Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 70: Storm on the Horizon



The students of Genova Academy gathered at the edge of the forest. The air was cool, and a light breeze stirred the leaves overhead.

The sky, already clouded with a looming storm, added to the sense of unease. Melcin, now relegated to the role of an assistant, stood next to a guide, a seasoned beast master who had been hired to oversee their exploration.

The guide cleared his throat, stepping forward to address the group. He was tall, with a rugged look, his eyes sharp and alert.

"Listen up, everyone, the forest here is dangerous. Stick together, follow my lead, and don't wander off. Some of the beasts here are territorial and unpredictable, so it's important to stay focused."

The students nodded, though a few exchanged nervous glances. Among them, Lisa stood quietly, checking her bag. Next to her, Clara fidgeted with her gloves, looking around nervously.

"I'm so nervous... You okay?" Clara asked, her voice a little shaky. "I know you've been all serious since... well, you know."

Lisa didn't respond right away. She zipped up her bag and sighed, her eyes distant.

"I just... I want to take this seriously," she said, her voice soft. "I've put everything on someone else for too long."

Clara gave her a reassuring smile.

"Yeah, but that's what I like about you. You're back to being like you were before."

Lisa managed a tired smile but murmured, "Like before?... There's still something missing."

Overhead, thunder rumbled, the sky growing darker. Some of the students in the group looked up, their faces filled with concern.

"Do you think it's safe to be out here with that storm coming?" one of them asked.

The guide didn't seem too worried. He glanced up at the sky and motioned for the group to start moving.

"Let's get going. We've got some beasts to find before the weather gets worse."

As they moved deeper into the forest, the atmosphere became more tense. The thick trees closed in around them, and the sound of distant wildlife filled the air.

Meanwhile, not too far from them, Kenny and Julian were making their way through the woods. Kenny walked ahead, his expression determined, while Julian trailed behind, looking a bit uneasy.

"I still think we should have waited until we got back to Grushia," Julian muttered, glancing around nervously. "I heard the monsters here are dangerous."

Kenny didn't slow down or look back. His eyes were fixed ahead, his jaw set.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"I'm not going back," Kenny said firmly.

Julian frowned, surprised by the conviction in Kenny's voice.

"What do you mean you're not going back?"

Kenny stopped and turned, his face hard with resolve.

"The academy... it's not the best way to become famous. It's not even interesting anymore. I was second strongest, Julian. If that bastard could become successful here, then I will too."

Julian hesitated, then murmured, "But Eratz was a cheater. Maybe he's cheating again." Kenny groaned, his fists clenched.

"Once I'm a celebrity, no one's going to bring that up again."

Thunder rolled overhead, the sky groaning with the promise of rain. Julian looked up, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Yeah, we're real lucky today."

At the same time, deeper in the forest, Colin and Milo stood with their eyes closed, focusing intensely. They were practicing beastification, their bodies surrounded by their monsters' auras. Colin's body was marked with faint traces of fire, while Milo's body glowed with soft pink markings. Nearby, Eratz's and Mercury's monsters stood guard, watching over the two younger beast masters as they trained.

The forest around them showed signs of a recent battle. Trees were broken, rocks scattered, and a path of destruction led to a murky swamp. Further away, a clear stream shimmered under the dark sky.

At the edge of the stream, Eratz and Mercury emerged from the water, their clothes covered in mud from the swamp. Mercury wrung out part of her tank top, while Eratz shook the mud off his hands, frowning slightly.

"Where was this thing weeks ago?" Eratz muttered, glancing at the swamp with a scowl.

Mercury, far less concerned, flicked some mud off her arm and shrugged.

"It's just a bit of mud. We've been through worse. Let's get back to business." She smirked, taking a fighting stance.

Eratz pulled off his tank top and tossed it to the side, where a bird monster swooped in, grabbed it, and flew off to dry it.

Mercury chuckled, her eyes glinting with amusement.

"Afraid of a little dirt?"

Eratz rolled his eyes, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.

"I only have one spare because someone rushed us out here without time to pack. I'm not going home naked."

Mercury's grin widened, her playful energy growing.

"Going home with destroyed clothes is the mark of a good training session."

Eratz raised an eyebrow.

"And walking home naked? How's that supposed to look?"

"Shows we trained hard," Mercury countered, her tone light but with a teasing edge.

Eratz snorted, shaking his head.

"Or it just shows we're idiots who didn't plan ahead."

Mercury shrugged, still smirking.

"You never know when you might end up losing everything in a fight. Better be prepared for

it. Think about itwhat happens if all your clothes get torn off mid-battle? You gonna freak

out?"

Eratz chuckled, folding his arms over his chest.

"You're really pushing this, huh? What, you want to start training naked?"

Mercury's eyes sparkled with mischief, and without missing a beat, she responded,

"Maybe. It's not a bad idea."

Eratz stared at her, unsure if she was serious or just messing with him. But the way she looked

at him, her body slightly leaning forward, made him wonder. She seemed far too comfortable

with the idea.

"Your nudism is showing again."

Mercury laughed, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Come on, it could be fun. Just think about it, no restrictions, nothing holding us back. We'd be completely free. No worries."

Her fingers hooked into the hem of her tank top, and before Eratz could stop her, she tugged it off, revealing a sports bra that clung perfectly to her slightly toned body, highlighting her chest in a way that made Eratz pause. His gaze lingered on her longer than usual before he

snapped back to reality.

Mercury noticed his reaction and smirked.

"Hmmm?"

Eratz didn't flinch, but his voice had softened.

"You're playing a dangerous game."

Mercury's grin never faded. She tossed her tank top to the side and spread her arms, standing there confidently. There was no nervousness in her movements, no awkwardness.

"Enough talk, come here," she said, her voice quieter now, but there was still that playful

edge.

Eratz let out a small laugh, his gaze steady on hers. He knew they were both aware of what was happening between them, the tension growing with every word.

"I would like to, but we've got company," he said, gesturing toward the side. Mercury's eyes flickered with surprise. She glanced back toward the trees, behind which Colin

and Milo were still training under the watchful eyes of their monsters. She let out a sigh and

nodded.

"Yeah... I guess this isn't the place... Shoot, we should have come alone," she admitted, her

voice losing some of its playful edge.

Eratz smirked. "That's not what a teacher says... but if they get independents it would be easier."

Mercury laughed, a genuine laugh that broke the tension between them, though she didn't

bother picking her tank top backup.

"If we were alone, though...?"

Eratz smiled.

"If we were alone, you'd really be in danger."

Mercury's laugh was soft, and she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Deal."

The storm overhead rumble again, announcing

approaching storm.

Meanwhile, deeper in the forest, the Genova students had gathered around a group of wild

boar-like monsters known as Grunters. The guide pointed at them.

"These Grunters are tough. I'll keep them busy while you use your spirits to strike from a

distance. Stay close to each other and don't lose focus."

The students nodded eagerly, but there was an undercurrent of anxiety in the group. Lisa glanced at Clara, who looked equally nervous.

"Can we just get this over with?" Melcin muttered, clearly annoyed.

The sky above rumbled louder, and the Grunters began to snort, their eyes locking onto the

stormy clouds. Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, the guide summoned a pack of dog-like monsters to engage the Grunters. The battle began swiftly, but the students quickly realized somethingnothing was going according to plan.

The Grunters charged with terrifying speed, and the students' elemental spirits were too weak

to make any real impact. Panic set in as the boars closed in.

"Fall back!" the guide shouted, summoning a larger, fire dog to scare the beasts away. Melcin reluctantly joined in, his own monster adding to the fray.

But the Grunters were relentless. One of them broke through the line, rushing directly at Clara.

She screamed, narrowly dodging the beast's charge as Lisa reacted quickly, launching a fireball to distract it.

The Grunter turned its focus on Lisa, snorting and stomping its feet in preparation to charge

again. The guide's

voice echoed across the clearing.

"Stay close! Get back to me!"

But before the Grunter could charge, a fireball shot through the air, striking the creature

directly. Everyone turned in surprise as a firebird swooped down, and from the bushes emerged Kenny, covered by his elemental spirits, with Julian following close behind. "Get out of the way!" Kenny shouted. "Come at me!"

The boars hesitated, their eyes scanning Kenny. The guide, Melcin, and the rest of the

students stood frozen in shock. The Grunters seemed terrified by Kenny's presence, and suddenly turned tail and ran.

The students erupted into cheers, amazed at what they had just witnessed. Kenny stood tall, a

little boastful as the adrenaline rushed through him, but his expression faltered when he noticed Crystal watching silently from the back of the group.

"What are you doing here?" A student asked, breaking the tension.

"We're training," Kenny replied coolly, his confidence slowly returning. "Just like you."

The guide, however, was more puzzled than impressed.

"That boy's monster was weaker than the boars... how did he scare them off?'

Before anyone could question it further, a massive roar of thunder shook the sky. Rain began

to pour down in sheets, and everyone looked up in shock as the storm intensified.

In the stream, Eratz and Mercury glanced at the sky, their playful mood vanishing as the

storm grew more violent. Milo and Colin, nearby, huddled together as the rain pounded down, the air charged with a sense of looming danger.

Lightning cracked across the sky, and above them, through the dark clouds, a massive bird- like figure descended, its body covered by lightning.

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