Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 264: Burning Forest



(times ago)

Aftere the announcement of the bounty system and randomized placements, the Golden Cosmos gathered to discuss their strategy before learning their designated zones.

"Alright," Mercury began. "We could focus on the weakest bounties first, rack up some quick points, and then shift to Infinite Twilight when the field thins out."

Kaida crossed her arms, her crimson eyes flickering with impatience.

"That's messy. Everyone's going to do that, and it'll just devolve into chaos. How about we gather and gang up on Infinite Twilight members directly?"

Catarina's tail swished nervously as she glanced between the two.

"Nya, but that's risky, Kaida. We don't know where they'll be spread. And what if Rex shows up? He's basically Eratz with his thunder bird on drugs."

"It's about to start," Ryder said urgently. "We need to decide fast."

Eratz, who had been silently observing the other teams in the distance, turned his attention to Kaida.

"What did you think about Sia when you fought her?"

Kaida blinked, caught off guard.

"Uh... well," she began, scratching the back of her neck. "I couldn't really land a hit on her, but she was doable. Tough, sure, but not invincible." She paused, then glanced at Eratz, a curious glint in her eye. "Wait, you're not thinking about sending me against her, are you?"

Eratz shook his head.

"No, not you."

His gaze shifted slowly toward Mercury, and the entire team followed his line of sight.

Mercury's eyebrows shot up in surprise as she pointed at herself.

"Me?" she asked, her voice tinged with incredulity.

Kaida flinched, her face scrunching up in surprise.

"Uh... wait... yeah! Mercury's jacked. She could totally take Sia."

Mercury chuckled nervously, her arms crossing as she met Eratz's gaze.

"Are you sure about this? Sia's abilities counter mine, and she's a field spell specialist too. It's not that I doubt myself, but... we need a win, right? Taking on Sia like that is a dangerous

gamble. Honestly, you'd be better off taking her on yourself."

Eratz's expression remained calm but firm.

"That's exactly the problem. Rex already showed that strategy. If I take out Infinite Twilight members quickly, Rex could have the same idea. And he hit me midair when I was at full speed one time. The best plan is to match their strongest fighters with equivalent force. I need to target Rex as soon as we've secured some points from the other teams."

Mercury tilted her head, thinking it over, then nodded slowly.

"Yeah, you're right. I wouldn't underestimate someone who could one-shot Kaida."

Kaida rolled her eyes with indignation as she flexed her biceps.

"He only got me by surprise! No big deal. I'll show what I can do against Sia."

Eratz smirked.

"Actually, I was thinking of another opponent for you."

Kaida's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Wait, what?"

The entire team's curiosity peaked as they leaned in closer. Eratz raised his hand, motioning for their attention.

"Listen carefully. Here's the plan."

Back in the arena, the crowd's excitement reached a fever pitch as the massive screen shifted to display the impending battles.

Images of the scattered fighters flashed across the screen, each matched with their current opponents.

Gasps and murmurs filled the stands as the updated scoreboard loomed above:

[Golden Cosmos: 19

Infinite Twilight: 16

Azure Blades: 1

Blazing Horizons: 0]

Every movement and decision was scrutinized by an audience on the edge of their seats.

Among them, Victoria stood with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze locked onto the various matchups displayed before her.

Her expression remained unreadable, but her mind was working at lightning speed.

"Smart," she murmured, barely loud enough for Zara to hear.

Zara, seated beside her, leaned forward, her expression a mix of concern and doubt.

"Smart?" she echoed. "It's risky. They've lost their advantage for a gamble. Using weaker opponents to locate Infinite Twilight members and pick their opponents? It's clever on paper, but it leaves too many things to chance. Milo is too much of a newby to fight someone like Silver, and same for Colin. Even if Catarina can handle Devak, Iris is still there to back him up. And nothing guarantees that Eratz can defeat Goldust."

Victoria's lips curved slightly, not quite a smile, but enough to indicate she was more amused than worried.

"Risky, yes," she admitted, her tone calm. "But there's another way to see it, a little thing that makes the difference between each of them."

Zara frowned, turning her attention back to the screens.

"What are you talking about?"

Victoria didn't answer immediately. Instead, her gaze lingered on the synchronized movements of the Cosmos members, their aura emerging almost simultaneously.

Finally, she spoke, her tone resolute.

"The Calamity Beasts."

In the battle zone, Milo darted through the dense forest, narrowly avoiding Erynn's clawed

strikes.

He leapt onto a tree branch, his small frame balancing like a monkey as he narrowed his eyes. His breathing was steady as a faint glow began to envelop him.

Elsewhere, Catarina and Colin moved in tandem, their steps synchronized as they advanced

cautiously.

Their respective auras began to pulse, a shared rhythm connecting them. The energy surrounding them grew thicker, more tangible, covering the space, and alarming Devak and

Iris to do the same.

Across the battlefield, the same mystical aura emerged around other members of the Golden

Cosmos.

