Dominion of The Beast Masters

Eratz, Kaida, and Catarina carefully led Mercury down the hallway to the infirmary, supporting her weight between them.

When they reached the infirmary, the staff took over, guiding Mercury to a bed. Kaida lingered by her side for a moment, gently running her fingers through Mercury's hair in a quiet gesture of comfort.

Eratz gave Mercury a brief nod, a small smile passing between them before he turned to leave, Kaida and Catarina following close behind.

Back in the locker room, Kaida dropped onto a bench, her foot tapping restlessly, frustration simmering beneath the surface.

Eratz sat nearby, arms crossed, his expression unreadable yet clearly simmering with irritation.

Catarina settled between them, her gaze darting from one to the other, sensing the storm brewing.

The silence between them was thick, both Eratz and Kaida wearing expressions of restrained anger.

Their eyes were clouded, their jaws clenched, each step heavy with unspoken frustration.

Against a locker, Gabriel observed Eratz, his expression a mixture of anger and disbelief. He hesitated, eyes narrowing before he spoke, voice edged with a barely restrained accusation.

"Really? Concerned for her?" Gabriel's tone was cold, his gaze fixed on Eratz.

Eratz didn't bother looking his way, his disinterest evident. Gabriel's brow furrowed, taking his silence as an invitation to press on.

"Funny," he continued, voice low, "all this fuss over Mercury. Meanwhile, you couldn't care less about your own friend, could you? I've seen the way you act, like none of it mattered."

Eratz's eyes finally locked on him, his gaze narrowing slightly as he replied with cold indifference.

"Do I know you?"

"You may not know me," Gabriel shot back, voice sharper, "but I know exactly what kind of person you are."

Eratz raised an eyebrow, dismissive.

"As you say, child."

Gabriel crossed his arms, his frustration growing.

"I know everything. About what happened… how you ignored your friend, all because of your obsession with Mercury. You didn't even consider the damage she went through."

Eratz's gaze grew sharper, a chilling edge to his voice as he spoke.

"I consider minding my own business, and I suggest you do the same." He yawned, adding, "I already have enough children to care for, I don't need another."

Gabriel's jaw tightened.

"All I'm saying is it's pathetic to pretend to care now, when you're so quick to ignore real issues."

Eratz scoffed, clearly done with the conversation.

"Listen, child. I didn't even know who you were five days ago, and I couldn't care less now. Your only use here is to give me a real challenge, so stay quiet until I crush you, centimeter by centimeter."

Gabriel's fists clenched, but Eratz didn't give him a chance to respond, his voice dropping to a chilling tone.

"I'm in the mood for a massacre, so let me give you some adult advice: don't put yourself in danger."

A heavy silence fell between them, Gabriel stunned by the brutal dismissal in Eratz's words.

He opened his mouth, ready to retort, but just then, a staff member appeared at the doorway, breaking the tension.

"Eratz Pandora, Gabriel Ward, it's time."

Both fighters turned, their expressions cold and resolute as they moved toward the arena, their steps echoing in the tense quiet of the locker room.

The arena buzzed with anticipation as the announcer's voice boomed over the roaring crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for an unforgettable clash! In one side, the undefeated monster, the Apex Predator of the arena, Eratz Pandora!"

The crowd roared, some chanting his name with fervor, others whispering in awe of his notorious power.

"And on the other side, the youngest prodigy of this league, the Beast Whisperer, Gabriel Ward!"

The two fighters stepped onto the battlefield, locking eyes, both emanating fierce determination as they closed the distance until they stood face to face at the arena's center.

The crowd's energy intensified, an electric charge hanging in the air.

In the stands, Colin wiped her tears and leaned toward Milo, who was still struggling to hold back sobs. She held his hand gently, her voice soft yet steady.

"Milo," she whispered. "I know you're sad for Mercury. But Eratz… he needs us too. Let's cheer for him, please? He'll need all the strength we can give him now."

Milo sniffled, his small hands gripping Colin's tightly as he nodded. With trembling breaths, he raised his head, his gaze fixed on his father in heart.

Down in the arena, the two fighters stood in a tense silence, neither breaking eye contact, each silently sizing up the other.

The announcer's voice echoed through the stadium once more.

