Dominion of The Beast Masters

Adrian trembled, his body shaking uncontrollably as the last words of his surrender echoed through the silent arena.

The crowd was stunned, frozen in disbelief.

It was over.

Adrian had surrendered, and Colin had won.

The trainees and staff exchanged uncertain glances. Some seemed unsure if they should clap, hesitant to break the heavy tension in the air.

But the decision was made for them.
Enjoy new adventures from mvl

From the stands, a slow clap started. It was Catarina, her mischievous grin wide as her applause rang clear. Beside her, Kaida joined in, then Raya, with a calm clapping.

Ryder leaned back in his seat, chuckling as he clapped, his expression amused.

One by one, the aces began to applaud, like flames showing the way to the group of moths.

The trainees hesitated only a moment longer before joining in, their clapping gaining momentum until the arena was filled with thunderous applause.

Colin stood in the center, her head high, her face calm yet radiant. The applause washed over her like a victorious wave, a moment she had earned.

Adrian, on the other hand, kept his head low, his fists trembling with a mixture of pain and despair.

Colin glanced at him, her voice lighter.

"I could heal you," she said, her tone teasing but. "But using my strongest power on you feels... weird. I'll do it, but only after you apologize to my big bro."

Adrian's teeth clenched, his lip trembling as he bit down hard.

Instead of replying, he struggled to stand, his body shaking with the effort. Gritting his teeth, he began crawling out of the arena, each step heavy with humiliation.

"Adrian."

The applause quieted as Victoria's icy voice cut through the arena.

He froze mid-step, his shoulders stiffening. He didn't dare turn around, his entire body visibly tense.

Victoria's gaze swept over the arena, her voice clear as she addressed everyone.

"What happened here today serves as a lesson for us all," she began. "Colin's victory is a testament to her strength, her skill, and her right to be here. Let there be no doubt: she has earned her place on this team."

Her sharp eyes flicked toward Adrian, who remained frozen, his head still low.

"But let me be clear," she continued, her tone darkening slightly. "This kind of behavior, challenging your teammates out of spite, questioning decisions of your superiors, will not be tolerated. Colin has proven herself. Anyone who thinks otherwise is welcome to try their luck. But let this be your warning: picking a fight with her, or anyone else in this team, without reason, will have consequences."

The trainees shifted uncomfortably, murmurs rising as they glanced nervously at one another.

Victoria's voice rose slightly, silencing the murmurs.

"And now, there's one more matter to address. Milo."

All eyes turned to the young boy, who sat beside Mercury with wide, uncertain eyes. He shrank slightly under the weight of the room's gaze.

Victoria's gaze swept over the crowd.

"Whoever thinks Milo doesn't deserve his place," she said calmly, "feel free to step into the battlefield."

The room grew still. Trainees looked around nervously. Milo gripped the edge of his seat, his heart pounding, but no one moved.

Victoria's gaze was unwavering as she waited, but the silence stretched. Finally, her expression softened slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"No one?" she said. "Then Milo wins. And I won't entertain any further debates on this matter. The decision for the team battles is final."

She paused, her gaze falling once more on Adrian, who still hadn't moved.

"Adrian," she said coldly, "you will report to my office after visiting the infirmary. This game is over."

Adrian's fists clenched at Victoria's words. His face twisted in rage and humiliation, his lips trembling as he tried to form a response.

But no words came.

His chest heaved, and his head remained low as he limped out of the arena.

As Adrian disappeared, the remaining trainees and staff turned their attention to Colin, filled with awe and disbelief. They watched her as if seeing her for the first time.

Colin stood still, her hands clasped behind her back. She hesitated, glancing toward her group but avoiding their eyes.

She didn't have to wait long.

Kaida's booming voice broke the tension.

"Colin!" she shouted, striding over with a wide grin. Before Colin could react, Kaida scooped her up in a powerful hug, lifting her off the ground.

"You're incredible!" Kaida laughed, spinning her briefly. "You're going to be my fire disciple whether you like it or not!"

Colin blinked, startled by the enthusiasm, but a small, shy smile crept onto her face.

The rest of the group quickly followed, surrounding her with cheers and congratulations.

Catarina gave a dramatic, playful bow.

"I solemnly swear never to annoy you," she said with a grin. "You've earned my eternal respect, Mini Boss."

Ryder clapped her shoulder, grinning.

"That was amazing. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it," he said, his voice brimming with admiration. "Except perhaps every single person having participated in the finals, but your control, your fire, it's something else entirely."

Raya's calm voice chimed in next, her words carrying weight.

"You've changed," she said, her gaze steady on Colin. "Your aura… It's no longer just another spark. You've become your own flame."

