Hunter's Rise Ch. 37 - Pupil 37

No characters (both humans and non-humans) are below the age of consent.

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It didn't take long for Zara to notice her new partner as she arrived at the park.

The girl didn't even notice Zara approaching. She was busy showing off her skills to the kids who were watching her, awestruck as she punched a small rock and smashed it into pieces.

"Um... hi," Zara said, walking closer.

"Ah, you must be Zara," the girl said, scanning. "I heard a few things about you."

"Yeah, Zara Cromwell. Nice to meet you," she said awkwardly.

"Quincy Marlowe," the girl shook her hand; her grip felt... off. As if something was wrong with her hand, but Zara couldn't point out what.

Quincy was a peculiar sight, not as strange as Pixie from last week, though. Pale skin, sleek inky black hair with streaks of magenta purple, cut in an uneven bob that curled at her jawline. On top, it was styled into two high, horn-like buns on either side of her head. One visible eye, the right one, was a sharp, fierce violet, staring directly at Zara. The other eye was hidden behind jagged black-purple bangs. Her full lips were tinted deep purple, curved slightly in what might have been amusement. She was barefoot, with short yoga pants and a sleeveless top, which was quite odd regarding the cool autumn weather.

Maybe her augmentations work best when her limbs are exposed, Zara thought.

"Nice Juri cosplay," Zara gave her a thumbs-up.

"Nice lesbo biker girl cosplay," Quincy chuckled.

"You are going to fight?" The kids looked at both of them now.

"What about a fight?" Quincy assumed a battle pose, a smirk playing on her lips. The kids' eyes widened in excitement, but Zara held up her hands in protest.

"We are surrounded by civilians. It would be risky," Zara shook her head.

"Exactly," one of the kids agreed.

"Party pooper," Quincy snorted. Then the kids began to leave, except for the one who agreed with Zara.

"Hey, don't you have something better to do than stayin' here?" Quincy glared at him.

But without looking up, the boy just pulled out a clipboard with a list on it.

"Zara and Quincy," he drew a checkmark beside each name.

"Um... who are you, by the way?" Zara gave him a strange look. He appeared to be a young boy, maybe 14 or something close, but maybe just because he was shorter than both girls. He had long, raven hair, one could mistake him for a girl from far.

"Oh, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself." He looked up awkwardly. "I'm Dorian Graves, and you girls will visit my grandmother's workplace today. We also expect a bunch of other girls at the same time, so she sent me here to be sure that everyone will be here in time."

"Aritimi's other pupils will join us?" Zara arched a brow.

"Not exactly. Aritimi will explain it later," Dorian answered.

"Aren't you young for a job like this?" Quincy shot him a weird look.

"I'm actually eighteen, so no, I'm not," he replied.

"Really?" Zara's eyes widened. It looks like it was just his short stature and skinny build that made him look younger.

"I can show you my ID if you want," he offered.

"No need for that. I believe you," Zara assured him.

"Good morning, pupils," Aritimi showed up behind them.

"Good morning, Miss Argento," Dorian said sheepishly as he noticed her.

"Just Aritimi," she gave him a hearty chuckle, "but that was cute."

"Who are we waiting for?" Quincy asked impatiently.

"The daughters of some of my friends," she replied.

"Whoa! Then we will have a whole army."

"Not everyone will be here, just a few of them," Aritimi answered, "by the way. Where are they now? Is everything alright with them?"

"Well, as I heard, Miss Lincoln offered to pick up the others and drive here with them," Dorian responded.

"Great," Aritimi rolled her eyes. "I hope everybody will be in one piece."

As she finished, the screech of tires pierced the air, and Zoe Lincoln's van rolled up and a few seconds later stopped in the nearby parking lot.

"She inherited her mother's driving skills," Aritimi shook her head slowly.

The door swung open.

A small group of familiar-looking women stepped out of the van.

The first to emerge was a woman in her thirties with the typical appearance of a librarian: blonde hair kept in a high bun, glasses perched low on the nose, and a prim beige cardigan that screamed "organized." She waved politely as she stepped forward.

"Paige Elsher," she introduced herself in a calm, almost soothing tone.

Zara blinked. She looked like a clone of Gretchen, the Master Scholar of the Lorekeepers, just minus the wrinkles and grey hair. That had to be her daughter.

Next came a young woman in a classic aviator outfit with vintage pilot goggles perched on her forehead, fitted bomber jacket over khaki trousers, and lace-up boots. Her reddish-blonde curls were slightly messy.

"Amelia Aldridge," she said with a tight nod.

Definitely Piper's kid, Zara thought.

Next up: mimes. Yes, actual mimes.

One of them wore a red beret, the other a blue one. Their faces were painted in pristine white, expressions frozen in goofy smirks. Even their black-and-white striped outfits matched perfectly.

"Béatrice Marchand." Said the one with the red beret.

"Geneviéve Marchand."

Renée's daughters. No doubt about this, Zara thought.

Then came a tall, a bit more mature woman with a rich brown complexion and jet black hair that shimmered in the sunlight. She reminded Zara of a younger but slightly less athletic version of Aritimi.

"Clara," she said simply.

Normally, Zara would have assumed that she was Aritimi's daughter, but she knew that Aritimi had no kids at all. Plus, she recognized Clara from the pictures Curtis shared in the group chat from their vacation last year. She was Curtis' mother.

"Nice to see you, Aunty," Clara said, giving Aritimi a big hug.

At last, the driver hopped out of the van, hands on her hips, her frosted tips bright in the morning light. She wore a zipped-up hoodie, yoga pants, and oversized sunglasses.

"Zella Lincoln," she said cheerfully.

She had total soccer mom vibes, just like her mother, Zoe. Zara didn't meet her in person, but she often saw her pictures in Zoe's study. She was much older than Zoe's son, Mark, somewhere in her mid-30s. Mark said that she is pretty much Zoe's younger duplicate, with the same personality.

"Alright, everyone is here." Dorian checked the last name on his list.

"So... what exactly are we doing today? And why are all of them tagging along with us?" Zara asked, gesturing subtly toward the group of newcomers.

"Today, you'll all be attending a self-defense session," she said.

"What? I love fighting, but I already went through a martial arts class before," Quincy raised an eyebrow.

"It wasn't like this. You will learn to use your augmentations against any type of enemy. Take it as an advanced martial arts class where everyone has superpowers and the enemies are monsters," Aritimi replied and turned to face the whole group.

"Some of you may already know," she continued, "that there was a... situation two weeks ago. An attempted kidnapping involving the children of several of our unit leaders."

"Did I hear, fighting monsters?" Amelia asked, and she seemed to be confused. Aritimi ignored her.

"So, to prevent that from happening again, you're all joining the others for today's class. Consider it mandatory, and very much for your own good."

"Fantastic," Zella muttered under her breath. "Can't wait to roundhouse kick some annoying bitches during Mark's next match."

"Self-defense is not about roundhouse kicking those who annoy you," Paige corrected gently, adjusting her glasses.

"Excuse me, but I'm a pilot, not a fighter," Amelia raised her arm timidly.

"You are working for the HSA. Monsters can target you at any time, regardless of which part of the HSA you are working in," Aritimi replied. "I already asked the HQ for years to make martial arts training mandatory for every employee to prevent things like what happened two weeks ago. I chose you girls for today because none of you has received proper martial arts training so far."

"Khm," Dorian cleared his throat, "I double-checked the list, and everyone is here. We can go now."

"Excellent," Aritimi nodded. She then lifted her hand, drawing a smooth circle in the air. In seconds, a shimmering orange portal flickered into existence.

Through the portal, they stepped into a spacious dojo with thick mats lined up on its polished wooden floor. Along the walls, weapons and gear were neatly arranged: staffs, swords, punching bags, and other more obscure equipment that the modern monster hunters don't even use since a long time.

"Okay, this place is kinda sick," Quincy admitted, glancing around.

But then... they noticed them.

Near a door stood a trio of young, porcelain pale-faced girls in typical gothic lolita dresses. They looked like child-size antique dolls come to life: flawless and pale skin, each with large, almost comically big, blue eyes that barely blinked. One had long, silky black hair and a pitch-black dress with a high lace collar and bell sleeves. Another had white hair. Not white-blonde, it was unnaturally white, as if someone had dunked her head into a bucket of white paint. Her dress was white as well. The last one had long, straight, blood-red hair and a scarlet dress adorned with tiny black bows.

The black-haired one stepped forward and offered a small, elegant bow.

"I am Desdemona Graves," she said softly, deliberately.

"Drusilla," said the white-haired one with a polite nod.

"Demelza," the redhead added, giving a slow, unsettling smile.

Zara blinked. "Are these... kids?"

Then Desdemona turned to Dorian. "Is everyone accounted for, dear?"

