Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 271: Heart of Light and Darkness



The ruined castle stood in oppressive silence, the thunder rumbling ominously in the darkened sky. Lightning illuminated the jagged spires and fractured walls, casting fleeting shadows across the battlefield.

Rex crashed into the ground near the ruined stronghold's entrance, his golden aura flickering weakly as his body tumbled against the stone-laden earth. The impact sent cracks rippling outward, the remnants of his light dimming further.

Rex groaned, his voice a strained whisper of pain. His trembling hands dug into the hard ground as he attempted to push himself upright. His knees buckled, his body swaying like a flickering flame fighting against the storm.

He clenched his teeth, his breaths uneven as his abdomen throbbed with relentless agony.

The sound of a second impact drew his gaze backward. Eratz landed heavily, the ground crunching beneath his weight.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Standing tall, his red eyes glowed faintly in the stormy haze. He tilted his head slightly, observing Rex with a calculating and cautious intensity.

For a brief moment, neither moved.

The tension hung thick in the air, amplified by the growling thunder overhead.

Rex's entire body tensed, his instincts screaming at him. He forced his legs to obey with a sharp flinch, staggering backward. Every step was agony, his movements unsteady but defiant. The golden energy around him sputtered and surged, his body refusing to yield entirely.

Eratz's eyes narrowed. He remained still, weighing his options.

His thoughts raced.

... Not yet? Damn, he's a real pain... as long as he can move, he's a threat.

Eratz raised his hand, summoning a crackling beam of lightning that shot toward Rex. The golden warrior instinctively dodged, his body moving faster than his pain could hold him back. The bolt scorched the stone where Rex had been standing, leaving a faint trail of smoke. Eratz grimaced.

And of course, even now, he's too fast. I need to completely incapacitate him... ok, let's do this.

"You're still standing," Eratz said, his voice steady and carrying an undercurrent of admiration. He lowered his hand slowly, his stance shifting into a more composed posture. "I'll admit, you've surpassed every expectation I had. You're the strongest opponent I've ever faced, Rex. Your power, your will... it's extraordinary."

Rex trembled, his golden eyes narrowing as he glared at Eratz. His breathing was labored, but he didn't respond.

"But," Eratz continued, his tone softening, "you and I aren't so different."

Rex's glare faltered, confusion flickering across his face.

Eratz took a deliberate step forward, his red eyes unwavering.

"Think about it. We both carry the weight of our teams. We take on the hardest battles, not for ourselves, but for them. You're standing here, fighting through pain that would drop anyone else, all because you want to protect your teammates. Isn't that right?"

Rex's jaw tightened, his silence giving Eratz all the answers he needed.

"That's why I respect you," Eratz said, his voice firm and sincere. "You're not fighting for glory or pride. You're fighting because you believe it's the only way to help the people who trust you. Isn't that the same reason I'm here?"

Rex's breath hitched. The storm above seemed to grow quieter, the rolling thunder fading into the background as Eratz's words took center stage.

"I don't care about looking strong or being admired," Eratz said, his voice unwavering. "I fight for results. I fight because I believe in the people who've fought beside me. Just like you. So, if either of us falls here, it doesn't mean we've failed. It means we've trusted your team to finish the fight. It means we've done everything you could, and that's enough. Being here right now is the proof we shoulder everything."

Rex's trembling intensified, his golden aura flickering like a dying ember. His lips parted slightly, his expression wavering between defiance and uncertainty. Eratz's words burrowed into his thoughts, dismantling the barriers of pride and anger that had fueled him. "You're an incredible fighter, Rex," Eratz said, his voice lowering slightly, almost as if confiding a truth. "If I fall one day, I'd also want it to be to someone like you."

Rex's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. The pain in his body felt distant for a moment, overshadowed by the weight of Eratz's words. The golden warrior's gaze dropped to the ground, his fists clenching as conflicting emotions swirled within him.

"But today," Eratz said, his voice regaining its edge, "it's my turn to carry this fight. I'm sorry, but I have to do it. If you have to lose, let it be by the hands of the best opponent of this tournament."

The storm roared back to life, the thunder crashing as if punctuating his declaration. Rex's trembling fingers loosened, his aura dimming slightly. For a fleeting moment, doubt flashed across his face.

Did he mean it? ... Maybe... Maybe he's right? Could it be okay to lose here?

Under the storm raging above and Eratz's calm figure standing before him, Rex realized one thing: if he gave in now, it wouldn't be because of weakness. It would be because of the overwhelming strength standing against him.

His knees trembled, the jagged stones beneath him mirroring the turmoil in his heart.

The storm above rumbled, thunder growling like a beast ready to devour him whole.

He dropped to one knee again, his hand pressing against the ground for balance. His vision blurred, and his thoughts spiraled.

Why am I still trying?

The question was a whisper in the back of his mind, but it grew louder with every painful breath.

What's the point? I've given everything I had... and it still wasn't enough.

He clenched his fists, but the strength he'd relied on for so long felt foreign, distant. His teammates' faces flashed through his mind: Leonidas' commanding presence, Sia's unwavering resolve, Arin's quiet determination.

They were counting on him. They believed in him. But what could he do for them now? He couldn't even stand properly.

Rex's gaze lifted to Eratz, standing a short distance away. The man's red eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, his expression calm, yet resolute.

Eratz didn't move to attack, didn't press his advantage. Instead, he stood there, watching.

"You're... the strongest opponent I've ever faced," Eratz said, his voice calm and sincere. "And I mean that. Your strength, your will to protect your team, your resolve... it's inspiring."

Eratz's thoughts, however, were chanting a different song.

It's over. He's breaking. Just a little push.

