Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 287: A World Forever Changed



The effects of Kallistra's defeat spread all around the island.

Star Eater began to crumble. Its void-like energy now faltered, its form disintegrating into shimmering fragments.

As its massive body fell apart, the ground mixed with it quaked violently. The entire island groaned as if in pain, its foundations fracturing under the sudden release of energy.

Buildings shook and collapsed, their sturdy structures reduced to rubble. The island's forests burned in patches, their flames struggling against the choking clouds of dust that filled the air.

Entire sections of the land broke off, plunging into the turbulent sea below. The majestic landscape of Solaris Haven, twisted by Kallistra's alterations and the dragons' rampage, now disintegrated in the wake of Star Eater's demise.

The sky itself seemed to collapse as the hues of the clash between light and shadow dissolved. The fractured heavens, torn apart by the battle's intensity, began to repair themselves, leaving streaks of unnatural light that rippled across the atmosphere.

The remnants of the field spell, swirling with chaotic energy, faded away, leaving behind a vast start sky.

Out on the water, dozens of boats rocked violently as the waves responded to the chaos. The air was thick with an eerie stillness, broken only by the distant sounds of destruction. On one of the boats, Cassie suddenly clutched her chest, her breathing shallow and rapid. Her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the boat, her wide eyes fixed on the collapsing island.

"No...no... they're still there! Colin, Eratz, Mercury!" she cried out, her voice cracking with panic.

Her legs buckled, and she nearly collapsed if not for Roger catching her.

"Cassie, stay calm," Roger said firmly, though his own voice was tight with tension. "We'll find them. They'll be fine."

"We'll find them how?!" Cassie shouted, tears pearling in her eyes. "They're still there, Roger! We have to go back! We can't leave them!"

Roger's grip tightened on her shoulders.

"Cassie, listen to me! We have to trust them. This is all we can do."

Around them, voices began to rise. People on the boats and beasts were shouting, their fear and confusion bubbling over.

"What's happening to the island?"

"Is it collapsing? What's going on?!"

"Are we safe here?"

The mix of anger, panic, and despair was palpable. Parents clutched their children tightly, shielding them from the sight of the island's destruction.

Some beast masters tried to calm their mounts, which bucked and flared their wings or tails in distress.

The crumbling island continued its descent into chaos, with massive chunks of earth collapsing into the sea and tremors splitting the land apart.

Star Eater's disintegration left a void that the island couldn't sustain, its fusion with the land now unraveling in a catastrophic chain reaction.

The sky above had begun to stabilize, but below, the island was dying.

On the waters, citizens on beasts and boats watched in stunned silence, their gazes fixed on the decaying landmass.

Many had tears streaking their faces, while others clung tightly to each other, murmuring prayers or staring in frozen disbelief.

Then, a shadow grew wider in the horizon. The sound of beating wings filled the air, drawing everyone's attention upward.

Tamara's dragon appeared, its massive form blotting out the fragmented light as it glided gracefully toward the water.

Behind it, other fighters appeared, flying on their beasts, their figures silhouetted against the spectacle of the starry sky.

Zara's head snapped up, her wide eyes filling with tears of joy.

"They're here! They're all here!"

Among the public, Roger's hand tightened on Cassie's shoulder, his voice urgent.

"Look! Cassie, they're here!"

Cassie's eyes followed his gaze, scanning the sky until she saw them. On Zephyraquiel, she could make out Colin and Mercury, flying together.

Tears streamed down her face, and she called out to them, though her voice was lost in the sea of people.

"Colin! Mercury! Over here!"

Above, Mercury glanced back at the collapsing island. The sea had begun its work, swallowing the remains of the landmass.

Her face was calm, but her eyes betrayed her worry. The historical land was becoming nothing more than a watery grave.

Suddenly, a voice called out from above. Arvad flew toward the group with Braun, Moses, and Rylas following closely behind.

"Rex!" Arvad called, his tone urgent. "What's going on? What's the situation?"

Rex hesitated, his face tight with uncertainty.

"We don't know. We left Eratz and Kallistra behind. Tamara and Victoria have decided to go

back, so we... we can't say exactly what's happening."

The World Star members exchanged uneasy glances. Moses frowned deeply.

"Ma'am did what?"

Further back, Kaida rode atop her dragon, flanked by a few members of Azure Blades and Iris

from Infinite Twilight.

She looked over her shoulder at the island, with an expression of worry.

"It looks like it's over," she said quietly. "The dragons aren't roaring anymore."

Iris exhaled sharply, folding her arms.

"It's over now, yes, but if we go back, it'll definitely start again. We should... we should just

run away."

Kaida's fiery temper flared, her eyes blazing as she turned to Iris.

"Are you serious? You want to abandon the people who risked their lives for us?"

Iris groaned, throwing her hands up.

