Dominion of The Beast Masters

The Golden Cosmos team gathered in the locker room beneath the Celestia Coliseum. The locker room was modern, sleek, spacious, and efficient.

Rows of lockers lined the walls, their metallic surfaces gleaming under the soft, diffused lighting. At the center of the room stood a circular table with a built-in holographic display. Its faint blue glow illuminated the team as they huddled around it, studying the profiles of their opponents.

Victoria and Zara stood at the head of the table. Around them, the team members and support staff listened intently.

"Stellar Vanguard," Victoria began, "is one of the top agencies on the continent. Their roster is exceptional, with two fighters ranked at the continental level. This is your first match, but it's already a serious test of your abilities."

Zara picked up the briefing, swiping the screen to reveal a detailed image of a man standing beside a massive, fiery lion-like beast.

"Let's start with their ace, Aeron Solaris. He's a continental-ranked beast master who specializes in light and fire. His field spell engulfs the battlefield in intense fire, boosting his beasts' strength while wearing down opponents. Then there's his signature beast, the Infernal Ardentis, a molten-furred creature capable of unleashing devastating area-of-effect attacks. In a one-on-one format, he's almost unbeatable."

The hologram shifted to show Aeron and his Ardentis, a feline-like beast with molten fur pulsing with heat.

Zara continued.

"Their second ace is Thyra Voss, ranked just below Aeron. She's an earth and poison specialist. Her field spell creates a toxic battlefield that saps her opponents' energy while her beasts flourish. If I were them, I'd reserve her for the 1v1, she can dominate solo battles and her abilities would be a problem for her teammates."

A holographic image of Thyra appeared, flanked by her beasts, a towering stone scorpion and a snake with gleaming, venomous fangs. The room buzzed with quiet murmurs.

"Thyra's field is going to be a problem if she can pull that," Mercury said, crossing her arms.

Ryder leaned against a locker, nodding.

"I could manage with my beastifications, some of my different forms might help me to adapt if it's just poison."

Kaida, sitting on the bench with her arms folded, frowned.

"What about a strong counter-field? Someone with enough power to overwhelm her? Mercury or I could nullify it."

Mercury arched a brow.

"You're volunteering?"

"Why not?" Kaida said with a small smirk. "If they put Thyra it has to be in the 1v1, and in the worst case I am almost immune to their ace. It's a good bet."

Raya's calm voice cut through the conversation.

"But if you go for the 1v1, that means we're pulling one of our strongest for a single point. Is that the best move?"

Eratz leaned over the table, his gaze fixed on the profiles.

"Exactly. We have to think about the 4v4. That's where we can maximize points. In the 1v1, anything can happen. If we send our strongest there and they send a cannon meat, it's a waste."

Kaida rolled her eyes.

"So who? Our weakest are the healing machines, I'm sure they'll do better in the 3v3 and 4v4."

Eratz smiled faintly.

"I'm not saying the opposite. We can't predict every scenario in a solo battle. But in the 4v4, Raya and I can change the flow of the match. That's where we should focus. If we get Colin or Milo, we can avoid losing a single point. That means we potentially get the minimum point to not lose. Now we need at least one of us to keep an eye on them, this is where a 3rd powerhouse is needed."

The team huddled around the glowing holographic table as their discussion deepened. Milo raised his hand, his face scrunched in confusion.

"Why would they target Colin or me?" he asked, his tone puzzled.

Ryder smirked, leaning back against the lockers.

"Gamer mentality. You're healers. You're our trump card in extended battles."

Milo gulped, suddenly looking far less eager. Colin nudged him with her elbow, offering a reassuring smile.

Colin nudged him gently.

"Don't worry," she whispered. "Half the time, I'm pretending to understand too. Just focus on what you can do."

Victoria took control of the conversation again.

"For the first battle, Mercury will step in. Her field spell control and versatility give her the best chance of countering either of their aces. If she faces Aeron, we smile, if it's a meat shield, we'll cry."

Zara outlined the strategy, emphasizing that Raya and Eratz would be split between the 3v3 and 4v4 matches to maximize their impact. Colin and Milo would also be divided to ensure both teams had healing and support capabilities.

