While holding the grenade launcher, Iris’s eyes flickered, profound emotions emerging on her face. She sighed and handed it to Artium.

"If you want to destroy it, I won't stop you," Iris said. "Serinda, Artium, you both deserve to choose its outcome. I'll accept everything."

Standing beside Artium, Serinda shook her head. Her gaze still lingered at Marina's grave. Though she wished she could grind the black puppet leader to dust, it had already died, shattered into countless pieces. It was time to move on.

Artium took the grenade launcher and observed its features. After going through many battles, its exterior had many scratches and marks. Some of its black paint had peeled off, giving a jaded aura of a war-hardened weapon. Despite its small size, it was a powerful weapon capable of annihilating a person.

"Thank you," Artium said, smiling. "Sister Iris, please take it. I know you have some uses for it. I can't let my emotions get in the way of our survival. You're our last hope."

Serinda was stunned, her eyes turning red again. She repeatedly nodded as she held onto Artium's hand, gripping it while trying to suppress her overflowing sentiments. To make such a decision, Artium had to battle against her anger. Her delicate heart might not be able to handle it.

"Artium is right," Serinda said. "Sister Iris, you must take it. Please save us."

"Thank you." Iris took back the grenade launcher and soaked it inside her body. "I'll make sure both of you get out of here. I swear on my soul."

After comforting Serinda, the group quickly scavenged the battlefield for any usable weapons and loots. Because of the intense fight, most of the rifles had broken down into scraps. Only three rifles and one grenade launcher were in relatively good condition.

Because of her previous life's knowledge, Iris knew about firearms and how to use them. She quickly found some ammo and gave them all to Serinda and Artium. The two didn't know what they could do, but Iris insisted they should hunt for more.

"We've stayed in the same place for too long," Iris said. "We should move soon. The other black puppets will soon notice that one of their divisions has gone missing. Staying here is dangerous."

"Sister Iris, where should we go?" Serinda point to the west. "Those black puppets came from that direction, but we don't know if they're a departing or returning patrol."

"You should be familiar with this location. Where is your hideout? We'll return there first before planning for our next move."

Serinda averted her gaze and fiddled with her hair, blushing. She was about to speak when Artium raised her hand while glancing at Serinda, grinning.

"We have no hideout, Sister Iris," Artium said. "We've been here for two days but have never made one. Please forgive Serin; she wanted us to find one, but we aren't familiar with the terrain at all. These black puppets are too strange."

"I'm sorry," Serinda said. "I'm not good with the pressure. I should've led everyone to find a shelter, but I thought we should gather information about our enemies and the surrounding first."

"Then let's move out. We'll go along the way the black puppets came. We have a few minutes to clean up the scene to misdirect the other patrol teams."

"Clean up? What should we do, Sister Iris? I've never done it before."

"Don't worry. I'll teach you. Watch and learn."

Though Iris wasn't a master at dressing the crime scene, she had some experience and knowledge. She had learnt from Fugria, the Master Archer she captured and released during the journey towards the Labyrinth of Love. It was a short lesson, but Iris vividly remembered it, for Fugria tried her best to force everything into Iris’s head.

"From what you’ve told me, these black puppets must be the returning division. Their formation is incomplete, while some of their members have bullet wounds which we couldn't cause. They also have little ammo reserve." Iris took out the grenade launcher. "Let me modify the battlefield first. Everyone, behind me."

Serinda and Artium quickly retreated as Iris emptied the grenade launcher, creating a few explosions in the surrounding. The metal scraps shattered into more shrapnels, flying in the air, crashing into the collapsed buildings on the side. The conventional destruction had concealed the remnants of magic. The black mist and pink cloud dispersed under the strong gales.

"I have no use for this gun now." Iris handed the grenade launcher to Artium. "You can destroy it. If possible, please don't use magic."

Artium took the gun, stared at it, and shook her head. She handed it to Serinda, pushing it into her, giving her no chance to refuse.

"I've already vented enough," Artium said. "Serin, you should do it. You've led Marinda and me for so long. Please do it."

Serinda gritted her teeth and clenched her fist. Her heart raced. She took a deep breath, threw the gun into the air, and whipped it with her tail. The impact shattered the gun into countless pieces.

Despite the pain, Serinda smiled. Her expression revealed acceptance and relief. The burden on her soul vanished, returning her to her optimum state of mind.

