An old man scattered a handful of dust into the air. He pointed at the sky and chanted a spell. Spiritual energy manifested at the tip of his index finger, glowing blue and tracing his movement, imprinting a delicate formation in the air. The surrounding paladins and priests intensely stared at him and the inconspicuous hill farther away.

"I beseech for your blessing, Nightly Goddess. May your eternal gaze envelope the world. May your cold night embrace our souls," the old mage, a Bishop of the Nightly Church, said. "Under your faith, no concealment can elude your believers!"

The spell formation collapsed onto itself. Its structure compressed into a dark blue flame, which slowly floated towards the hill. Despite being a source of light, the nightly flame devoured the luminosity of its surrounding. Everywhere it went, light faded and turned dark like a veil of the night had descended during the day.

The dark blue flame flickered and entered the hill, emerging with the vine-covered surface. A soft crack resounded as dull light pierced through the rifts around the hill, shattering the illusionary formation. The thick vines and flowers faded to nothing, revealing a hidden entrance to the Labyrinth of Love.

The believers trembled as they held onto their weapons and staffs, but the Bishop stopped them from recklessly charging. He gestured for a priest to take out an exquisite ward. It was moulded with gold and had multiple azure gems embedded on its head. The Bishop took it and pointed at the sky, shooting a ray of blue light into the clouds.

"We've found an entrance into the Corrupted Races' hideout," the Bishop said. "All thanks to the blessing of our Nightly Goddess. May us Pure Races prevail against the Corrupted Races. May our lost souls return to the embrace of the night."

"Nightly Goddess? Though she holds supreme authority over the night of the world, within this place, my darkness will engulf you all," a voice echoed around the group of believers. "Today, we Monster Girls shall welcome new members into our world of freedom and pleasure. Handsome men, please be gentle."

The believers instantly grouped into a rigid formation, but they failed to detect the voice's origin. It came from everywhere yet nowhere, like an endless echo. Such mysticism made the Bishop frown.

"Corrupted One, show yourself," he said. "Do not slander our Nightly Goddess while hiding away from our sights."

"I wasn't hiding. You just haven't looked closely enough."

The voice resounded inside the encirclement. The believers rapidly turned around. Behind a trembling priestess, a lady covered in deep blue carapace placed one of her hands on the priestess's shoulder, the other caressing the pale cheek. She tenderly blew a wisp of hot breath at the priestess's ear, causing her to whimper in fear and confusion.

"Bishop Rutian, please save me!" The priestess cried, her milky white tears dripping from her eyes. "I don't want to die. I don't want to sin. Get away from me!"

She struggled, but her weak physique couldn't resist the forceful yet gentle embrace of the Monster Girl. The surrounding believers instantly retreated, leaving the priestess alone. Though they didn't dare to save the priestess, they didn't dare to attack the Monster Girl either.

"Wicked Monster, release her and face eternal damnation." The Bishop raised his staff. "Even if you're at the Transformation Phase, you alone aren’t enough to extinguish our faith."

"Who said I'm alone?"

Near the hill, a still lake suddenly bubbled as ripples quivered the surface. Multiple silhouettes jumped out of the cold water and landed on the ground, spreading their deep-sea aura to the wilderness. Their fishy yet lovely scents permeated the lush scenery as they carefreely surrounded the believers, eyeing the handsome men and the pretty ladies, picking their favourites.

"Impossible!" The Bishop turned to the Monster Girl inside the encirclement. "How did you know about our invasion? Is it really true that there is a mole in our Crusade? A Pure Race collaborating with the Corrupted Races?"

"I can't answer that, but I can answer one thing." The Monster Girl lowered her head and kissed the priestess's cheek. "I've never abandoned you, Farias. We'll be together now, like before. I promise I won't ever leave you again."

The priestess froze as she rigidly turned to her fallen big sister. Her eyes revealed complications yet longing, which seared her heart and weakened her legs. She slowly ceased struggling but couldn’t speak anything except weeping from joy mixed with sorrow.

The Mermaids glanced at the reunion of the two sisters and felt happy for them. Though the Monster Girls had lost their previous humanity, they weren't heartless nor evil. If possible, they would try to find their lost family and reunite, if not as the Pure Races, then as the Corrupted Races.

An annihilation erupted as the believers fought a losing battle against multiple Transformation Phase Monster Girls. If the Monster Girls didn’t plan to capture most of the believers, they would have all died.

In the end, only half of the believers perished, including the Bishop. His death almost took with him two Transformation Phase Monster Girls.

While the Monster Girls teased their captives and reunited with their lost relatives, Amplicia stepped out of the hill and inspected the battle. The first step of the plan was one of the riskiest parts and required her meticulous attention. She nodded at the retreating Monster Girls and tended to the injured ones.

"Reporting, Lord Ambassador," a Monster Girl said. "Only two of our Transformation Phase Monster Girls suffered severe injuries and needed to recuperate. The rest only suffered inconsequential wounds and could immediately proceed with the next step."

Amplicia nodded.

"We shall retreat into the hill and the lake. Bring those two back into the Main Layer and reward them for their sacrifice. Do you think that a piece of Lava Coral and Shattered Star Shell is enough?"

"Those two items definitely suit their bodies and innate talents, Lord Ambassador. I shall convey your intention to the First Hall."

