With a sarcastic smile on her face, Amplicia lifted her glass, crushed it, and ground the shards until they turned into dust that dispersed in the air as she opened her palm.

"I wouldn't have waited until now if I wanted this place gone," Amplicia said. "But your demise doesn't profit our empire."

The Monster Girl on the screen frowned. She was a Mermaid, a fish-like humanoid Monster Girl with a tail as her leg and fins around her scaled body. Her slender cyan body and intense black eyes radiated an unassailable presence that commanded the ocean. She hovered in the depth of the azure water, one hand holding a golden coral-covered staff, the other three gliding in the water.

Undrila was one of the two Lords of the Labyrinth of Love, who reigned and protected the Monster Girls from the danger below the Layers. The other Lord was Corane, the Crystal Dragon Monster Girl. The two were the only Monster Girls whose power exceeded the limit of the Transformation Phase Monster Girls, sitting at the Condensation Phase.

Amplicia was also in the Condensation Phase and was not intimidated by the display of power. She instead assumed the mighty air and waved her hand, dispelling the overwhelming pressure that was suppressing the Silk Revenant, who quickly recovered and left the room.

Undrila gawked at Amplicia and ceased her hostility. Compared to the Broken Empire, the Labyrinth was merely a city-state. Even Amplicia alone was stronger than either her and Corane.

"Where is Corane?" Amplicia said. "I planned to start the meeting early."

"Something crops up at the lowest Layer," Undrila said. Her voice melted from coldness to worry. "Those Subterranean Creatures are getting more unbearable."

"It will pass when the Sinking commences," Amplicia said. Her eyes curved into an arch. "If you need it, I can lend you pity."

"When our labyrinth falls, say goodbye to your plan." Undrila bared her teeth. "Even if we're weak, you need us."

"We don't need you, but our empire will benefit greatly from your success."

"You can’t go on without us, and we can’t go on without you." Undrila pointed at Amplicia, then at herself. "Corane and I have been waiting for this moment, so don't mess it up."

"The Empire has never failed since its descension." Amplicia lightly clapped. "The foresight of our Princesses and our Empress have led us to prosperity since then. Only the divine and the myth can suppress our might."

"This arrogance is expected from you who conspire with the demons." Undrila sneered. "If not for the artefacts left by Lady Lilith, the demons and the Pure Races would have swallowed your empire long ago."

"We stand against the entire plane and their gods while you hide in your cute labyrinth under the protection of the great power." Amplicia stood up. Golden light surged around her. "One more word of your insolence, and this haven is no more."

"Try if you may, and I'll see how your beloved Empire would respond to your feverish devotion." Undrila drew her four arms outward, inviting Amplicia to come and fight her.

On the side, Iris shivered as hot and cold currents burst inside her mind, circulating her body, tingling her fingers and toes. The tension escalated until it permeated every molecular that made up her body, suffocating her. She sighed and softly tapped the table, producing a screeching noise that disrupted the argument.

Amplicia and Undrila turned to her, the former suddenly felt ashamed, the latter confused.

"Your time is better spent elsewhere, Sisters," Iris said as she turned to Amplicia, who smiled and apologised with a gentle nod.

"Who is she?" Undrila said as she glanced at Amplicia and frowned when she saw Amplicia lapsed back to her friendly, tender manner. "Is she one of your associates?"

"She is just someone with an interesting background." Amplicia smiled at Iris, who averted her gaze and got up.

"I believe my presence is undesirable," Iris said. "After all, I'm just a wandering Slime Girl, not of any faction. Then, farewell, Amplia, and farewell, Lady Undrila."

"Wait, Iris," Amplicia said and handed her a silver badge. "If you ever meet anyone from The Empire, show them this, and they'll know you have my respect."

Iris nodded and put the badge inside the chest, then she strolled out of the Palace of Serenity and went down the Garden of Splendour. Her pace gradually increased as she left the pagoda and disappeared into the crowd, merging with the lively, festive atmosphere of the Main City.

As she sauntered around the Main City, she found herself somewhere sensual. The street was soft to walk, the air thick and scentful. The buildings along the road stood tall with rows of curtains concealing the silhouettes of Monster Girls engaging in various plays, moaning, chuckling, begging, yearning.

Despite the inviting atmosphere, Iris recoiled and quickly rushed through the zone, heading straight towards the First Hall. She didn't want to stay there, fearing that she might end up in one of the curtains, unable to leave forever. If she stayed alone for too long, her sisters might get worried and tried something reckless.

They might become the playthings of those lewd, powerful Monster Girls, or worst, fell somewhere, trying in vain to search for her.

To protect them, she needed more power. She could feel her limit gradually loosening, but the peak was still so far away. The Transformation Phase that used to be strong looked so weak in front of the Condensation Phase, and everything was insignificant to those Deities, those Beings.

"Why me?" Iris mumbled as she reached the First Hall.

She took a deep breath and pushed through the wooden double gate, which concealed the inner room, where the general information and location of each Layer was.

