Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 274: Chains of Light and Shadow



The sky above the ruined island churned with chaos, an unrelenting maelstrom of light and shadow that seemed to rip apart the heavens.

Every clash between the light and shadow dragons sent shockwaves rippling through the land, reshaping the terrain beneath them.

The forest was now a smoldering wasteland, and the air was thick with ash and the metallic tang of raw energy.

Eratz clung to Raijinara's mane as the lightning bird soared through the stormy skies, its wings gliding with precision despite the turbulence.

Behind him, the last people in his area, Collin, Catarina, Iris, and Devak, had joined the little community on the thunder beast.

Collin clutched tightly to his waist, her small frame trembling. Catarina crouched low, her usual playful demeanor replaced with a mix of fear and worry, while Iris and Devak sat toward the back, their expressions etched with unease.

From this vantage point, they could see the devastation wrought by the legendary beasts.

The light dragon's power caused a rapid, chaotic overgrowth of luminescent plants from shimmering pools of energy, their roots spreading wildly and destabilizing the ground until it fractured and melted into molten rock.

The overgrowth was a paradox, teeming with life but inherently destructive, as the vibrant vegetation expanded uncontrollably, choking the land and forcing the earth to rupture under the pressure of unrestrained energy.

Meanwhile, the shadow dragon's suffocating void absorbed life and light, leaving behind barren expanses where time seemed to slow.

The air grew oppressively heavy, the ground cracked and decayed, and the stillness was so profound that even the sounds seemed swallowed.

The void drained vitality from the land, creating areas of eerie silence where life faltered and natural rhythms halted.

Together, their powers created a terrifying harmony of creation and destruction, reshaping the land in a way that was both spectacular and apocalyptic.

Sia broke the silence, her voice barely audible over the roaring winds.

"I can't believe it... The legendary beasts. They're real."

Devak, his gaze fixed on the dragons in the distance, gulped.

"If they exist, then that means all the legends are true... Every story about the legendary beasts is real. If so, why now? Why are these two here?"

Iris, still salty about losing against a child, forced a wry smile and spoke up.

"Oh, great. Guess that means all those bedtime horror stories weren't just to make us behave. What's next? A space city full of alien beasts?"

Mercury rolled her eyes, muttering.

"We'll cross that bridge if it comes. But now, how are we supposed to deal with something like that?"

Eratz didn't respond immediately. His red eyes narrowed, locked onto the titanic figures in the sky. His lips twitched, then he sighed.

"We can't. Even a pain enjoyer like me knows its limits," he said finally, his tone flat. "The only good question is how do we get everyone out before they destroy the island?"

Collin tugged on his arm, her voice trembling.

"What about Mom and Dad? Are they okay?"

Eratz's gaze softened momentarily as he glanced back at her.

"They're around Victoria. Don't worry, I'm sure they're fine. But we better join them."

Catarina's tail flicked nervously.

"Okay, we get everyone and we run away, but how? Those dragons... Any of their attacks could hit far and wide. How do we even get away? We're stuck on a freaking island!"

Eratz's jaw tightened as he considered their options. His mind raced through the possibilities. Finally, he spoke.

"If we can lure them to the opposite side of the island, it might buy us enough time to evacuate the remaining fighters and civilians. We're beast masters. I'm sure most of us have a flying beast to take one civilian at a time."

Then, he froze, his eyes narrowing and sighed as he glanced at Catarina.

"Maybe except for you."

Catarina's ears flattened, and she hissed.

"M-Mew?! I've got a seraph panther boss!"

Before anyone could add anything else, a shadow streaked through the sky.

A projectile slammed into Raijinara's side with tremendous force, sending the beast

screeching in pain and nearly toppling the group from its back.

The lightning bird struggled to stabilize, its wings flapping wildly against the impact.

"What the hell?!" Devak shouted, his hands gripping the bird's feathers tightly.

Eratz's gaze darted to the ground below, then at the spot where the projectile landed. His eyes widened as the smoke cleared.

It was Tamara.

Eratz's eyes narrowed as he scanned the ground below, then he looked back at the source of the impact and blinked.

