Interstellar Beast Master

Chapter 43: Trial Guardian II

That’s exactly how Damian felt after the last six hours, running on fumes. Between learning what it meant to be a Beast Master and trying to keep pace with the others, he hadn’t even noticed how tight his chest felt or how his mind hadn’t stopped buzzing like a coiled spring.

But then, the voice of the only familiar piece left from his old life cut through the noise. And just like that, something in him eased. His shoulders loosened. His breath came easier. His mood? Starting to settle for the first time in hours.

That was what Anastasia’s voice did with just a few words.

When he said yes to going to a high-end nightclub filled with Glassbloods and Beast Masters, it wasn’t about the party. It was about seeing—up close—how the powerful and privileged played.

His response drew a startled glance from Ariana, her smile stretching wide. Still atop her Interstellar Beast, she clapped her hands and glanced around.

"Haha, hear that, everyone? Little celebration tonight at Club Skyspire! Therion, what’s your number? I’ll send you the details..."

She moved fast. Contacts exchanged, plans made. The Trial Guardians of ZENTHRA were heading into the neon-lit depths of Skyglass Heights tonight.

Something Damian never would’ve imagined doing. But then again, everything had started changing the moment he became a Beast Master.

In his ear, Anastasia’s voice buzzed with that sharp, calculating edge of hers.

"As much as I find Beast Masters distasteful, blending in will let you learn their habits—and their weaknesses. From what I’ve uncovered, even the Drunken Butcher frequents Club Skyspire. For all we know, he may have stopped by there before his last kill."

...!

Her anger simmered like a blade drawn but not yet swung. It never left—just sat there, restrained, sharpened by grief, honed by purpose.

"I’ve had a productive six hours. I’ve been crawling through the ZENTHRA Beast Corporation Systems. Carefully. Quietly. I can’t afford to trip any alarms. But I’ve gained enough access to sneak you onto a few restricted floors. I can even override security cameras, if needed. Once you’re done, we’ll try to intercept what the Butcher brought back from that doctor he murdered... the Natural Nanotech Blood Serum."

Damian didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. Her voice carried the urgency; his silence held the weight. Around him, Beast Masters buzzed, oblivious to the tightrope he walked.

Back in the Combat Arena, the next match unfolded with brutal efficiency. Becca, the Trial Guardian who followed after Damian, clearly took Guardian Flameborn’s warning to heart.

Her opponent? A hulking man with a crocodilian Interstellar Beast. And yet—he was shredded. Slammed. Launched. Thirty seconds. That’s all it took for him to be bounced around like a toy ball and hurled from the arena.

Up above, standing tall atop the Flaming Eagle Archaeopteryx, Guardian Flameborn’s eyes crackled.

"All right, they’ve had enough. Who’s next?"

When Flameborn was irritated, the whole sky seemed to know it. And despite her icy tone, she kept the matches rolling.

A heavy mood settled over the arena. And then—like the calm before a storm—a single hand raised.

Lyra Veyrin. Bubbling Blue Slime at her side. Face shy. Steps soft.

"Hmph!"

Guardian Flameborn huffed, clearly unimpressed. But her expression quickly melted into a fond, crooked smile.

"And which Trial Guardian do you want to fight?"

Lyra, all feigned meekness and fluttering lashes, lifted her gaze and scanned the arena. It landed—for a heartbeat—on Serena, the Serpent Queen.

And just like that, everyone collectively gasped.

Even Guardian Flameborn arched a brow.

But Lyra wasn’t finished. Her finger rose, shifted... and pointed.

"...I want to fight him!"

Damian.

Silence cracked into disbelief. Ariana laughed, head thrown back. The other Trial Guardians chuckled.

Serena barely flinched, expression unreadable. Damian just sighed.

Above, Guardian Flameborn rolled her eyes and waved her hand.

"Therion Dark, the Combat Arena is calling you again!"

...!

Damian gritted his teeth. Great. Just what he needed- more spotlight!

But he didn’t complain. He simply stepped forward, vaulted five meters, and landed on the arena platform.

Kitsuul tilted her head from his shoulder, her six tails flicking with interest as she studied Lyra and her bouncing slime. Her master had already whispered that this was just pretend. No serious fighting.

The little fox nodded, tails swaying.

"Kuu!"

The Blue Slime bounced gleefully. Lyra caught Damian’s eye with a sheepish smile, as if apologizing in advance.

"Start!"

Guardian Flameborn’s voice rang out like a gunshot.

Lyra acted first. Her expression sharpened, and she pointed straight at Damian.

"Little Bluey, use Slime Blast!"

The cheerful slime bounced from her head, spun midair, and fired a fast-moving orb of blue energy straight toward Damian and Kitsuul.

She knew he’d dodge. She’d seen him dismantle drones like they were cardboard.

WHOOSH!

He leaned to the side. The blast zipped past and exploded harmlessly behind him.

"Bluey, attack his little fox!"

Lyra gave another command to the Blue Slime that rolled up excitedly while flapping its white blue wings and surging towards Damian and Kitsuul.

Kitsuul rolled her eyes as Damien sent her his thoughts, the little fox jumping from his shoulders as silver waves of energy gathered on her little, tiny paws... and she was actually able to use the waves of energy on her feet akin to platforms as she jumped onto a point in the air above them...and remained suspended there!

She could freely remain suspended in the air and even use her silver energy as platforms to move around.

"Kuu!"

The Blue Slime whizzed by as Kitsuul freely dodged in the air, her paws gracefully moving around and making new platforms as she easily and seamlessly dodged a Blue Slime who seemed to be doing its best to play tag with her!

In the air, a dance of high speed Beasts whizzing about ensued as the Beast Masters themselves looked up at them as if they were watching a match they had nothing to do with!