Dominion of The Beast Masters

Tamara sat on the rooftop, her legs dangling over the edge as the first rays of dawn painted the horizon in hues of gold and pink.

The city below was still asleep, a gentle calm washing over the streets. Her gaze was fixed on the sunrise, a soft, satisfied smile playing on her lips.

"The world is a beautiful place," she murmured. "What makes it so special is that you could never see it all. Every corner, every shadow, holds something new, something unexplored. And that's why I'm in love with the mystery of living beings." She tilted her head slightly, her smile widening. "Don't you agree?"

Behind her, a figure emerged from the shadows. Kallistra stepped forward, her arms crossed, the sound of her heels echoing through the roof.

She followed Tamara's gaze to the sunrise, her expression unreadable.

"If you really want to protect this world," Kallistra said, her voice smooth and deliberate, "you should challenge me for the second orb. That way, you'd ensure there's no risk of me using it."

Tamara chuckled softly and turned to glance at her.

"Challenge you? That's cute. Sorry, shrimp, but I already done enough. I've fucked up your plans to make you squirm. That's enough for me."

Kallistra's lips twitched into a faint smirk.

"You're far too confident in your comprehension of Eratz's wisdom. Between fighting you, leaving his agency, or taking the orb freely, the choice is obvious. I didn't even need to intervene to make him see that, you keep helping me without realizing."

Tamara's smile didn't falter.

"Oh, I'm confident for good reason. He's got more clarity than you'll ever understand. Meeting him reminded me that people like you, people who think life is a game, always lose in the end. With him around, you'll never get what you're after. I can retire anytime now."

Kallistra's gaze narrowed slightly, the faintest flicker of irritation crossing her face.

"And what makes you so sure? You're putting your confidence on a boy who's not you. Eratz might see the legendary beasts in a way you can't predict. He doesn't share your principles, Tamara. The number of unique beasts he hunted proves my point."

Tamara turned her head fully, meeting Kallistra's sharp gaze with one of calm superiority.

"You're right. He isn't me, and certainly not you. And that's exactly why I trust him. You think your game is clever, but this is wasted time. It might be time for you to think about resting."

Kallistra's smirk returned, sighing as she looked at the horizon.
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"I understand you, your era is over, my poor fossil. I suggest you lose on purpose so you let the better version of yourself take the throne."

Tamara rose to her feet, brushing the dust off her coat.

"That's the goal, bitch. Don't worry though, I'll write a manual to be a perfect fossil, so you won't be lost when it comes to you."

The two women stood in silence for a moment, the tension between them as tangible as the dawn breaking over the horizon.

Later that day, the hotel where the Cosmos resided for the time being was the center of attention. Crowds gathered outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the agency's stars.

Inside, however, the mood was far more serious. The team sat in a large living room, their expressions varying from concerned to contemplative. The topic of Eratz's earlier conversation with Tamara hung heavily in the air.

"There's a lot to consider here," Zara began. "The opportunity to test our strength against world-tier beast masters is tempting, but are we ready for that level of challenge?"

Mercury leaned forward, her arms crossed.

"We already know the answer. Victoria showed us just how unprepared we are. Remember how she wiped the floor with us?"

Eratz, seated calmly, pulled out his phone.

"You're not wrong," he said, scrolling through a file. "But maybe this isn't exactly the truth. I learned interesting things with Tamara."

The team leaned closer as Eratz began showing a web page about beast masters on his phone. Their curiosity shifted to wide-eyed disbelief as he scrolled more. Shocked gasps and muttered exclamations filled the room.

Raya, sitting slightly behind the group, frowned.

"What is it? Is there something? Why's everyone so quiet?" she asked, tilting her head.

No one answered at first. All eyes turned toward Victoria, who was sipping her tea nervously, avoiding their gazes.

"Is this real?" Kaida finally exclaimed, her voice rising. "Eratz was right, she's not normal!"

The web page revealed Victoria's illustrious history, not just as a top-tier beast master but as one of the most formidable stars in the world circuit. In her prime, she had defeated Tamara three times out of seven matches and bested Kallistra twice.

Her only losses were also against those two, and from memory, they were supposed to use unique beasts. Victoria had essentially dominated the world-tier circuit, standing just a step away from the very top.

Kaida leaned back, still processing.

"I thought you only lost to them! But you actually defeated Tamara and Kallistra?!" she asked, her voice incredulous.

Victoria's hand trembled slightly as she set her teacup down.