"And what exactly are we supposed to do if we go back? The whole point of this operation was to save the citizens. The Queen is already there. What are we going to do, get in the way?"

The tension between them mounted as Kaida took a step forward, her fists clenched.

The fighters of Blazing Horizons moved quickly to separate the two, holding Kaida back before she could commit the first murder of the day.

On Zephyraquiel, Colin hesitated, her voice small as she looked up at Mercury.

"What should we do?"

Mercury didn't answer right away. Her gaze remained fixed on the horizon, where the sea continued to consume the island.

The weight of the moment pressed down on her. Finally, she sighed and turned to Colin, her expression softening.

"What to do? I don't know," she admitted. "I'm not objective right now, so I can't say. But you, Colin... What do you think? What do you want to do?"

Colin's eyes widened slightly, and she hesitated. Then, trembling softly, she leaned against

Mercury, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I just want to be with everyone again."

Mercury smiled gently, rubbing Colin's head.

"Yeah. That's a good idea. Let's gather everyone."

The sea moved with relentless assaults, inching forward and devouring the crumbling island.

Solaris Haven was reduced to fragments and dust that the waves hungrily swallowed.

What remained of the land was jagged and broken, the edges falling away in great chunks that splashed violently into the ocean.

Above it, on one of the last standing peak of the island, Eratz sat cross-legged, gazing down

at the destruction.

His expression was distant, almost absentminded, as if the sight before him was

insignificant.

The sea churned, swallowing what little remained of the land, while the stars above cast a

faint glow on the ruin below.

Behind him, Kallistra lay on her back, her arms sprawled out as she stared at the starry sky.

Her body was still, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths.

Eratz slightly raised his head and murmured.

"Ah, there they are."

From above, the sound of beating wings drew closer. Tamara descended, still in her

beastification, holding Victoria tightly.

As they neared the peak, their eyes immediately locked onto Eratz.

"Eratz!" Victoria's voice was sharp, filled with both relief and concern.

Eratz sighed as they landed.

"Right on time," he said.

Tamara released Victoria, and both women stepped toward him. As they drew closer, their

eyes widened in shock.

Eratz's appearance had changed. His white hair was now jet-black, streaked with faint,

glowing purple lines that coursed across his body.

His eyes now burned with a deep purple.

"Eratz... you..." Tamara's voice faltered as she took in his beastification and it's origin. "So

you did it."

Eratz nodded, his gaze shifting upward. The air above them grew heavier as a massive shadow emerged from behind the mountain peak.

Nythra, the black dragon, unfurled its wings and soared overhead, its enormous form blotting

out the stars.

Victoria and Tamara both froze, their breath catching in their throats.

"You really managed to tame it," Tamara whispered, her voice laced with awe and disbelief.

Eratz stood, brushing off his pants as he looked at the dragon.

"Tame is a strong word," he said, his tone thoughtful. "I'd call it... a partnership. Surprisingly, it was easier to reach an understanding with Nythra than with my Terrakrus." He paused, his gaze softening. "But it doesn't feel like the same thing."

Victoria and Tamara exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting from shock to cautious

relief.

"Eratz," Victoria murmured, her eyes flicking between him and the dragon. "You... you

really... You're really..."

Tamara stepped closer, studying him with an intensity that made him tilt his head.

"You... you look different," she said softly. "Your presence... it's unique. This isn't what I'm used to seeing. You're..." She hesitated, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You're really the one I've been waiting to see. You're... invincible."

Eratz chuckled, shaking his head. "Invincible? Hardly. If I was invincible, it'd be a problem. There are people I want to see defeat me someday." His gaze shifted to Nythra, who hovered

silently above, its piercing eyes meeting his. "But this guy is so strong... maybe I won't use him in battle. Maybe." He smiled faintly.

Victoria and Tamara studied him, their expressions softening as they took in the man he had

become.

For a moment, neither spoke, both lost in the weight of the transformation they were

witnessing.

A soft chuckle broke the silence, making them flinch.

"Magnificent power, isn't it?"

Both women's heads snapped toward the sound. There, lying on the ground behind Eratz, was

Kallistra.

Her voice was gentle, almost playful, though her body was still weak. She didn't move, her

eyes fixed on the stars above.

"Kallistra..." Victoria's voice was a mix of shock and confusion. Her gaze darted to Eratz.

"Why is she...?"

Eratz raised a hand to calm them. "Relax," he said. "In her state, she couldn't hurt an insect.

The problem is... that's only for now."

Victoria and Tamara exchanged uneasy glances before slowly approaching their old friend. Kallistra's faint laughter drifted through the air as they neared.

"Don't worry," Kallistra said softly. "Eratz is overestimating me. I'd never put myself in a

position to antagonize him again. Never ever. Plus..." She paused, a faint smile crossing her lips. "I don't need to."

Tamara froze, her expression darkening. She turned to Eratz, her eyes questioning.

