Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 219: The Roof of the World: Legendary Beasts



The black orb pulsed faintly in Tamara's hand, its surface glinting with an eerie light that emanated a faint dark aura.

Eratz stared at it with curiosity. There was something almost alive about the object, like an eye staring back at him, daring him to unravel its mysteries.

"What is it?" he asked, his voice low, tinged with cautious intrigue.

Tamara's lips curved into a faint smile.

"This, Eratz, is the treasure of my last hunt with Kallistra." Her tone turned serious. "It's the reason everything fell apart between us."

Eratz's curiosity deepened, but he remained silent, letting her continue.

"We were studying the myths of the legendary beasts," she began, her gaze drifting toward the horizon.

"Depending on the region, the stories vary, but there are places where the myths converge. The deepest crater in the world. The hottest desert. Places where the energy of the world gathers."

She paused, her fingers absently tracing the orb's smooth surface.

"One of those legends led us to a ruined castle in the Valley of the Black Sun."

The name whistled into Eratz's ears. The Valley of the Black Sun was located on an island in the North of the continent and had a reputation for shifting winds.

Tamara nodded at his reaction.

"The legend says it's where light and darkness clashed to shape the world. Some claim it's sacred, others call it cursed. But what we found there went far beyond myths."

Her voice dropped, taking on a quiet intensity.

"The energy there was unlike anything I'd ever felt. Bigger. Stranger. It wasn't just aura. It was something... more." She glanced at him, her eyes sharp. "You should be able to feel it too, the frequency."

Eratz stiffened.

"The frequency?" he murmured, realization dawning.

"Yes," Tamara said softly. "It's how I track unique beasts. Their energy frequency is like a signature. You must sense it too, in your own way. Think about it."

Eratz's mind raced, and soon, he realized the link.

"The threads," he muttered again, almost to himself.

He'd always perceived it as threads, intangible lines of energy connecting creatures and space, but now he realized how unique and varied this ability could be.

Tamara nodded, her voice gentler.

"So you see it as a thread? In my case, it's more like a wave. That's what I followed, deep into the ruins. Beneath the castle, there was another world... an ancient castle buried below, even older than the one above. And at its heart, I found these." She held up the orb, its faint glow casting shadows on her face.

"There were two," she continued. "One white, one black."

Eratz's breath hitched. The weight of her words pressed down on him. This wasn't just a story; this was History. A piece of something that could change everything.

"The villagers had a legend about the valley," Tamara said. "They said it was created by a battle between two legendary beasts. The white beast embodied blind justice; the black, pure malevolence. They fought endlessly, equal in power, and their battle created the equilibrium of the world. The abyss where they fight is the reason balance exists."

Eratz stared at the orb, his thoughts racing.

"So... these orbs represent that equilibrium?"

Tamara nodded.

"That's what the legend says. Their presence there... it's symbolic. It's not just a story. It's the key to understanding the legendary beasts. In my eyes, legendary beasts are always present, but invisible in our world. This thing here is one of the tools to reach them."

The enormity of the moment hit Eratz like a wave. This was it. A doorway to the legendary beasts. The answers he'd been seeking since he judged the Calamity beasts too common for what they represented... But then, a chilling realization settled over him.

"If they're the equilibrium," he said slowly, his voice sharpening, "why is one of them here? Doesn't that mean..."

Tamara's expression darkened.

"I see where you're going, but this is a temporal situation. And it's even a better situation than before."

Eratz's gaze turned to hers, his mind racing as she continued.

"When we found them, Kallistra was mesmerized. She wanted to use them immediately to find the legendary beasts. But I refused. If the beasts represent equilibrium, what happens if we disrupt it? Should they even be tamed? What's the cost to the world?"

Her tone turned cold.

"Kallistra didn't care. She saw them as tools. Power to be taken."

"So you stopped her?" Eratz asked.

"Not on the spot," Tamara said. "I decided to not touch them, but she wouldn't listen. She wanted them both, so she took them. But there was a problem with her plan, I was the only one who could use them to track or reach the legendary beasts. So she challenged me."

Eratz scratched his chin, his mind processing the weight of her words. This wasn't how he'd imagined their legendary clash, but he began to understand Kallistra's desperation.

