Once I crossed the finish line, my body was close to giving out, despite my determination to keep going. My breaths were ragged and erratic as I desperately tried to catch my breath. My legs were shaking uncontrollably, having been pushed past their limits.

I had never experienced such agony before. My heart was pounding as if protesting against the torment I was inflicting upon myself.

"Another," I growled, wiping at the veritable waterfall of sweat that fell from my brow.

"Give yourself a minute, will ya?" Meep, a close friend of Polt's with black skin that glistened under the light, asked me with a relaxed pose. A thin sheen of sweat was visible everywhere, not already covered by her dull brown plumage. Although she had been outrunning me for the better part of a half hour, one would've never guessed it from her stance. "You're gonna pass out if you keep this up," she warned.

"Or worse," commented Tsen, my other running partner, as Centorea cantered back to us, carrying a rack of water bottles in one hand. The lightweight centaur casually brushed aside a lock of pink hair, and I couldn't help but feel a wave of shame wash over me as I greedily grabbed one of the bottles and guzzled it down. Papi's appetite had nothing on mine.

"I've noticed you're putting too much pressure on your right foreleg, Centorea," Tsen continued, "and it'll likely cause severe muscle aches if not corrected. You may also experience a cramp while running, potentially causing you to fall and break a leg. If you're not taken to a hospital quickly enough, you may even have to undergo amputation..."

"Ugh, why do you always have to take it to the next level?" Meep grumbled, her talons drumming a beat against the track. She shot me a frustrated glance. "She's been like this since we were little, I swear..."

"I don't understand why it's 'unnecessary' to be prepared for the worst," Tsen huffed, folding her arms. "Besides, I agreed with your earlier caution if you believe it."

"I am aware of my capabilities," I interjected before Meep could respond, "That is why I strive to exceed them. I cannot do this without taking on a certain risk."

Meep stared at me, studying me intently, before sighing heavily and planting her hands firmly on her hips. "You remind me an awful lot of someone I used to know. And that's not a good thing."

My brows furrowed at her words. "Why do you say so?" I asked.

"You said you were training with MON, right?" Meep pressed, her eyes shining with anticipation. At my nod, she smiled in approval. "Then let's head up to the sixth floor. There's usually at least one of them up in the dojo sparring, and it would be much more beneficial for you than just racing against us speed demons all the time."

"Now that I think about it," Tsen said thoughtfully, stretching her arms across her chest, "I've been meaning to ask Omran a few questions, so it would be a great opportunity for me to join you."

"Now, wait just a moment," I protested as the two already began to leave, "I never agreed to this!"

Meep retorted without looking back, "If you want to become a better member of MON, you have to trust me - there's no way that will happen on this track. So, let's get going!"

I hesitated, as my training mainly focused on improving my physical fitness and studying the different species and their capabilities. I had only learned to use certain firearms from Zombina, which I didn't find particularly appealing. Aside from that, the only experience I have ever had with anything close to combat was jousting, which I was not very adept at.

Although I wasn't afraid, I was unsure of how to fight the battles of modern times. MON put me through a training program, yet I felt like it hadn't even started. I couldn't help but wonder if the reason for this was because the organization didn't know how to train a centaur for their specialized operations.

I felt an overwhelming sense of doubt as the elevator doors opened on the sixth floor, revealing a massive dojo. Different pieces of equipment were scattered across the mats, all tailored to specific species. Punching bags of different sizes filled the floor, though none were as tall as the ones on the first floor since Gigantes couldn't use the elevator. An armory of thick pads and imitation weapons, ranging from wooden swords to foam-tipped staves, was lined up against the back wall. Despite my apprehension, I couldn't help but admire the weapons for a moment before Meep and Tsen led me to the very center of the dojo.

There were four varying-sized sparring rings to accommodate liminals of all shapes and sizes. To my surprise, the only occupied ring was the third, where two figures were locked in a fast-paced and intensely brutal duel. Of the many members of MON I'd seen, the one engaged in the duel was the last I'd have expected to take part in such a conflict.

Manako gracefully deflected the jab to her chest and retaliated with a quick, low-sweeping kick aimed at her opponent's legs. Her opponent, a Cu Sith if I remembered correctly, had a mischievous grin as he leaped over her foot and retaliated with a powerful sidekick. I watched in awe at Manako's graceful and efficient movements, a stark contrast to the timid girl who had cried whenever she lost a round of Smash Bros. Her expression was emotionless, and her eye was firmly focused on the Cu Sith before her.

The cu sith in question was her antithesis in terms of fighting style. An ardent enthusiasm and eagerness for combat drove his every action. His claws continuously clenched and unclenched into fists as he observed Manako with scarlet eyes, a lupine smirk permanently gracing his lips. He was the more powerful of the two, yet Manako had technique and swiftness as her primary weapons, which she utilized to her utmost advantage against him.

