Sitting within the cool medical center lounge, your ears picked up the scattered conversations and mutters that were happening all around you, and the wooden chair underneath you creaked as you leaned slightly back.

"This is still bullshit, it was only a kiss. This stinks of cat."

You glanced at Kiara as she scowled. She was wearing the oversized sweater Monica had worn that morning, and it was large enough it might as well have been a burlap sack, covering the Succubus' body all the way to her calves and keeping her curves hidden from view. Her brows were a singular line of annoyance. It brought a little smile of amusement to your lips. Rather than answer, you turned back down to glance at the dex and the email you'd received from one of the other survivors. A small update of things going well, a small desire for well-wishes.

A small touch of things past and civilized.

Still in the process of typing a small response of greeting to the message, you could feel the infernal's scowl intensify.

"I can't eat like this, people aren't watching my body."

"Is that a pout?" You blinked a little in surprise, looking at her, now letting out a small chuckle. "Is the mighty Kiara feeling frustrated over wearing an oversized shirt? Is the punishment actually a punishment?"

"Ha ha," she sarcastically forced a laugh, sitting down next to you, crossing her arms and ignoring the several new sets of eyes that glanced her way.

You turned your attention from her and to the others in the room, meeting their eyes one by one; each stranger was quick to look away. With the distraction dealt with, you turned back to your dex, finishing up the small message and sending it over. Meaningless little text of enjoyment over knowing things were working out, that the group was slowly adjusting.

As soon as you were done you reached for your belt and pulled out Diane. The nurse appeared with a moment of nervousness, looking around to confirm her situation before looking at you. Well, at you for about only a second, then her eyes moved to Kiara as she sat next to you, covered from neck to knee in the dark black sweater.

A chortle escaped her, and she covered her mouth quickly as the infernal glowered. "Did she do something worth giving her clothes for, Master?"

"She initiated a kiss with a passerby," you replied, patting the seat next to you opposite to Kiara.

The nurse hesitated, looking around the waiting room at the other people present before looking at you again. "Master, the seat..."

Glancing up at her, you tapped the empty seat again, watching as she nervously nodded, moving to sit and lowering her gaze. Once more, you glanced around the room and met the eyes of anyone who glared your way. "Good girl," you told Diane, stroking her hair until she calmed down. It took her a moment before she relaxed, leaning into your shoulder.

"Why did you call for me, Master?"

"One sec." You glanced at Kiara, reaching out to pat her head. "You're a good girl too."

Her gaze narrowed dangerously, but she stayed quiet, smouldering embers in her eyes with a promise of retaliation you were not going to worry about... at least for the time being. It was too amusing to really care right now, especially when you were in a center surrounded by dozens of tamers and monstergirls. If Kiara dared to do anything, you had little doubt she'd regret it.

"I called you out because we're going to go now to challenge the ranking test, made the appointment and everything," you said. "What should I expect?"

"Oh!" Diane immediately straightened her back, nodding more seriously than a moment ago. "Violet city is renowned for being a mail transport nexus for the southern edge of the country, many of the aerial speed mail transported to any of the southern cities and villages tend to go through Violet first." Her words caused you to arch a brow, and she flushed. "Sorry, it was what the brochure at the centre said, I'd read it when I got bored and had reception desk duty..." A slight shy smile. "The leader is the owner of the bigger mail deliverance companies in the city, so many of his monstergirls double as workers in the mail delivery when in their off time."

"Am I going to fight the leader?"

"Doubtful since this is only..." She paused, glancing around and lowering her voice. "It's a low-rank match, you will likely match against an assistant, but assistants usually train to potentially replace the leader one day, so..."

"So flying monstergirls are likely to be what I'll have to handle." You grimaced, imagining having to fight monstergirls like Kiara. "Anything else?"

"Those would be the likely thing to keep an eye out." She reached out to touch your knee carefully. "With Kiara and Raven, you should have not much of an issue, and Monica..." A pause and a slight frown. "I think she might be able to do something against low strength flying monstergirls, she's feral, she certainly has the experience to match."

"I'd bet the cat has eaten a fucking dragon at some point," Kiara snorted at your opposite side. "Fucking battle maniac."

"And a maniac for fucking too," you replied, hiding the grimace. "Anyway, besides what we might face, anything I should keep in mind?"

"For a second rank fight?" The infernal spoke out loudly, drawing attention again. "You should probably expect a gaggle of mice."

You noticed some chuckles going around the room, people looking your way and cracking a smirk. Kiara swelled a little as she looked at you with a wide smirk. One that faltered a little as you glanced at her with a slightly arched brow. Wordlessly, you looked back at Diane; the monstergirl had a severe scowl aimed at the succubus.

"Don't." You reached out to caress the pink-haired nurse's cheek, making her hesitate and breaking the glare, forcing her to look at you.

"But..." A moment of pause followed with a slump to her shoulders. "Yes, Master." A sigh, looking away almost in dejection as she grumbled but nodded.

Your dex dinged, the message on the screen being one large green checkmark. "Wait here, I'll be back in a second." Standing up, you headed for the front desk, showing your dex and receiving Monica's ball. Turning back to glance at the two monstergirls you'd left behind, you noticed Diane quickly looking around while Kiara was looking at you instead. The intensity of her stare was gnawing at you; you could guess you'd gone and done something else she hadn't expected.

Two steps in, you looked at Monica's ball as you realized why. Ah, you hadn't sent one of your girls to pick it up.

"Let's go." You motioned and headed outside, releasing Raven and Monica as soon as you'd stepped under the warm noon sun.

"Master Rick." Raven bowed.

Monica opted to greet you by pulling you into a hug followed by a purr. "Don't be too eager now, we're going to have another fight soon."

