"Legacy Ground, prepare the teleportation formation." Iris looked at the hologram of the Puppeteer Legacy Ground.

In the distorting image of the nine Floors, a flaming red dot plunged through the Fourth Floor and into the Fifth Floor. In the next moment, the Fifth Floor turned bluish. The defence mechanism froze to oblivion, unable to retaliate.

After hearing Iris's voice, Nupian accelerated her speed. She advanced like a strong, passionate knight rushing towards the darkness to save her dainty girlfriend from the horror beneath. The Floor Guardians, whose power varied in the Condensation Phase, crumbled like sandcastles against ocean waves. They could not last even a few minutes against her exotic methods.

Even though Iris had separated each Floor as far apart as possible, Nupian still effortlessly located and entered them. In the end, Iris just gave up the thought of trapping Nupian and focused on delaying the inevitable.

I've memorised all the books I could. Unfortunately, I cannot take the other treasures with me. Maybe I shouldn't have aggravated the disintegration of the Legacy Ground. Well, no point in regret.

"Legacy Ground, you're going to perish after I leave. Do you feel regret?"

"It is my honour to exchange my continuity for your survival," the system said. "My purpose is to preserve our legacy, and you, Lady Iris, are the last seed of our hope."

"But I am not of your race; my objective is not yours. Though I inherit the imperial wills, I have never agreed to be that spark."

"The automaton, the technology, the forbidden knowledge, they are all merely the surface of our legacy."

The throne room trembled. The red dot in the hologram pushed through the defence line of the Sixth Floor. Nupian arrived at the Seventh Floor and fought her way through traps and Floor Guardians.

"What, then, is the core of your legacy? Is it the imperial will I've just inherited, or the ancient tradition I've witnessed?"

"Our identity is our rebellious nature and perseverance." As the Legacy Ground gradually suffered more damage, the system’s cold voice turned hoarse. "Lady Iris, you've already inherited both of them."

Iris looked at the black card in her hand. Its smooth surface reflected her contemplation. She rubbed her fingers on its firm yet delicate material, feeling the coldness it carried. The corners of her mouth lifted.

"Miss Quasi, is this your objective?"

The system remained silent. Iris also fell silent. It lasted for a few minutes until a loud bang disrupted the peace, followed by a violent quake. The crisp hologram flickered and turned blood-red. Nupian broke through the Seventh Floor, then the Eighth Floor, arriving at the Ninth Floor in one move.

"Legacy Ground, if you self-destruct, can you heavily injure her?"

"The chance is minuscule. She is likely to have multiple layers of defence guarding her at all times."

"Will she be able to trace my location?" Iris looked at the Shadow Heart Core inside her. "She knows my name and my voice, but she's never seen my appearance."

"I cannot predict that possibility. Even the ability to divine your name through your voice eludes my database."

"It’s all down to luck again?" Iris sighed. "Give me a signal when the formation is ready."

It's risky, but I have to know. Please be the hope I desperately need.

Another earthquake struck. The bloody hologram collapsed into white sparks. In its final moment, the hologram turned into a screen. Nupian stood in the middle of a snowing battlefield. Around her stood the frozen Floor Guardians. Even with their Peak Condensation Phase power, they could not touch her.

As the screen disintegrated, Nupian lifted her head and smiled. Her mouth moved, forming a few words.

"Are you cheering on me?"

Shivering, Iris pushed herself up and walked towards the throne. She hesitated for a moment, then leaned on it. To mimic the imperial aura, Iris overworked herself. Now, she could not do anything too straining, or she would break down into a puddle.

It doesn't matter anyway. The present me and the optimal me don't make a difference to her.

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Iris took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Rapid heartbeats rang; they didn't come from her heart but her soul. A chilly premonition coiled her body, seeping into the fabric of the Cloak of Destiny Obscurity, and permeated her slime.

For the first time, the cloak around her felt sticky and damped.

Just as she was about to take it off, the throne room trembled. The dispersed hologram in the middle of the room quivered. They fused into a white portal, growing brighter and brighter.

Nupian strolled out, landing lightly on the metallic floor. Her eyes swept across the room and landed on Iris. Smiling, she walked towards Iris, her eyes fixed on the Shadow Heart Core.

Iris tensed. Her mind raced until something clicked. She gripped her tight dress and lowered her head. Her slime flushed pink, bubbling with shyness and innocence.

Nupian slowed her pace and stood somewhat far away from Iris. Her eyes grazed Iris's dainty yet well-endowed figure.

"Iris, you're cruel," Nupian said. "I want to take back my heart, but with you like this, how can I do it? Now, I want to give you more hearts, but I only have one."

"Miss, could you please not stare?" Iris's voice was meek, almost inaudible. "My dress is all sticky. I want to take it off, but I can't do it in front of you."

