Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 165: A New Chapter Begins



Emma stood frozen, her eyes as wide and her hands trembling slightly. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Her pigtails swayed as she shifted awkwardly, her lips fumbling incoherent sounds.

"Y-You're... I mean, you... you're him! The Pharaoh! The Apex Predator! The, the..." Her voice cracked, and she covered her mouth, her face beet red. "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! You're right here! I can't, I can't,"

Eratz chuckled, raising an eyebrow as he glanced at Colin, who stood beside him, starting to regret her earlier impulsive action.

"You did this on purpose, didn't you?" Eratz teased, leaning closer to Colin.

Colin groaned, her cheeks heating. She crossed her arms defensively.

"No, I didn't!" she shot back. "I just wanted to see your face... not start a scene."

Emma let out a soft squeak, pointing at Eratz with a trembling hand.

"Y-You talk! You're actually talking! Oh no, this is real. This is actually happening." She clutched her head dramatically. "Colin! You know him? How could you keep this from me?!"

Eratz stifled a laugh, stepping forward with his hands raised in mock surrender.

"Alright, alright. Breathe, little girl. You're not going to faint on Colin, are you?"

Emma's response came in hurried gasps.

"I, no! I mean, maybe? Wait! Can you, you have to sign something!" She fumbled for her schoolbag, nearly dropping it. "Oh, wait, I don't have anything Pharaoh-worthy to sign!... My hair? Oh, no, I know! My forehead! Sign on my forehead, please!"

Eratz chuckled again, resting a hand gently on her shoulder.

"Relax, okay? You're too young for a tattoo. I'm just Colin's cousin... no big deal."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Cousin? Like her COUSIN?! Your papa or your mama are siblings with hers? You two share the same blood?? No big deal?!" Emma cried, her voice rising an octave. She turned to Colin, pointing accusingly. "And you didn't say a word! Not even a hint!"

Colin sighed, hiding her smirk.

"This is why I let no one come to my home."

Emma groaned, throwing her hands in the air.

"I don't even know where to start! How is this your life?!"

Eratz leaned back, his amused gaze flicking between the two.

"She's got a point, Colin. Keeping me a secret? That's pretty cold. You're making me feel like some family shame."

Colin rolled her eyes, shooting him a mock glare.

"... Fine, I'll tell the whole school, and even where you live."

Later, they sat on a park bench under the shade of an oak tree in a quiet, deserted park.

The only sounds were the rustling leaves and the faint chirping of birds. Emma stared at Eratz, doing her best to stay calm, while Colin sat beside her, arms crossed, looking faintly smug.

"So..." Emma began, glancing at Colin. "You're really his cousin? Like, actually?"

Colin nodded, her lips curling into a small smile.

"That's right."

Emma let out a disbelieving laugh.

"How does that even happen? You're so... normal. And he's the Pharaoh! Why didn't you ever tell me?"

Colin shrugged, her voice tinged with pride.

"Look at your reaction now. How could I tell you?"

Emma turned to Eratz, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Do you know how many people would lose their minds to be here right now?"

Eratz leaned back, his expression calm.

"I figured. That's why I waited until the other kids left."

Colin blinked and turned sharply to him.

"Wait... what? You waited? You were following us?"

Eratz smirked, his tone casual.

"Yeah, I was. I've been stalking you for a while, in the dark, making sure no one would interfere once I would decide to initiate the action."

Emma gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, but her shock was fuelled by something else.

"You saw me defend Colin, didn't you? You probably thought, 'Wow, that Emma is fearless! She's got guts!' Right? That's what you thought, isn't it?"

Eratz observed her a little puzzled, not confirming or denying. Colin groaned, putting a hand to her forehead.

"Okay, enough about Emma's imaginary praise. What is this about, Eratz? Why are you following me?"

Eratz stood, brushing off his hoodie.

"Because you aren't going home right now. We're heading to the forest."

Colin froze.

"The forest? What are you talking about?"

Eratz's smirk returned.

"It's time for the next phase of your formation."

Colin's eyebrows shot up, her voice incredulous.

"In the middle of the week? What do you mean, 'formation'? Training? Now?"

"Exactly," Eratz replied. "You and Milo are spending the next two days in the forest. Hunting."

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as Eratz and Colin stood at the edge of the forest.

The towering trees stretched endlessly, their dark green canopy seeming to hold secrets just out of reach.

Colin shifted on her feet, her nerves visible in her fidgeting, but her expression betrayed a hint of excitement.

"This... this is the moment, isn't it?" she said, glancing at Eratz with wide eyes. "I've been waiting for this day for so long. But..." She hesitated, her confidence faltering. "What about school? I mean, holiday classes are still happening. I might miss something important."

Eratz smirked, waving her concerns away.

"Holiday prep classes? Come on, Colin. They're just appetizer before the real meal. Trust me, you can skip them. You're not going to miss anything life-changing... especially if you succeed as a pro."

Colin bit her lip but nodded, her nervous energy giving way to determination.

"Alright. If you say so."

Before Eratz could reply, a familiar voice called out from behind them.

"Hey! Guys!"

Colin turned just in time to see Milo barreling toward them at full speed.

"Eratz!" Milo cried, leaping forward.

He wrapped his arms around Eratz's waist with surprising force, nearly knocking him off

balance.

"Where were you?!" Milo demanded, his voice a mixture of relief and irritation. "I thought you abandoned me like... like an abandoner!"

Eratz groaned, prying Milo off.

"I was gone for four days, Milo. Four. Why are you all acting like I disappeared for months?"

Mercury strolled up behind Milo, her arms crossed and her sharp blue eyes narrowing at Eratz.

"Maybe because you tell everyone you would be back for dinner?" she said pointedly. "Cassie and Roger were worried sick. They were waiting for an explanation."

Eratz's confident demeanor faltered, and a hint of pale worry crossed his face.

"An... an explanation?"

Mercury smirked, stepping closer.

"Relax, I covered for you. Managed to calm them down before they could give you the talk."

Eratz sighed in relief.

"Thanks, Mercury. I owe you one."

Mercury's smirk grew wider, her tone turning mischievous.

"Oh, you shouldn't thanks me. They were really upset, so I had to use everything. I told them

we were busy... pushing our relationship to the next level... in THAT kind of place."

Eratz froze, his face draining of color.

"You what?!"

Mercury's expression feigned innocence.

"Oh, and Cassie had a message for you. She said, 'Ride that girl, horse!""

Eratz groaned loudly, his hand slapping against his face. Colin, more mature, avoided eye

contact entirely, while Milo blinked in confusion.

"... You're a cowboy?" Milo asked, looking between them.

As the sun dipped lower, the group vanished into the forest, their silhouettes swallowed by the shadows. The world beyond was shifting, bracing for a new chapter.

A new academic year at Genova Academy brought rumors of transfer students and the long-

awaited reunion of those who had parted after the Greenridge Finals with unfinished stories business on the brink of collision.

The season ahead promised unmatched stakes. Temporarily split between the national tier for Golden Cosmos' aces and the continental stage for Eratz and Raya, the stakes had never

been higher

The storm was coming, and it would shake everything.