"Challenged you?" he repeated, his brows furrowing.

Tamara nodded.

"A risk-all duel. If I won, she'd give me one of the orbs. If she won, I'd serve her forever. You know how it ended."

Eratz's brow furrowed.

"Yeah... and I'm more surprised that she actually followed the rules. You and Victoria described her like a monster but she seems pretty chill."

Tamara let out a dry laugh.

"Because she's smart. She had to follow her rules, so she could use them later. She needed me and she couldn't manipulate me, so she had to find a way. If she broke her word, then how could she convince me? It sounds stupid, but I believe that she wants to force me to play her game by showing me she followed the rules... Thinking about it... if she challenged me later and beat me... that would be the biggest mind game in History... Well, that's if I play fair withn/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

her."

Eratz leaned back, his mind spinning. The orbs, the legendary beasts, Kallistra's ambitions... and now this. It was almost too much to process. But one thing was clear: this was bigger than

anything he'd ever faced.

"And now she wants me," he said quietly.

Tamara's gaze softened.

"That's why I'm warning you. She'll do whatever it takes to get what she wants. Don't underestimate her, Eratz. Her plan is risky because I could always refuse, but you, you're walking in her path on your own will."

Eratz nodded slowly, catching the weight of her words. The gravity of the black orb, the legend of the equilibrium, and the threat Kallistra posed all swirled in his mind.

But beneath the surface, something moved in the opposite way, a spark of curiosity, of ambition. The existence of the legendary beasts and the possibility of reaching burned him. It wasn't just fascination, it was deeper than that. These creatures were more than myths, they were real, tied to the fabric of existence.

Raijinara changed his life, what if he got something far greater? If the beasts truly held the balance of the world in their claws, what did it mean to stand before them? To control them?

To understand them?

Yet, a quiet guilt lingered. He couldn't shake the nagging thought: was he being reckless? What if Tamara was right? He considered her argument, the risk of disturbing the equilibrium. But then, wasn't exactly Kallistra's point? In the end, Tamara, Victoria, and Kallistra, all had different views, different ideologies. Even he was different.

Tamara's voice broke the silence, her tone softer now.

"You're thinking about it, aren't you?" Her hand moved to her hip, her gaze unwavering. "You want to see the legendary beasts. I can see it in your eyes."

Eratz froze, her words cutting through his inner turmoil. He couldn't deny it. He didn't want

to deny it.

"I understand you," Tamara continued, stepping closer. "It's in your nature. You're like me, Eratz. It's why you've come so far. And this is exactly why I can't let you meet her, at least

right now. So listen, let's make a deal."

She brought the black orb closer to Eratz, a sly smile crossing her lips.

"If you want this black orb, I'll give you a chance to have it. No Kallistra. No tricks. Just you

and me."

Eratz shifted his weight, crossing his arms. The black orb, the key to the legendary beasts,

offered to him freely. It was an opportunity that could change everything, and that was exactly why he became doubtful.

"So, what's the catch? You're warning me about Kallistra, but you're still dangling this in

front of me. Why?"

Tamara sighed, her expression softening.

"Because I know what's at stake for you. You want answers. You want purpose. And I'm offering you a chance to get it, without going through her."

Eratz's eyes narrowed.

"What's the deal, then?"

Tamara's lips curved into a sly smile.

"A battle."

Eratz's jaw slowly dropped. This was probably the easiest way to tell him he was being played.

He couldn't defeat Victoria, and now he was challenged by someone reputed to be stronger

than her?

Tamara could see the annoyance growing in his eyes, but it only fuelled her amusement.

"Relax, I'm not against you, so I'll play fair with you. Let's fight in something where I can't

control the flow of the battle, something Vicky is very proud of. A team battle. World Star versus Golden Cosmos."

Eratz blinked, caught off guard by the proposal.

"If you win," Tamara continued, her voice steady, "you get the black orb, no strings attached.

I won't oppose you pursuing the legendaries. You'll have what you need, and I'll step aside. No Kallistra, no Tamara."

The wind stirred around them, carrying a faint chill as the moonlight bathed the rooftop in

silver.

Tamara's smile slowly disappeared, as she added.

"And if I win, you join World Star."