Eratz looked up at the sky.

"It's too late," he said. "I can see them."

"See what?" Victoria asked, her voice tense.

"Threads of energy," Eratz explained. "The threads I could see before, what you call

frequency. There's a real web in the sky now. Countless of them. The outburst has already begun."

Tamara's eyes widened.

"An outburst?... You mean... more Calamity beasts? New Primal beasts?"

Eratz nodded slowly.

"Not all are that strong, but the energy combinations are strange."

Tamara's voice grew sharper.

"Can't you use the dragon's power to reverse it? Stop the outburst?"

Eratz shook his head, his expression solemn.

"It's too risky now. I don't fully understand Nythra's power yet. If I try to stop it, I could destabilize things further. I might erase entire species by mistake. For now, we'll have to observe. I'll try in the meantime to improve and see if I can control this power more, but if then/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

situation becomes unmanageable, then I'll risk everything."

Victoria and Tamara's faces fell, their shoulders slumping as the weight of his words settled

over them. The sadness in their eyes was unmistakable.

Tamara's voice was barely above a whisper. "After everything... how could we lose?"

Victoria turned her gaze to the horizon, where the sea continued to claim the remains of the

island. She murmured.

"A world forever changed... and we're left to pick up the pieces." Tamara's fists clenched as she glared at Kallistra, her fiery eyes narrowing with rage.

"How could you?" Tamara's voice was sharp, cutting through the silence. "Do you have any

idea what you've done? How many lives you've endangered? How many people could be in danger because of you?"

Kallistra, still lying on her back, chuckled faintly. Her eyes remained fixed on the starry sky, as though Tamara's anger was nothing more than a passing breeze.

Victoria stepped forward, her expression unreadable, though her trembling hands betrayed

her emotions.

She stopped just short of Kallistra and crouched down slightly, looking at her old friend with a

mix of sadness and disbelief.

"Kallistra..." Victoria's voice was softer but laced with a deep hurt. "Why? Why would you do something so horrible? I want to understand. Please, tell me... Why?"

For a moment, Kallistra didn't respond. She continued to stare at the vast expanse above, her

glowing eyes tracing the threads of energy that danced across the heavens. Then, she let out a soft sigh, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Why?" Kallistra repeated, her tone almost wistful. "Because I wanted to make the world

more beautiful."

Tamara's anger flared even further.

"Beautiful? You call this destruction beautiful?! Do you even hear yourself?" Kallistra slowly turned her head to glance at Tamara, her expression serene yet distant.

"Yes, I do. And maybe you'll never understand because you're not like me. You're not... normal." Tamara blinked, her fury giving way to confusion. Kallistra chuckled softly, almost sadly, before continuing.

"You're a monster, Tammy. An unstoppable force. Someone who's always been strong.

Someone who's always stood out. And Eratz?" Her gaze shifted to the black dragon hovering in the distance. "He's even worse. He's a real anomaly, and he's untouchable now." Kallistra paused, her smile fading as her eyes returned to the sky.

"But me? I was just... normal. Ordinary. There was nothing special about me. No power, no

unique talents. Nothing to make me stand out. Until... you gave me this chance, Tammy." Tamara flinched, her frown deepening as she took a step back. Kallistra's smile returned, tinged with a bittersweet edge.

"You gave me the key to a new world. You introduced me to this treasure, unique beasts. They

became everything to me. I adore their unicity, how a single change in their nature can create

something entirely new in me. They're creatures of dreams and nightmares, of myths and legends. They changed my life, Tammy. They saved me." Her voice softened, her words flowing with a gentle passion.

"I love them. The diversity, the thrill of hunting them, exploring uncharted lands, discovering abilities no one has ever seen before... It's everything to me. It's how I climbed out of my drowning, how I found something that made me feel alive."

She raised her hand, her palm open as though she were trying to grasp the stars above.

The light of the heavens reflected in her eyes, making them shimmer with an almost childlike

wonder.

"You can't understand. None of you can," Kallistra said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Because you've never been the failure. You've never been the one with no power, no worth,

no future. You've always been special. But me? I'm just the girl who found her salvation in the beasts someone better than me hunted."

Victoria's throat tightened, her hands trembling as she tried to process Kallistra's words. "Kally..."

Kallistra turned her gaze to Victoria, a faint smile on her lips.

"It is true. And that's why I did this. You three, you're not so different from me. You believe in

the importance of these beasts. You value their power, their uniqueness. And one day, you'll

start hunting them too, for any excuse you can find. I know you will. Because that's who we are. That's our essence. We're beast masters."

She laughed softly, a sound that was both light and heavy with meaning. "We're all the same.

The only difference between us is the team we chose to stand with." Kallistra's hand lowered, her gaze returning to the stars. Her voice grew quieter, almost

reverent.

"I'm in love with the mysteries of this world. I did what I did... and I'll never regret it."