Dominion of The Beast Masters

The courtyard of Genova Academy was eerily quiet, the air heavy with tension.

Kallistra Dyscordia stood at the center, her silver-gray hair shimmering faintly under the sun.

Her sharp emerald eyes scanned the group, enjoying their fear, their unease.

Zara clutched a notebook tightly against her chest, her breath uneven as her trembling fingers betrayed her nerves.

Raya, standing just behind her, appeared calm, her eyes were closed.

Mercury stepped forward, placing herself in front of Colin and Milo. Her stance was firm, protective, her sharp gaze locked onto Kallistra.

Cassie and Roger stood to the side, their faces pale and tight with worry.

Cassie's trembling hand found Eratz's arm, gripping it tightly.

"Eratz," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Who… who is she?"

Eratz glanced at her but said nothing, his jaw tightening. His silence was answer enough. Explore more at M-V-L

Cassie's gaze flicked between him and the woman standing before them. The dread in the air, the defensive stances of the others, it told her everything she needed to know.

Her grip tightened.

"It's her, isn't it?"

Kallistra's soft, melodic laugh broke the silence, startling everyone.

"How strange," she said, tilting her head to the side, her tone light and teasing. "To not be recognized by someone… It's so... new... I could almost enjoy it."

She took a slow step forward, the click of her heels against the stone echoing ominously. The group instinctively flinched.

"But I can see it in your eyes," Kallistra continued, her emerald gaze gleaming with amusement. "We're long past introductions, aren't we?"

She placed a hand lightly on her chest and smiled.

"I am Kallistra Dyscordia, also known as the Star Crusher," she announced. "But more importantly…" Her smile widened. "Your soon-to-be best friend."

Cassie's face turned white. Her hand on Eratz's arm shook even harder as she whispered.

"Best... friend?"

"Oh, don't look so surprised," Kallistra said sweetly, her eyes narrowing. "It's the truth. You have no idea how much I like people like you."

Her gaze swept across the group, lingering on each person's face as she took in their stiff, defensive stances. Her amusement only grew.

"Why so tense?" she asked, her tone almost mocking. "I'm happy to meet you all."

Her eyes flicked to Colin and Milo, then landed on Mercury. Kallistra's smile deepened as she took in Mercury's protective stance.

"How sweet," she mused. "So much care for the little ones. But you know…" Her tone dropped slightly. "That also mark them easy targets."

Mercury flinched, her jaw tightening. The malice in Kallistra's tone was unmistakable. She was toying with them, and everyone knew it.

"Relax, though... today, my menu is someone else."

Kallistra took another step forward, and the tension spiked. The air felt heavier, like the moments before a catastrophe.

But instead of moving toward Mercury or Eratz, Kallistra stopped in front of Victoria.

Victoria, who had been silent until now, blinked in surprise as Kallistra approached her.

Before anyone could react, Kallistra reached out and touched Victoria's face, her fingers brushing against her cheek.

For a moment, Kallistra observed, palpated her face. Her lips parted slightly, and her voice trembled.

"Vicky," she whispered. "It's really you."

Victoria's eyes widened, caught completely off guard.

"W… What?" she stammered.

"I can't believe it," Kallistra said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I looked everywhere for you. Where were you? How could you just disappear like that?"

Her laugh was soft and bitter, tinged with pain.

"Do you have any idea how much I've missed you?"

Victoria's stoic mask cracked. Her voice was quiet, almost uncertain.

"Kally… The agency wasn't what it used to be. You and Tammy... I..."

"Stop." Kallistra's voice, though soft, was firm. "Don't give me that excuse, Vicky. Didn't we promise to stay together? Didn't we say we'd face everything, no matter what?" Her emerald eyes softened, and she stepped closer.

Before anyone could react, Kallistra pulled Victoria into a hug.

The group froze, stunned by the gentleness of her actions. The hug was firm but careful, as though she were holding something fragile.

"You broke our friendship, Vicky," Kallistra murmured. Her voice was a mix of sadness and affection. "And for what? Problems with her? You weren't even involved. You're such an idiot."

Victoria stood stiffly, her mind reeling. Slowly, awkwardly, she returned the hug.

"I didn't think it mattered," she admitted quietly. "I didn't think I mattered."

Kallistra pulled back slightly, her expression exasperated.

"Of course, you mattered," she said. "You still do. Do you know what it felt like to lose you? To realize I couldn't reach you anymore?"

Her voice cracked, but she quickly composed herself.

"Now that I've found you, I won't lose you again."

Victoria hesitated, her voice soft.

"We… maybe we need to talk."

Kallistra straightened, her usual confidence returning.

"Good," she said. "But first…" She turned to the group, her smile widening. "I've made my decision. I want you, Vicky, and Eratz to join Infinite Twilight."

The group erupted into stunned silence. Zara clutched her notebook tighter, Mercury's eyes narrowed, and Colin gasped audibly.

Victoria remained frozen for a moment, then, her expression darkened. Her voice was low, ominous.

"Why Eratz?"

Kallistra tilted her head, genuinely surprised by Victoria's tone.

