Dominion of The Beast Masters

Far from the agency, Eratz and Colin stood in the shadow of a towering, volcanic mountain.

The air was warm and dry, the faint smell of sulfur lingering in the breeze. Steam hissed from cracks in the rocky ground, and the occasional spark of heat danced in the air.

Colin followed Eratz hesitantly, glancing at him and then quickly looking away. Her fingers fiddled nervously with the edges of her gloves.

"Are you... really sure this one's for me?" she asked quietly.

Eratz slowed his pace, glancing back at her with a calm but assured expression. "I've hunted this beast for miles. Watched how it moves, felt its energy. It's you. I wouldn't have brought you all the way out here if I wasn't sure."

Colin's gaze dropped to the ground, her steps faltering.

"But... what if it doesn't accept me? What if I mess up? What if I just... fail?"

Eratz stopped abruptly, turning to face her fully. His eyes locked on hers.

"Colin, your first opponent isn't that phoenix. It's the part of you that still doubts, still hesitates. Let me tell you something, when your eyes turned red, you stopped being the timid girl. You became the one I'm expecting the most from."

Colin blinked, unsure how to respond, but Eratz didn't wait for an answer.

"You are my bloodline, Colin. And my bloodline doesn't get scared by suppositions or 'what ifs.' My bloodline dominates. My bloodline fights. And if we lose? Then we make sure our opponent never forgets who we are."

He took a step closer, his gaze locking onto hers, then pushed her gently on the shoulder with his fist.

"You are my pride. So don't stand here second-guessing yourself. Show this beast why I became your fan number one."

Colin's breath hitched, her fists tightening as his words ignited something deep within her.

Her hesitation melted into determination, and she nodded, her eyes burning with resolve.

"I'll make you proud," she said, her voice steady now. "I'll show it what it means to be your bloodline."

Eratz smirked, a proud glint in his eyes.

"Good. Because our bloodline doesn't wait for chances, we create them."

Colin grinned.

"And we don't give them up either."

A small smile crept onto Colin's face.

As they resumed walking, the rocky terrain crunching softly underfoot, she glanced at him several times, her eyes darting away whenever he looked her way.

The silence stretched, broken only by the distant rustle of the wind through the peaks.

Finally, she took a deep breath, her voice hesitant and barely above a whisper.

"Eratz… I… I want to ask you something," she began, her voice barely audible.

Eratz chuckled, glancing down at her. "Go ahead, mini me. Don't leave me hanging."

She fidgeted with her gloves, her eyes fixed on the ground.

"I… I just wanted to say… um, you've always been…" She paused, her words catching in her throat before she pushed herself to continue. "You've always been someone I've looked up to. And… and I don't want to just follow you forever. I want to... no, I will... become someone who can stand next to you. So…" She faltered, her cheeks flushing slightly, then she clenched her fists and forced herself to finish.

"If I do my best… I mean, if I actually manage this… will you promise me something?" Her words tumbled out in a rush. "You can't lose, okay? Because… because I want to be the one to defeat you someday!"

Eratz froze mid-step, his expression shifting from surprise to something deeper.

His eyebrows raised slightly, and for a moment, he just looked at her.

Then, a slow grin spread across his face.

"Defeat me, huh?" he said, his voice quieter. "Didn't see that coming."

She met his gaze, her nerves still present but now tempered with determination.

"I mean it. I'll prove myself. So… don't lose before I get my chance, okay?"

Eratz let out a soft chuckle, his smirk returning as he stepped closer. He reached out and ruffled her hair lightly, earning an embarrassed squeak from Colin.

"Deal," he said, extending his fist toward her. "But you better give it everything you've got from now on, Colin. I'll take you as my biggest challenge, and I'm never going small."

Colin blinked, her smile growing brighter as she bumped her fist against his.

"I won't fail you," she said, her voice stronger now. "And I'll make sure to give you your best fight."

Eratz straightened, his smirk softening into something more meaningful.

"Good. Then let's make it happen, little sis."

Colin's laugh joined his, the tension melting away as the bond between them solidified, stronger than ever.

They ascended the mountain together, the path growing steeper and the air warmer with each step.

Eratz's sharp senses led them to a plateau near the summit, where the air was thick with energy.

He stopped, his hand motioning for Colin to do the same.

"This is it," he said quietly. "The host is here."

Eratz knelt, placing his hand on the scorched ground. He channeled his aura, letting it pulse outward in rhythmic waves.

The energy spread, resonating with the mountain itself. The ground trembled slightly, and the sky above darkened as clouds of ash swirled.

A loud, piercing cry shattered the silence, reverberating through the air.

The clouds parted, revealing a fiery silhouette descending from above.

The phoenix emerged from the sky in a blaze, its immense wings spreading wide as it soared gracefully.

Flames danced along its feathers, each one a brilliant shade of gold, blue, and crimson.

Its body glowed with an intense inner light.

The beast's eyes, fierce and intelligent, glowed like molten gold, surveying Eratz and Colin with a gaze that seemed to pierce through them.

As it descended, its flames trailed behind it, creating arcs of fire that lit up the sky.

It landed gracefully, the ground beneath it scorched black.

The heat was overwhelming, the air shimmering as waves of fire radiated from its body.

Eratz stood tall, unfazed by the phoenix's display. He unleashed his aura, a calm energy field spell starting to propagate around him, and glanced at Colin.

"Your turn."

Colin stepped forward, her body trembling slightly. The phoenix's fiery gaze fixed on her, and she froze, overwhelmed by its sheer presence.

Eratz placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, leaning in to whisper.

"Nothing bad will happen. I'm here, so go all out. I know you have it in you."

She nodded, her breath steadying as she faced the beast.

[Name: Ignivara, The Eternal Flame]

- Affinity: Fire

- Rank: Calamity

- Abilities:

Dual Pyre Control: Experience new tales on m v|l e'm,p| y- r

Manipulates flames into two distinct modes:

Infernal Wrath: The fire becomes an intense, scorching blaze that burns enemies, dealing damage over time.

Flame of Renewal: The fire shifts into soothing, golden flames that heal the target's wounds and regenerate a random stat stamina or energy.

Inferno:

The user summons a swirling vortex of fire that engulfs the battlefield.

In Infernal Wrath mode, the flames scorch enemies within the area, dealing damage over time.

In Flame of Renewal mode, the flames restore the target's vitality.

Solar Embrace:

The user releases radiant fire across the battlefield.

In Infernal Wrath mode, the flames lash out at enemies, dealing sustained damage and lowering their stamina.

In Flame of Renewal mode, the flames envelop targets, fully restoring health and energy while providing a temporary resistance to fire-based attacks.

Rebirth Pyre:

The user engulfs itself in a brilliant blaze that explodes outward. The user drains all their energy but reforms at full health.

Colin gulped, her hands shaking as she raised her aura.

"It's… it look so much more powerful than I imagined."

Eratz smiled faintly, stepping back.

"Which means that you absolutely need it. Now, show it."