"Tamara?! You?? What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and surprise.

Tamara raised her gaze to the dragons clashing, then gritted her teeth.

"No time for questions, Eratz! You need to take command, now!" she replied sharply, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Rex's boots sank into the mud as he stood motionless, staring at the figure before him.

Kallistra's smile was illuminated by a jagged streak of lightning, her serene expression at odds with the devastation surrounding them.

"Kallistra," Rex murmured, his voice barely audible over the storm. Then his fists clenched, and his voice rose in anger. "KALLISTRA! This... this was all you, wasn't it?! The orb you gave me... It's what caused this, isn't it?!"

He pointed toward the dragons, his golden aura flickering erratically as he struggled to control his emotions.

"Why did you do this? What's your goal? What... what the hell is even happening?!"

Kallistra's smile didn't waver as she crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly.

"Oh, Rexy, you wound me. Do you think I'm the one to blame? I only gave you something belongings better to you than me, but the way you used it... I mean, let's not forget, Eratz has the black orb. Perhaps the person who gave it to him is more responsible than me? Maybe it was the result of your perfect synchronization during the fight, why did YOU focus so much on him? There's plenty of blame to go around."

Her voice was smooth, almost soothing, yet each word cut deep, chipping away at Rex's

confidence.

"But... but you gave me the orb," Rex stammered, his tone faltering. "You knew... you must have known this would happen!"

Kallistra's expression hardened, her arms dropping to her sides.

"And yet, you accepted it. Did I force you, Rex? Did I hold a blade to your throat and demand

you take it? If I had given you a bomb that could have ended the world, would it be my fault if you'd taken it and it would have blasted? No. It's not how it works, Rex. You made a choice. And now, people are going to die because of that choice."

Rex's knees threatened to buckle as her words sunk in. He opened his mouth to argue but

found no rebuttal.

His mind raced with images of the destruction around him, the forests reduced to ash, the mountains crumbling under the dragons' power, and the faces of his teammates, worn and

battered.

"I... I didn't mean for this to happen," he whispered, his voice trembling.

"Intent doesn't matter," Kallistra snapped, her voice sharp. "What matters is what you've

done. And now, it's up to you to fix it."

Meanwhile, high above the battlefield, Raijinara soared through the chaos, carrying Eratz,

Tamara, and their group.

Explosions from the clashing dragons illuminated the island in brilliant golds and haunting

purples, casting the fleeing group in an eerie, flickering glow.

Tamara's voice was firm, cutting through the roar of the storm.

"Eratz, listen carefully! This isn't just some random catastrophe. Those beasts are the

legendary dragons of blind justice and pure evilness. You awakened the second one because

your heart is the darkest of humanity."

Eratz frowned.

"Wow, that came right from the heart, right? You're lucky I don't use bad vocabulary in front

of my sister."

Tamara waved her hand.

"This thing literally prove it, it's legendary, you can't deny it. You... are... evil. What matters now is that you have to pass a sort of trial to take control of the dark dragon."

Eratz turned, his expression one of surprise mixed with frustration.

"A trial? Tamara, what are you talking about? You never said anything about this. Why are

they here now??"

Tamara held onto Raijinara tightly, her eyes scanning the devastation below.

"Listen, I know what you mean. There's a lot of things I haven't told you before, but trust me

on this one. Everything I'm doing, is only for the sake of everyone. I'll tell you everything once we deal with this."

She gave a pleading gaze to Eratz, the young man kept her gaze for a bit, then groaned and

shook his head.

"Alright, we'll deal with it later. What's this trial about?"

Tamara looked back at the dragons.

"The legend says these dragons appear only when the chosen ones of the orbs are in what the

locals called an harmonious state. When they represent the essence of the light and shadow duo. They judge the orb bearers, test their worth. But the exact nature of the trial is unclear. It

could be anything."

"Anything?" Catarina snapped, her cat ears twitching in agitation. "Like what, a quiz?"

Iris, seated at the back, rolled her eyes.

"Or a sacricial ritual?"