Mercury stepped forward, her expression filled with pride.

"You did wonderfully," she said, her voice warm. "I can't wait to fight alongside you. And Milo?"

She turned to her brother, who was standing a little to the side, staring at the scorched arena floor with wide eyes.

Milo gulped audibly, then looked at Colin, his face pale.

"I… uh… do you need water? Food? A chair? By the way, about the time I said you looked like a the grandma of a witch..." he stammered, his voice trembling.

Colin rolled her eyes, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"I'd never do that to any of you," she said, crossing her arms. "I was just angry. That's all."

Eratz stepped forward then, his gaze softening as he looked at her.

"You were incredible," he said, his voice full of pride.

Colin looked down, her cheeks tinged with pink.

"I just got mad," she muttered. "He insulted you, and I… uh... you know, I didn't even go all out."

Eratz chuckled, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Nah, really? Not surprising though I know what you're capable of, " he said. "Mind testing it? I'm really curious about your full power now."

They exchanged a few teasing words, Eratz joking about her parents' reaction to this event and Colin pretending to be annoyed.

Later that day, Adrian slumped into the chair in Victoria's office, his face twisted with anger and embarrassment.

Victoria sat across from him, her posture poised, her icy gaze fixing him.

"You wanted to see me," Adrian muttered bitterly.

"I did," Victoria said calmly. "We need to talk about your behavior, Adrian. Today wasn't the first time you've caused trouble in this agency, and I'm starting to wonder if I've been too lenient with you."

Adrian scoffed, his frustration bubbling over into anger.

"Of course. It's always my fault, isn't it? The agency has its favorites, your precious aces. The rest of us? We're just here to make them look good!"

Victoria's gaze sharpened, cutting through his words like ice.

"This has nothing to do with favoritism," she said coolly. "It's about results. You question every decision, you challenge your teammates out of spite, and when things don't go your way, you lash out. Today was a perfect example of that."

Adrian leaned forward, his voice rising, his frustration spilling out.

"Maybe if you gave me the same chances you give them, I'd be able to prove myself! But no, you put someone like Eratz's sister, someone with no experience, above me. What does that say about the rest of us?"

Victoria didn't flinch.

"You have a very short memory," she replied firmly. "My choice says that she earned her place. You proved it yourself. Colin demonstrated strength, control, and results, all the qualities we look for in our aces. You, on the other hand, have repeatedly shown a lack of discipline and focus."

Adrian's fists clenched, his face flushed with anger. His voice cracked as he shot back.

"You never noticed me!" he yelled. "You never noticed anyone! It's always Mercury, always Eratz. Before him, it was her! You've never cared about the rest of us. You're always so distant, so cold, like the rest of us don't even matter!"

Victoria's expression remained calm, though a flicker of something passed through her eyes, disappointment, perhaps.

"I could try explaining it to you," she said evenly. "But you've proven, time and again, that you don't listen. You have no memory for the answers you're already given. Zara told you why you're not where you want to be. I won't waste my breath repeating her words."

Adrian flinched at the mention of Zara. His face crumpled, and his voice wavered as he tried to find a retort.

Instead, he buried his face in his hands, his shoulders trembling as tears of frustration spilled out.

"I've worked so hard!" he cried, his voice breaking. "And for what? To be ignored? To be humiliated? It's always them, it's never me!"

Victoria watched him, her face unreadable. She let the silence hang for a moment before speaking.

"What do you exactly want? We're telling you to put some effort and stop lashing out on your teammates, what is there to complain about?" she said, her tone softening slightly. "If you really want to change, you have one last chance."

Adrian looked up at her, his face twisted with anger and despair.

"I'm done," he spat, his voice trembling. "I don't want your pity. I quit."

Victoria exhaled quietly, leaning back in her chair.

"That might be for the best," she said calmly, her gaze steady. "Because you've just proven, once again, that you're not what I'm looking for. You're a coward, Adrian. You run from challenges and complain when there's no result."

Adrian's face turned red, his fists shaking as he stood abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor.

"Go to hell!" he shouted. "You, this agency, all of you! I hope you fail. I hope you all feel the pain you've made me feel!"

Victoria didn't react, almost indifferent as Adrian stormed toward the door. He slammed it behind him, the sound reverberating through the quiet office.

For a long moment, Victoria sat in silence, her gaze fixed on the door. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

She turned toward the window, the city lights glittering in the distance.

"Cutting the weeds to see results, huh?" she murmured, her voice barely audible. A faint, almost bitter smile tugged at her lips.

"You were right… I'm not that different from you, Kally."