Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 152: The Hunter and The Predator



Eratz soared across the sky on Raijinara's back, the bird's wings slicing through the clouds with powerful, steady beats.

The sun had dipped behind the horizon, casting a golden glow across the landscape below, painting everything in shades of orange and gold.

It had been two days since he first accessed this new mind state, and in that time, he had pushed himself to maintain the delicate balance, avoiding another catastrophic storm like the last one.

The air felt different now, charged with a subtle, electric pulse that synced with Raijinara's soul. Eratz, eyes half-lidded, scanned the horizon.

He could feel it: one of the faint, glowing threads of energy stretching out ahead of him, like a thin guiding line in the sky.

It was closer than before, a sign that he was on the right path.

As he got used to this state, the information came to him more easily, clearer than it had been at first.

It was as if the world itself was speaking to him through these threads.

He could sense the currents of the wind, the subtle vibrations in the earth below, and even the distant presence of other beasts hiding in the shadows of the forests, burrowing deep underground, or stalking prey in the open plains.

He felt the presence of his beasts too. The Thunder Lycaon and the Terrakrus were still battling, their auras flaring as they tore through groups of lesser monsters.

He could sense the Aetheri hovering further away, absorbing the defeated beasts' essence one by one through their energy.

The process was slower than expected, but Eratz couldn't spare them more energy. He had to conserve his strength for what lay ahead.

He knew he was closing in on something significant.

The thread of energy in front of him began to grow, becoming more vibrant, more tangible. The landscape below started to shift, the lush greenery giving way to rocky terrain.

The earth beneath them became rougher, jagged rocks jutting out like broken bones piercing through the surface.

In the distance, Eratz could see mountains rising up against the horizon, their peaks sharp and intimidating.

He frowned, narrowing his eyes as he watched the thread grow thicker and brighter.

This had to be the place.

He slowed Raijinara's speed, pulling back gently on the bird's mane.

They glided into the mountains, the wind colder here, carrying the scent of ash and smoke.

The more they advanced, the quieter the world became. He noticed the absence of noise, the lack of movement from small creatures in the underbrush.

It was as if the entire area had been abandoned, left in a tense, breathless silence, or rather, deserted, due to the arrival of a mastodon.

And then, finally, there was something. A life signal. It was faint, but unmistakable. Eratz's eyes snapped open wide, the realization hitting him like a jolt of lightning.

"T-There... There's really something..." he whispered to himself, his breath catching in his throat.

He could feel it, a presence, alive and intense, somewhere within the rocky landscape.

It was directly in the path of the thread he'd been following.

His heartbeat quickened, pounding in his chest with a mixture of anticipation and excitement.

He knew now, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the life he was sensing was no ordinary creature.

This was the unique beast, the one he'd been tracking, it was something linked to Raijinara, a potential Calamity beast.

The tension in the air was palpable as they flew deeper into the mountain range.

Eratz leaned forward, his hands gripping Raijinara's mane, feeling the bird's feathers crackle with static.

The silence was oppressive, the only sound the faint whistle of the wind as it threaded through the jagged rocks.

As they neared a narrow pass between two towering cliffs, Raijinara let out a low, guttural sound, almost like a groan.

It wasn't a sound of pain, but a warning, a dangerous noise that sent shivers down Eratz's spine.

"You feel it too, don't you?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Raijinara's wings beat slowly now, almost hovering as they approached a rocky outcrop.

The bird's head tilted slightly, as if scanning the area, its keen eyes locked on the direction of the thread.

Eratz's heart pounded in his chest, louder than ever before. He felt the thrill of the unknown, the anticipation building like a storm on the horizon.

He was so close. Every instinct in his body screamed that this was it. This was the place.

The pass opened up, revealing a wide plateau at the edge of a steep cliff. The ground was scorched, blackened by old flames, the rocks cracked and charred.

It looked like a battleground, a place where nature itself had once raged in fury.

