Dominion of The Beast Masters

Eratz stepped on the edge of the rooftop, his gaze turning to the horizon. Tamara stood a few feet away, her posture relaxed but her sharp eyes fixed on him.

"Kallistra again, huh?" Eratz said finally, his tone even. "Let me guess, a moonlight, so I take it this is about her little proposal?"

Tamara nodded, stepping closer.

"You're aware of the danger she represents. I spoke with Victoria, and I know she's clued you in."

Eratz glanced at her, his expression skeptical.

"If she's that dangerous, why would you let her roam free?"

Tamara's lips twitched into a faint, bitter smile. She hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke.

"You know, Eratz, it's not as simple as it looks. There's a part of me that wants to act, to remove her from the equation entirely. But what would that make me? If I did that, I'd be no better than her. I'm… idealistic in my own twisted way. I want to live in a world where people face the consequences of their actions. That's why she's still here, why I haven't done what I could have. someone has to try to maintain a line between peace and Hell, so as long as I'll be the strongest, Kallistra won't do anything."

She paused, her gaze turning to the moon.

"It's also why I'm here. To warn you. She's not just dangerous because of what she's done. It's what she's trying to do that's far worse."

Eratz arched an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for her to continue.

"Kallistra wants to go beyond the boundaries of nature," Tamara said, her voice heavier. "What that boy did with the Karinite 4? That's child's play compared to her ambitions. That boy wanted to bend the nature of his body. Kallistra wants to do the same on a bigger scale."

Eratz frowned, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Bigger scale?"

Tamara turned to face him fully, her expression dead serious.

"Her goal is to reach what lies beyond the Calamity Beasts. Beyond the beasts that govern nature are the ones who created it: the legendary beasts. When Kallistra and I worked together, she was obsessed with finding them. At first, I thought it was just that, an obsession. But one day, she told me something that changed everything."

Tamara's voice dropped, her words coming slower.

"If the legends are true, there's a legendary beast for every aspect of existence. Every single thing. Think about it, Eratz. If you could control them, you wouldn't just command beasts. You'd control reality itself. Recreate it. Alter it."

Eratz's eyes widened, listening to the shaking pieces of information Tamara casually threw at him, but his face remained impassive.

"And you think she wants me because…?"

"Because of your awakening," Tamara said bluntly. "if you have so many unique beast, it means it gave you the ability to locate them. If you can do that, then you're a crucial piece of her puzzle."

Eratz's brow furrowed.

"The awakening... my red eyes?"

Tamara sighed, gesturing for him to sit.

"Yes. Let's start with the basics. Your eyes, the color change, are the mark of an awakened Ishtarian. It means you've unlocked your hidden potential, it's tied to power. Something triggered it, something related to what you're capable of now."

Eratz blinked, his expression blank. Tamara raised an eyebrow, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly.

"What are you even doing with our heritage?" she asked exasperated.

Eratz sighed, crossing his arms.

"The only person in my house who knew about Ishtarian culture hated it so much she refused to even talk about it."

Tamara blinked, her frown deepening.

"That's a damn shame," she muttered, gesturing for him to sit beside her. "Alright, I'll give you the crash course."

They both sat on the edge of the rooftop, the city sprawling below them in quiet stillness.

"An Ishtarian awakens their hidden potential after experiencing a powerful psychological shock," Tamara began. "It's always tied to the event that triggered it. The abilities can vary, immunity to certain powers, heightened instincts."

Eratz's gaze shifted to the sky, his thoughts drifting. Colin awakened when Mercury and he were neutralized by the Calamity Birds. Her power… healing flames. The memory remained, sharp and vivid, as he tried to piece together what it meant.

Tamara continued.

"And while every awakened Ishtarian gains a unique ability, there's one trait we all share. We can see the information of beasts."

Eratz's gaze snapped back to her.

"All of us?"

"Yes," she said. "And depending on your training you can see more. In my case, my awakening came from the will to defeat the monster that threatened me, Vicky, and Kallistra. When I awakened, I could see something… different. I could feel the weaknesses of beasts. It let me dominate any of them."

She looked at the moon, her expression softening.

"There's something else I've noticed about my abilities, it seems... more present against unique beasts than against normal ones." Discover more stories at empire

Eratz's eyes widened.

"Stronger against uniques?"

Tamara smiled faintly.

"That's what gave me the edge over Kallistra. Her ultimate abilities rely heavily on unique beasts. So, in a way, she nerfed herself without realizing it. If you're going to face me, you can't rely on that alone. I'll overwhelm you unless you push beyond your limits. But since Victoria's training you, you might actually have a shot."

Eratz studied her, his expression guarded.

"Why are you telling me this? You sound like you're more interested in me beating you than your friend."

Tamara's smile widened.

"Maybe? You look like a friend and you sent Vicky back on the race. You're practically a bro now. And if you could add Kally to your beating, I'd be grateful. Anyway, I'm not worried, because secrets mean nothing if you don't train. An awakened Ishtarian who doesn't train to fight is just as vulnerable as anyone else, so I know knowing my secrets won't serve you."

She hesitated, her expression shifting slightly.

"There's more I could tell you, but…" She trailed off, her eyes lingering on him, before her tone softened, almost sisterly. "Tell you what, Eratz. Join my agency, and I'll tell you everything."

Eratz chuckled, shaking his head.

"Not interested."

Tamara sighed, though her grin remained.

"Fair enough, but you should think about it. You've got something special, and it's not just about your power. I'm starting to like you, not just as a fighter, but as someone who could do more. The door's always open for a lost cub like you. You've got the potential, Eratz, and I'd love to see you take the reins one day."

She stood, brushing off her pants.

"Think about it, at least. But… do me a favor. Don't go see Kallistra."

Eratz raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"I'm serious," she pressed, her tone more somber. "She's persuasive. And dangerous. You don't need her in your head."

Eratz sighed.

"I don't know what you're expecting me to do. Avoid her forever? I need time to think, and time is all I lack right now."

She sighed and studied him for a moment.

"I see, so her offer still interests you?" she asked, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Let me give you a reason to never see her again." She stepped back, her shadow stretching long and sharp across the rooftop.

A black substance began to flow around her fingers, coiling and twisting as it took shape.

"Tamara," Eratz said, his voice low but steady, "what are you doing?"

With a flick of her wrist, the substance solidified, revealing an object that faintly glowed with an otherworldly light. She held it out, her voice barely above a whisper.

"This," she said, her tone heavy with meaning, "is the reason Kallistra and I fought. The key to the legendary beasts."