Dominion of The Beast Masters

The group froze, the weight of the scene rendering them speechless.

The roar of the two dragons echoed in the distance, announcing the resumption of their cataclysmic clash, but everyone's focus was locked on the two figures below.

Eratz's jaw tightened as he took in the sight.

"Rex…" he muttered, his voice laced with concern and anger.

Tamara's hands clenched into fists, trembling with restrained fury.

"That… bitch," she hissed.

Below them, Kallistra traced a finger along the glowing patterns that now adorned her arms, her smile widening in delight.

She giggled softly, almost euphoric, as she caressed her face and neck, reveling in the power coursing through her.

She tilted her head and looked up at the group perched on Raijinara. Her teasing smile deepened, and she ran a finger across her lips, savoring the moment.

"This day," she said, her voice smooth and melodic, "is going to be perfect."

Suddenly, a projectile struck the ground near her with tremendous force, sending dust and debris into the air.

Tamara landed in the midst of the chaos, her gaze locked on Kallistra. Without hesitation, she charged, their arms colliding with a force that sent a shockwave rippling outward.

The rest of the group leapt from Raijinara, rushing to Rex's side. The members of Infinite Twilight immediately checked his condition, their faces pale with worry.

Rex remained on his knees, his breaths labored, while Eratz stood a short distance away, his eyes scanning the glowing patterns on Kallistra's body and then shifting to Rex.

His expression darkened, his eyes twitching as the pieces began to fall into place.

Tamara swung her arm, but Kallistra leapt back gracefully, her teasing smile never faltering.

"You damn bitch," Tamara spat, stepping forward, her voice trembling with fury. "How the hell did you do that?!"

The tension in the air was palpable. The rest of the group stood protectively around Rex, their postures wary as their eyes darted between Tamara and Kallistra.

Rex, still catching his breath, seemed oblivious to the weight of the confrontation unfolding around him.

Kallistra tilted her head, shaking it slowly, her expression one of mock innocence.

"Oh, Tammy," she cooed, "you've been in this longer than anyone. Is it really that hard to figure out how? This is the difference between you and me."

She gestured vaguely toward Tamara.

"You're all brute force and raw power, crashing through everything like a bull in a shop. But me? I'm a fine observer, a student of the world. I study, I analyze, and I learn."

Tamara's frown deepened as she took another step forward, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

Kallistra raised both hands, palms outward, waving them in a mock gesture of surrender.

"Calm down," Kallistra said, her voice as light as a breeze. "You might want to hear what I have to say before you do a crime."

Her teasing smile lingered as her gaze swept over the group before her. The air around her was thick with tension, punctuated by the distant roars of the battling dragons.

"You know," she began, "a lot of people have crossed the world in search of the legendary beasts. So many devoted their lives to the pursuit. But here's the funny part," She paused, letting the silence drag. "No one ever found them."

Her words hung in the air, the group exchanging uncertain glances. Rex, still on his knees, seemed lost in thought, while Eratz's expression hardened as his mind raced. Tamara stood rigid, her fists clenched as if ready to spring at any moment.

"So tell me," Kallistra continued, lowering her hands briefly before throwing them outward dramatically. "If they existed, where could they possibly be? Where are these so-called 'world crafters' hiding?"

She tilted her head, her smile growing sharper. The group remained silent, no one daring to answer.

Kallistra chuckled softly, spreading her arms wide once more.

"Let me help you out. I studied every version of the legend of the battle of the light and dark dragons. Every tale, every scrap of folklore, every contradictory piece of nonsense ever recorded." Her voice took on an exaggeratedly exhausted tone. "I read more words than all of you combined probably will in your lifetimes... Well, there's a legend about permanency, so who knows... But anyway, I read a lot, and then…" She dropped her tone dramatically, her eyes narrowing as she leaned forward slightly. "I realized something."

She straightened, the glow in her eyes intensifying.

"What if the legendary beasts weren't roaming around like any other creature? What if… they were everywhere at once?"

Tamara's breath hitched, her teeth grinding audibly. Everyone looked confused at each other briefly then back at Kallistra.

"A legendary beast," Kallistra continued, her arms spread wide, "is first and foremost a concept. And concepts? They don't roam, they don't hide. They exist… everywhere. Unchanging. Eternal. They are ideas made manifest. But how do you make an idea appear? How do you summon something that exists everywhere and nowhere?"

She let the silence return, letting the weight of her words sink in. Her piercing gaze flicked between the group, daring someone to respond.