"Yes, Mum," Dorian replied with a nod.

Zara did a double take. "Wait. Did you just say Mum?"

"Indeed he did," Aritimi said casually. "Desdemona is his mother."

Zara's eyebrows shot up. "But... she looks like she's twelve."

"She's thirty-eight," Aritimi explained. "All three of them are around the same age. Their stature is the result of inherited developmental issues."

As Zara took a second glance at them, she noticed that their bodies had more mature curves than those of kids. It was just hard to notice at first glance because their gothic clothes concealed their shapes.

"Thank you for assuming I'm twelve," Desdemona gave her a chuckle. "That's the oldest people have assumed me to be so far."

"That's gotta be weird," Quincy grinned. "Your son grows taller than you, and you still look like you're in elementary school. Do people think that you are his girlfriend when they see you two together?"

"For a few years, yes, but now they think I'm his little sister," Desdemona replied casually.

"Wow! It must be bad."

"Then what should I say?" A voice suddenly cut through the room. It was small, high-pitched, but sharp.

The group turned toward the source, but at first, all they saw was a dainty porcelain doll perched on a velvet chair at the far end of the room. Dressed in an ornate black dress with extra-small embroidered roses, it looked like an exhibit in a vintage toy museum.

Then the doll blinked.

"Oh my god," Zara whispered. The other girls, aside from Quincy, weren't that surprised.

Aritimi stepped forward, smiling warmly.

"Etheldreda! You're looking positively terrifying as always."

The doll-like woman gave a pleased hum and tipped her tiny head.

"Pupils, allow me to introduce your instructor for today, Etheldreda Graves," Aritimi said, gesturing toward the miniature woman. "Local martial arts expert, grandmother of Dorian, and mother to our gothic trio."

Even at age 57, Etheldreda stood only 60 centimeters tall. Her black hair was like an ocean of obsidian. Her blue eyes were the same as her three daughters'. Overall, she looked more like a possessed doll than a very small human, and her slender frame didn't help.

"I hope you're all ready to learn something useful today," she said, voice small but commanding.

They all nodded.

Aritimi chuckled as Etheldreda hopped off the chair. "By the way. Still not nominated for the Guinness World Records as the shortest adult woman?"

Etheldreda sniffed. "No. Augmented humans aren't eligible for entry."

"Unfortunate," Aritimi said with a wink. "You'd look great in their photo book."

Zara, still trying to recover from the surreal family dynamics, leaned slightly toward Quincy.

"This day's getting weirder by the minute," she whispered. She thought Tomato and her meat-puppet redhead army would be hard to top, but this one is close.

"And that's why I like it," Quincy whispered back with a grin.

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While Etheldreda stood in her miniature regal poise, the other girls, excluding Zara and Quincy, had already swarmed around her with enthusiasm.

"Miss Graves!" Amelia chirped. "I haven't seen you in years! Remember that time you babysat me and you got stuck in our washing machine?"

"Yes. You put me in there because I didn't let you eat sweets for dinner." She said, folding her hands primly in front of her skirt.

"Well, I was five and full of rage!" Amelia laughed.

"I have a story too," Paige said, snorting. "I tried to mail her to Abu Dhabi, like Garfield used to do with Nermal."

The others giggled and chimed in.

Zella even cracked a rare smile. "You're shorter than a Goblin, and yet somehow scarier."

"I take that as a compliment," Etheldreda said, her lips curling.

As the girls talked about their memories, Zara leaned back with Quincy and Dorian.

"Must be weird. Having a mom who looks like a creepy kid from a gothic horror and a grandma who resembles a cursed porcelain doll." Quincy looked at Dorian.

Dorian gave a slow shrug. "It's not as weird as it looks. I mean, I've never really known anything else."

"You turned out pretty normal," Zara said, eyeing him curiously.

"I got lucky," He nodded. "I'm short, sure, but I ain't no dwarf. Just... vertically challenged."

"You sound like Irish," Zara chuckled.

"You mean Miss O'Neil? Yes, she was here with the other pupils yesterday. She was so disappointed when she noticed that even my mother and aunts were a little bit taller than her," Dorian chuckled.

"By the way, how does that work? Your mom and grandma are all so tiny." Quincy raised a brow.

"Well," Dorian said, keeping his tone matter-of-fact, "it's because of my grandmother's condition. See, she was born that way because of her mom's augmentation, which caused growth issues for Grandma as a side effect. Later, she wanted to be a mother as well, but the doctors didn't even let her try to have a baby. They said the pregnancy would be too much burden for her body, not even talking about birth."

"So then... how?"

"Surrogacy," Dorian explained. "The doctors used her egg cells, but another woman carried the pregnancy. Same with my mom. She didn't carry me either; the medical risk was too high even in her case."

"Wow. Modern technology saved this family tree." Quincy whistled.

Zara shook her head slightly, half-impressed. "And I thought my life was complicated."

"At least nobody tried to put you in the dryer because you wouldn't let them have cookies for breakfast." Dorian smiled faintly.

"Yet," Zara muttered and smiled back.

They looked over at Amelia, who was reenacting how she'd put Etheldreda into the washer as a child.

A few minutes later, Etheldreda clapped her dainty hands once, the sound oddly commanding despite its softness.

"That's enough reminiscing, girls," she said. "Line up. It's time we show you how to fight."

The room stilled. Everyone turned as Etheldreda took a step forward, her tiny shoes tapping softly on the floor.

Quincy, never one to bite her tongue, blurted, "Uh, no offense, but how exactly are you gonna show us how to fight? Like, do you punch knees or what?"

The group collectively inhaled through their teeth, but Etheldreda simply smiled--a wide, serene thing that somehow managed to be both matronly and menacing.

"Allow me a demonstration," she said smoothly. "Desdemona, darling?"

"Yes, Mum." Desdemona stepped forward.

"Lift me."

Without hesitation, Desdemona picked up her mother with practiced ease and gently placed her on her shoulder. Etheldreda perched there like a gothic parrot, lacing her fingers over her knee.

Then, suddenly, Desdemona's body stiffened. Her eyes went vacant, her posture rigid. When she moved, it was with a cold, graceful fluidity, like a marionette. Her lips moved in perfect sync with her mother's.

"Thanks to my augmentation," Etheldreda said, her voice doubled through Desdemona's mouth, "I possess a neural tissue transplant from a Driving Dove. A most charming little monster. It allows me to control others through direct contact."

"Cool! That's a freaky power," Quincy muttered with an amused grin.

"And it gets better," Etheldreda added. She tapped her heel once against Desdemona's shoulder. Instantly, the silky fabric of her dress rippled and twisted, the folds weaving into the shape of a black axe that she had to hold with both hands. The material itself didn't seem to get less in quantity, which meant she stayed clothed as if nothing had happened.

"I can even access my daughter's Silkling augmentation while riding her," she said proudly.

Quincy grinned widely. "Okay, that's cool, aaaand a bit creepy. Wanna go a round, doll lady?"

Zara's eyebrows shot up. "Quincy, are you..."

Too late. Quincy had already dropped into a combat stance.

The others quickly scrambled to the edges of the room, forming a circle as Desdemona, still under her mother's control, stepped into the center, her silken axe gleaming ominously.

"Begin," Etheldreda said.

Quincy lunged forward, throwing sharp jabs, a spinning kick, and a feint. But Desdemona moved with inhuman speed and grace, ducking, pivoting, and weaving. Her counterattacks were fast and surgical. One quick swipe and Quincy's right arm fell to the mat.

"What the hell?!" Clara screamed.

Another slice, left arm. Then a pivoting spin, and both legs were gone in a blur.

Quincy collapsed like a sack of potatoes, now just a limbless torso on the mat. Still grinning.

"Calm down!" she called out cheerfully as chaos broke out among the girls. "It's all good!"

"But you're...!"

"No blood?" Zara said, calm as ever. She crouched next to Quincy, examining the clean stumps. "This must be her augmentation."

"Yup!" Quincy beamed from the floor. "Lost all my limbs and my left eye in a bad monster fight a few years back. These bad boys..." she nodded toward her severed limbs scattered around her, "... were produced by my Extremity Entity grafts. Kinda like jellyfish limbs with a nervous system. Grow 'em back when needed."

Right on cue, her shoulders twitched. New limbs began to bloom from her joints, the skin slightly lighter and glossier than the rest of her body.

A few girls turned green. Clara audibly gagged.

"Ughhh," Béatrice whispered, "why did it squish like zat?"

As the last limb reformed, Quincy pushed herself upright and flexed with pride.

"See? All good. And now I got fresh limbs."

Meanwhile, Etheldreda elegantly hopped off Desdemona's shoulder like a circus acrobat. The moment she touched the ground, Desdemona's blank expression melted into one of deep exasperation.