...

Through the second-floor window, Lenmia watched the artificial clouds and soft light flickering and swaying from one part of the tall firmament to another. She rested on an ordinary wooden chair beside the window, her back leaning against the soft cushion, her eyes staring at somewhere far away. Besides her, only silence remained in the room.

She looked down at herself. Her core weakly quivered, sending waves of numbing pain throughout her body. The cracks in it glowed in dark golden light that periodically dimmed and shone, diffusing out Soul Energy that represented her life and power. The injury of the core was the hardest to heal; it would take her at least months to naturally recover.

The door behind her gently parted. The cold air invaded the room and caressed her membrane, pricking her bouncy, human-like skin. She turned around and expressed the most graceful smile, devoid of the previous melancholy.

"You’re back," she said. "It must have been a fruitful day."

"It's all thanks to your effort, Sister," Pallorn said. "Everyone is working hard to protect you, so please, rest well."

She folded her black wings and bowed at Lenmia. After the fall, she became a Fallen Angel, whose power rivalled Lenmia as the second strongest Monster Girl of the family. Though she wasn't at the Transformation Phase yet, she was already at the peak of the Metamorphosis Phase.

"Knowing that you all are working hard, I’m already feeling better." Lenmia chuckled. "When I recover, I’ll give you all the rewards you deserved."

Pallorn hung her head low as she walked to Lenmia, who sighed and let her get close. As a former Redeemer, Pallorn had learnt a lot about the Monster Girls, their types, their habits, and their weakness. She knew how grave Lenmia's injury was, but she deliberately kept quiet not to alarm all her sisters.

"I should've stayed with you back then." Pallorn clenched her fists. Her fingers pinched into her palm. "You shouldn't suffer through this alone."

"You did the right thing." Lenmia grasped Pallorn's hands and stroked them. "Because of you, I could concentrate on the battle."

Pallorn spread her wings and closed her eyes. The corrupted holy power flowed from her heart to Lenmia's liquid body through their interlocked hands. The warmth and chill fluctuated at their touches. The coldness of the injury seeped into Pallorn, who shivered as her legs went numb, shaking from the strain.

The soft, gentle warmth reached Lenmia's core and merged with it, cooling Lenmia with a gush of fuzzy sensation. Though Pallorn could heal physical injury and boost Corruption Power, the damage on the Soul Energy was too sophisticated for her current power.

"I could only ease your pain," she said. "Get well soon, Sister."

"Your legs are trembling." Lenmia beamed a smile. "If you want to help me, reach the Transformation Phase first. You're the only one, the only one here, that can do it within this period of turmoil."

Lenmia shifted her gaze towards the distant scenery, where the dome of fog rose from the ground and met with the firmament, shielding the inside from the outside. In here, they were safe. Under the protection of two Condensation Phase Monster Girls, their life would be peaceful for a while.

As Lenmia stared at nothing and nowhere, Pallorn fell silent and recollected her thought. She grasped her black wing and rubbed it, feeling the soft feathers on her fair fingers. A tingling sensation tensed her, telling her they were a permanent, beautiful, and significant part of her.

The time marched on. Outside, the cool dews dripped from the roof onto the flower below, and from the petal, the droplet fell and merged with the coarse dirt. The sky gradually grew dark and ate the screen of soft light into blackness.

"If only she were here," Lenmia said. "I shouldn't have let her go. Now I can only hope that she is doing fine."

Pallorn wanted to speak, but she averted her eyes and remained silent. Lenmia gazed at Pallorn and petted her, playing with her silky thin hair.

"I know you haven't seen her, but she really is beautiful. Her shyness and her reluctance that melts as soon as she tastes pleasure is her main quality."

"I look forward to seeing her," Pallorn said, smiling. "Tardi and everyone else spoke well of her. I wish I could be half as well-received."

"Are you jealous?" Lenmia tenderly pulled in Pallorn and leant forward. Their faces brushed as they exchanged their fiery breath. "If I were healthy, I would have sent you to heaven. Alas, I need to leave this to our other sisters."

As Lenmia grazed her lips on Pallorn's, the door creaked and abruptly swung open. Dulcie rushed in, an excited smile on her face. Her gaze landed on Lenmia and Pallorn, who tangled themselves in their embrace, their body almost merged into one.

"Look like I come at the perfect time," Dulcie said. "Mind if I watch?"

"Just watch?" Lenmia kissed Pallorn's cheek then pulled away, licking her lips. "We can play later. What gives you such a rush?"

Before Dulcie could speak, a familiar yet long-unheard voice resounded from the downstair, following by a series of soft, nervous footsteps.

"Dulcie, I said wait for me," Iris said. "I don't know the layout of the house yet."

Lenmia sprang up from her chair and rushed to the door. She met Iris in front of the room, and before Iris could utter a sound, she tightly hugged her, merging their body into one. Iris tensed and gradually relaxed after a long, tiring journey.

At last, she was home.