Dominion of The Beast Masters

For a moment, there was silence. Then, stunned murmurs rippled through the crowd like an uneasy tide. The trainees exchanged wide-eyed glances, their expressions a mix of disbelief and awe.

"Wait… the new kids?" someone whispered.

A wave of incredulous chatter followed.

"Seriously? Them?"

"What's the meaning of this? Is this a joke?" Explore more at m,v l'e-m|p| y r

"I thought they were just newbies. How could they be in the team?"

Colin stood quietly amidst the noise, her gaze fixed firmly on the ground. Her hand was clutched tightly around Eratz's as she tried to ignore the whispers. Beside her, Milo shifted nervously, his eyes darting around the room like a cornered animal.

The murmurs grew louder, the confusion palpable. Some of the newest recruits exchanged clueless looks, trying to piece together who Colin and Milo were and why they'd been chosen.

Zara stepped forward, raising a hand to quiet the growing commotion. Just as she was about to speak, a sharp clap cut through the noise.

Adrian.

He stood with a slow, wide smirk, his hands coming together in a sarcastic rhythm that echoed through the hushed room.

"Of course," he began, his voice dripping with disdain. "Why are you even surprised? This is exactly what everyone wanted, isn't it?"

The room froze as his words hung in the air, his tone cutting through the confusion like a blade.

"I mean, let's not pretend we didn't see this coming," Adrian continued, his gaze sweeping over the room, daring anyone to challenge him. "This is the kind of decision that happens when you put blind loyalty over logic. When you let Eratz play king, and the agency just bends over backward to do whatever he wants."

He took a step forward, his presence taking the room's attention.

"You all wanted to blame me when I pointed it out, didn't you? Said I was bitter, said I didn't understand. But look at this. The agency didn't pick the strongest. They didn't pick the most experienced. No, they picked his favorites."

Colin flinched ever so slightly, her grip tightening around Eratz's hand, but she didn't look up. Milo's breath quickened, his nervousness escalating under Adrian's harsh words.

Adrian's smirk deepened, his voice laced with venom.

"And why?" he asked, his tone turning mocking. "It's not like it's hard to figure out. Look at her," he said, pointing to Colin. "Doesn't she remind you of someone? Or are you all too dense to notice?"

The trainees exchanged confused glances, their whispers returning, quieter now but no less curious.

"And him," Adrian continued, pointing to Milo. "Well, that one's obvious, isn't it? The boy's Mercury's brother. What more do you need? If you're family to an ace, or if you've got the right face, you're in. Skill? Hard work? That doesn't matter. All that matters is playing favorites."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Adrian's accusations hung heavy in the air, the weight of his words pressing down on everyone present.

Colin finally lifted her gaze, her red eyes burning with quiet anger as she met Adrian's scornful stare.

Milo shrank back slightly, but Mercury's steadiness seemed to anchor him, and he forced himself to stand a little taller.

Adrian folded his arms, his smirk now a full-blown sneer as he delivered his final words.

"So don't act surprised," he said. "This isn't about merit. It's about who you know. And apparently, who you look like."

The silence was deafening. All eyes turned to Zara, waiting for a response, but for a moment, even she seemed caught off guard by the ferocity of Adrian's outburst.

She looked toward Victoria, her expression troubled, unsure how to handle the tension Adrian had created.

Across the room, Mercury's gaze was locked onto Adrian, dark and unyielding, her jaw tight with restrained anger.

Victoria, standing next to Zara, observed the scene with a calm, calculating demeanor.

Her sharp eyes flicked between the murmuring trainees and Adrian, who stood triumphantly amidst the rising frustration.

The tension grew heavier as the trainees whispered among themselves, their doubts and frustrations spilling into the air.

"Did they really pick these kids because they're family?"

"Maybe he's right? Aren't they just Eratz's and Mercury's protégés?"

"It's not fair. We've worked just as hard... harder, even."

The murmurs rose, frustration bubbling to the surface like a storm ready to break.

Adrian stood tall, his smirk deepening as he reveled in the chaos he'd created.

But then, Victoria's voice cut through the noise like a blade.

"What about testing it?"

The room went silent, the murmurs vanishing in an instant. Adrian paused mid-smirk, turning slowly to face Victoria. All eyes followed, the weight of her presence shifting the energy in the room.

Victoria stepped forward, her calm, commanding voice filling the space.

"I hear your concerns," she began, her gaze sweeping across the trainees and finally settling on Adrian. "And I understand your doubts. You're frustrated. You're wondering if my decisions are fair. If they're just."

Her expression remained steady, her tone way too normal.

"But let me remind you of something. This agency was built with two goals in mind. The first, to create a place where talents are nurtured, a space where those with potential can rise and grow, becoming the best versions of themselves. The second, to give a chance to those who brought our name to the top to compete with the best. This mean that I'm not planning to just participate. I want a clear victory, and I want to give a chance to my aces to win. My choices are based on which potential I see."

She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"But if you disagree, then prove it. Adrian, as the best after my aces, challenge Colin. Win, and I'll consider your argument. Show us all that you deserve her spot."

The murmurs in the room stopped instantly, replaced by a stunned silence. Adrian blinked, his smirk faltering slightly.

"Her?" he asked incredulously. "You want me to fight a little girl?"

He chuckled, shaking his head as if the idea itself was absurd.

"This will make me the villain, the black cat of this story," he said, his tone oozing mockery. "Everyone will cry foul when I win. Poor little girl, beaten by the big, bad Adrian. It's not fair to put me in this position."

His words spilled out in a torrent, filled with exaggerated sympathy and thinly veiled condescension.

It was clear he was looking for an escape, building a narrative to justify his actions, or soften the blow to his pride.

Victoria's sharp gaze cut through his rambling like a knife.

"Enough," she said firmly. Her voice carried an authority that silenced him immediately.

"I haven't trained my fighters to be weaklings, nor to make excuses," she continued, her tone cold and decisive. "I know why I accepted Colin. I know her strength, her resolve, and her ability to endure. I didn't put her in this position to be coddled, Adrian. I put her here because I trust her to fight."

The weight of her words hung in the air as she stepped forward, her gaze boring into Adrian.

"Both of you can go all out. I need a demonstration, not half-measures. Show me the power you're so proud of, Adrian. And Colin," she added, turning her gaze to the younger fighter, "show me why I made the right choice."

Adrian's smirk returned, a glint of malice in his eyes.

"Well, if that's the case," he said, his voice slick with confidence, "I won't hold back. I wouldn't want to disappoint you, Director."

He turned toward Colin, his posture shifting into a more predatory stance, clearly savoring the opportunity to punish Eratz's family. His ego swelled at the thought.

Colin, however, stood still, her gaze calm and unwavering. Her red eyes focused intently on Adrian, her expression unreadable except for a slight furrow of her brow.

The room buzzed with tension as Victoria stepped back, her voice cutting through the thick atmosphere.

"Enter the sparring area," she said, her tone cold. "No more excuses."