"Ugh, Mum. My back. And my hips. You could warn me before making me do backflips and axe lunges."

"Stretch more, dear." Etheldreda gave her a motherly pat on the knee.

Quincy popped her neck and bounced on her toes. "Okay, that was sick. Let's do this class."

"Then let us begin." Etheldreda clapped her hands once more.

"Hey, Dorian. Did your grandma know about Quincy's augmentation before she began hacking off her limbs?" Zara whispered to him.

"Um... probably."

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Etheldreda began her lecture.

"In a self-defense scenario," she began, "your goal is not to win, but to escape." She pointed toward her own eye with a tiny finger. "Eyes. Throat. Knees. Groin. Achilles tendon. Hit fast, hit hard, then run. There's nothing wrong with knowing your limits. Sometimes the best you can do is just survive."

She pivoted neatly on one heel.

"But," she continued, "if escape is not an option, and you must fight..." She gestured toward the training dummies behind her, each one heavily damaged. "Then your goal is to end it. You exploit weaknesses, break balance, and use your augmentations to disable your opponent as efficiently as possible. Mercy is for later. Survival comes first. The monsters fight this way, and you have to fight like a monster too. You can't fight against monsters without turning into one. That's why you girls got your augmentations in the first place."

Time moved strangely under her instruction. Morning turned to early afternoon in the blink of an eye. It also didn't help that their tiny instructor wanted to see everyone's moves one by one, multiple times.

By the time the group was panting, sweaty, and sore, Etheldreda was still pristine, like she'd never moved at all.

"How does she look so clean?" Zara muttered, "I wish my clothes could stay this clean that long."

"It's because her clothes were made by my mother's Silkling powers," Dorian answered. "It functions as an additional layer of skin. It can look good and allows you to move without issues. My aunts have this augmentation as well, but they can't change the color of the clothing they make, and Grandma doesn't want red or white clothes."

"Hmm, I hope I will be able to do something like that in the future," Zara said. "I could save a lot of money by growing my clothes from my skin."

Then Etheldreda clapped.

"Now," she said, "time for the real test."

They followed her through a hallway at the back of the dojo, down an old staircase. They descended until they arrived at a locked metal door that resembled something from a bunker rather than a dojo. With a hiss, it opened as Desdemona typed a password in to reveal a small subterranean arena with rows of seats for the spectators.

"This," Etheldreda said, her voice echoing lightly, "is where augmented hunters spar. But today, you won't be fighting each other. You will fight monsters."

"Ooooh, actual monsters?" Zara's eyes lit up.

Quincy rubbed her hands together with a grin. "Now this is my kind of extracurricular."

The rest of the girls weren't so thrilled.

Paige, arms crossed, frowned hard.

"Wait, real monsters? That wasn't in the plan."

Aritimi stepped forward with her usual calm smile. "Don't worry. I selected monsters from the Crypt. They have human-level intelligence, and they are no longer as hostile as they were long ago. They're tame, cooperative, and know when to stop. Think of them more like special sparring partners. And since monsters have good durability and regeneration, you don't have to hold yourself back against them."

"That doesn't make this less terrifying," muttered Amelia.

"Why do we even have to do this?" Paige asked again, more annoyed than scared now. "We've been doing fine so far. Isn't this overkill?"

Etheldreda's expression didn't change, but her tone took on a firm, final edge. "This self-defense class is mandatory. You are part of a monster-hunting society. If you fail today, you will be required to return every day until you pass. I'm a very patient woman."

There was a long pause as the girls took that in.

"Now take a breath and get ready. The first match begins in five minutes. Paige will start." Etheldreda announced with a smirk.

"I hope mine will be big." Zara cracked her knuckles.

"I hope mine's a big ol' tentacle guy." Quincy elbowed her with her new elbow.

"Wouldn't that be your dream date?" Zara smirked.

"Oh, and there are two more things you need to know," Etheldreda announced with an ominous smile.

"The first is that you will have to do the fight naked," Aritimi started, which made the other girls, aside from Zara and Quincy, groan uncomfortably.

"Yes, I know this is mostly Timi's stuff, but since this training is about how to use your augmentations in a fight, you indeed have to do it without clothes. Not just to be natural and other exhibitionist stuff, but not to ruin your clothes during the fight," Etheldreda explained. This one actually helped to calm them down a little bit.

"What is the second thing?" Zara asked.

"It's the punishment," smiled the mini-mistress. "If you fail, you will be punished."

Then Aritimi summoned a small wooden box from a portal. She opened it, and it was filled with small cards.

"That's a game that we often played with my sisters at our birthday parties and other events when we fought our tamed, pet monsters," Aritimi said.

"If you fail, you will have to pull a card from this box, and the card will decide your punishment," Etheldreda grinned, like a mini Aritimi.

"Uh... what kind of punishments are we talking about?" Paige asked.

"Well, we had a lot of wild ideas with my sisters back then; after all, we were horny teens. So as you can guess, they are mostly sexual," Aritimi explained.

The sounds of discomfort got louder among the crowd.

"It's just for extra motivation," Etheldreda added, "Because we knew that repeating the exam wouldn't motivate you girls enough."

"Ah, this feels much better," Aritimi let out a small moan as she removed her jumpsuit. Her bare body was a sight to behold. Clara turned her head away from her naked aunt after a few seconds. Dorian, on the other hand, was completely mesmerized by the naked huntress.

"Paige, get ready," Aritimi urged.

She just rolled her eyes, but as she noticed that the door closed behind them and was locked, she began to comply. She only stopped with the undressing when she reached her bra and panties. They were lacy and white.

Then, she continued and unclasped her bra, her heavy breasts bouncing free as they were released from their cage. She stepped out of her panties with a blush, folding them neatly beside her outfit that she placed on an empty seat.

Her tits were not firm. They were natural, a bit saggy, but it was the sign of their naturalness, with pink nipples that stood out like tiny buttons on a cushion of soft flesh. They swayed gently with each step she took. She was blessed with a full figure, with wide hips and a round ass that made her waist look more thinner. Her pubic hair hadn't been trimmed in a while and formed a soft, blonde triangle that looked like a treasure trove hidden in the jungle of her thighs.

She moved a bit strangely without her high heels. Her glasses were the only thing that she kept on.

"You should take those off as well," Aritimi said. "It's a liability. Just one punch to your face, and your eyes are filled with shattered glass. Safety first, Paige."

"I can't see without them properly. I will get some contact lenses later to solve this, but I will need them now to see my opponent."

"Alright," Aritimi nodded, "but be careful."

"The monsters are here, Timi?" Etheldreda asked.

"Yeah, I brought them here a few hours ago to get ready. They are in the waiting room now," she answered.

A low rumble could be heard through the place as the metal gate on the far side of the room began to rise.

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"First match: Paige Elsher versus Shirayume." Etheldreda's tiny voice echoed.

"Let's get this over with," Paige said dramatically and stepped into the arena, her breasts swaying with each step. "My Knowtopus-augmented brain can function better than a normal human's or monster's brain. I just need to calculate when to dodge and where to attack."

From the opposite gate, the air grew colder. Mist curled in from beneath the door as it slid open, and out stepped a tall, regal figure, a Yuki-onna.

Shirayume moved like falling snow: graceful, quiet, and deliberate. Her pale blue hair flowed like water, reaching her knees. Her skin shimmered with a faint frost, but her eyes were colorless, almost pearlescent. Her breath came out in a gentle mist. She wore a flowing yukata of silver and icy blue, with snowflake embroidery.

First, Shirayume bowed politely in front of Paige, who responded with an awkward nod.

"Begin," Etheldreda called.

Paige immediately dropped into a defensive posture, her mind whirring with calculations. She analyzed Shirayume's stance, the angle of her arms, and the twitch of a shoulder, predicting each move before it even started.

The Yuki-onna moved in, her arms lashing out with casual grace. Paige dodged. Again. Again. She was smooth, nimble, even elegant. When Shirayume conjured an icy staff in her hand and began a series of spinning strikes, Paige ducked, almost hitting herself in the chin with her breasts, and weaved through each one with perfect timing, never touched.

"Okay," Quincy muttered, watching with her arms crossed. "She's doing weirdly well."

"Yeah," Zara's eyes narrowed. "But look, Shirayume's not really trying. She's just dancing around her. Barely even swinging with force. It's more like a cat toying with a mouse."

"Exactly. It's a setup." Quincy's lips curled into a smile.

She pointed at the floor. Beneath Paige, the arena's smooth surface had changed. Wherever Shirayume's feet had touched, a thin, glossy sheet of ice had formed. It spread like a trap, circling around Paige in a graceful spiral.

"She's been icing the floor the whole time," Quincy said. "The attacks were just a distraction."

Back in the arena, Shirayume suddenly paused, leaning slightly on her staff, her breath heavier, faking exhaustion.