As a result of my training, I could recall what I had learned about cu sith should I ever face one as my opponent, as Manako did. Cu Sith is a subspecies of a werewolf, similar to kobolds, but has certain traits similar to those of fairies, such as an aversion to iron, although this has yet to be tested in the field. Cu sith has sensitive ears and noses, making them vulnerable to specific exploits. However, their strength and ferocity should not be underestimated. Although they are not as strong as Cerberus or Fenrir, cu sith are formidable when provoked and can be pretty cunning, much like fairies.

"Point, Beiste!" barked a gravelly voice, pulling me from my thoughts. The speaker, a large gargoyle with skin the color of obsidian, watched over the spar with grey slit eyes. He must have been Omran, another of Polt's close associates. "Manako, you favor your left too much," he admonished.

Manako winced as she resisted the urge to rub the spot where she had been struck. The cu sith, Beiste, stood just out of her reach, his blue-furred tail wagging excitedly. Taking a deep breath, Manako looked at him, her eye narrowing with determination.

Then, she moved.

I could hardly keep up with Manako as she became a dizzying flurry of motion. Beiste, taken aback, tried to swat her away with a paw. It was his downfall; Manako barely shifted and grabbed his arm, pushing with all her strength and hurling him across the room and onto the mats with a loud thud.

It was over in three seconds.

"Dayum!" Meep cheered.

I could only gape at the sniper of MON Squad as she wiped a tear from her eye and looked over at Omran.

"C-Can we s-s-s-stop now?" Manako weakly asked, rubbing her arms anxiously. "I ev-v-v-ven used my right that time...."

"No shit," Beiste groaned into the ground, pushing himself up and rubbing his head.

I had previously viewed Manako as one of the least effective members of MON. Without a ranged weapon, her abilities on the battlefield seemed limited compared to Zombina's ability to heal from any fatal wound, Tionishia's immense strength, and Doppel's wide range of skills. Moreover, her timid personality did not help her case either.

But after what I had just witnessed, Manako had declared the match to be over and then proceeded to make it a reality. This confirmation of one of my deepest worries left me feeling unsettled.

For all my strength, I was still so very, very far behind.

Omran sighed, resting a stony claw against his forehead, "You could have dragged that out a little more if only for the sake of Beiste's pride. After all, this little bout was to test your weaknesses, was it not?"

"W-Well, you p-pointed it out, so I f-f-f-fixed it," Manako replied, anxiously fiddling with her hands and looking away from him, "Th-That's what I'm s-s-s-supposed to do, right?"

"You may not be entirely right," Omran conceded, giving her a look that implied they had been acquaintances for years, "But be a good sport and lend a hand to your adversary."

"Oh, s-s-s-so sorry!" Manako hastily apologized, offering a hand to Beiste, who still sat on the mat. The cu sith smiled and shook his head, standing up without her assistance.

"Nah, I can pick myself back up, thanks," Beiste chirped. "It's always a pleasure to spar with someone from MON occasionally. It reminds me that there's always someone better out there, which is great for setting goals. His canine ears swiveled in our direction before he turned to face us. "And look, we even have an audience for once. Figures, it's when I get trounced...."

"Hey, whatever keeps ya humble," Meep replied with a wink, hopping over to his side and playfully bumping his shoulder. Beiste winced but otherwise didn't complain. "Anyway, we wanted to show our newest recruit, Centorea, around the dojo since she recently joined MON."

His ears perked up with enthusiasm at that. "Really? Now?" He widely grinned as he looked at me with newfound interest. He inspected me like meat, though I didn't mind it. "Nice to meet you, Centorea. Heh. The name's Beiste."

"A pleasure," I responded stiffly, giving him a marginal nod in acknowledgment.

"Y'know, it's kinda funny," Beiste continued, his grin dissolving into a smirk, letting just the tips of his fangs peek out, "'Cause as of yesterday, it turns out I'm MON's latest recruit. It looks like you and I are in the same class, so to speak."

"Is that so?" I asked politely, though I couldn't shake the feeling of unease around this Cu Sith. Maybe it was my natural caution whenever I encountered a predator, or maybe it was how he treated his duel with Manako so lightly.

"You bet! Should be a hoot!" He seemed oblivious to my apparent bemusement since he continued with his incessant smile. "Hm... y'know, we're probably gonna be partners, come to think of it. Is that right, ma'am?"

It was, to everyone's, especially Manako's, surprise that he was referring to her. Still, when it finally hit her, Manako blushed furiously and nodded vigorously, apparently not trusting herself to speak. As she did so, my heart sank.

"So I guess the thing to do is shake, right?" Beiste asked, offering me his paw. "Partner?"

Etiquette, and the watchful eyes of Meep and Tsen, who had brought me up here, demanded that I take his hand. But as I reached out, I wondered if they knew my "partner" would be here too. Who else would MON see fit to form a squad with me and Beiste? I had serious doubts we'd ever reach the same heights as their premier team.

"It would seem so," I told him, clasping hands with him and giving him a firm shake.

"Sweet," Beiste replied, his face lighting up and his tail wagging, "This is when people say this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship or something like that, right?"

Somehow, I doubted that.

To be continued...