"My, how could I forget? I haven't introduced myself." Nupian chuckled. "My name is Nupian. The others might have called me Scourge of the Northern Snow."

Iris lowered her head further. She hadn't heard of Nupian, but that title indicated how dangerous Nupian was.

Seeing that Iris remained silent, Nupian turned around and surveyed the throne room. She really gave Iris the privacy to take off her wet dress.

Sensing that the powerful gaze had lifted itself away from her, Iris slightly raised her head. As she saw Nupian's back, she shivered and bit her lips. Because of her fear, she had never taken a good look at Nupian. That wonderful wedding dress, that misty skin, that enchanting aura, everything about her naturally tempted.

Hold your emotions in check, Iris! The other is mad, madder than you!

Trembling, Iris slowly undressed. Embarrassment plagued her mind as a scene played in her heart.

Amidst the long, cold night, a shy, graceful maiden slowly unbuttoned her dress, her delicate body glowing pink. Candlelight illuminated her cleavage, tickling her sensitive body, highlighting her beauty. As her dress gradually became loose, her desires whispered to her, urging her to embrace her true self.

That wedding dress is perfect for us, right? Iris shivered. The moment I see her, my heart can't calm down. I can't stop thinking about her. This body needs her, needs her more than anything, needs her forever.

Is this love?

No!

Iris snapped out of her thoughts. She had already taken off her dress. Nupian still had her head turned away from Iris, but the distance between them had shrunken.

In her trance, Iris had walked towards Nupian!

"Miss Nupian, I've finished changing." Iris retreated from Nupian. She still couldn't shake off her shyness. "Are you here for the Core?"

Nupian nodded. "Iris, could you tell me how you acquired it? On the day Lady Lilith fell, she split her soul into multiple parts. The Shadow Heart Fragments and Core are among those, but after so long, no one could find the Core, all except you."

"I'm just someone at the right time and the right place." Iris forced herself to look into Nupian's eyes. "I've answered your question. Can you answer mine too?"

"How can I deny your request when you look that cute?"

"What will you do after you catch me?"

"I've already told you. I'll shower you with love until I have a permanent place in your heart." Nupian smiled. "You and the Core are both dear to me."

"Will I have to fight for your favour? Will you help me become stronger?"

"You're a curious one, Iris, but I like that side of yours. I won't let you encounter any danger. You only need to support me with your love, and I'll succeed in creating our paradise, a paradise for all Monster Girls."

Iris shook. Her eyes reddened; tears gushed out. Unlike her viscous slime, the teardrops were transparent and warm. They dripped down her cheeks and fell off her chin. They damped her dress, but she didn't care.

"Iris, why did you cry?" Nupian blinked. "Those are not the tears of grief. They are tears of joy. Did my answer overwhelm you with happiness?"

"Yes. It provides me with a ray of hope. Without it, I might really give up." Iris's voice grew sharp. Her eyes radiated madness. "One last question, Lady Nupian."

Iris paused for a moment, but she could not conceal her wide smile. It amplified her beauty, giving her ample confidence she previously lacked.

"Will you play this game of hide and seek with me again?"

Nupian frowned as she stepped forwards. The throne room shook. Its metallic floor and ceiling cracked, revealing countless rifts in reality. Through them, the void crawled out and assimilated the surrounding.

"Iris, what are you doing?" Nupian raised her hand. The assimilation stopped. "I've spent quite an effort to find you. I don't want to lose you again."

"Lady Nupian, if you really love me, you will find me. I'll be waiting for you." Iris smiled. "Legacy Ground, do it!"

A flash of light engulfed Iris. Nupian shot towards Iris and reached forwards. A faint distortion manifested. Nupian’s fingertips grazed the cold slime, but she failed to grasp onto Iris. Only a bit of slime remained.

"Your smile is too much." Nupian giggled. "You're the first one to escape my grasp since the beginning of my journey to find Love. Maybe you are the Love I've been searching for."

She rubbed the slime on her palm and licked it. The sweet, entrancing flavour washed over her tongue and permeated her body. However, before she could savour the feeling inside it, the Puppeteer Legacy Ground broke into pieces and sank groundwards.

"Did you expect this to stop me?" Nupian shook her head. "If this is your last struggle, then—"

The Puppeteer Legacy Ground sank further, but not in the ordinary spatial dimensions, but the enigmatic, unseen direction.

Nupian fell silent and looked upwards, trembling.

Though she was still inside the Puppeteer Legacy Ground, her sight still peered through the pocket dimension and into the Main Material Plane.

Inside the Sinking Dark Forest, at the peak of Mount Purple Cloud, a few figures floated atop the sky, overlooking all that happened within the world.

The moment Nupian saw them, her eyes bled. She shut them and covered her face with her hands, gripping her hair. Her charming appearance morphed into something else, something which she hadn't shown for years.

Terror.