"Now's my chance." Paige's eyes lit up.

She lunged forward...

And her foot slipped.

Her balance gave out, crashing to the ground and sliding across the ice. Before she could react, Shirayume stepped forward, her movements now sharp. In her hands, the staff collapsed into a jagged ice sword, which she pointed at Paige's throat.

"Paige," Etheldreda's voice said calmly but with a smug smile, "you failed."

"Uggggh. I knew I should have just pretended to faint and avoided the whole thing..." Paige groaned, still flat on the ice.

Zara winced in sympathy.

"Well," Zara muttered, "at least it only happened in a training fight."

Quincy just giggled.

Shirayume stepped back, her sword melting into mist, and offered Paige a delicate hand to help her up.

"Thanks." Paige took it with a grimace.

Shirayume gave a ghost of a smile.

"You're good at thinking. But keep in mind that your enemies can also think."

"Khm," Etheldreda cleared her throat, "Don't forget about your punishment." She pointed at Aritimi with the box in her hand.

"Just pull one of the cards," Aritimi smiled.

Paige gulped and took a card from the box with trembling fingers, her face flushing. She read the card, and her eyes went wide before she cleared her throat. "What does this one mean?"

Aritimi checked the card. It said: cum on hair. Below it, 24 hours was written in smaller letters.

"Well, if it's not obvious, it means that someone will have to unload on your hair," she chuckled.

"What?" Paige gasped. Other girls also gasped in the crowd. Zara just rolled her eyes.

"I think the person who defeated you would be a good partner for this punishment," Etheldreda offered.

"It would be an honor," Shirayume nodded.

"But... she has no cock," Paige stammered.

The snow woman just giggled and snapped her fingers. Her yukata dissolved into mist.

Shirayume's skin was white as the fresh snow, her body flawless like a sculpture made of the purest ice. The room grew colder as the arena floor began to frost over from the chill of her presence. Her breasts were big and firm. The areolae were dark blue, wide, and shaped like snowflakes. Her pubic area was hairless and smooth, leading to a throbbing, veiny, uncut dick with mist coming from the tip. Her legs went on forever, leading down to tiny, frosty feet that seemed too delicate even for an elf.

The only article of clothing that was left on her was the metal collar on her neck that could teleport her back into her cell if needed.

"Excellent," Aritimi gave her a thumbs-up.

"Nice cock!" Quincy whistled.

"Now, jerk me off," the Yuki-onna shot her partner another creepy smile.

"Wait wait wait," Paige held up her hand. "The card never mentioned that I have to touch your genitals."

"Unfortunately, that's true." Aritimi glanced at the card again.

"But I don't want to jerk myself off when there are so many cute girls here," Shirayume pouted like a sulking kid.

"Hey! I volunteer!" Quincy shot up her hand, her eye glinting with mischief. "I always had a thing for the exotic."

The other girls gawked at her, while Paige looked like she was about to implode from the embarrassment.

"Oh, but first, I leave these here. I don't want to get them dirty," Quincy giggled as she slipped out of her clothes.

Her body was weirdly flawless. Her fresh limbs now had a normal skin tone, as if nothing had happened to them a few hours ago. Her breasts were D-cups with a slight slope, with pale pink areolae and erect nipples, like small rosebuds. Her stomach was flat with a pronounced six-pack. Her hips were wide, giving her a strong base for balance, with a tight ass that bounced slightly with each step she took. Her pubic hair was trimmed in a triangle shape, inky black with magenta purple streaks, just like on her head.

She grinned at the Yuki-onna as she approached, hips swaying seductively.

Paige knelt in front of the snow-woman, covering her eyes.

"Just do it quickly so I can wash it off," she murmured.

"It looks even better from this angle," Quincy said, staring at the pale phallus. She reached out and pulled back the foreskin slowly. She even gasped when she saw the dark blue head popping out.

"Beautiful," she whispered, and leaned in to kiss the glans. The snow woman moaned as she did so.

Her hand then began to slide up and down the shaft with a surprising amount of finesse. The mist thickened around them. Shirayume's breaths grew heavier. Quincy's moves were quick, yet gentle. It was like watching a maestro play a violin, but the soundtrack was the squelching of a cock being stroked.

Only two minutes passed, and Shirayume began to empty her testicles on Paige's hair. It was thick, cold, and sticky with a bluish tint. Paige felt like she had been sprayed with a bottle of glue that had been left outside in winter. She had to fight the urge to retch as the cum coated her blonde hair and began to freeze.

"Uh... yes, I had this inside of me for a while now," the snow woman panted. Suddenly, Quincy leaned in and took the still ejaculating member into her mouth. The cum shot out like a thick, cold rope into her mouth. She swallowed it without hesitation.

"That was my payment," Quincy smiled, pulling her mouth away with a smacking sound.

Paige's hair was frozen solid with the monster semen on it, which had a strong musky smell.

"Now give me something to wash it off, please," Paige groaned.

"Um... Paige. Don't you remember what was written beneath the 'cum on hair' part? It said twenty-four hours," Aritimi said. "It means that you can't even try to clean your head for a whole day from now on."

"Oh no..." Paige's shoulders slumped.

The gasps and whispers grew louder as the crowd watched Paige's humiliation.

"As you could see, you better not lose," Etheldreda talked to the crowd as Paige walked back to her seat, her hair reeking of monster cum.

"I can't believe you have done this," Zara said to Quincy as she also came back, still naked.

"Nah, I'd do it again. Her cum tasted good," she grinned.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Second match: Béatrice Marchand versus Urgra."

The arena gate groaned open, and out stomped a massive Orc woman.

Urgra stood above two meters, nearly seven feet tall, with moss-green skin crisscrossed by old battle scars and a few tribal tattoos. Her red hair was shaved into a tall mohawk. Aside from the mandatory collar, she wore a leather loincloth and nothing else. Her arms were thick with biceps that looked like they could crush rocks. Her breasts were big, round, and green, like two mossy rocks on her chest, topped with dark green pebbles. Her lower canines curved slightly upward into short tusks.

Béatrice undressed and stepped into the ring. She was thin but athletic. Her breasts weren't big, but they were a nice, handful pair of perky peaks. Her body was a little bit pale, but her white face paint made the rest of her skin seem darker in comparison. Her pussy was shaved but with visible stubble. It's a thing that is hard to avoid when one has pale skin but dark hair, as Zara heard from Akemi.

"I'm ready," the mime girl raised her hands. Bright energy pulsed at her palms, then with a simple flick of her wrists, a thick, translucent wall of light burst into existence before her, shaped like a rectangular shield.

"That's new. I thought she would have her mother's augmentation as well." Zara examined the mime's ability.

"Yeah, hunters in the same family often ask for the same augmentations because they know it can work well. But in some cases, they ask for something new," Dorian explained.

Meanwhile, Urgra charged immediately, roaring as she slammed both fists into the barrier. The forcefield didn't even ripple.

Béatrice smirked.

Urgra growled and began hammering against the wall with fists, knees, and elbows, but the barrier held strong. She circled around to try from different angles, but Béatrice spun gracefully in place, conjuring smaller shields to block every route.

"Nice try," Béatrice called out smugly. "But you are all berawn and no brah-ins."

She then turned around and bent over, presenting her ass to the Orc. "You weell not get zees," she slapped her own butt playfully.

"She really shouldn't taunt her." Zara shook her head.

"That's part of the game. Nonstop seriousness kills the fun." Quincy elbowed her.

Down in the arena, Urgra took a breath, then ran full speed into the main forcefield again. Instead of breaking it, her weight pushed it and Béatrice across the floor.

"Wait, what?" Béatrice blinked. "Non non non!"

Urgra kept charging, her full weight behind the forcefield. The magical construct remained solid, but Béatrice couldn't stop herself from sliding backward like she was on ice. She slammed into the arena wall with a grunt, now trapped between her own creation and cold stone. Her breasts flattened against the forcefield.

Etheldreda stepped forward. "Béatrice, you fai..."

But Béatrice wasn't done.

With a snarl, she twisted her hands and reshaped the forcefield. It warped like liquid glass, wrapping around Urgra's massive form like a glowing cocoon. With a burst of effort, Béatrice flipped the structure upward and launched Urgra off her feet, slamming her down and out of the ring with a heavy thud.

Silence.

Urgra grunted from outside the circle.

Etheldreda gave a small nod. "Victory goes to Béatrice. But," she added, narrowing her eyes, "don't get cocky again. If your power wasn't adaptable, you'd be a wall ornament right now."

"I work zee best under pressure." Béatrice smoothed her hair and exhaled. "But don't worry. Lez-son eez learned."

Quincy whistled, "Not bad. I wouldn't mind watching this Orc muscle mommy punishing you, but that was fun regardless."

