They say words can be as mighty as swords. I agree. I was wrong. When you think this happens, that happens. Whenever you think that happens, this happens. Life is unpredictable with which I couldn’t agree any more than I already do.

There’s indeed no beauty in this accursed world. It’s an absolute tragedy. Look:

—Degloth |E+|—

Race: Maggoth

Pathway: Sin

Spirit |E-|

Strength |E+|

Stamina |D|

Agility |D-|

Affinity |E-|

Active: |Inflate |E+||

Different from Degloth#1, Degloth#2 has a bulkier body which differentiates itself. Perhaps due to insane Stamina.

Inflate? Not Inflame? What now? I'm usually petty. Very petty. But not anymore. Not again! I refuse to be dyed in shit! They say life's journey is paved with both big and small choices. But I’m already paved with both small and big shit. As such, no more choices, no more shit.

Leading the army to fight? Hell no! Words are the cutting force of the present, and thus, one must sharpen one's blade as much as one can. While the king carries the shiniest sword, he does not personally engage in any battle. What am I getting at, you ask? Simply put, I will fight with my tongue. To put it even more simply, I’m justifying my cowardice! I’m brainwashing myself!

I really, really hate worms. If put under the choice of being raped by a minotaur or showering in worm shit, I would choose neither. But if it came down to it, I would eat it.

The floor is littered with the remains of broken bull corpses scattered haphazardly across the rocky ground asunder. The air smells just like me, a mix of rot and blood that clings to our skin with humidity and a pervasive mist. No, it still smells better than me. The cavern is also filled to the brim with gigantic worms. Their bodies slither over the carcasses as their slimy forms reflect the crystalline lights. Their mandibles tear into the flesh and crunch the bones of the dead bulls.

My succubi tense, their newly crafted gauntlets at the ready, each one reflecting the red lights from above. I raise my gauntlet-clad fist, "My children," I call out, "This is where we prove our strength. These monsters and this mess will not stand in our way. We will cleanse this rot and show our enemies the true power of our unity!"

My words further ignite their spirits. They ready their fists with their eyes fixated on the keepers ahead.

Unlike the previous room, the cavern is immense, its walls stretching into the darkness above and disappearing into the shadows. The dampness makes it difficult to breathe. Every breath is heavy with the scent of decay and the metallic tang of blood.

“Can you see?” I ask them. It’s quite hard to make out what's what in this fog even with my enhanced vision. The ground beneath is slick with moisture while the mist swirls around us.

The great vision is not the sole perk of being an archdemon. I’ve figured out that I can feel the elements in the air and the spiritual energy flowing inside my body. It’s as if I’m the one with the world. Not only this, but I can also feel my subordinates’ feelings and emotions. For example, Hel pierces my head with his spiteful gaze. If given a chance, he’d instantly kill me. How lovable.

I can also glimpse at other monsters—the very essence of their being. For instance, I could immediately tell whether the previous Degloth was a male or a female. It’s a strange feeling. But it’s cool and useful nonetheless.

If I had to make a guess, an average human is of the F grade. In other words, rankless. I once fought a lion in my previous life. Just because. I was young and reckless. A bit too reckless, perhaps. What you’re trying to get at? Ugh, I forgot. Monika, you really are something.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Oh! So my point is that the minotaur was at least ten times stronger than the lion. It was also vicious. The minotaur could perhaps take on the whole pack of lions. And you call that a D- grade? Then what is C… and B… and A grade? I can only take guesses.

“Somewhat,” says Thorny. I nod my head. Somewhat is somewhat enough.

Speaking of, do they get more power if they transform into men? I mean men are supposed to be physically stronger than women. Would an E-graded man be stronger than an E-graded woman? One thing I can tell for sure is that the watermelons on their chests are not suited for battles. Amazons in the myths didn’t cut them out for nothing. But then again, perhaps being dickless is an advantage worth keeping around? Probably. I’m sure if they were to transform they would have large hoses.

Getting back to reality.

My primary focus is to collect hearts. I can absorb them quicker than others, that I am sure of. Just looking at Hel’s expression was enough. What I’m curious about now is whether the same works for lifestones? But it took me close to a minute to absorb a single lifestone while a few seconds for Karma. I have to give up on lifestones. Their absorption requires immense concentration and I can’t just multitask. I’m not that smart. Even if I try my best it would take me three hours to upgrade Spirit. What else can I use lifestones for? Girl, the Willpower of SS+ is such a cheat.

Fuck. Returning to reality. My head always thinks even if my mind doesn’t let it. It just blabbers and blabbers and blabbers on. Infinitely. Uselessly. I see the world at a different speed than others. Not only fast but also overlapping. Monikas speak and interrupt each other. Monikas hate each other yet they are trapped together. Monikas want to kill each other. This endless suffering I’ve inflicted upon myself—

Monika slapped her cheeks. Her eyes narrowed.

“Mother?” Thorny was taken aback by this.

“Repeat after me!” Monika slapped herself. Again.

All the succubi repeated after her. Lucifer lingered for a moment and then tried to follow suit only to be stopped by Hel as he shook his head.

“Once more! Put more power into it!”

Monika punched herself as a tooth fell to the ground. Even Hel was taken aback by this despite believing that he was already mostly accustomed to this freak. He could never imagine that a person could punch themselves this hard.

Yet again, all tried to follow. Yet none came close to Monika. Only Thorny lost a tooth or two.

Hel couldn’t help but question Monika’s actions. To this day, nobody—not even Monika herself—understood Monika.

“AAAAAAAHHHHH!” she launched herself toward the mass of writhing bodies. Her gauntlets struck. Each punch landed with a crunch. Each blow was infused with rage as it connected with the armored plates of the worms.

Monika swung the massive greatsword after taking it out of her inventory, .

—Minotaur’s Greatsword |D|—

It cleaved through flesh with a whoosh. Blood and viscera spritzed in all directions as she cut through bones and elicited the pained roars of the dying monsters. The worms tried to retaliate by thrashing and snapping at her. Futile. She struck out again and again. Her eyes burned with crazed fire. Her laughter resounded.

“Yahahah!”

Succubi watched in awe and terror. They joined the fray.

Their leathery wings unfurled with a snap as they ascended above the masses. They fought valiantly despite their inexperience. Some were injured, and some almost died, their movements hampered by wounds inflicted by the gloths. Blood stained their skin and gauntlets. They pushed, driven, and emboldened by their Mother’s example. Their maneuvers left a blur of dark wings and flashing gauntlets. They dove and soared.

One swooped down like a hawk with her fist crashing into a worm's armored hide. Her talons extended as she struck and sliced through with relative ease. She quickly pulled up to avoid retaliation.

Another succubus twirled in mid-air as she dodged a snapping maw. She brought her gauntlet down with her talons following in a vicious rake to leave deep gashes. She had already soared away before the worm could react.

A pair of succubi worked in tandem with their flight paths crisscrossing as they disoriented and confused their target. One would dive in with a crushing blow from her gauntlet while the other slashed at the worm’s vulnerable underbelly with her talons.

The hiss of wings, the crunch of gauntlet against armor, and the shrieks of dying worms reverberated through the area. They were adapting quickly.

Hel walked at the back while controlling the thin golden strings that extended from his hands. He intervened whenever a succub faltered or was in danger of being overwhelmed to pull them to safety or direct their attacks. He ensured that none died or received devastating damage. His strings deflected and sliced when necessary.

Only Lucifer stood unmoving. She didn’t know what she was supposed to do. Fight? Flight? Her mother hadn’t spoken to her at all nor granted her a pair of gauntlets. Lucifer observed the battle with keen attention. Why would she fight? What a meaningless endeavor.