With the plan set, Victoria turned to a console embedded in the table. She tapped in their finalized roster, each fighter's name and position displayed alongside their specialties.

The screen flashed as the data was transmitted to the match database for the official announcement.

The team made their final preparation, the weight of the coming battles settling on their shoulders.

As they left the locker room, the sound of the crowd's euphoria grew louder. The stage was set, their roles decided, and their first match was about to begin.

The arena erupted as the announcer's voice boomed through the colossal Celestia Coliseum.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome our first contenders: Golden Cosmos!"

The crowd's roar rose like a wave, shaking the very ground. Golden lights flooded the corridor as the team emerged, one by one, stepping into the spotlight.

At the front was Mercury, her steps steady but her eyes betraying a glimmer of awe.

The sheer size of the arena and the deafening cheers from tens of thousands of spectators sent chills down her spine. She straightened her posture, gripping the straps of her gloves as if grounding herself.

Beside her, Milo struggled to hide his nerves. His wide eyes darted between the dazzling lights and the roaring crowd, his hands fidgeting nervously at his sides.

Colin tried to mimic Eratz's composed walk. She adjusted her stance, her face calm but her hands clutching tightly at her sleeves.

Eratz, walking just ahead, showing a quiet confidence, his piercing red gaze fixed on the arena floor. He glanced at the gigantic crowd, way bigger than anything he'd visited before.

Catarina sauntered forward with a playful grin. She blew a kiss toward the audience, eliciting an uproar of cheers and whistles.

Kaida followed with a fiery smirk, her head high, soaking in the atmosphere as if it were fuel. Ryder gave the crowd a casual wave, showing an generous energy that balanced the tension.

Raya closed the walk, walking slowly with the energy of the crowd washing over her.

From the opposite corridor, the Stellar Vanguard team emerged in synchrony, their stride calm and imposing.

At their forefront was Aeron Solaris, his golden hair gleaming under the light. Thyra Voss followed, her emerald-green cloak trailing behind her as she walked.

The two teams approached the center of the battlefield, the atmosphere electric with tension.

The crowd held its breath as the fighters stood face to face. For a moment, the deafening noise faded, replaced by the crackling intensity of the confrontation.

The giant screens above the arena displayed the team compositions:

Golden Cosmos:

1v1: Mercury Banks
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3v3: Kobayashi Raya - Catarina - Milo Ambrosius

4v4: Eratz Pandora- Kaida - Colin Alondra - Ryder Crow

Stellar Vanguard:

1v1:

Thyra Voss

3v3:

Cassian Drell - Lyric Aven - Soren Tylis

4v4:

Aeron Solaris - Vale Emberhart - Lucien Skye - Kael Dravok

The names and faces of the fighters glowed on the screens. The Golden Cosmos team exchanged glances, their expressions reflecting a quiet satisfaction.

This setup was halfway what they had hoped for, each fighter in the position where they could counter them.

"Perfect," Eratz murmured, his gaze flicking toward the Stellar Vanguard side. "We go with plan B."

Mercury adjusted her gloves, a small smirk playing on her lips.

"Alright, this is it."

Meanwhile, on the Stellar Vanguard side, their fighters nodded with confidence. As expected, the pharaoh was in the battle with the most points.

Both teams moved to their designated benches, sleek and futuristic seating areas on either side of the arena.

Each station was equipped with holographic displays, energy monitors, and resting zones for the competitors not yet in battle.

The Golden Cosmos fighters settled in, their expressions a mixture of focus and excitement.

On the Stellar Vanguard side, their team gathered in a calm, disciplined manner.

The crowd's energy surged again as the announcer's voice boomed across the arena.

"The first battle! In the 1v1, we have Golden Cosmos's Mercury Banks versus Stellar Vanguard's Thyra Voss!"

Both fighters stepped forward, the anticipation in the air thick enough to cut. Mercury's water marks began to glow faintly as the arena floor beneath her shimmered with moisture.

In front from her, Thyra's aura oozed like a creeping poison, the ground beneath her feet darkening with toxic green energy.

The announcer's voice rang out one last time.

"Let the first battle…begin!"