Zara just smiled faintly. "One win. Let's hope we get a few more."

Urgra stood up, dusting herself off angrily.

"Don't go too far," Aritimi called. "Some punishments require more than one person, so you can still have some fun later."

Urgra smiled back and sat down on the seat beside the Yuki-onna.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Etheldreda clapped her hands. "Next round: Amelia Aldridge versus Khamura."

Amelia folded her clothes neatly and left everything on her seat. She technically jumped into the arena, ready to fight.

She wasn't as skinny as Béatrice. She wasn't fat either. She was fit with broad shoulders and notable muscle mass. Her breasts were C-cup, bouncing slightly with excitement. But what stood out the most was her ass. She was definitely bottom-heavy. It was so round and firm that it looked like she stole it from a slightly bigger woman.

From the far gate, a Mummy girl stepped into the arena with ancient but regal elegance.

Khamura didn't resemble the moving, dried-up corpses one could see in horror movies or Florida. She was tall, statuesque, with deep bronze skin visible between carefully wrapped, gold-threaded bandages. Her firm, bronze brown breasts were almost completely exposed, except for a small strip of bandage that stretched across her chest horizontally, just enough to cover the nipples. Her areolae were peeking out, though.

Amelia stepped forward. Her hair fluttered slightly, even in the stillness of the room, as she activated her augmentation.

Her feet hovered just above the ground, barely a millimeter, causing her movements to be completely silent and smooth. She looked like she was sliding over glass, every step fluid and seamless.

"That's also something new." Zara examined her moves.

"Her augmentation is from a Floating Frog. She can hover just a little bit above the ground. It doesn't sound like too much. But it offers great mobility in any situation," Dorian explained.

Khamura struck first. Her bandages whipped forward like snakes, slashing through the air. Amelia dipped back, twisted sideways, gliding around the edges of the arena like a ballerina on an invisible rail.

"She's really good at dodging," Zara muttered, impressed.

"Yeah, but she hasn't attacked once," Quincy added.

Amelia darted to the side as bandages slammed into the ground where she had stood a moment before. Khamura smiled softly and launched more. Amelia kept dodging, spinning, barely ever touching the floor. It looked like a dance--graceful, even beautiful.

But her breathing was getting heavier.

"Not good. She's waiting too long," Zara said. "She's fast, but that kind of movement still takes energy."

Just then, Khamura changed tactics. Her bandages spread wide like a net and then snapped inward.

Amelia went to dodge again, but her reaction came half a second too late.

The bandages wrapped around her leg and shoulder, yanking her mid-air and slamming her down. Before she could recover, more bandages tangled around her, pinning her to the ground.

"Amelia is down. Match over." Etheldreda raised her voice.

Khamura gracefully stepped back, letting her bandages unwind. Amelia sat up slowly, panting.

"You've got potential," Etheldreda told her. "Excellent agility, excellent control. But you can't win a fight just by dodging. Attack next time. No one dances forever."

"Understood." Amelia nodded, cheeks flushed with embarrassment and sweat.

"Now... your punishment." Etheldreda stopped Amelia as she tried to casually walk back as if nothing had happened.

Aritimi appeared next to her with the box.

She let out a frustrated sigh and pulled a card.

"What? It says, Draw two more cards." Amelia showed it to her.

"Oh, yes. We made some special cards to spice up the game. I remember Artume once had a very unlucky streak where she had to pull almost a dozen cards because she kept pulling cards like this," Aritimi chuckled.

She pulled the first card. "Stay naked for a whole week." Amelia read the card aloud.

"Not bad," Aritimi smiled. "We always kept our word to do as the cards said. Can you promise to do this?"

"Ugh... yeah. Pinky promise."

"Nah, I know you would put on some clothes once we are not watching you. Good that I still have this." Aritimi opened a small portal and produced a water gun from it, and then shot its contents at Amelia. It was a weird pink liquid.

"What was that?" Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"You will see. Try to cover yourself."

Amelia tried to move her hands to cover her breasts and pussy, but they kept moving in the opposite direction.

"What's happening?!"

"This special liquid is to nudify others. It dissolves all clothes you try to put on, and it also slightly takes control over your muscles so you can't even cover yourself with your hands," Aritimi explained. "This one is the one-week version. But we have a permanent version as well."

"But... but I will have to meet the mayor tomorrow! I can't go like this!" Amelia protested, her eyes wide with horror.

"Oh, you can, and trust me, he will love it," Aritimi winked.

"Khm, don't forget the last card," Etheldreda added.

Amelia drew one more card, her eyes wide with dread. The room was dead silent as she read aloud, "Fuck the monster you lost to."

The audience gasped, except for Zara. "Knowing Aritimi and her sister, I'm surprised we had to wait this long for a card like that," she murmured to Dorian.

"Well well, I guess this would be me." Khamura appeared near them, unwrapping her bandages, revealing her lower half. She was a futanari. Her cock was already erect, veiny, and a bit darker in shade compared to the rest of her body.

"Um... can we move to another room or something?" Amelia asked. She seemingly didn't mind having fun with the futanari Mummy's big dick, but the audience was too much.

"Nope. It has to happen here. Right in front of us," Aritimi shook her head.

"I was imprisoned for a long time. I hadn't felt the touch of a woman for decades, at least. It won't last long," Khamura winked.

Amelia tried to figure something out. She turned her back to the audience and got on all fours, showing her big ass to them. At least she doesn't have to see them.

"Your ass, which I assume you stole from a black woman, is an impressive sight to see, but face the crowd," Aritimi instructed.

She turned back, but she looked at the ground; she didn't want to see the others.

Khamura stepped closer, her cock bobbing slightly with excitement. She spat into her palm and began lubricating her cock.

"Damn, that ass is heavenly." Khamura gave her a playful slap on the butt, which made it jiggle.

Amelia's cheeks turned deep red, but she didn't resist as the Mummy's cock pressed against her already wet womanhood. Was it wet from stress or anticipation? She couldn't decide.

With one swift motion, Khamura thrust into her, eliciting a sharp gasp from her. Quincy liked the show. Her excitement grew as the muffled sounds of skin slapping skin echoed through the arena.

Khamura grabbed Amelia by the hair and pulled her head up, forcing her to face the crowd. She began pumping her hips rhythmically, driving her ancient manhood deeper inside the young flesh with each thrust. Amelia's body rocked back and forth, her tits bouncing too. The Mummy's bandages rustled with each movement, adding a strange symphony to the wet slaps of skin.

Quincy leaned closer to Zara, whispering, "Now I wouldn't mind losing a fight here."

Amelia started to feel something as she watched the awkward and disgusted reactions of the crowd. But what was it? Pleasure? No way this situation could... but yes. Either the adrenaline worked in her, caused by the situation, or just her body reacted to the stimulation naturally, but she felt a climax approaching.

Quincy noticed the change in Amelia's body language. "I guess she's enjoying it more than we thought," she whispered to Dorian.

Dorian nodded, his eyes still glued to the scene.

Amelia's moans got even louder.

"Oh my... is she?" Amelia could hear some of the girls talking about her. And then it began. She climaxed. Her body tightened around Khamura's cock, her juices mixing with the sweat and dust from the arena floor.

Quincy whistled, and Aritimi clapped proudly as they witnessed it.

"Ah!" Khamura groaned as she followed suit and began to deposit her load into Amelia's tight pussy.

Amelia's body plopped down onto the ground, sticky with sweat and the aftermath of her punishment. She took a moment to compose herself, breathing heavily as the audience murmured among themselves.

"Go back to your seat now," Etheldreda instructed her.

"I need some rest," Amelia panted, still shaken by her unexpected orgasm.

"I'll help," Khamura offered. "That's the least I can do after this good time you gave me." She winked and picked her up in a bridal carry.

"Nice cock," Quincy slapped her ass as she passed by with Amelia.

"Eew! It got on my pants," Dorian cringed as a few drops of cum dropped from Khamura's bobbing cock onto his pants, near his crotch.

"Do not worry," Quincy leaned in and licked the semen up from his pants. He could feel her tongue getting his clothes wet.

"Thanks...," he blushed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Next fight: Zella Lincoln versus Ophesia."

Zella was ready. She seemed more frustrated than scared. She just wanted this thing to be over. Maybe this attitude will help her win, Zara thought.

As Zella entered the arena, Zara's eyes were locked on her immediately. She even forgot about the monster for a second. Zella's physique was eye-catchingly immaculate. She wasn't just fit; she had the toned body of a professional sportswoman. Her skin was just as tan as her mother's; she even had the same pale tan lines, although hers were much smaller because she used smaller bikinis for sunbathing. Her breasts were the same D-cups as well, but much firmer.

Her opponent wasn't ugly either, but she was more eye than catching.

