Dominion of The Beast Masters

The house was quiet, with only the soft murmur of an a fan filling the air.

Aunt Cassie and Uncle Roger were deep in slumber, their soft snores blending with the gentle rustling of Colin as she moved in her sleep.

A small lamp in the hallway cast a faint glow, barely reaching the edges of each room, creating a comforting, peaceful atmosphere.

Outside, the night was cool and fresh. The city's lights glimmered in the distance, far away but still alive, never fully at rest.

From Eratz's spot by the window, the view was perfect, quiet houses, the dark outline of the forest, and the distant glow of the city, all under the watchful eye of the moon.

He was hanging from the window ledge with one hand, his body dangling outside like it was nothing. The night air rushed past him, cool and refreshing, ruffling his hair as he looked out at the city around.

The city was alive with faint lights, casting a soft glow over the streets, opposite to what he was used to in the countryside.

He looked at the moon with a smile.

"The hunt begins."

His shadow stretched on the wall behind him, growing wider and darker. From it, shapes began to emerge, black, sleek creatures with sharp wings and glinting eyes. They stretched their wings, silent as the night itself, and hovered around him.

"Go," he ordered.

His monsters immediately responded, splitting off in different directions, their dark forms disappearing into the night as they went to explore every corner of the town.

They were his eyes now, scouting for wild creatures and hidden monsters. His goal was simple: map out every beast in the city and around, evaluate their level and begin his hunt.

One bird, larger and more imposing than the others, remained close. Without a word, Eratz grabbed hold of its massive talon, and with a powerful beat of its wings, He was lifted effortlessly in the air.

The beast let out a low screech, and took off into the sky, carrying Eratz high above the town.

Meanwhile, Eratz focused on his training. He had been thinking about the perfect way of training in the city for awhile, and after reflexion, he decided to use the sky as his new training ground.

Hanging onto the bird's massive claws, He began to pull himself up, using the beast's flight to add resistance.

The wind made it harder to hold on, forcing him to grip tighter and control his movements more carefully.

He grunted as he strained his muscles, feeling the burn in his arms and chest, yet he sent a new command to the bird.

The bird flew faster, weaving and diving through the sky in sudden jerks and dips. It twisted sharply, trying to shake him loose, but Eratz adapted, his body moving with the bird's rhythm.

Sweat poured down his face, and his muscles were spiking, but he kept going, pushing himself beyond his limits. The thrill of the pain, the feeling of power coursing through him, all fueled his excitation.

As he flew above, his beasts scoured the city below. One group discovered a small park, nestled between apartment buildings.

It was a peaceful area during the day, but at night, small creatures, mostly harmless, scuttled through the bushes and trees. In the sewers, another group of his monsters found a different kind of life.

Creatures adapted to the dark, slimy tunnels, crawling and scurrying out of sight from the city dwellers above.

On the beach, they found seabirds, crustaceans, and the occasional water-beast lurking in the shallows, drawn by the light of the moon reflecting off the water.

Eratz grinned as he received the mental reports from his beasts, feeling the his preys growing in number.

Back at Genova Academy, Professor Rowan's lecture continued as usual, but there was an unusual focus in the room.

The classroom was warm, filled with the familiar hum of Professor Rowan's voice as he gave his lecture on monster classifications.

Students sat at their desks, some listening attentively, others barely keeping their eyes open. Lisa, sitting in the front row, kept her gaze focused on Rowan, scribbling notes, though her mind occasionally wandered.

Kenny, on the other hand, slouched in his chair, acting as if he wasn't paying attention, but his eyes never left the board.

"There are hundreds of monsters type in the world," Professor Rowan said, pacing back and forth at the front of the room. "Each with unique abilities tied to different elements. Fire, water, earth, air... The basics, of course."

Rowan paused, turning to the board to scribble down some notes.

"But we categorize them in more than just their elemental type. There are four general categories for monsters based on their rarity and power. The first, common monsters, are the ones you encounter every day. Harmless, easy to tame, and often used for basic tasks."

He underlined the word "common" before continuing.

"Then we have rare monsters. These are stronger, harder to find, and typically possess abilities that make them valuable in combat or other specialized roles."

Kenny's eyes flicked up at the mention of rare monsters, a small smirk playing on his lips. He always had a knack for stronger monsters.

Professor Rowan moved on to the next category.

"Special monsters. These creatures are unique, often with abilities that go beyond the typical elemental powers. They may have strange mutations or possess skills that defy logic. Taming one of these could change the course of a battle or even life itself."

The room was quiet, everyone hanging on Rowan's words. Lisa was fully focused now.

"And then," Rowan said, his voice lowering as he spoke, "we have the final category: legendary monsters. These are tied to ancient myths and legends. Creatures so powerful, so elusive, that many believe they no longer exist, if they ever did at all."

Rowan glanced around the room, making sure his words were sinking in.

"Some say they were at the origin of the world, they even play a role in some religion. Finding one would be a turn in humanity, the discovery of a lifetime. No one can confirm their existence, but... well, some legends start with a grain of truth."

As Rowan spoke, Eratz's monsters continued their work. They ventured into the woods, when suddenly, a heavy, oppressive aura suddenly surrounded them.

The birds faltered in their flight, their movements slowing. And then, out of nowhere, a massive shadow swallowed them whole, cutting off their connection to Eratz.

He felt it like a physical shock, a sudden void where his beasts had once been.

Eratz's smirk faded, replaced by a thoughtful frown.

He released his grip on the bird he was hanging from and dropped onto a nearby rooftop with a light thud.

His muscles ached from the intense workout, but he didn't mind. He had gotten used to the strain, even enjoyed it. But this... this was something else.

Something strong was lurking in the forest, stronger than many of his monsters at once, something more powerful than anything he had faced so far.

He stared into the distant treeline, pondering what had just happened. For a brief moment, he felt the little shock that he was unconsciously waiting for, a reality check. He was strong, for a beginner.

"Stronger monsters," he muttered to himself.

This was a new challenge, a bigger one, more dangerous one. The city was vast and filled with monsters, but what was lying in the forest was on another level.

His pulse quickened as his mind raced with the possibilities. Whatever had swallowed his monsters, whatever was hiding in that forest, he wanted it, he needed a superpredator in his pack.

"Finally a real challenge," he said under his breath, his blood pumping.

Eratz cracked his knuckles, his gaze locked on the direction of the woods.

The night was young, and it was the perfect excuse for a little detour.