"Fight?" The feline perked up, releasing you and glancing at you eagerly.

You nodded, motioning for her to follow; your eyes moved towards the Arachnae, the single member of the team that you'd yet to have a good read on. "We're going to do a ranking match, did you have anything like that back where you come from?"

"In Edo there were tests of honour, requiring a Master or Mistress to overcome certain powerful feral foes through the aid of their monstergirls," she spoke softly. "If the team succeeded, they would get to keep the feral, or a reward if the feral died."

"I like the sound of that," Kiara chuckled.

"Over here it's similar, but no feral," you spoke up. "More like a tamer facing off a representative of the government."

She followed your words with a little bow of her head. "If I am to be used in combat, I will do my best, Master Rick."

And you were left with the feeling that there was little else to add to the conversation; a slight sense of frustration swelled and was calmed down before it could go anywhere. You glanced at the white-haired monstergirl as she kept her gaze straight ahead, her hands tightly on her lap and all but two eyes closed while her steps remained a measured short step.

A woman that was your slave and appeared intent on not showing a shred of emotion whenever she was within your line of sight. You had to sigh and keep the grumbling inwards. How could you get a proper measure out of someone who appeared very much determined to avoid showing any obvious preferences? It reminded you of the students that would usually sit at the sides of the classroom near the middle rows. They'd come into class, avoid drawing attention, do their homework, and leave. You never did find a good way to engage them, and it seemed the same was going to happen now.

With a mental note to see who you could ask for possible help in the matter, you carried on towards the testing building.

"Let's get this over with," Kiara muttered as soon as you stepped into the lavishly decorated lobby. The floor was polished marble, and there was a chandelier hanging from the roof.

And no sooner had you taken a single step did a young ivory haired woman stand in your way, bowing slightly. "Excuse me, sir, monstergirls are not allowed outside their capture devices here."

"Oh."

With a look at the rest, you gave them a sheepish shrug. "I'll pull you out later, then."

Four flashes of red light and the white-haired sharply dressed straight-faced woman bowed again, gesturing for you to continue inwards. You certainly felt like the clothes you wore were three zeros beneath what would be minimally appropriate for the area, but it wasn't like you could do much all things considered. So you just shrugged and went to the receptionist.

She smiled a peppy sparkling smile upon your approach. "Mister Rick?"

You hesitated. "I don't remember being here before."

"The building scans your dex upon entry, sir." She kept the bubbly friendliness. "Would you be here to challenge?"

"Indeed, I looked up online the available slots and..."

"And you reserved the early noon slot for the rank two challenge, yes. Could you please lend your dex for verification of your ID? It's merely a formality."

A little taken aback at the swiftness of her words, you handed the dex over, receiving it back within ten seconds. The way the woman moved her hands across the desk was startlingly fast; you had to suspect she was either well acquainted with the process, a monstergirl, or both. "There we go, assistant Garcia will be the one to give you the challenge, she should be here within five minutes. Please feel free to take a seat while you wait."

You had a suspicion you weren't going to wait long, so you moved a bit out of the way, looking around the lobby that was empty save the receptionist and the white-haired woman near the door. There was an empty chill about the place, perhaps from how large the area was and how few seats there were there for people to use while waiting.

Not a full minute passed, and one of the polished wooden doors opened and a woman came through. "Tamer Rick?"

Her cold dark eyes and sharp hair made her look upon you as if cutting through you.

"That would be me." You nodded.

"Do you mind if I smoke?" She gestured at the cigarette, to which you could only shrug.

Idly, you noticed the smell of smoke didn't quite feel like the one you remembered from back on Earth; it was far milder, almost aromatic, fruity. The woman turned back towards the doors and led the way. The hallways reminded you of the previous building where you'd tested for rank, wide, with wide doors at either side, each and every one numbered.

"Would you mind if I ask something?" You prompted, looking at the young woman as she partially turned your way. "I've wondered what the purpose of the leaders and assistants are. Besides the having matches with tamers part."

"To help the city, and protect it if need be." Her answer was dismissive, but she did look at you for a second. "I have a question of my own if you don't mind."

"Shoot."

"Your record shows thirty won challenges within the past couple of days," she spoke, and there was something about her tone that caught your attention. "Any particular reason for the burst of activity?"

There was a slight moment of apprehension as you held back from showing any reaction. "Just wanted to test how tamers fought, and trying to teach my feralborn how to hold back. I'm not exactly the most experienced of the bunch." With a moment of hesitation, you looked at her. "What's your name by the way?"

"Erica Garcia." She smiled at you, the expression not reaching her eyes. "I'm glad you were seeking to understand how tamers fought, Tamer Rick, I think you will find this to be a rather intense learning experience." The words brought about a knot to your gut just as she turned towards the door to the right. "This way, please."

Stepping through, your eyes widened. The arena was large, at least a football field, practically a hundred meters long, and just as wide. There were two podiums on either side of the area, and you noticed several people standing at the corners of the field.

"First time seeing a proper fighting arena?" Erica had barely a hint of mirth on her lips as they pursed in an upwards curve. "You won't need to worry too much over the fight itself, the staff will keep a barrier up to avoid any accidents from escaping the fight zone."

A little frown came to your brows. "I was expecting something brief."

She laughed. "Oh, I'm sure it will be brief." With a flick of her wrist, she tossed out a ball; in a flash of red a monstergirl emerged.

You would've focused on her state of undress except your eyes were immediately drawn to the cold, hard, ruthless gaze with which she was looking at you.

"It's going to be a four on four all-out fight," Erica spoke, ignoring how you and the monstergirl had locked eyes. "My new girl here, Hara, is going to be leading the other three. I'm trying to teach her to hold back, I think the workout will do her well."