Dominion of The Beast Masters

The arena exploded with ecstasy. The crowd surged to their feet, hands raised and faces lit with awe and disbelief.

This was the moment they had all longed for, the pinnacle of Eratz's potential, the unrestrained force they'd dreamed of seeing.

And he had delivered perfectly.

Victoria, marveling with wide eyes, clapped her hands and burst into laughter, her joy pure and uninhibited. Beside her, Zara sat stunned, melting admiration, utterly speechless.

Kaida, unable to contain herself, jumped up on her chair, throwing a victorious punch into the air.

Her excitement spilled over to Ryder, who lifted her up, and the two screamed with joy, their voices blending into the roar of the crowd around them.

Mercury and Cassie turned to each other, screaming wildly before they hugged and started jumping, their laughter and shouts blending as they shared the rush of exhilaration.

Roger, with a broad smile and eyes shining, threw his fists into the air, while Colin and Milo clung to each other, leaping and screaming in a mixture of disbelief and excitement, caught up in the unforgettable thrill of the moment.

Everywhere, faces were bright with the joy of witnessing greatness, the rare moment of seeing a legend cemented before their eyes.

They had wanted this, they had dreamed of seeing Eratz unrestrained, using his full power.

And now, having witnessed it, they knew that this battle would live on as one of the most extraordinary moments in their lives.

Eratz stood there, his body pulsing with strain, every muscle trembling, yet he barely realized his fatigue, his mind dazing with the aftershock of victory.

He looked down, feeling the ache, wondering just how much energy he had poured into the fight.

Taking a deep, breath, he slowly lifted his head, his gaze shifting from the cracked arena floor up to the blinding lights overhead, then finally to the audience. The roar that greeted him hit like a physical wave, powerful enough to vibrate through his muscles.

He was almost overwhelmed, the sounds, the lights, the faces, it was a storm of emotions and admiration, crashing over him from every direction.

And then, somewhere among the chaos, something shifted within him.

His heart began to pound, faster and harder, each beat stirring a deep warmth. His breathing slowed, his body finding a rhythm in sync with his heartbeat.

The trembling in his arms and legs faded, replaced by a sense of ease and strength that was sharper and more vivid than ever before.

He felt… good, incredibly good.

A wide grin spread across his face, and he drew in another deep breath, this one filling him with a new kind of exhilaration. He placed a hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart against his palm.

This moment was what he had been dreaming of all along, the feeling he had longed to reach.

He was standing where he had always wanted to be, in the eye of the storm, on the edge of greatness.

Raising his head high, he straightened his posture, drawing himself up as he stretched out his arms.

The thrill of the moment poured into him, and with a fierce smile, he clenched his fist and raised it high into the air, claiming his victory.

The crowd erupted, their cheers melding into a thunderous chant.

There, under the blinding lights and endless roar of the arena, stood the first finalist of the Greenridge League, the Apex Predator, Eratz Pandora.

As the echoes of Eratz's victory faded, the arena shifted, the energy recalibrating for the second battle of the semifinals.

Eratz exited swiftly the stage, the exhilaration of the crowd still humming around, but now everyone's thoughts drifted to Catarina and Raya, whose clash would determine the second finalist.

The announcer's voice echoed once more, lifting the crowd's energy to new heights as he introduced the next battle.

Chants and cheers rose as the names "Catarina" and "Raya" bounced off the walls, each side of the crowd rallying for their favorite.

Catarina appeared first, emerging onto the stage with a slightly nervous look, her tail flicking in agitation.

She lifted her chin, trying to exude confidence despite the cheers mixed with curious murmurs.

Her eyes darted over the sea of spectators before settling on the center of the arena, where her opponent was heading.

Raya wore her usual battle-worn attire, her eyes closed, but her face carried a serene smile.

Her presence was more impactful than before, quieting some of the crowd's noise in awe.

In the stands, Zara sighed, her gaze moving from Catarina's panicked demeanor to Raya's composed stance.