"Enough," Tamara said sharply. "The point is, these dragons don't appear lightly. They've

judged you and Rex as compatible with their orbs. Now it's up to you to prove yourselves.

That's in the legend, so this is how it should be."

Eratz frowned, glancing back at the titanic figures battling in the sky.

"Your legend don't say exactly how we do that? Prove ourselves how? By defeating them? Do

you realize how impossible that would be?"

Tamara hesitated, her grip tightening.

"Maybe. I hope it's not that... Even I know this is beyond my power. The legend doesn't

specify, but it does mention that those who prove themselves can assimilate the dragons' power. But there's always the traditional way. They may be legendary, but they're still beasts.

If you can defeat them, you can tame them."

Eratz's eyes narrowed.

"... Is this a way of telling me we're doomed?"

As if in response to his words, another colossal blast erupted nearby. The dark dragon unleashed a beam of purple energy that struck a distant mountain, vaporizing it in an instant.

The shockwave rippled outward, flattening the surrounding forest and sending a gust of

blistering heat through the air.

The group shielded themselves as Raijinara swayed from the force of the explosion. Tamara's expression hardened a she watched the destruction.

"It might be impossible, but right now, what matters is that your aura awakened it. You are

the one with an ownership of the black orb cemented in your aura, so only you can access the

trial."

Eratz looked back at her, his jaw tightening.

"Ownership?"

Tamara nodded.

"Yes. Even if the orbs are no longer physically with you, there's still a connection. A part ofn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

your aura is embedded in the dragon. You're the catalyst, Eratz. That link gives you a chance, maybe the only chance, to stop this the easy way."

Eratz's gaze shifted to the dragons, their destructive power lighting up the stormy sky. His fists clenched as he considered the impossible task before him.

At the same time, on the other side of the battlefield, Rex's head lowered.

The oppressive weight of the storm bore down on him as the dragons' battle continued to

rage above. Each clash of their power sent waves of brilliant light and smothering shadow rippling across the sky, the chaos framing Kallistra's serene face. Lightning illuminated her for a moment, casting her expression in sharp relief. The glow faded, leaving her face bathed in darkness, her green eyes glowing like beacons.

Rex hesitated, his breath uneven as he grappled with his guilt and doubt. The storm's fury

seemed to amplify his inner turmoil, each deafening roar and blinding flash oppressing him.

His clenched fists trembled at his sides. Slowly, he raised his head, his golden eyes meeting

hers for a fleeting moment before dropping again.

"I... I don't know if I can fix this," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

"You don't have to," Kallistra said softly. "That's what I'm here for."

She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing.

"You can't. And I allow you this one, I also have my share of responsibility. So I will atone for

my sin, with you."

Rex stared at her, his golden aura dimming further.

"What do you mean?"

She extended her hand, her tone softening.

"Lend me your hope, Rex. Trust me. I can take the burden of the light orb and save everyone.

But you have to let go. You have to believe with every fiber of your being that I can do this.

Only then will the orb's power transfer to me."

Rex's gaze shifted between her hand and the raging battle above. Doubts clawed at his mind,

but Kallistra's words struck at his deepest fears and insecurities. He thought of his failures, the lives at risk, and the weight of responsibility crushing him.

"I... I can't..." he murmured, his voice cracking. "I don't know if I can do this." "You've already done enough," Kallistra said gently. "With your speed, you'd be more useful helping the citizens to get away. Let me take it from here."

Rex clenched his teeth, his head lowering as the oppressive weight of her words bore down on

him.

The air around them shimmered with flashes of light and shadow, the dragons' ferocious

battle painting the scene in a kaleidoscope of violent colors.

Rex remained frozen, his mind spiraling. Slowly, his trembling hand began to rise, hesitation

in every movement.

The storm seemed to pause as if holding its breath, the flickering light framing the moment

with an almost surreal clarity.

Kallistra's lips curled into a smile, her eyes glinting as Rex's hand finally met hers.

Lightning flashed once more, illuminating her triumphant expression before the darkness

reclaimed

her.