her fire.

"Are you okay?" she asked anxiously.

Eratz turned his head to smile at the girl. "Better than ever," he replied.

Colin sighed in relief.

As Milo and Colin worked their healing magic, the rest of the students and the guide, supporting Melcin, slowly began to emerge from their hiding spots within the cave.

Their movements were cautious, hesitant, and their faces were marked by a mix of shock, awe, and disbelief.

The sudden end of the storm had left them bewildered, but the sight of Eratz and Mercury standing victorious after such a monumental battle was beyond their comprehension.

The magnitude of what they had just witnessed seemed impossible to process.

Julian, for once deprived of his confidence, took a tentative step forward, his eyes wide as he stared at the two figures who had just single-handedly taken down two monstrous beasts. His voice trembled with uncertainty.

"Is... is it over?" he asked, barely managing to get the words out.

Mercury, lying back on her elbows, looked at him with a nod.

"Yes, it's over."

A murmur rippled through the group. Some students gasped audibly, while others exchanged stunned glances, trying to make sense of the scene before them.

Relief filled them in waves, but it was accompanied by something much stronger, utter disbelief, and even admiration.

They had known Eratz and Mercury were skilled beast masters, but this? What they had just witnessed transcended anything they had imagined.

It wasn't just power, it was dominance, mastery on a scale they had never seen.

Many of them had see their abilities, but now, faced with the aftermath, it was far worse than what they imagined.

Clara slowly approached Mercury and Eratz, her eyes flickering between the two.

She was struck by the silent, almost effortless connection between them.

They were close, ok. They were strong, ok. But they also shared the same feat?

Clara swallowed hard, feeling bad for Lisa. How could they be this... in tune?

Lisa trailed behind, her face pale, heart heavy. She had watched them too, seen the way they subtly exchanged gazes, the unspoken understanding that passed between them.

A sharp pain twisted in her chest as she realized the depth of the bond they shared, a bond that left her feeling more distant from Eratz than ever.

Her hands trembled slightly as she kept her distance, not wanting to face the reality of what she had seen.

Behind them, Crystal lingered at the edge of the group, her face unreadable but her eyes narrowed.

She watched Mercury intently, a wave of bitterness rising inside her. Mercury, always at the center of attention, always shining brighter than the her.

Crystal's lips curled in irritation as she crossed her arms, the resentment bubbling within her.

Nothing was worse than seeing her rival in the light.

Kenny, hidden in the shadows, remained frozen in place, his heart pounding painfully in his chest.

He couldn't move, couldn't bring himself to step into the light. His mind reeled, replaying the horrible noises they heard, and now Eratz was there, victorious after going through that.

It was unimaginable, the gap between them wasn't just large, it was insurmountable.

His fingers twitched as he clenched his fists, frustration and fear boiling inside him.

'How did he become this strong?'

He felt like a child compared to them, and the realization made his stomach churn.

More students began to gather around Eratz and Mercury, their expressions a mix of awe and

regret.

One of the braver students, a petite girl with short brown hair and glasses, hesitated before

stepping forward.

Her voice was shaky, her words barely above a whisper.

"Thank you," she said. "You... saved us. We would've died without you."

Another student, his face flushed with embarrassment, nodded in agreement.

"We were wrong... about everything."

A third voice chimed in, more confident but equally remorseful.

"Yeah, we treated you like outsiders, but you're not... You're the only reason we're still alive.

Sorry about that."

More voices followed, their tone filled with gratitude and a hint of shame.

"We... misjudged you. We let rumors cloud our judgment. I'm so sorry."

"Thank you, Eratz, and Mercury. We don't deserve what you did for us."

The chorus of apologies and thanks grew louder, the students' regret palpable as they

gathered closer.

The atmosphere was heavy with the weight of their changed perspective.

Everything they thought they knew about Eratz had crumbled in the face of undeniable power.

Eratz, still recovering from the battle, slowly rose to his feet.

He looked over the group, his expression calm.

"It's alright, it's convenient to be strong, right?" he said simply. "I'm not angry, I wouldn't

have met my family without it."

A boy scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, his usual bravado absent. He looked

sheepishly at Eratz.

"Yeah... Maybe we should have considered that you weren't a cheater... Sorry that it had to

come to this. We shouldn't have treated you like that. I guess we let those rumors get the best

of us."

Eratz offered him a small, smile.

"Well, nothing has been denied today, maybe appearances still matter?"

Mercury, now fully on her feet, stretched her arms and rolled her shoulders, the tension

easing from her muscles.

She glanced around at the group, a small smirk playing on her lips.

"Well, now I think it's time we keep moving. No telling what else might be out there waiting

for us." The guide, who had remained silent during the exchange, finally stepped forward, still supporting a barely conscious Melcin.

His face was pale, and he was visibly shaken by what had transpired. He glanced between

Eratz and Mercury, his voice quiet and uncertain.

"You're... You're something else. I've never seen anything like that in my life."

Eratz raised an eyebrow, his voice neutral.

"Aren't you a pro beast master? Are you living in a cave?"

The students, still in shock, began to gather their belongings. They headed back in the cave to

recover what was left and soon, met again at he entrance.

As they organized themselves, Lisa approached Eratz cautiously.

"Eratz," she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

He turned to look at her, his expression fading in a frown.

"Hm?"

She hesitated, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"I... I'm glad you're okay."

He regarded her for a moment before rising an eyebrow.

An uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Lisa opened her mouth to say more, but

the words wouldn't come.

Mercury observed from a short distance, her gaze unreadable.

Clara touched Lisa's arm gently.

"Come on," she urged softly. "We should get going."

Lisa cast one last glance at Eratz before allowing herself to be led away.

As they set off toward the forest's edge, the students fell into small groups, their conversations hushed.

The atmosphere was a mix of residual fear and burgeoning respect for their unexpected

saviors.

When they reached the entrance of the forest, Eratz and Mercury halted.

"We'll part here, you should be fine on your own," Eratz announced.

The students exchanged puzzled looks.

"Why? You're not coming?" Julian asked, voicing the group's curiosity.

Eratz glanced at Mercury before replying.

"What's happened in the forest stay in the forest. We have obligations to tend to."

Mercury nodded in agreement.

"You all should head back too. There's no danger now."

The girl with glasses stepped forward again.

"Will you be okay on your own? Don't you need to see a doctor?"

Eratz smiled reassuringly.

"We'll be fine."

There was a moment of hesitation before she spoke again.

"Eratz, can I ask you something?"

He met her gaze.

"Go ahead."

She took a deep breath.

"At the academy, there were... rumors about you. That you did something terrible. That you

cheated to be stronger and that you assaulted someone... Is it true?"

The air grew thick with tension as everyone fell silent. All eyes turned to Eratz, waiting for his

response.

Even those who had been avoiding the subject now stood still, eager to hear his answer. Crystal, who had been keeping her distance, stiffened, her heart racing.

At this moment, Eratz was invincible, whatever he would say would come Truth.

She bit her lip nervously, her fingers trembling as she watched Eratz carefully.

She had hoped to stay in the shadows, but now she feared she might be dragged into the light.

Eratz's eyes flickered briefly toward the back of the group, where Kenny and Crystal stood

partially obscured.

He shrugged lightly.

"Perhaps you should ask those who spread the rumors."

The students turned to look at each other, confusion evident.

"Who started the rumors?" someone whispered.

Eratz answered indifferently.

"Those hiding behind you might have some answers."

Kenny's face drained of color. He took an involuntary step back. Crystal's eyes widened, a

flicker of panic crossing her features.

Clara followed Eratz's gaze.

"Wait, Kenny? Crystal?"