"Why not?" she replied lightly. "He's the invincible Pharaoh, isn't he? He'd replace her so well. Vicky, imagine it... The Black Lady, the Star Crusher, and the Pharaoh... an invincible trio, like before."

Victoria's voice sharpened.

"Replace her? I knew it... you're the same snake I expected to see... let me guess, it also goes for your little hunt, right?"

Kallistra's smile faltered slightly, her arms crossing defensively.

"Vicky, don't twist this. It has nothing to do with you."

"Don't lie to me," Victoria snapped. "This isn't about friendship. It's about your obsession. You think Eratz is the key to your hunt."

The tension thickened as the two women locked eyes. Kallistra sighed, her voice soft.

"We'll never agree, will we?"

Before she could say more, the sound of a crowd roaring on the other side interrupted them.

Kallistra glanced toward the noise and sighed.

"So little time…"

Kallistra turned to Eratz, her emerald eyes locking onto his. There was no malice in her expression now, only intrigue and something almost reverent.

"And you, Master Pharaoh? Will you join me?"

Eratz opened his mouth to respond, but Kallistra raised a hand to stop him, her sharp gaze already dissecting his thoughts.

"No need to answer yet," she said, her voice softening, almost coaxing. "Listen, you're not Victoria, and you're not Tamara. You're you. Eratz Pandora. The Pharaoh."

She tilted her head slightly, a playful smirk crossing her lips.

"But then again… you're not so different from them, are you? We're not so different."

Victoria's eyes narrowed, her voice cutting through the tension.

"Stop this, Kallistra. He's nothing like you."

Kallistra's smile didn't waver as she turned slightly toward Victoria.

"You're even closer to the image you have of me than myself." she repeated, almost laughing. "I'm setting him free. Why are you forcing him to do what YOU want, Vicky? You and Tamara, you always stood above others, didn't you? You did whatever you wanted to the defenseless preys, but does it also apply to your equal?" She looked back at Eratz. "You're the same, Eratz. You may not see it yet, but you're like us."

Eratz's eyes narrowed, trying to sense the sarcasm in her words.

"I'd rather follow Victoria."

Kallistra chuckled softly.

"Oh, but you shouldn't. A superpredator doesn't bend to anyone. They don't wait for permission or follow the rules of the herd. They carve their own path. This is the rules of nature. Just like any other battle. You're even closer to me."

Eratz crossed his arms, this time his expression shifting to curiosity and intrigue.

"What part of me even looks like you?"

Kallistra smiled.

"Them."

Her gaze shifted to Mercury, Milo, and Colin, lingering on each of them.

"You've already started doing what I wanted. You've hunted them. Gathered them. Tied them to you. It's written in your aura, Eratz. You can't hide them from someone who knows the quality of their particular aura."

Mercury stiffened, her eyes narrowing.

Kallistra's smirk softened into something almost fond.

"Don't let anyone telling you how to use your power Eratz. The one who didn't get a weapon shouldn't teach the creator how to use them."

Victoria stepped forward defensively, her body tense as her voice rose.

"Enough of this, Kallistra! Eratz, don't let her manipulate you. You're not her, and you don't have to listen to her!"

Kallistra tilted her head, her emerald eyes glittering as she addressed Victoria.

"Oh, Vicky, always so protective against me, that's your biggest feat too," She gestured toward Eratz, her voice soft but cutting. "He doesn't have to listen to me, or to you, or to anyone. That's the beauty of it. He's not Tamara, and he's not you."

Her voice dropped slightly, turning almost reverent.

"He's Eratz Pandora. The Pharaoh. A true superpredator. Not us, but like us. He decides his own path. And if another superpredator forces him to do something, it's become an oppression."

Victoria's lips pressed into a thin line, her fists clenched at her sides.

Kallistra turned back to Eratz.

"Superpredators don't bend to others, Eratz. They lead. They act. And you're already doing it."

Eratz's voice was sharp, cutting through her words.

"If I am leading, why even telling me this? You realize that now I have more reasons to just ignore you?"

As if she was waiting for this exact sentence, Kallistra smiled.

"Because I told you, you're the same as me. Yes, I'm the same as you, you have no reason listening to me. But there's one thing. I have the same hobby as you, Eratz. I am you, but I've been there longer, so I know some interesting things about 'them'. You might not see it yet, but there's a problem with what you're doing..."

She opened her mouth to speak but paused, her gaze drifting beyond the group. Her playful smile faltered, replaced by an exasperated sigh.

"No… two problems. Ah... Vicky... you're also a problem you know that?"

Victoria flinched, her body stiffening at the ominous tone in Kallistra's voice.

She began to move toward Eratz instinctively, but then she stopped abruptly, her eyes widening.

The group followed her gaze. Mercury's eyes widened, while Zara gasped. Even Raya flinched, her lips parting in shock.

From the distance, a figure approached, walking forward with calm, unshakable confidence.

Her long white hair was tied neatly into a long ponytail, swaying slightly with each step.

Her dark skin glowed under the sun, and her pristine white jacket moved elegantly with her movements.

Tamara Regalia, the legend, had arrived.