Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 128: At the Edge of Greatness



The evening sky was tinged with the soft glow of fireworks, colors blooming like flowers above the arena as the closing ceremony for the semifinals began.

The stadium lights illuminated the four fighters standing at the center, Eratz, Raya, Sia, and Catarina, each one receiving cheers that swelled from the stands.

Their faces were bathed in flickering lights from the fireworks above, the energy of the crowd a hum of admiration and awe.

The chairman stepped forward, his voice carrying with pride and warmth as he addressed the fighters and the spectators.

"Tonight," he began, "we stand before not only some of the finest warriors in Greenridge but perhaps the best in the entire country." His eyes swept over the four finalists, pausing briefly on each of them. "You have reached the very roof of Greenridge, the pinnacle that so few attain. For all of us, it is a moment of pride to witness such talent and dedication. Each of you stands on the podium of greatness."

The crowd roared, their voices merging into a powerful ovation, and he raised a hand to quiet them before he continued.

"And to those who have fallen here in the semifinals, Sia Verizion and Catarina, your journeys have proven your strength and resilience." His words lingered in the air as he turned his gaze on Sia, who stood with her usual calm and steady expression.

The crowd's applause swelled for them, a tribute to their relentless power and journey.

Catarina, however, wore a completely different look. Her face twisted in annoyance, her gaze judging and filled with a thousand insults as it lingered on Raya, the victor who had just humiliated her.

After the applause softened, Catarina and Sia turned away from the podium, heading toward the exit.

After a few steps, Sia paused, still facing forward.

"This is the last time I lose to you," she said even without turning back. "You better not lose before I get my chance to face you again."

Eratz's smiled as he called back.

"I'm always ready. See you at the top."

Sia gave a slight nod, resuming her walk without another glance back.

The chairman then addressed the crowd with fervor.

"We now stand on the precipice of the grand finale, the culmination of unparalleled skill and determination. Throughout this tournament, we've witnessed fighters rise, pushing beyond their limits to reach this zenith. The final match will crown the supreme champion of our region, the epitome of strength and prowess."

He paused, allowing the anticipation to build.

"Prepare yourselves for a clash of titans: the indomitable Apex Predator versus the enigmatic Phantom Blade. This is the moment we've all been waiting for, the ultimate test of might and mastery. The final battle of Greenridge league!"

The crowd's excitement exploded.

As the night settled over the hotel, Catarina stood in her room, tossing clothes and items that clearly weren't hers into her bag.

They were all branded and expensive, courtesy of the tournament sponsors, and Catarina seemed determined to take as many as she could.

She stuffed a sleek jacket into her bag, mumbling about Raya as she zipped it up.

Eratz leaned in the doorway, his arms crossed, watching with raised eyebrows as she gathered her loot.

She launched into a tirade, half to herself and half to him, her voice laced with bitterness. "I mean, can you believe that? She said Neko, that sound like a racial slur for cats!" Catarina groaned, yanking a branded water bottle off the dresser. "Just out of nowhere, bam! Doesn't even give me a chance to fight. She gave Ryder nya a chance, she started fighting Kaida without that sword, so why did she do that against me?! Why going all out? With an attack specially designed with a cat name! I call that disrespect, an attempted honoricide! Just because she's invincible she thinks she can defeat me..... In an humiliating way! Mew!!!"

Eratz only grunted in acknowledgment, more amused by her scavenging than her complaints.

She barely noticed his disinterest, too caught up in her rant as she grabbed a pair of sunglasses and added them to her stash.

Soon, they were heading downstairs. Catarina continued her rant as they walked through the lobby, gesturing animatedly about how the fight had been unfair and Raya's manner had been

insulting.

Once outside, a welcoming cheer cut through her complaints. The whole Crescent Moon team was waiting, grinning and eager.

Ryder and Kaida rushed forward, Kaida wrapping her arms around Eratz in a tight hug while Ryder clapped him on the shoulder.

Catarina, still salty but softened by their support, tried to play it cool, but her face crumpled. She rushed to Victoria, practically diving into her arms, her complaints dissolving into wails. "It was just...so... unfair!" she whined, burying her face in Victoria's chest.

Victoria patted her back, doing her best to hide a smirk.

Mercury gave Eratz a light punch on the arm, her eyes filled with pride and something

warmer.

"You were incredible, Eratz. Really... I've never seen you like that before. You were amazing," she murmured, her gaze lingering on him.

Eratz's expression softened, he leaned in closer, their faces inches apart.

"Well, if I earned it, maybe I should get a little reward, don't you think?" he whispered.

Mercury's gaze softened, her eyes glinting with a playful but smoldering intensity as she leaned closer, her voice low and teasing.

"Remember what I said about the tournament being the barrier? After tomorrow, I'll rock your world so hard..."