Ryder's aura letting out his multiform beast, while Mercury's steps rippled like ocean waves as she advanced toward Sia, around whom ice beasts began to materialize. Kaida's fiery energy flared, face to Finn whose body was covered in lightning, while Raya's eyes glowed icy blue, the frost spreading on the ground as most formed above. Victoria's gaze softened as she continued to watch the synchronized awakening of power

across the screen.

"This is the moment to show the results of all your efforts," she murmured.

The forest erupted in chaos as the battles began on every front.

Explosions echoed across the battlefield, and the presence of the Golden Cosmos' calamity beasts reshaped the terrain with their devastating power.

Nyx leaped back, her feet finding balance on the sturdy branch of a towering tree.

She glared down at the massive crater where she had stood moments ago, Ryder's monstrous

fist embedded in its center.

His arm, now a grotesque fusion of flesh and scales.

Nyx growled, her eyes burning with determination.

"Last time wasn't enough? You want some more?? No matter what tricks you pull, you're not

the Pharaoh. I can take you on!"

Ryder tilted his head slightly, his smirk tinged with amusement.

"Thanks for reminding me why I have to kick your ass," he replied.

With a sharp inhale, Nyx launched herself forward, a blur of motion. As she closed the

distance, sharp tentacles erupted from Ryder's chest, lashing out with whip-like precision.

Nyx twisted midair, narrowly evading the tendrils that tore through the trees behind her, leaving jagged stumps in their wake.

She landed gracefully and summoned a towering metal-clad beast.

The creature roared, its metallic frame reflecting the dim light as it charged at Ryder.

Nyx darted to the side, coordinating a pincer attack with her beast.

Both rushed toward Ryder, aiming to strike from opposite angles.

Ryder spun with inhuman speed. A massive dragon's claw erupted from his back, snapping its

jaws at Nyx.

She gritted her teeth, holding the jaws open with trembling arms as the beast's strength

threatened to overpower her.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Damn it!" she spat, her muscles straining.

Ryder inhaled deeply, and his chest expanded ominously. A torrent of fire erupted from his

mouth, engulfing Nyx in flames.

Her scream cut through the inferno as she fought desperately to hold her ground.

The forest trembled as Milo summoned Arborielle, a colossal plant beast that turned the

dense wilderness into its domain.

Vines and roots twisted and writhed like living entities, reshaping the battlefield with their

relentless movements.

Silver darted from tree to tree, his speed keeping him just ahead of the encroaching vegetation. Sweat beaded on his brow as he muttered under his breath.

"This forest... where does this thing even start?"

His frustration deepened as his sharp eyes scanned the area. Below him, Erynn, Lira, Dorian,

and Maris hung unconscious, ensnared in Arborielle's massive vines.

Silver's face twisted in anger.

"I just lost the free four points..." he growled. "FUCK!"

A vine lashed out, forcing him to flip backward. His aura flared, and he summoned a pack of

fire beasts.

The creatures charged forward, their flames blazing with intense energy. But the moment they touched the vines, they were ensnared.

The vegetation coiled around them, draining their energy until the flames extinguished. "What the hell?!" Silver gasped, his eyes wide with disbelief.

A shadow loomed above him. He glanced up just in time to see Milo descending, his hands

glowing with an ethereal pink energy.

Silver raised his arms, catching Milo mid-fall with a confident smirk.

"Gotcha now, you brat!" Silver shouted.

Milo's eyes gleamed mischievously as he unleashed a disorienting scream. The sound was

shrill and unnatural, reverberating through the air and rattling Silver's senses.

He stumbled, his vision swimming as the world around him blurred into a chaotic haze.

"What the..." Silver muttered, spinning in confusion.

Desperate, he summoned a flying beast, which swooped in and carried him upward.

He clutched his head, trying to steady himself as the disorienting wails echoed around him.

"Annoying little shit," he murmured, rubbing his temples. "I can't even lower my guard for a second."

From above, Silver surveyed the battlefield. The massive form of Arborielle dominated the landscape, its vines snatching at everything within reach.

Realizing the futility of direct combat, he decided to retreat and regroup. "Pointless to fight this thing," he muttered. "I need reinforcement."

He commanded his beast to move, but haunting wails echoed through the air.

The sound disoriented both him and his mount, causing the creature to veer wildly.

Silver clamped his hands over his ears, but the wails resonated deep within him, making it impossible to focus.

"Damn it!" he roared, summoning several fire beasts to attack the forest from a distance.

The flames licked at the vines, but they erupted like tentacles, snatching the fire beasts and extinguishing them one by one.

Even Silver's flying beast wasn't spared. Vines coiled around its wings, dragging it downward.

Silver leapt free just before it was pulled into the vegetation. Freefalling, he activated a beastification with a fire affinity creature.

Flames erupted around him, and he released a fiery breath that scorched the ground below.

He landed heavily, struggling to stand with the constant wails, unable to see the vines coiling

around his location like snakes.

[Golden Cosmos: 27 Infinite Twilight: 16

Azure Blades: 1

Blazing Horizons: 0]