"I still can't believe it. It's already a miracle that two of Crescent Moon's fighters made it to the semifinals. And we've actually got one in the final…" Her voice trailed off with the barest hint of disbelief.

Beside her, Victoria grinned, her cheerfulness undeterred.

"Hm? You're already eliminating Catarina? You never know, maybe she's been hiding her true power all along. Perhaps we're about to see her unleash the beast inside her."

Zara snorted, her skepticism plain.

"No one with a healthy mind would bet on Catarina."

Kaida and Ryder, seated nearby, nodded in agreement, murmuring their reluctant assent.

Down on the battlefield, Catarina and Raya stood face-to-face. Catarina's nerves were evident, a slight tremor in her hands as she tried to steady herself.

Raya took in her stance, the faint smile on her lips widening.

"Relax, Catarina," she said in a warm, soothing tone. "You've come this far, haven't you? Believe in yourself. That's what will carry you forward."

Catarina frowned, muttering.

"Everyone's rooting against me because they want a great finale with you and Boss. I should just surrender before this even begins..." She looked down, pouting.

Raya tilted her head, her smile unwavering as she began to speak.

"You think this is all about what everyone else wants? No… this is about you, Catarina. There's a power in you, one you may not even realize yet. I can sense it, something raw and fierce, lying dormant, just waiting for the right moment to awaken. Maybe that's why you've made it this far, not luck, but potential."

Raya's words were measured, yet there was an undeniable warmth and confidence behind them.

"This is your chance to let it out, to show the world what you can do, no matter what anyone expects."

Raya's words hung in the air, and slowly, Catarina's eyes widened. She smiled, a mischievous glint in her eye as she murmured.

"So… you've noticed my secret?"

Raya's only response was a calm, knowing smile, her uneven eyes narrowing just a fraction.

Catarina lowered her head, eyes narrowing. Her voice was soft, yet it carried through the arena with surprising clarity.

"An injured cat," she muttered, "is stronger than a dead lion!"

The crowd's murmur turned into gasps as Catarina's field spell expanded, a burst of shadows and vibrant energy spreading across the ground.

Her aura radiated outward, wild and unpredictable, as ghostly feline figures darted around her, their eyes gleaming mischievously in the shadow.

The spectators blinked in surprise, taken aback by the ferocity of her power.

Raya simply tilted her head, an amused smile playing on her lips. She materialized her katana, the blade gleaming under the arena lights.

With a serene expression, she whispered.

"Neko no Saigo."

In a blink, Raya unleashed a ferocious slash that sliced through the air with a sharp, resonant snap, tearing through Catarina's field spell and scattering the ghostly cats into wisps of smoke.

The force of the strike sent a visible shockwave across the arena, ripping through Catarina's defenses like paper.

For a frozen moment, Catarina's eyes went blank, her entire body wobbling from the aftershock of the attack.

"mew..."

And then, she toppled backward with a faint squeak.

The arena fell silent, then the crowd reacted with hesitant, scattered applause, a mixture of admiration and subdued disbelief.

There was something almost sad in the way people clapped, a quiet respect for Catarina's spirit despite the one-sided outcome, but the way it went also took many people by surprise.

Victoria lowered her head to hide a soft laughter, a sound almost hidden by the crowd's polite applause.

Her lips curved into a fond smile and she gracefully brought her hand to her lips.

Kaida, on the other hand, was in a losing battle. She leaned forward, her face saddening, murmuring.

"Catarina… oh, Catarina…" in a tone that was meant to be sympathetic but ended up swallowed by a barely suppressed laugh.

She clenched her fists, squeezing her eyes shut as she fought to keep from cracking up entirely, her shoulders trembling with the effort.

Meanwhile, in the locker room, Eratz had his head lowered, letting out a long sigh, but despite himself, a small chuckle escaped his lips.

He shook his head, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

the announcer's voice rang out.

"And the victor… advancing to the finals… Raya Kobayashi!"

Raya approached Catarina's remains with quiet respect. She bowed deeply, holding the gesture a moment longer, but the cat wasn't able to enjoy it anymore.

Miracles happened, but not that day.