Dominion of The Beast Masters

The rest of the night unfolded as Eratz was received like a hero by the crowd and his companions. Friends, family, and challengers alike gathered around him, their faces a mix of awe, relief, and admiration.

Colin was the first to run to him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, Roger and Cassie quickly followed, tears streaking down their faces as they embraced him with a strength that nearly knocked him over.

Mercury stood back for a moment, her eyes glistening with emotion. When their gazes met, she rushed to him, throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face in his chest, a soft smile of relief gracing her lips.

The challengers and World Star members, too, crowded around, each taking a moment to congratulate him. Kaida gave him a hearty slap on the back, grinning ear to ear.

"You're insane, you know that? But damn, you're the best."
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Ryder nodded, his usual carefree demeanor replaced with genuine respect. Zara, overwhelmed with emotion, crushed him in a hug, her tears soaking into his shirt.

Even Tamara and Victoria, typically composed, couldn't hide their pride.

Tamara clapped him on the shoulder, her voice uncharacteristically soft.

"You've done something no one else could. Don't let anyone forget it," Tamara said, her voice carrying a rare softness. She then added with a faint smile, "You always had the talent, Eratz. But now, you have the strength. I'll be waiting for you to come take my crown."

Victoria simply smiled, her eyes saying everything her words didn't.

Hours later, as the first rays of dawn crept over the horizon, the sound of engines broke the relative quiet.

Rescue operations had arrived at last.

Boats and seaplanes began to approach, their silhouettes cutting through the golden light of the morning. The rescuers worked with precision, coordinating efforts to recover the citizens scattered across the water.

People were lifted from boats and floating beasts, and carried onto larger vessels or into seaplanes. The process was meticulous but efficient, with each team ensuring no one was left behind.

By midday, everyone had been safely evacuated, leaving the grave of Solaris Haven behind.

In the days that followed, a thorough census was conducted. Miraculously, it was confirmed that no lives had been lost during the disaster.

The news spread quickly, bringing a wave of relief to all who had feared the worst. Celebrations erupted in towns and cities, the people's gratitude for the beast masters and rescue teams present in their cheers and festivities.

But it wasn't just the relief of survival that made this event significant.

The footage of the two legendary dragons, captured by the drones has been watched by everyone. Experts and ordinary citizens alike were captivated by the sight of Nythra and the light dragon.

The sheer scale of the event, combined with Eratz's miracle of taming one of them marked a turning point for humanity.

This was more than a disaster; it was a moment of evolution. The realization that such legendary beasts could exist and be tamed.

While the existence of legendary beasts rippled across the world, reports of strange, new monsters began flooding in from various regions.

These creatures, born from the outburst caused by Kallistra's actions, signaled the dawn of a new era. An era where the proliferation of unique beasts inspired a surge of new beast masters, many were captivated by the finals and determined to try their luck in this changing world.

However, the truth behind the event remained hidden, guarded deliberately by those who had witnessed its reality.

In a quiet hospital room in Astoria, the members of the Cosmos were gathered alongside Tamara. Kallistra lay in a bed, unconscious since before the island of Solaris Haven sank into the sea.

Her face was pale but serene, as if in a deep, dreamless sleep. Machines hummed softly around her, monitoring her vital signs. The room was filled with a tense silence, broken only by Tamara's measured voice.

"We need to decide what to do about her," Tamara began. "If the truth comes out, Kallistra will be arrested. But there's a bigger issue. As the host of the light dragon, how could anyone hope to contain her? The shields they used for the final were destroyed by the dragons' roars, so what jail could hold this thing?"

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the situation pressing down on them. The notion of containing someone tied to such a force was both impractical and dangerous.

Colin and Milo sat close to Mercury, while Kaida leaned back with her arms crossed.

"So what do we do?" Ryder finally asked.

Kaida's eyes narrowed.

"The only solution is obvious. She should have died back there."

Victoria's gaze immediately snapped to Kaida.

"We don't kill people. That's not an option. Not for her, not for anyone."

Kaida didn't back down, her voice rising.

"And what happens when she wakes up? We can't control her, we can't stop her, and we can't lock her. So what do we do???"

Victoria ignored the jab, her focus turning to Tamara.

"What about the white orb? Couldn't we find a way to separate her from the light dragon?"

Tamara shook her head, her expression grim.

"I don't know how. The orb is supposed to be her now, by her own words. And the only one who might know is lying in that bed." She gestured to Kallistra, her voice heavy with frustration. "Until she wakes up, we're in the dark. And if she wakes up, it's over."

The room fell into a tense silence, each member lost in thought. Eratz, back in his normal form, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed as he looked upward, his expression unreadable.

"She's a problem," Eratz said, at last. "But she made sure not to kill anyone. Is it really impossible to control understanding with her?"

Tamara frowned deeply, shaking her head.

"You're underestimating the damage she's already done. Even if she didn't kill directly, her actions might. The outburst she caused, the beasts it unleashed, no one knows where this will lead."

Eratz's gaze dropped, his eyes meeting hers.

"I have the power to reverse what she did. I'm just not doing it... Not yet at least."

The room stiffened, everyone's attention snapping at him. Mercury's brow furrowed, her lips parting as if to speak, but she hesitated.

"Why not?" Tamara demanded. "Do you need to understand everything just to try?"

Eratz sighed.

"Because I don't feel like playing with the power of annihilation. Kallistra used the light dragon's power the moment she got it, without mastering it. If I try to reverse her actions and mess it up, I could make things worse. And there's another reason."

He paused, his gaze drifting toward the window, where the first rays of dawn filtered through.

"If I succeed, she'll just try again. And then there won't be any other option but to incapacitate her. Permanently."

The weight of his words settled heavily in the room. No one spoke for a moment, the implications sinking in. Colin fidgeted nervously, her hands twisting in her lap. Finally, it was Raya who broke the silence, her soft voice cutting through the tension.

"Isn't there another way? Can't this be solved by talking to her?"

Eratz glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"That's exactly where I'm going with this. Instead of trying to play god and reshape the world again, let's observe what happens. The world was already filled with Calamity beasts and other dangers. There were apparently Primal beasts, but the world was always standing. Who's to say the outburst won't settle into something manageable?"

He pushed off the wall, his stance relaxed but his tone firm.

"The first thing we should try is to wait and see. If things spiral out of control, then we act. But for now, let's give the world a chance to adjust."

Victoria exhaled slowly, her tension easing slightly as she nodded. Tamara, however, still looked unconvinced, her eyes narrowing as she studied him.

"And what if you're wrong?" she asked.

Eratz met her gaze evenly.

"Then I'll fix it. I'm just trying to not accidentally push anything to extinction unless I have no other choice."

The room remained quiet, each person lost in their thoughts. The stakes were higher than they'd ever faced, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead loomed over them like a shadow.

But for now, Eratz's decision was the only path forward. They would wait, watch, and prepare for whatever came next.