"You use people," she finally said, her voice soft but cutting. "People who are compatible with the concept. And then… you make them fmexecute the concept of the legend."

Rex's head shot up, his golden eyes wide as understanding dawned.

"Concept... Fight? You mean... fight?" he murmured, his voice faint.

Kallistra's lips curled into a sly smile.

"Half correct, deary." She raised a single finger, her tone turning almost condescending. "Every legendary has its own concept, its own rules. This one, these two, are the beasts of good and evil. Summoned when their vessels, the black and white orbs, are held by two compatible owners who follow their respective paths… the battle of equilibrium."

Eratz's fists clenched, his voice cutting through the tension.

"That doesn't explain how you…" His eyes narrowed, flicking to the golden patterns covering Kallistra. "How you got the light dragon. There's no way someone like you has anything 'good' in them."

Kallistra gasped theatrically, placing a hand on her chest.

"Oh, Eratz! That's so rude! I'm as pure as that sweet little Ishtarian there." Stay connected through empire

Her gaze slid to Collin, who flinched and instinctively stepped behind Mercury. Mercury glared, stepping protectively in front of Collin with her fists clenched.

Kallistra giggled, waving a dismissive hand.

"Relax, I'm just a child, in celebration. But seriously, it wasn't that complicated. You see, the concepts are often literal. But there are ways… loopholes, if you will. To summon a legendary, you need someone who matches the concept. And that's where sweet, pure Rex came in."

Rex stiffened, his jaw clenching as he avoided her gaze.

Kallistra's smile turned predatory.

"Rex was the perfect candidate, the very embodiment of the light dragon's values. He became the vessel, the representative of the dragon itself. And then…" She raised a hand, examining the glowing patterns etched on her skin with mock curiosity. "That representative used his might to deem me worthy. He judged me with his heart and handed me the title. Isn't that right, Rex?"

Everyone turned to Rex, who was frozen in place, his hands trembling slightly. His lips parted, but no words came out.

Kallistra's wry smile returned as she clasped her hands behind her back, rocking on her heels.

"It's a beautiful process, really. To be recognized by the light dragon itself as someone pure of heart…" She giggled, her gaze flicking between the stunned group. "Well, who's going to argue with that?"

The silence that followed was deafening, the group too stunned to respond. Rex's eyes widened, his breath catching as the weight of Kallistra's revelation hit him.

"You… you lied to me," he whispered, his voice trembling.

Eratz slowly turned his head toward Rex, his expression a mixture of tiredness and growing frustration.

"Rex... what the fuck?"

Rex's hands balled into fists, his golden aura flickering erratically as his emotions churned.

"I didn't know!" he shouted, his voice rising with anger and desperation. "She lied! She manipulated me! I thought… I thought I was doing the right thing! She said she was going to save everyone!"

The group surrounding them stood frozen, their expressions a mix of shock and unease.

Mercury's protective stance in front of Collin tightened.

Sia's lips parted as if to speak, but no words came.

Iris, Devak and Catarina, felt as if they were a bad casting for this moment, so they only stood silent, taking in as many informations as they could.

Tamara's jaw clenched, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Kallistra.

"You snake," she hissed under her breath.

Kallistra, unfazed by the tension building around her, tilted her head and bowed serenely.

"No, I'm an angel. Rex said," she said softly. "And, Rex... You're wrong. I didn't lie to you. Not once. Everything I said was true."

Rex stared at her, his disbelief etched onto his face.

"What?!" he stammered. "How can you say that?! You used me! You… you…"

Kallistra raised a hand to stop him, her expression unwavering.

"My heart was pure, Rex," she said, her voice carrying an almost divine conviction. "I truly meant every word I said. I really, genuinely, am planning on stopping this chaos. That's why you trusted me. That's why the light dragon accepted me. I am pure and ready to go to any length to stop evilness. Thus is blind justice."

The tension in the air grew thicker, the group's eyes fixed on her, their distrust and confusion palpable. Tamara took a step forward, her fists shaking.

"Enough of this! Stop twisting your words," she spat. "What are you really planning? How does any of this end this chaos?"

Kallistra's serene smile didn't waver as she turned her gaze to Tamara.

"There's one way," she said smoothly, "to kill two birds with one stone."

Her words hung in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst. The group tensed as one, their instincts screaming at them to prepare for whatever came next.

Slowly, Kallistra raised her hand and pointed directly at Eratz.

"A battle," she declared."Between light and darkness."