Ophesia was an Argus-type giant with multiple extra eyes. She was approximately 9 feet tall. Not super big, but towering just enough to be unsettling, with dozens of blinking eyes scattered across her body. She only wore a loincloth, but the rest of her body was uncovered, allowing her to see anything from every angle. Each eye had a different color shade, giving her a vibrant appearance. Her brown hair was tied into a high ponytail, likely to not obscure her vision from behind.

She had a muscular but still feminine frame with thick thighs and big breasts. She reminded Zara of Olympia, except that Olympia's muscles were more pronounced than hers.

The moment the match started, Zella's eyes flared white-hot. She fired a pair of concentrated eye beams straight at Ophesia's chest. It hit square-on, searing through muscle and sending Ophesia staggering back a step. But within seconds, the wounds knitted themselves shut, the typical monster regeneration.

Zella stayed calm, expression unreadable. Her focus remained locked on her enemy as she dodged a long, sweeping arm. She wasn't looking to damage anything anymore, she had noticed something else. When her beams struck earlier, Ophesia flinched... not from the force, but from the brightness.

"Looks like she got her mother's Jetstream Jackal powers. If she uses her brain, this one will be the shortest fight so far," Zara smirked.

The next time Ophesia lunged in, Zella waited until she was just a few steps away. Then her eyes lit up again, this time with a much wider, less concentrated flash. Twin white beams exploded from her eyes like stage floodlights, casting a glare so blinding the audience had to shield their faces.

Ophesia screamed.

Every eye across her front convulsed and snapped shut at once. She stumbled, tripping over her own feet and slamming hard into the ground, writhing and clutching at her body, trying to shield her eyes with her arms. Unfortunately, her arms were also covered in eyes.

Etheldreda raised her hand, a note of impressed surprise in her voice. "Zella wins. Efficient use of energy. A clever read."

Zella gave a small nod and walked off without a word, her eyes already dimming.

Zara leaned toward Quincy. "Her mother was my boss back then, before I got my augmentation. Beneath the layers of soccer mom, Zoe is a good teacher. I didn't expect Zella to lose at all."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Next fight: Clara Argento Williams versus Marlene," Etheldreda announced.

Clara was visibly exhausted by this. She undressed clumsily but almost fell over because she tried to be quick and forgot to remove her shoes before her pants.

As Zara saw her naked body, she was sure that, unlike her family members, Clara wasn't a fighter. She was quite out of shape. Not obese, but clearly not athletic. Her big tits were hanging low, and her belly had a bit of a bulge. She was a 44-year-old woman and looked like one would imagine a middle-aged woman like her; she wasn't ugly. But she was a weird contrast compared to her other family members, especially Aritimi.

Clara stepped nervously into the arena, mumbling something under her breath. Across from her stood her opponent, Marlene. She was a Zombie (the mutant type), tall and curvy, with sickly pale skin highlighted by black veins across her body. Her eyes glowed faintly red under heavy lids, and her limbs moved with a slow, jerky gait. She was naked; her heavy breasts were just as saggy as Clara's. Her raven hair was unkempt and almost reached the ground behind her, like a cape.

Since Marlene was completely naked, it was easy to notice that she was a futanari; her cock was long and thick with white skin and black veins.

The Zombie let out a low, raspy growl and cracked her neck.

"Oh... kind of disappointing," Quincy said. "I mean, real-life Zombies are not as dangerous anymore as the old movies show them, thanks to the vaccines."

"Mostly," Zara nodded, "I heard that some types are getting stronger again because of the antivaxers. But let's focus on the fight."

Clara tried to act first. She immediately launched into a wild hopping dash, bouncing on her right leg at surprising speed as she zigzagged around the monster.

"Okay... okay, here we go... this is the plan!" Clara shouted to no one in particular.

But her balance was off, and the fact that she kept hitting herself in the face with her bouncing breasts didn't help. She wobbled on a landing and hit the dirt. She scrambled back up, zipped forward again, and fell again, face-first this time.

Aritimi leaned toward Etheldreda with a frown.

"What... is she doing? I picked a Zombie because I thought it'd be easy."

Clara rolled across the arena after her latest fall, then flipped onto her back, panting.

"Okay! I know what this looks like! But... I do have powers! I got Quickling muscle tissue transplants!"

"Only in your right leg?" Quincy laughed, watching Clara bounce again in a one-legged sprint.

"No!" Clara yelled as she leapt toward Marlene. "I got it on both sides, but I could only awaken the right side! It's fine, though! I just have to time the... WHOA!"

She missed. Again. She flew past the Zombie, who maybe took three steps so far, spun midair like a thrown shoe, and hit the ground with a thud. Marlene turned slowly, sauntered over, and with surprising speed, grabbed Clara and bit into her shoulder.

"OW!"

"Match over. Clara is defeated." Etheldreda announced.

The Zombie girl licked her lips and wandered back to her side of the arena, already losing interest.

Clara groaned, sitting up and rubbing her shoulder. "Okay, okay... I know that looked bad. But I'm forty-four, I'm out of shape, and I'm not even a field agent. I work a desk job. I haven't moved like that since the Bush administration."

Aritimi walked over to the edge of the arena, crossing her arms. "Clara, I understand. But you don't have a choice anymore. With the family you come from, you're already a high-value target. You need to be able to defend yourself. So that means learning to control your augmentation."

"Right. I'm sorry. I'll be better. I promise." Clara looked down, brushing dust off her knees. Then she blinked, suddenly remembering. "Wait... do I need a vaccine or something? She bit me."

Aritimi shook her head. "The vaccine you got last month is still good. You're fine. It's the same strain."

Clara sighed with relief.

"Honestly, I kinda want to see her hop around as a Zombie." Zara snickered from the stands.

"You hush." Clara raised a finger at her.

"Before you go, pull a card," Aritimi stopped her.

Clara took the card from Aritimi's box.

"It says: Titjob," Clara murmured, glancing over the card. She looked at Aritimi with confusion. "What does it mean? I'm not good with slang."

"It means that Marlene will fuck your tits and will cum on them," she explained, which made Clara gulp.

Marlene groaned, ready for her prize to claim.

"I... really have to do this, Aunty?"

"Yes, take this as extra motivation to get stronger in the future, where the stakes will be higher than this," Aritimi nodded.

Defeated, Clara reluctantly approached Marlene, her heart racing. The Zombie's cold, dead eyes stared at Clara's heaving chest, a gruesome hunger in her gaze. Clara took a deep breath and knelt in front of the putrid creature with her breasts in her hands, presenting them to Marlene.

Marlene's cock was already hard as she took Clara's offer. She stepped closer. Clara's eyes squeezed shut tightly as she felt the Zombie's cold flesh against her skin.

"Squeeze them tighter," Aritimi instructed, "The tighter it is, the faster this will end."

Clara nodded, and pushed her breasts together to create a makeshift channel for Marlene's cock. The Zombie leaned in, her breath rancid with decay, and positioned herself between Clara's breasts.

The moment Clara felt the cold, unyielding length of Marlene's member pressing against her sensitive skin, she wanted to gag. But she knew that showing fear or disgust would only make it worse. She took a firm grip of her breasts and held them steady as the Zombie began to thrust, her eyes lighting up with a macabre excitement.

Clara could feel the sticky precum ooze out from the tip, coating her chest as the monster picked up her pace. Her skin crawled at the thought of what was happening.

It was a hard choice to decide what was the worst in this situation. The sight of the blackish cockhead popping out from the Zombie's foreskin, the sound of Clara's breasts squelching with each thrust, or the smell of rotten flesh that seemed to cling to everything around them.

Marlene's moan was almost a gargle, a wet, desperate sound that didn't seem to match the slow, methodical way she fucked Clara's tits.

"Fuck! That's hot," Quincy whispered.

Marlene's dead eyes rolled back in her head, and Clara felt the monster's grip tighten as she came. A thick, blackish spurt of cum shot from her cock, painting Clara's breasts and neck in a gruesome display of dominance. The Zombie groaned in pleasure, her movements becoming erratic until she finally pulled out, panting and satisfied.

"I saw the willingness to improve, but you must work on it. Be better next time," Aritimi said, helping her up from the ground, and then she slapped her on the butt as she walked away.

"Um... can you guys give me some tissues to clean that off?" Clara asked Dorian.

"Of course," he nodded, reaching into his pocket.

"I can help," Quincy leaned in and licked Clara's left nipple clean, her tongue swirling around the cum-covered skin. "Mmm, a bit salty." She giggled.

"Eew! You have some issues," Clara cringed. "Now I understand why Aunty chose you as one of her pupils."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Next fight: Geneviéve Marchand versus Umbra," Etheldreda announced the next round.

"Goude luhck, ma sœur adorée!" Béatrice encouraged her.