Eratz's eyes widened slightly, catching the fire in her expression. He swallowed, forcing a casual smile as he tried to play it cool.

"Uh... finally I think I'll sleep early tonight," he replied, trying to keep his cool.

Mercury chuckled softly, and just then, Ryder clapped Eratz on the back with a hearty laugh,

snapping him out of the moment.

"You made it, man! All the way to the final! I knew you would!"

Kaida joined in, punching his shoulder playfully.

"Good job, Apex Predator," she said with a broad grin. "I knew you'd get there."

Eratz laughed, turned to them.

"Please, don't exaggerate, I just did what I had to do to save our honor. I'm on a mission to take down everyone kicking your asses... Hm? Wow, raya alone might actually take three of

us."

Then, Zara stepped forward, and the energy shifted. She looked up at him, her eyes slightly misty, a shaky smile breaking across her face. She exhaled deeply, trying to hold herself

together.

"Look at us, Eratz, talking about our agency with so much pride," Zara began, her voice wavering. "One year ago, this agency was barely hanging on. We were scraping by, holding it all together by a thread. And now? Five of our fighters made it to this tournament... and one of them is in the final." She sniffed, brushing away a stray tear. "I knew you'd get here. I always knew you were special, and that you had it in you. You should be the face of the agency, Eratz," she added, her voice breaking slightly. "I'm telling you, we'll have to sign you to a lifetime contract."

Eratz chuckled, glancing around at the others before responding with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"I don't know, Zara. With all the top agencies watching, maybe I'll consider taking my talents somewhere a little more... prestigious," he teased.

Victoria burst into laughter, quickly picking up on his playful tone, but Eratz realized too late

that he had pushed the wrong button.

Zara's expression hardened.

"Oh, you think you can just walk away?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms.

"Don't test me, Eratz. I've got files, big ones, with things I could make public." She cast an exaggerated glare over the group, landing her gaze squarely on Kaida and Catarina. "You want to know how this guy recruited you two? I'll spill it all!"

Kaida and Catarina froze, their expressions shifting from excitement to confusion. Kaida

tilted her head, frowning.

"Wait...what?" she asked, glancing at Eratz, who looked horrified. Catarina, beside her, gave

him a suspicious look.

Eratz quickly leaned closer to Zara, whispering frantically.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I was joking, okay? JOKING! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Zara leaned even closer, her eyes narrowing as she bumped her forehead against his. Her voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone, dripping with mock intensity. "Ain't nobody playin' here, boy. No one here does jokes. We ain't clowns, nor prankers." She paused, her eyes fixed on him, her face so close he could see his reflection in her widened pupils. "We're talkin' loyalty, and if you think you're climbin' that ladder alone, the one I set up for you, you're dead wrong. If I go down, you're comin' down with me." Eratz swallowed, a nervous chuckle escaping him as he raised his hands in surrender.

"You'd really do that? Sink the whole agency? Even Victoria?"

Zara nodded solemnly, crossing her arms.

"Absolutely. You think I'd be goin' down alone? Victoria's comin' too, even the staff. This is

business, and if you send us to hell, we all go to hell. I'll take the whole ship down, even if it means takin' everyone with us. We'll drop pounds of soap together in the prison's bath!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Victoria's laughter cut through the tension, and she placed a hand on Eratz's shoulder,

smiling warmly.

"All right, enough plotting, you two. Let's give Eratz a break, he's earned his rest for tomorrow. Tomorrow is the biggest day of his life."

Her words carried the mood, and the group gradually dispersed, each of them casting Eratz a supportive look before heading their separate ways.

Eratz made his way back to the hotel, the quiet night settling around him as he walked alone,

letting the cool air clear his thoughts.

Once inside his room, he sank onto the bed, his gaze drifting up to the ceiling. Alone in the stillness, memories began to resurface, moments from Genova, when his life had been filled with friends, or perhaps just acquaintances, and the confusing, bittersweet ties with people like Lisa, Kenny, Crystal, Rowan, and even his own family.

He thought of all he had back then, all the friends he thought surrounded him, and the

moment it all crumbled, they quickly enjoyed his downfall, leaving him with nothing. He raised his hands, looking at his palms, once so empty, now full with a new life.

The present swelled up in his mind, Cassie, Roger, Colin, Mercury, Milo, the agency, Ryder, Kaida, Catarina, Zara, Victoria.

Each face brought a warmth that he hadn't expected, each person a thread in the life he had

started to rebuild.

A small smile crept onto his lips as he sat up, feeling a kind of freedom he'd never known

before. This was it. Tomorrow was going to be the biggest day of his life, a turning point, but he knew

it was only the beginning of something larger.

Everything he'd endured, everything he'd fought for, had led him here. And more than ever, he felt completely in sync with the past and ready to embrace the future.

The night passed peacefully, and as dawn broke, a quiet determination settled within him. Today, the day everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived.