Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 113: Mauling



The second day of the Greenridge Finals began with a hum of excitement, but everyone knew the real tension would hit in the third match.

The favorites were matched against the less explosive challengers, and the first two matches went almost as expected.

Sia swept through her fight relying on her beasts alone. She made short work of Ren, claiming victory without even using her field spell.

The second match saw Bastian take on Viktor, each fighter giving their all, but Bastian's skills shone through. After a tense start, he pulled ahead, securing his place in the quarter-finals.

Then came the third battle: Mercury versus Jaden.

As the announcer called their names, the crowd's energy shifted. Many of them cheered, expecting finally a good show, but for those knowing the personal story of these two, it was a different matter.

Ryder, Zara, and Victoria sat in the stands, while Eratz watched from the locker room. Their focus was on the reason behind Milo's absence from the agency, a fighter who had mercilessly insulted the boy. Now, that same fighter stepped into the arena with a smug expression, unaware that his opponent was Milo's fiercely protective sister, who was all too eager for this match.

The announcer's voice rang out with excitement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the battle you've been waiting for, the Raging Wave, Mercury Banks, and facing her, the Mage, Jaden!"

The crowd's energy surged.

Mercury walked out with calm steps. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were cold, sharper than ever, and they stayed locked on what faced her.

A few in the audience looking at a close image from the big screen noticed that something seemed different than the previous day.

Jaden walked in from the other side, his steps confident, a smug grin on his face as he took in the crowd's cheers.

His gaze was sharp, sizing up the arena and settling on Mercury with an expression that was both challenging and mocking.

The two met in the middle of the arena, the crowd watching every step. The audience hushed, and a charged silence fell over the stadium. Jaden leaned in, his tone cocky and casual.

"So? I made it to the next round like you wished, 'Raging Wave"" he taunted, his grin widening. "Now, why were you so eager to meet me? Are you going to ask me out or beg me for my autograph?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Mercury didn't even blink. She held his gaze, her expression unreadable.

If the gaze could murder, one could think that Jaden would be a memory by now, but another would realize that she would close her eyes to not give him this chance.

Zara, watching from the stands, gulped slightly. She knew Mercury well enough to understand that her silence and that rare face were a danger for everyone.

"She's... Not going to kill him, right?" she murmured.

The arena fell into a tense silence as the announcer's voice boomed through the stadium. "Let the battle... BEGIN!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, but Mercury and Jaden remained perfectly still, each one sizing up the other with a piercing gaze.

The spectators watched, leaning forward in their seats, waiting for one of them to make the first move.

Jaden rolled his shoulders, an arrogant smirk on his face as he addressed her.

"So, what's your deal, Raging Wave? What are you planning? What's up with..."

Before he could finish, Mercury murmured under her breath.

"The murder of one's purpose or dreams."

The smirk on Jaden's face faltered, and he frowned.

With a quick motion, he raised his hand and unleashed his field spell.

A dense pink mist spread out across the arena, coating the ground and veiling everything in a thick fog.

Gasps rippled through the audience as the arena was swallowed by the strange, ominous mist.

From the stands, Zara's face tightened with concern.

"This is his go-to move... he's pulling it out this early?"

Victoria, watching closely, nodded.

"It's his style, very effective in early battle, but it should be problematic here. The way to counter it is Mercury's specialty."

A surge of blue aura erupted from Mercury, sweeping through the arena like a wave.

The mist was washed away, replaced by a shimmering, aquatic field spell that gave the entire arena a watery, flowing quality.

The pink mist dissolved into nothing, revealing the battlefield beneath.

Jaden's eyes went wide, surprise flashing on his face.

"How...?"

"You know why they call me the Raging Wave?" Mercury murmured with wide deadly eyes.

Jaden frowned, instinctively leaping back, his shadow stretching beneath him as he

summoned his beasts.

The first to appear was a ghostly figure with translucent wings that seemed to shimmer and ripple with eerie light.

A second figure followed, this one resembling an elven creature with an angel beauty, its body surrounded by a faint, glowing aura.

The crowd murmured in awe, it was the first time anyone had seen Jaden's creatures up close.

The elven creature raised its hands, beginning a low, chanting prayer. An orb of light formed around Jaden, wrapping him in a protective glow, while energy radiated outward, weaving around the arena.

Jaden smirked, hands in his pockets, his gaze taunting.

"This should solve the problem of your field control, don't you think?" He gestured to the elven beast. "Go ahead, let's give her a real show."

In the locker room, Eratz's eyes narrowed as he watched.

"So that's his strategy... long-range attacks from the plant monster while the elf shields

him."

Kaida and Catarina exchanged glances, a mixture of curiosity and surprise on their faces. "That's... not a bad approach," Kaida admitted. "But what's that energy the elf is spreading?" Victoria, observing from the stands, crossed her arms thoughtfully.

"It's like a makeshift field spell, he spread his energy to slowly drain Mercury's influence over her own field and make it unusable."

On the battlefield, Jaden pointed his fingers at Mercury, a cocky grin playing on his lips.

"Take your time, Raging Wave. I'll let you enjoy this... before it ends." Light gathered at his

fingertips.

Mercury exhaled, her body tensing. A sudden ripple in the air signaled her shift in focus.

In an instant, a shockwave of aura swept across the field, erasing Jaden's ghostly beast in a

single stroke.

Jaden staggered back, eyes widening in shock. Mercury met his gaze, her voice calm and cold.

"Oh, I'm all for a slow, painful fight."

With a sharp, clenched fist in front of her, the water surrounding Jaden compressed, forming a dense barrier that crushed his protective orb and beasts.

The fairy and elven beasts shattered into streams of energy, leaving Jaden unguarded, looking around in stunned confusion.

Blue marks began to glow on Mercury's body, her aura merging seamlessly with the field.

She stepped forward, each footfall sending ripples through the ground. Her voice cut through

the silence like a blade.

"I want to deal with the horse's head, not his ass."

Victoria's eyes widened, a hint of surprise in her gaze.

"What... Monster did she use for that Beastification... Hm? Wait... She is..."

Zara leaned forward, her face tense with amazement.

"It's different than anything she did before..."

On the battlefield, Jaden scowled, scrambling to summon another line of beasts.

His shadow stretched, producing creatures of ghostly and fairy appearance, a winged specter,

a plant-like creature with vines, and more, all attempting to swarm Mercury. But Mercury moved with effortless grace. She spread her arms, conjuring a stream of water

that struck Jaden's shield with tremendous force, cracking its surface and making him

defenseless.

Each attempt he made to summon beasts was met with a wave or a crushing spiral of water

that disintegrated them on contact.

She didn't touch him directly, giving him just enough time to form a strategy before tearing it

apart, systematically dismantling every move he made.

Watching from the locker room, Kaida frowned, an uneasy feeling settling over her.

"Wow... What's going on here? That's look like a demonstration."

Catarina tilted her head, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Yeah... This is very personal."

Jaden, realizing the danger he was in, darted forward, attempting to summon a beast right

beside her, hoping for a surprise attack.

But Mercury moved smoothly, her body flowing with the water, her fist glowing with blue

energy as she delivered a powerful punch to his stomach.

The impact sent a ripple through the entire field spell, shattering his beast in a burst of water.

She leaned close to his ear, her tone ice-cold.

"I'm not hitting you directly because trash like you folds too easily."

With a quick twist, she flung him across the arena, sending him crashing against a dense wall

of water.

He collapsed onto the ground, groaning as he clutched his stomach.

Mercury stepped closer, her fist still radiating blue energy. She stomped hard next to his head,

the ground trembling with the impact.

Jaden looked up at her, fear finally creeping into his eyes as he saw the fury in her gaze.

"Get up," she ordered, her voice sharp.

In the stands, some of the Genova students watched with a mix of shock and anxiety, the

brutality of the match bringing back memories of Eratz's ruthless duel with Melcin. Even Cassie hesitated, placing a hand over Milo's eyes, but he pushed her hand away.

"Let me see, aunt Cassie! I want her to turn him into porridge! Go Mercury! Go!" he shouted.

Mercury's gaze remained fixed on Jaden, her expression hard as she watched him struggle to

his feet.

"Stop licking the grass. Get your ass up."

Jaden staggered, his face twisted with anger and pain.

"Why... why are you so angry, you damn..."

Before he could finish, his shadow expanded beneath her, a pink and white light engulfing

her.

"Ha! Got you, you imbecile! Thought you could keep up with me, huh? Fucking bitch!"

But his victory was short-lived. A hand reached out from the energy, grabbing his head, and

she yanked him close, before another fist emerged to deliver a powerful punch to his face, sending him flying backward across the arena.

Mercury emerged from the light, her clothes singed, a few bruises visible, but her gaze was

cold as ice.

"Bitch move," she muttered.

With a casual flick of her fingers, she sent a wave crashing into him, bringing him back toward

her.

She stopped him mid-air with a brutal knee to the stomach.

The crowd watched, stunned by her complete domination.

In the locker room,

Eratz leaned back, a thoughtful look crossing his face as he watched Mercury's relentless

assault.

"Strange," he murmured. "I feel something watching this... a mix of pride and satisfaction...

sadly soured by this overwhelming jealousy."

Kaida shot him a curious glance.

"Do you... have something against Jaden too?"

Eratz shrugged, eyes still on the battle. "Right now just a bit of envy, I guess."

Kaida nodded, looking back at the screen, then jumped and stared back at Eratz.

"Wait, what?"

"What?"

Out in the arena, Jaden coughed, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. Despite the obvious

damage he'd dealt her, Mercury seemed unaffected, pushing through every attacks.

Zara shook her head, astonished.

"It's like she doesn't even feel pain."

Ryder, his eyes locked on Mercury, murmured,

"She's in complete control. She'll pass, no doubt about it."

Victoria smiled, crossing her arms.

"Now I'm curious to see who's the strongest of our agency."

On the battlefield, Jaden, desperate, summoned a final wave of creatures, each one flickering

with ghostly energy.

But Mercury didn't let them last for more than a heartbeat. She raised her hand, shattering

them one by one, her gaze never leaving his face.

Jaden trembled, his voice finally betraying his frustration.

"What... what's your deal with me?!"

She stepped forward, her gaze icy.

"I'm trying to make you vomit,"

She replied, before delivering a crushing punch to his stomach that left him crumpled on the

ground, gasping for breath.

"Stand up," she ordered.