"Today, we witness a battle not only of strength but of philosophy! Gabriel, the man who speaks with beasts, seeking harmony and unity, will have his hand full with the task of putting a end to the incredulous winning streak of his opponent, a master of dominance, the predator who reigns above them all."

The crowd murmured with intrigue, leaning forward in their seats as they waited for the clash to begin. Even in the stands, the intensity of the atmosphere was palpable.

"And now… let the battle… begin!"

The crowd erupted as the announcer's words faded, the roar like a wave crashing over the stadium.

The tension in the arena was thick as Eratz and Gabriel stared each other down, neither making a move. The crowd began to murmur in confusion, wondering what was happening.

Gabriel sighed heavily, breaking the silence with a defiant shake of his head.

"Screw it," he muttered, raising his voice so it echoed across the arena. "I was told not to mention it… but I can't just stand here and let this injustice go on any longer."

A few heads in the crowd turned, curiosity piqued, while a smirk spread across someone's face.

Gabriel's eyes remained locked on Eratz, his voice carrying a weight that seemed to hang in the air.

"Tell me, Eratz," he called, his tone sharp. "How could you abandon Crystal when she sacrificed everything for you?"

Eratz's eyes went wide, his mouth slightly open, eyebrows high. He said nothing, simply staring at Gabriel, caught off guard.

The public fell silent, an uneasy stillness sweeping over the crowd.

Gabriel took a steadying breath, his gaze unwavering.

"Let's talk about the truth," he began, his voice rising. "About what happened back when you were at Genova Academy. How you were accused, betrayed… abandoned by your childhood friend." He paused, letting his words sink in, his eyes never leaving Eratz. "But through all that, there was one person who stood by you, who fought for you… and that person was Crystal."

Eratz remained frozen, the surprise on his face unmasked, stunned into silence as Gabriel continued.

"You don't even know half of it, do you?" Gabriel continued, his voice thick with emotion. "While everyone else was quick to turn their backs, Crystal… she defended you. She stopped the students from bullying you. She was the one who'd sit with you in the library, just to make sure no one dared to attack you when you were most vulnerable."

In the Genova section, students exchanged uneasy glances, whispering among themselves.

Some of the girls looked at their teachers in panic, muttering defensively.

"It wasn't us… it was just a few of the second-years, but… yeah, Crystal stopped them."

Rowan, sitting among them, stared ahead in shock, processing what he was hearing, as though the reality of it had just hit him.

All eyes gradually turned to Crystal, who sat with her head lowered, her expression subdued. There was no denial. It was the truth.

"Yes," Gabriel continued, his voice resolute. "Crystal did everything she could to keep you at that academy. She defended you… kept you company… begged the teachers for leniency, asking them to give you a second chance, to not expel you."

Eratz said nothing, watching with investment a peak drama he hadn't asked for.

Gabriel looked down briefly, taking a breath, his voice softer.

"But when she needed you the most, you couldn't be there for her." He paused, letting the words sink in before he went on. "One day, someone made up their mind to destroy you completely, to ruin you for good. They planned to manipulate Lisa to convince everyone that you… that you'd raped her."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Lisa's face had turned pale with shock. Beside her, Clara sat stunned, covering her mouth with one hand.

Gabriel continued, his voice steady. "Crystal overheard this plan. She knew what was going to happen, and she did the only thing she could to lessen the damage. She claimed you'd assaulted her, not raped, just a failed attempt. So you wouldn't end up in jail, only expelled. She even hoped you'd be expelled in the end because the academy atmosphere had become so toxic for you. She wanted you to escape… to be saved from what that place had turned into."

The entire stadium was frozen in silence as Gabriel's words washed over them. In the stands, Cassie and Roger exchanged stunned glances.

"And then," Gabriel added, his voice growing softer, "Crystal went so far as to pretend to date the person who tried to ruin you, just to keep tabs on him… to make sure he thought he'd won. To give him the satisfaction, so he would leave you in peace."

The weight of his words settled over the crowd, eyes shifting across the stands as the revelation sank in.

Gradually, the attention from Genova's people turned to the one person who had stayed eerily silent, the one sitting, stunned and pale, with his gaze fixed on Crystal.

Kenny.