Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 200: Beneath the Surface



The plains fell into an eerie silence, the air heavy with anticipation. Eratz stood motionless, his body relaxed. The faint hum of his power began to rise, like a distant storm approaching.

The grass around him flattened as if bowing to an invisible force, and the surrounding atmosphere grew charged.

For a brief moment, the world held its breath. Then, with a resounding crack, an eruption of power surged from Eratz. His beastification unleashed a torrent of energy, the sheer force roaring upward like a volcano exploding into the sky.

Thousands of beasts, synchronized with his aura, formed a storm of pure, raw energy.

The ground beneath him cracked and splintered, and the air around him distorted.

The area darkened as swirling currents of power rose, spiraling into a hurricane. Waves of light and shadow intertwined, creating a kaleidoscope of shifting colors.

The surrounding landscape was swallowed by the chaos, trees bending, grass uprooting, and rocks shattering under the weight of his unleashed potential.

Victoria stood at a distance, calm and unyielding. Her eyes reflected the spectacle before her. She tilted her head slightly, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"Beautiful," she murmured, her voice almost lost in the cacophony. Her gaze lingered on Eratz, taking in the storm of energy with quiet admiration.

Then her smile faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

"It's been a while... Let's see..." she whispered, raising two fingers in front of her face in a sword-finger pose. The air around her shifted, a stillness descending like the calm before a

storm.

In an instant, her aura exploded outward. The sheer pressure was suffocating, blurring the edges of the world around her. Colors bled together, forms became indistinct, and the battlefield transformed into a haze. The clash of their power erased everything beyond them. In the Pandora household, the mood was lighter. Kian and Lila sat proudly at the dining table, their voices animated as they discussed their recent accomplishments and a future event teased by the professors.

"We're going to be the stars of the event," Kian said with confidence, leaning back in his chair. "Everyone's already talking about it."

Lila grinned.

"It's our big opportunity. People will finally see how far we've come."

Marcus nodded approvingly, his arms crossed as he observed his children. "You've done well. The Pandora name is finally getting the recognition it deserves."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone shifting to one of encouragement.

"How about we celebrate? A proper winter getaway... maybe at a resort? It's about time we enjoyed ourselves."

Kian and Lila exchanged satisfied glances.

"That sounds great," Lila said.

But the mood shifted when a faint noise escaped Liora. All eyes turned to her. She looked troubled, her hands fidgeting with the fabric of her dress.

Marcus's confidence wavered.

"It will be good for us," he said, his voice tinged with nervousness. "We deserve it, don't we?"

Liora hesitated, her lips trembling.

"We never did it before..." she finally said, her voice barely audible.

Marcus leaned closer, his expression growing firm.

"The situation was different then. We have the money now. Our children are successful. This is the time to enjoy it."

But Liora shook her head weakly.

"I don't... I don't deserve it."

Marcus's frustration bubbled to the surface.

"Why are you being like this? Just because of Eratz? Everything is fine now. He is fine, and he's the one who abandoned us last, somehow. But look at us. We ended up blessed. Why... why can't you just be happy?!"

Liora's hands tightened into fists, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Because I'm tired of this! I'm tired of this, Marcus... I hate everyone! I hate myself. I... I'm not like the people who hated me for my skin. I can't... I just can't be like them." Her voice broke, and she abruptly stood, rushing toward the bathroom.

Marcus, Kian, and Lila watched her go in stunned silence, the atmosphere growing heavy and uneasy.

Marcus's hand twitched slightly, as though he wanted to reach out, but he stayed frozen. Kian shifted uncomfortably in his chair, while Lila frowned, her lips pressing into a tight line as she exchanged a glance with her brother.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Inside, she locked the door and leaned over the sink, her reflection staring back at her. Memories flooded her mind, a young girl standing alone under the cruel gaze of strangers, the insults from adults, the mocking laughter of other children.

The image of a young Cassie flashed before her, shielding her from harm and taking a rock thrown by bullies. Tears streamed down Liora's face as she murmured to herself.

"I didn't want this. I... I'm just tired of always being... always being..."

Her reflection shifted, and for a brief moment, she saw Eratz staring back at her. A sob escaped her lips as she broke down, her cries muffled by the walls of the bathroom. Meanwhile, Marcus sank heavily onto the sofa, groaning loudly. Kian and Lila exchanged uncertain glances before Kian gathered his courage and straightened his posture.

"We need to talk to Mom about this," Kian declared, his voice filled with determination. "She's stuck on him, but we're the ones here. Eratz doesn't care about us. He never thought about us after becoming famous. And not only that, he helped Colin to become a pro... Colin... instead of us, his own brother and sister."

Kian looked toward Marcus, trying to project confidence.

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll be the man of the house. I'll take care of everyone."

Marcus glanced at Kian, but instead of admiration, his expression was one of mild annoyance. He stood abruptly, shaking his head.

"Man of the house? You're insulting me? Children are children," Marcus said with a tired sigh. "Don't mess with the adult stuff. I'll talk to your mother myself."

Without waiting for a reply, he left the room, his footsteps heavy with frustration. Kian sat

back, dumbfounded by the unexpected reaction.

Lila sighed dramatically, leaning back in her chair.

"Maybe if you had said 'we' instead of 'I...'" she said sarcastically, crossing her arms.

Kian groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"Ah, shut up."

At dawn, far away, the plains were unrecognizable.

The terrain was a chaotic mess of craters and shattered earth. The remnants of beasts

dissolved into shimmering energy, leaving the battlefield eerily quiet.

Eratz lay sprawled in a massive crater, his chest heaving as he stared at the sky with wide eyes. His body felt heavy, his mind reeling from the battle that had just unfolded.

Victoria stood a short distance away, examining the back of her hand, which was reddened and slightly trembling. A wide grin spread across her face, her expression almost childlike with excitement. She turned the hand toward Eratz, showing it off like a prize.

"You did it," she said, her voice brimming with delight. "You really did it. You hurt me!"

Eratz slowly sat up, his movements sluggish. His head turned, his eyes narrowing as he observed Victoria in disbelief. She... was happy?