"That's more complicated. When they used their unique beasts, I was always outclassed, so they started fighting at my level for some reason, probably ridicule me, and I beat them," she said softly. "Basically at full power, they're stronger, without their unique beasts, I could win."

"Basically, she was taking on the best and only losing to them," Eratz said, breaking the silence. "So, I want us to try smaller. To see how we do against those who'd rank below her at her peak."

Mercury's brow furrowed.

"And if we lose?" she asked, her tone heavy with concern. "If we're not ready, and we fail…" She glanced at Eratz. "You will join Tamara? We can't give a try with that kind of threat."

Eratz leaned back in his chair, folding his arms.

"I need to know if we can handle this level now. We're doing great on the continental stage, and it could help us to see how much we need to improve for the next... Then there's the other thing."

Victoria's gaze locked onto Eratz, her tone measured but pressing.

"You're still ignoring the risk… if we lose, and you join her." She leaned forward slightly. "I think I know where your confidence comes from, but this isn't just about proving yourself anymore, is it? This is about the legendary beasts."

The room became quiet, her words cutting through the group like a blade. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances. The legendary beasts, the elusive pinnacle of beast mastery, weren't just a rumor anymore. Tamara had made that clear.

Zara's voice broke the silence, firm and resolute.

"If it's only about the legendary beasts, then it's not worth the risk," she said, her brow furrowed. "We don't know what we're walking into. We don't know what happens if we succeed, or worse, if we fail. The stakes are too high."

Kaida raised a hand.

"Hold on. I think you're jumping to the worst-case scenario too soon," she said, her voice cutting through. "Yes, it's a problem if we lose, but we can't let that fear stop us from the essentials. Let's not forget what we're dealing with here." She paused, her eyes sweeping across the group with conviction. "Guys, this is a legendary beast. Something we're not even sure exists. What kind of beast master doesn't want to see one? To confirm it?"

Her passion filled the room, her words igniting a flicker of something primal in the others.

"Before being beast masters, we're beast tamers," Kaida continued, her tone firm. "It's in our blood to chase the finest beast. The legendaries? They're the top, the dream. If we don't even try, we're not just failing ourselves; we're failing everything that makes us who we are. This isn't just a hunt anymore, it's part of our legacy."

Ryder hesitated, his gaze shifting between Kaida and Zara. He rubbed the back of his neck, his voice thoughtful yet cautious.

"She's got a point," he admitted, glancing at Eratz. "If we refuse to act, we're leaving the door wide open for Tamara and Kallistra to do anything. If we sit this one out, we'll be giving up before the game even starts. "

Zara's frown deepened, her arms crossed tightly.

"And what if playing their game backfires? What then?" she shot back. "Do you think Tamara or Kallistra will be a walk in the park? You couldn't defeat Victoria, what makes you sure you could beat people around her league?"

The tension in the room thickened until Raya's calm voice interjected.

"I understand your concern, miss Zara. Truly, I do." She tilted her head slightly. "But staying still is a risk too, isn't it? Doing nothing leaves us vulnerable. This isn't about recklessness. It's about resolve. We're beast tamers because we adapt and rise to challenges, no matter how overwhelming they seem. If we're not ready, we learn. If we're too scared to act, then we've already lost. We've come this far because we always took any risk imaginable, if we start running away from our nature, then we open the door to our decline."

Her words carried a weight of wisdom, quieting even Zara. Raya leaned back slightly, her sightless eyes directed toward Eratz.

"And I believe Eratz knows that. He's not the type to move blindly. If he thinks we should do it, then I won't oppose him."

Mercury finally spoke, her voice calm but tinged with determination.

"They're not wrong," she said. "And at least if we're involved, we can maintain some control. If we walk away now, we lose any chance to influence what happens next. Tamara and Kallistra won't leave us in peace now that they know Eratz has this ability. But if we're in their game, we can be sure they will follow their rules."

Victoria's sharp gaze flicked between the group.

"You're all making valid points," she said. "And I see the passion. But don't forget what's at stake. If you're going to do this, you need to be prepared for what's coming. World Star is called the best agency for a reason. And if we lose Eratz…" She trailed off, letting the weight of her words sink in. "We can't even begin to imagine it."

They all exchanged a gaze, then nodded altogether. All were ready for taking that risk.

Zara sighed, the fight in her softening as she rubbed her temples.

"All right," she said reluctantly. "But only because I know you're all stubborn enough to do it with or without me."

Victoria's expression softened, though her tone remained firm.

"Then it's settled," she said. "Let's contact Tamara. We will take the challenge."