The mime girl was already naked. Her slim figure was a nearly identical copy of her sister's, except that she had a tattoo. It was the Eiffel Tower, on her breast, near the heart.

Geneviéve, poised and elegant even without her mime uniform, walked silently into the arena as if she were just starting a show. She even gave a little bow to the spectators before turning toward her opponent.

Then her opponent appeared from the shadows. Well... she looked more like she was born from the shadows because she was a Shadow Woman. Shaped like a perfectly sculpted silhouette of a woman in motion. She had no features, no clothing, no substance, just a moving pitch-black figure with glowing white eyes, like the absence of light had been sculpted into something living.

At a second glance, Zara noticed the metal collar on Umbra's neck. It was painted black so as not to ruin the picture.

Geneviéve didn't speak. She simply raised one hand and stepped forward until her shadow touched the shadow of the monster.

The moment their darknesses connected, Umbra froze. Her limbs locked in place mid-stride, as if she'd hit an invisible wall. For several seconds, nothing moved.

"Did... did she win already?" Zara squinted. "Must be her mother's Umbral Urias power."

Etheldreda leaned forward, nodding slowly. "It seems Geneviéve has..."

But then Geneviéve twitched.

Her fingers curled, spasming uncontrollably. Her arms jerked up as if yanked by puppet strings, her painted face twisting in surprise. She took one clumsy step forward, then another, her body no longer obeying.

"Something's wrong," Zara said, looking at Umbra.

The Shadow Woman's glowing eyes narrowed, and her voice echoed like a whisper sliding across a wall. "You are not the only one who can command through shadows."

Geneviéve struggled against the invisible grip, her gloved hands clawing at her own arms as her feet carried her backward, stumbling. Her silhouette was no longer hers; it belonged to Umbra now.

"My will is stronger," the shadow whispered. "Your shadow is mine."

The mime girl dropped to her knees, shivering, as Umbra stepped forward again, now completely free.

"Geneviéve failed," Etheldreda announced.

The match was over.

"That was... unfortunate," Aritimi nodded. "You need better focus if you want to use your powers at their best potential. Aaaand now your punishment," she showed her the box.

The girl, still on the ground, reached into the box and drew a card.

"Non non non non non!" Geneviéve shook her head.

"Bukkake party," Aritimi read the card aloud.

"Ew! It's going to be ugly," Zara cringed, thinking about her time with the wolf monster and its duplicates.

"I see no further instructions, so you can get a shower after that immediately," Aritimi double-checked the card. "I had to walk around a whole day covered in cum because of an unfortunate pull, so consider yourself lucky."

Then Aritimi waved for the other monster, both the losers and winners. "Everyone who has a dick has to participate," she winked.

The monsters were ready. Shirayume's pale cock was steaming. Urgra ripped off her loincloth, revealing a long and disproportionately thick dick. Khamura unwrapped her member as well. Ophesia also revealed her manhood to them, and it also had some eyes on the shaft and the balls, and as she pulled back the foreskin, Zara could see a pair of eyes on the glans, just above the slit. Marlene's cock was also ready again. And to not stick out from the crowd, Umbra also grew a dick, black like obsidian.

Geneviéve was waiting on her knees. Béatrice covered her eyes, especially after she saw Urgra smiling at her smugly, stroking her dick that she aimed at Geneviéve.

"Everyone's ready?" Aritimi asked.

"Wait, you left someone out." Quincy raised her hand and then pointed at Dorian beside her.

"What are you doing?" he hissed awkwardly.

"Sorry, I was only thinking about monsters first. Come here, Dorian," Aritimi gestured to him.

He stood up slowly. His face was red, and his pants were pitching a tent. Desdemona, who was standing near the arena, looked away, blushing. Drusilla and Demelza giggled as they noticed their nephew's tent while he passed by. Etheldreda's lips also curled into a smirk.

The futanari monsters were eager to start. Their cocks were hard, their hands moving across their length rhythmically.

"Wait, girls," Aritimi said, "Dorian should start because humans can cum faster than monsters, so he can walk back to safety before you guys start."

Dorian looked like he was about to faint, but he reluctantly stepped into the arena and took his place in front of Geneviéve.

"Pull your cock out!" Quincy shouted.

Dorian began to unbuckle his belt clumsily. His hands were shaking and sweaty because of the stress.

Urgra, who lost her patience, stepped behind him and pulled his pants down to his ankles with one quick move. Dorian's cock bobbed in the cold air. It was already hard from the excitement and fear.

It was much smaller than any of the monsters' members, approximately 5 inches long. Quincy let out a whistle and then a laugh, which made Dorian's cheeks flush even more.

He looked at Geneviéve, who turned her gaze to the ground.

"You can start," Aritimi urged.

Dorian pulled back his foreskin, revealing the purple head beneath. The monsters' eyes followed his every move, their own cocks pulsing in anticipation. He aimed at Geneviéve's head. He felt a strange mix of arousal and fear as he stroked himself. The silence of the arena was awkward, each stroke echoing in his ears like a gunshot.

Geneviéve remained on her knees, her eyes tightly shut. Dorian's breath hitched as he felt a familiar warmth build up in his loins. Although that was his first time doing it in front of someone else. He took a deep breath and began to stroke himself harder.

With a strangled sound, the first rope of cum shot out from Dorian's cock, landing on Geneviéve's forehead. She flinched but remained still, her eyes squeezed shut even tighter now. The next few shots painted her face, the sticky fluid clinging to her eyelashes and the bridge of her nose. Quincy couldn't help but snicker at the sight.

"Alright, thanks for your service." Aritimi slapped his butt once the last drop came out and escorted him away.

The monsters stepped closer as Dorian was no longer in the way, their cocks ready to paint the rest of the mime girl's skin.

"Ready, Geneviéve?" Aritimi asked with a wink, and she nodded, her eyes still shut tightly; she just wanted it to end quickly.

The futanari monsters stepped closer, their cocks pulsing with excitement.

"Let's not wait any longer," Aritimi said with a devilish smile, gesturing for them to begin.

The monsters didn't need a second invitation. Shirayume was the first to shoot her load, the cold cum splattering across Geneviéve's face and chest. She gasped as the cold fluid hit her skin, but she remained still, knowing that any movement would just make the mess bigger.

Marlene was next, her thick ropes of cum hitting Geneviéve's shoulders and chest. The next was Ophesia, her cum was thick and gooey, with little eyes blinking on it, as if it had a life of its own. Later, they dissolved, though. Each shot was accompanied by a strange squelching sound, making everyone in the stands cringe, except for Quincy, who couldn't hold back her laughter.

Khamura the Mummy was the next to cum. Her white, milky fluid spurted out in a straight line, coating Geneviéve's cheek and neck. It was stickier than anyone expected, clinging to her skin like a gluey spiderweb. Umbra came next; her cum was black like tar, painting the girl's breasts black.

Then it was Urgra's turn. Her cock was the thickest and she shot her load with such force that it hit Geneviéve's face like a thick, wet slap. The mime girl's head jerked back with the impact, and she had to fight to keep her balance as the warm, sticky fluid covered her nose and mouth.

The sound of Urgra's laugh echoed through the arena as she finally avenged her previous failure.

Once they finished, Demelza and Drusilla helped Geneviéve up from the floor and escorted her back to her seat.

"You can go clean yourself later, once Zara and Quincy also finish their fights," Etheldreda said.

Very reluctantly, Béatrice gave a hug to her recently humiliated sister, whispering comforting words into her ear as they sat down. Geneviéve's painted face was a mess of cum, but she took it stoically, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. The other monsters, now satisfied with their little game, retreated back to their corners of the arena, their cocks shrinking back to their usual sizes.

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"Second to last round: Quincy Marlowe versus Weddu," Etheldreda announced.

"Finally," Quincy stretched, "my time to shine."

The gate opened. Her opponent arrived: an Asura.

A naked Weddu stomped into view: 2 meters tall, hellish red skin, six muscular arms, and three snarling heads with long red manes that were united into one with a long braid behind the back. Her breasts, like two red melons on her chest with cherries on top. The fact that she was a futanari wasn't unexpected; hermaphrodite monsters are more and more common in any monster species. What made her stand out was her three dicks with six balls.

She took a step closer. In each hand, a fiery weapon flared into existence: curved swords, red as if they were made of solidified fire.

"Let's dance!" Her triple voice echoed through the air as she laughed.

From the sidelines, Aritimi called out, "Don't hold back, Weddu! She can regenerate her limbs! No severe damage to other body parts, but you can hurt her limbs as much as you want!"

"Yeah, don't hold back." Quincy grinned.

And then she was off, just a blur of rapid kicks and punches. She darted in, landed a blow, then spun away before the Asura could counter. She ducked low, landed an uppercut to one of the lower chins, then flipped over a blade swipe and planted a knee into a sternum.