Eratz took a deep breath, the air here thick with the smell of sulfur and smoke. He leaned forward, scanning the area carefully, his eyes sharp and focused.

And then he saw it.

Standing right at the border of the cliff, facing directly in his direction, was a figure unlike any he'd ever seen before.

The beast stood tall, a humanoid figure with lean, agile limbs that promised both speed and

power.

Its fur was pure white on the top, and black from the hips to the ankles, ending in red rabbit

feet.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Fiery patter of emberred and vivid orange streaked across its body, flickering like real flames dancing in the wind.

The very long, flamelike ears fell back along its head, swaying as though they were ablaze.

The beast's stance was casual, almost mocking. It stood with its arms crossed over its chest, one foot tapping lightly on the ground, as if it were impatient.

A smirk tugged at the corners of its mouth, and its bright, burning eyes locked directly onto

Eratz.

There was no fear in its gaze, only a daring, cocky confidence.

Eratz could feel it, the creature had been expecting him.

[Cinderblaze, the Son of Fire]

Affinity: Fire

Rank: Calamity

Abilities:

Inferno Field:

Unleashes a massive heatwave, turning the entire battlefield into a blazing inferno.

Blazing Body:

Its body radiates intense heat. Any physical contact leaves severe burns

Sun:

Gathers all ambient fire energy, concentrating it into a searing orb of flame. This orb projectile is hurled at its opponent, dealing catastrophic damage on impact.

Indomitable Spirit:

The more confident and energetic the user feels, the stronger its flames burn. Its power and speed increase when it senses a challenge, making it a relentless and overwhelming force in

prolonged fights.]

Eratz's breath hitched, a laugh bubbling up from his chest despite himself. He couldn't hide the exhilaration he felt. This was it, his confirmation. He'd hit the jackpot.

Without a second thought, Eratz recalled his three aces. The Thunder Lycaon, the Terrakrus, and the Aetheri all vanished into his energy.

Standing tall on Raijinara's back, Eratz maintained eye contact with Cinderblaze.

The creature's humanoid face allowed it to convey expression as clearly as any person, and its

smirk spoke volumes.

It wasn't just standing its ground, it was challenging him outright, daring him to make the

first move.

A wide grin spread across Eratz's face. This was only the second time he'd been directly

challenged by a prey.

There was something about facing a sentient beast, one that stood on its own and welcomed

the fight, that stirred something deep inside him.

He hesitated. He could unleash his beasts, but the memory of their futility against the first Calamity ranked opponent lingered.

Perhaps they would be just as ineffective here. Then again, he could simply go at it with

Raijinara alone.

But before he could make up his mind, Cinderblaze tapped its foot on the ground, the sound echoing through the quiet, rocky terrain like a taunting drumbeat.

Eratz's conflict was palpable. He knew he wanted to capture this beast, but there was a

deeper, almost primal respect for it.

Cinderblaze wasn't just another target, it was a warrior, a fighter who had chosen to face him

head-on.

For a moment, Eratz closed his eyes, letting the silence wash over him.

Then he took a step forward and vanished from Raijinara's back, plunging down toward the

ground.

He landed like a comet, slamming into the earth with a thunderous impact.

The force of his descent sent shock waves through the ground, cracks splintering out from

where he stood.

A cloud of dust and smoke billowed up, obscuring them for a brief moment.

As the smoke cleared, Eratz stood face to face with Cinderblaze, who had barely flinched at his

arrival.

The beast's head was tilted slightly, its smirk deepening, eyes glinting with a playful, almost mischievous challenge.

Cinderblaze arrived at Eratz's chest level, the two of them locked eyes, standing just a few

feet apart.

The air around them shimmered with the sheer power emanating from the beast, the ground

beneath their feet smoldering from the residual heat.

Eratz's lips curled into a smirk of his own.

"Nice skills you have there," he said.

Cinderblaze tilted its head back slightly, letting out a sharp, confident noise similar to a

laugh.

It uncrossed its arms, flames licking at its fingertips. It didn't need to speak for Eratz to understand.