The messenger ordered the nurses and helped the two injured Monster Girls back into the Labyrinth, leaving Amplicia staring at the aftermath of the plan. Everything went almost as planned, though Amplicia couldn't relax at all.

"Your Highness, please give me your blessing," she whispered. "To go against the nations back by the Deities, can we really do it? I can't fathom your methods, Your Highness, but please, let your plan be the right one."

Amplicia had complete faith in the Broken Empire and the Second Princess. They could trivially crush the surrounding nations, but not the Deities and their impossible powers. Though they usually refrained from meddling with the mortal world, their every move could influence all corners of the world.

As Amplicia was speculating, a glass orb manifested in front of her and broke into countless pieces. A soft mist diffused out of the core, forming a mirror-like screen, where a beautiful, elegant lady stood. Amplicia immediately bowed, her heart racing in anticipation and excitement.

"Your Highness, please pardon my unsightly appearance." Amplicia knelt on the ground. "If only I knew of your visit in advance, I would have arranged a better feast for your eyes."

"My Amplicia, you've done all you could for me. I don't want you to underestimate your worth." The Second Princess sat back into her comfortable throne, sinking into the fluffy support. "Nature has chosen this scenery as our background; I have nothing against such tranquillity."

The Second Princess maintained her air of royalty yet plainness. She raised her hand and twirled her fingers. The five Shadow Heart Fragments converged above her palm, floating steadily. Amplicia asked for permission to stare and discovered an anomaly. The fragments were vibrating, crying out for something.

"Please give me your command, Your Highness." Amplicia smiled as her eyes turned watery. "If you want someone dead, I shall dirty my hand and taint my soul, for you and you alone, Your Highness."

The Second Princess covered her mouth and giggled. Though Amplicia couldn't see it, she knew Her Highness was smiling an amused smile. Embarrassed, Amplicia lowered her head further, regretting the pledge that sounded like a confession.

"You're still as passionate as ever, Amplia. I thought that sending you to manage diplomatic affairs would cool you down." The Second Princess moved her hand, revealing a graceful smile. "Don't worry. I won't put you in a difficult situation. The Fragments are one of the treasures left behind by Lady Lilith. She had left us with her decree: we must protect the inheritor of the Shadow Heart, especially her family. She shall usher the olden legend back to life."

"How could I find such mystical Monster Girl? If she could gain Lady Lilith’s approval, she must be extraordinary beyond belief. Your Highness, I fear my inadequacy."

"You're quite lucky, Amplia," the Second Princess said. "You've already met her. There is a wisp of foreign aura around you. Look, the Fragments shook more intensely the moment it detected your aura."

Amplicia widened her eyes and fell into silence. She shifted through her memory, trying to find out the special Monster Girls who obtained the grace of the supreme beings. Her heart stirred as everything cleared up, revealing the weak yet strong, mysterious yet plain, sensual yet bashful Monster Girl, Iris.

Even before the Second Princess had issued her command, Amplicia had already completed the task. What a twist of fate.

"Your Highness, fate must have blessed us for our eventual success," Amplicia said, smiling. "I think I know who the inheritor is. Her name is Iris, a cute Slime Girl. I first thought that she has a mysterious backing but couldn't imagine that her origin was far greater than my estimation."

Amplicia described everything about Iris she knew. The Second Princess attentively listened, her azure eyes glowing with delight. Though Amplicia felt that it was luck which guided her to Iris, the Second Princess gazed farther into the realm of speculation.

The supreme beings' designs were unfathomable.

"You've done well, Amplia. You've done way more than I could have asked for," the Second Princess said. "However, there is one more thing I want you to do. It isn't for the grand plan but for your own good."

"Can I choose my own reward, Your Highness?"

"If you want me, that would be impossible, and you know that."

"Your body is unique, Your Highness. I wouldn't dare to taint you. I merely want to ask for one small favour." Amplicia stared at the Second Princess's azure eyes, blinking. "If Iris indeed joins you, please let her be by your side. I've impulsively promised her such prize."

"If you don't sulk in jealousy, I shall accept your request. Cunning, aren't you?" The Second Princess turned to the side and picked up an excellent scroll. "That won't do. I'll personally bestow you something else, but it'll be a secret. You'll know what it is after you’ve completed your mission."

The Second Princess pushed the scroll towards the mirror-like screen. It pierced through space and landed on Amplicia's palm. She tenderly caressed it and felt the Second Princess's warmth in it.

"Your power is beyond my imagination, Your Highness," Amplicia said. "Please await my good news."

"I shall. Tell Iris I wish to meet her."

The mirror screen dispersed into vapours, leaving Amplicia alone in the quiet forest. The isolation spell gradually vanished, though Amplicia still couldn't contain her passion. She quickly untied the scroll and read the content.

"So this is why Her Highness sent me to the Labyrinth," Amplicia murmured. "Someone destined to meet me? How profound is your comprehension of the world, Your Highness?"

Above the Condensation Phase was the Solidification Phase, the last step before the dividing line between the ordinary and the legend. Throughout the Sinking Dark Forest, perhaps not even one such Monster Girl existed.

At that stage, one would see beyond the surface, peek behind the veil, glimpse at the truth of the world. One step ahead, and one would reach the realm whispered in the legends of old.

Her Highness, the Second Princess, was one such person, the pride and pillar of the Broken Empire, the Beloved Child of Lilith.