But Weddu was just warming up. With a coordinated flurry, her six arms swept through the air, blades flashing like firecrackers. Quincy's left arm hit the ground. Then her right leg. Then her other arm.

She hissed in pain but didn't even think about stopping. Her limbs began to regrow instantly, bones spiraling out with wet cracking sounds and skin knitting itself over the frames like magic. To Zara's surprise, she was able to grow nonhuman limbs as well.

As her next try, she grew gorilla arms from her shoulders, swinging with brutal, explosive force, but they were cut off instantly. Then, mantis-sickle limbs... and gone in an instant. Then, to further surprise Zara and the audience, she produced cold, ghostly Yuki-onna hands, which hissed against Weddu's skin, making her wince, but even those were removed by the six burning blades.

Blood splattered the sand as Quincy hit the ground again and again, her body morphing, regenerating, and fighting, but never fast enough. In desperation, she grew mummy limbs, long and bandaged with writhing, whip-like bandages. But the Asura tore through them with a roar, shredding the bandages mid-swing.

Eventually, Quincy slumped to the arena floor, panting and twitching. Her arms and legs were gone; only rounded stumps remained. Both arms ended above the elbow, and both legs above the knee. Judging by the surgical scars on them, that was the base form of her limbs. Unfortunately, even the rapid regeneration had limits.

"Quincy..." Etheldreda was ready to announce Weddu's victory.

But the Asura didn't want to finish yet. "I leave no enemy conscious," she said as she strutted toward Quincy, grinning with smug delight, and reached down with two hands to hoist her up. "I want to look you in the eye before..."

Then it happened.

From beneath Quincy's long bangs, something grew: an arm, small and pale, burst out from her left eye socket, cocked back mid-growth, and punched.

Right into the center head's chin, at just the right angle.

Was it just the shock, or maybe this head was the one in charge, but the other two heads' eyes rolled back as well. She collapsed in a heap.

Quincy dropped out of her limp grip and landed on the sand with a thud, then sprinted back to her seat on all fours, using her four stumps like legs, breath ragged but laughing.

"Um... oh yes... Quincy won," Etheldreda stammered. She was surprised by Quincy's victory.

Everyone stared at Quincy.

"Did you just punch someone... with your eye socket?" Zara blinked.

Quincy plopped back into her seat. "Yeah," she said cheerfully, "they did some graft work in there too after I lost the eye. The research team wanted to see if I could grow new eyes this way, and I had nothing to lose, so I accepted it. Instead, a meaty flesh pocket formed inside my skull, and I can grow extra limbs from there as well. Surprise bonus."

"I wish I could grow monster limbs this easily," Zara chuckled.

"It's not as powerful as it looks at first. Growing monster limbs takes a lot of effort and energy. And I need to digest DNA samples from them first."

"Ah! So that's why you kept drinking monster cum today," Zara said in realization.

"No, the research team already gave me tissue samples from them long ago."

"What? Then why did you do it?"

"I love cum," Quincy grinned back.

"Um... I think I should get ready now. I will be the next since nobody left," Zara stood up and undressed to end the conversation.

"Nice bush," Quincy giggled.

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At last, Etheldreda announced the last match.

"Final fight: Zara Cromwell versus Hildirid!"

The gates opened one last time as the final opponent entered. Hildirid was a Jötunn, standing nearly three meters tall. Her blue-gray skin was covered in ancient Nordic runes that glowed faintly as her muscles bulged and flexed like boulders. Her pale blonde hair whipped behind her. She looked down with a sneer of indifference at the much smaller Zara.

Zara couldn't deny that she felt a bit intimidated by the huge opponent at first.

Hildirid's body was a terrifying testament of power and brutality, contrasting with the soft, feminine curves that also graced her form. Her breasts were massive, heavy, and firm, hanging low with the weight of gravity but supported by muscles so dense they looked like they could crush a human any time. Her areolae were the size of dinner plates, the nipples hardened and pointed like spears, the same pinkish-white color as the rest of her skin. Her pubic mound was a thick, untamed bush.

Zara snapped back to reality quickly as she felt the cold coming from her opponent's direction.

"Big girl," she muttered. "Cool."

"Mmm, small girls are usually not my type, but I wouldn't mind pulling you on my meat spear," the Jötunn chuckled.

"But you have no..." Zara began, but Hildirid chanted something quickly that made her runes glow on her skin. In the next moment, a thick, meaty cock grew out from her bush, the shaft also covered in runes.

"Hildirid, Zara is the girl I was talking about. Don't hold back against her at all," Aritimi instructed the giantess.

"Got it," she nodded.

And the final fight began. The Jötunn unleashed a blast of freezing breath straight at Zara. But she was already gone in a blur of light.

Zara's form shifted mid-motion into her Neon Neko mode: neon-pink hair glowing bright, cat ears flicking, and a whip-like tail snapping behind her. In this form, she was practically a living flash of pink light.

She darted around the Jötunn like a laser pointer, trying to land precise blows.

But with each strike, the problem became clear: the Jötunn barely budged.

"Too dense," Zara muttered, skidding to a halt. "Can't hit her at full speed; I'll level half the arena. Ugh... too much collateral damage. Come on, think about something."

Then her eyes flicked toward the ground. Scattered across the edge of the arena's floor lay a morbid buffet: severed limbs, arms, legs, and chunks of strange muscle left behind by Quincy.

"Thanks, Q," Zara said under her breath, sprinting over. "Not letting these go to waste."

The Jötunn turned and stomped toward her, unaware that behind the cover of debris, Zara was crouched and chewing like a wild animal. Fingers. Sinew. Mantis arms. Mummy bands. Even one slightly cold Yuki-onna hand. With each bite, her body surged with mass.

She dropped the last femur into her mouth, wiped her lips with the back of her hand, and began to shift.

Her Neon Neko features faded, and her skin thickened. Her shoulders cracked wider. Muscles bloomed across her frame like vines. In seconds, Zara stood tall, nearly three meters herself, matching the Jötunn's height, her usual frame now replaced with a muscular powerhouse with stone-grey skin. Also, a pair of stone wings began to emerge from her back.

"So that's her Gargoyle Queen form," Aritimi muttered.

Zara grinned at the surprised Hildirid, showing her sharp teeth.

"Cool!" Quincy exclaimed from her seat, almost falling forward if Dorian didn't catch her.

"Okay," Zara said, stretching her arms with a satisfying pop. "Let's dance."

The Jötunn roared and charged. They collided like tectonic plates. Zara grappled the giant, both of them straining, kicking up dirt. Fists slammed, shoulders locked, knees buckled.

And then Zara twisted, hooked under the Jötunn's knee, and with a loud shout, bodyslammed her into the arena floor with a crash that echoed across the training grounds.

The Jötunn lay stunned, wheezing; her cock disappeared with a pop and a flash of light, as if it was embarrassed to be on a loser.

Zara placed one foot on her chest and pointed up at Etheldreda.

"Say it."

"You won, Zara Cromwell." Etheldreda gave a single approving nod.

Zara turned and flexed, still huge. "Does anyone have a protein shake?" she called out. "Or maybe a car I can eat?"

The audience began to cheer as Zara posed like a bodybuilder. She saw those poses in the group chat where they were posted by Olympia.

"Not bad, Timi." Etheldreda walked up to Aritimi. "When you chose these monsters for your pupils, I was skeptical."

"Not gonna lie, I wouldn't mind watching Zara getting punished by the giantess, but I'm proud that she did it."

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Somewhere in Crowsend.

Rina was waiting in her car. The windows were tinted to be sure nobody could see her face. Her monstrous hunger made the waiting even worse.

At last, she noticed David coming from the subway station. It was easy to notice him with the beanie he was wearing.

"Kept you waiting, huh?" David smirked as he sat beside Rina.

"Did you find her?" she asked.

"Yeah. She moves a lot each day, but there's one certain point. She always goes to the local buffet at this station. And before you ask, yes, every day. The owner confirmed it."

"And that's sure?"

"Yes, she looks too unique to be confused with somebody else," David replied.

"Excellent. Oh, and did you..."

"Yes," David gave her a paper bag full of food.

"That was lifesaver," Rina said, grabbing the bag.

"I didn't know somebody like you could die of starvation."

"Your life is the one that got saved. I could easily eat you if I'm too hungry," she grinned, biting into a big sandwich.

As Rina was eating, David pulled out a piece of paper with a lengthy list of names on it.

There were some names that they had already checked off. These were Amelia Aldridge, Béatrice Marchand, Exene Wilde, Joy Marquette, Legend Delmar, and Naiomi Lewis. In the end, he drew a check mark beside Lulu Rivera.

"By the way. What's going to happen to our targets?" David asked.

"I'm not totally sure, you better don't ask too much in that business, but it's going to be more than just kidnapping for ransom money."