"You remind me of myself," Eratz continued, his tone taking on a contemplative edge. "We're not so different, you and I. We take on the hardest battles, shoulder the heaviest

burdens, because we believe in our teammates."

Stay down. Just accept it.

"But sometimes, the greatest strength is knowing when to step back," Eratz said softly, his

words dripping with warmth. "To trust that your team will carry the fight forward, even

without you standing at the front."

Rex's breathing slowed. His hands fell limp at his sides.

He's right... isn't he?

He thought of Leonidas, always pushing him to do more. Of his teammates' support.

Maybe... maybe it was okay to lose this one. Maybe it was okay to stop fighting.

His legs wobbled, and he sank back to his knees, his head bowed.

"Maybe you're right," Rex murmured, his voice hollow. He raised his gaze slightly, a faint, bitter smile forming on his lips. "What do you think, Eratz? What should I do?"

Eratz's internal outburst was nearly uncontrollable.

Yes! That's it! It's done!

But his face remained composed, his expression one of warm understanding.

"If you trust your team," Eratz said gently, "then trust yourself to rest. You've done more

than enough, Rex. Your strength has already inspired them."

Holy shit it actually worked. We've won.

Rex nodded weakly, his smile faltering as his golden aura dimmed further. He lowered his

head, unable to look Eratz in the eyes.

Eratz raised a hand, charging a beam of energy, its glow casting long shadows over the ruined castle walls. The storm above seemed to hold its breath as the light grew brighter. "Thank you, Rex," Eratz said, his voice firm but kind. "And I promise, we'll fight again one

day. Without anything to carry."

Rex forced a small smile, though his heart felt heavy. He thought of his team one last time, of everything they had endured together.

"Don't go too hard on them for me..." he murmured under his breath, barely audible. Eratz heard it, and slightly grimaced. There was something disturbing in winning this way,

but at this point, he only wanted to see his team bathing in gold. He wanted a major trophy for everyone, so only victory mattered.

His beam charged to its peak, the light illuminating the battlefield. To everyone watching, it seemed like the final chapter was about to be written.

But then, in a fleeting moment, Rex's knees buckled as he looked to the mud beneath him, the shadows of his fallen comrades playing vividly in his mind.

He saw Arin, standing on her debut stage, her tears glinting in the harsh light of accusations, "Better just because she's part Ishtarian."

He remembered how she wiped them away, defiant yet breaking inside. Silver's carefree grin flashed next, his simple wish to find joy in the chaos of competition.

Finn, always the untouchable figure, effortlessly cool yet consistently there to lighten the

burden with a joke, appeared in his memory.

They had always been a team.

He saw their faces again: Nyx, tears streaming down, her shoulders shaking; Arin,

apologizing endlessly; Sia, her fists clenched tightly, the frustration etched into her

expression.

"They believed in me," Rex murmured, his voice trembling. "They fought for me."

And now, they were waiting. They had placed their hopes in him. His chest swelled with an

agonizing mixture of despair and determination.

He couldn't let it end like this.

Golden light surged around him, flickering wildly before stabilizing, growing in intensity.

His aura began to expand, larger, brighter, fiercer. Rex's trembling knees straightened, his back arched, and he let out a guttural roar that echoed across the battlefield. The ground beneath him cracked and fractured. Rocks and dirt floated, suspended in the

growing storm of energy as Rex's power reached heights he had never before touched. Eratz stood motionless, watching with sharp eyes as the winds whipped his white hair.

His red eyes glinted, and for the first time, his lips curled into a smirk. Then, unexpectedly, he let out a short laugh, a sound caught between relief and regret.

"Ah, so close," Eratz muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "You really want it the hard

way, uh?"

His own aura began to flare, shadowy tendrils of black and white energy spiraling outward as

it answered Rex's challenge.

The battlefield became a maelstrom of light and shadow, the two warriors' energies clashing

even before their bodies met.

Above them, the sky spiraled, clouds drawn into a vortex of swirling chaos. Lightning crackled

at its heart, converging in the center.

Rex and Eratz crouched slightly, their muscles tensing. The air grew thick, suffocating with

power as the world seemed to hold its breath.

They leaped simultaneously, their energies converging in a single, breathtaking moment. But before their clash could ignite, the heavens intervened.

A blinding flash of light split the swirling sky, descending with the weight of the world right

on them.

The force was cataclysmic. The earth shuddered violently, deep fissures ripping through the battlefield as shockwaves radiated outward.

The entire island quaked under the impact, and the roars of the heavens drowned all other

sound.

Above, the spiraling clouds exploded outward in a spectacular display, unveiling a column of radiant energy.

Spirals of darkness entwined the light, weaving together in a dance that poured down from

the sky with unrelenting force.

Caught within the descending energy, Eratz and Rex were suspended mid-air, their bodies contorted as they writhed against the overwhelming power that engulfed them.

The sheer magnitude of the light rendered them weightless, vulnerable, and inextricably

bound to its will.

A golden aura appeared around Rex, its radiance pulsing erratically. Meanwhile, a deep purple aura erupted from Eratz, coiling and lashing outward, before closing in around him like a protective cocoon.

Their expressions were painted with shock and awe, but resistance seemed futile.

The energy cascading from the heavens was not painful. Instead, it was an immense, tranquil

force, a delicate balance of overwhelming power and serene control.

The light did not feel like a burning fire, but resonated, and slowly harmonizing with their

mental states.

Golden threads of Rex's aura and purple strands of Eratz's aura were drawn upward like moths

to a flame.

Slowly, they condensed into two distinct forms: above Rex, a brilliant white orb; above Eratz, a pulsating black orb.