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"Thank you, Sister Iris." She bowed to Iris. "I really need that. From now on, Artium and I will follow you. I realise there are many things I have yet to learn. Please teach me a lot. Teach Artium too."

"I'm not the best person to learn from, but I'll try my best to teach you."

Iris gave two usable rifles to Artium and Serinda and discarded the remaining one as a decoy. She had already soaked it inside herself for long enough. She then arranged the scene by walking around and stomping the ground, creating an impression of a chaotic battle.

Under her guidance, Serinda and Artium helped complicate the traces. They shifted the debris and intentionally left conflicting footsteps around the battlefield. Because there was no nearby water source, Iris couldn't create a water clone and used it to lure her pursuers. She also lacked time to think about her methods carefully.

"With this, we'll delay or even mislead their investigation. We should move now, or they'll see us," Iris said.

"You’re amazing, Sister Iris." Artium held Serinda's hand and nodded. "Wherever you go, we'll follow."

The three quickly left the battlefield, walking along the road, passing many collapsed buildings and sunken streets. Because of the exhaustion and injuries, Artium and Serinda couldn't move as fast as Iris. Though they forced themselves without any complaint, Iris couldn't let them continue las they fainted.

After getting away from the battlefield, she slowed down and surveyed the surrounding. The sky was darkening, with a pale moon hanging in the darkness, illuminating the night with the flickering stars. They had been walking for a long while.

Unlike the wilderness, the nighttime in the world of gunfire wasn't quiet. The gunshots and explosions occasionally resounded as violent winds howled throughout the land. Flashes of light brighter than the stars ruptured at various points around where the Monster Girls stayed, but they dared not go to check the situation.

"We'll rest here for a moment," Iris said. "This place is too dangerous to spend the night. I've found a place that should be the edge of the town. We'll find a suitable shelter there."

"Sister Iris, We can still walk. If Serin and I support each other, we'll move faster." Artium held Serinda, who nodded and stared at Iris.

"How can I force you?" Iris shook her head. "We're temporarily safe. You should rest here. If you overexert yourself and collapse, that would be the worst."

"I can still hold on for some time. Serin is even livelier than me."

Iris looked at them. Her eyes flashed as she walked towards them, grabbed their waists, and carried them on her shoulders. They almost screamed but held their voices. Iris's moist membrane chilled their tired bodies, soothing their minds. Before long, their consciousness faded. Their eyelids fell.

"And you said you can still hold on." Iris giggled. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of you."

After reaching the Transformation Phase, Iris could comfortably push open a big metal door. Carrying two delicate Monster Girls was nothing.

Serinda's lower body clung onto Iris, trying to get into her body and submerge in the sticky, warm slime. Artium only hugged Iris, but her flowers quivered and grazed Iris's sensitive membrane, giving her some trouble. Without the imminent danger, Iris's mind wandered to the silhouettes of the two Monster Girls, their lovely charms, their enchanting personalities.

Compared to carrying them, Iris found it harder to suppress her mind from having sinful thoughts.

Not long after, Serinda woke up. She found herself coiling around Iris and nuzzling her neck. She blushed and was about to struggle before she saw that Iris had already turned red from the embarrassment. Serinda smirked and pretended to be asleep while glancing at Artium, who was still sleeping.

Artium was too exhausted. She suffered severe backlashes from recklessly casting spells. Even in a dangerous situation, she still hadn't woken up.

Serinda didn't try to wake her up. She was still in disbelief about Marina's death, but she had to suppress her distress and lead her last remaining friend to safety. She was immensely grateful for Iris, who came to rescue her and share her burden. Because of Iris, she got a much-needed rest which pacified her sorrowful heart.

Now she had gotten greedy. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep more. Even if she got down, she wouldn't be able to walk much. To help Iris and to play around, she pretended to be dreaming and moved around. Her tail caressed Iris while her fingers touched Iris's sensitive spots.

Iris trembled and exhaled a burning breath. Her speed increased as her mind got agitated. She glanced at Artium and Serinda before running even faster.

Serinda froze and retracted her smile. Iris was a Transformation Phase Slime Girl, a Monster Girl stronger and more sensual than her. If Iris wanted to, Serinda would fall into a whirlpool of pleasure she couldn't even begin to imagine.

After a while, Iris didn't do anything to Serinda. She got bolder and licked Iris's neck. Because Iris got warmer, Serinda also felt the heat. She started to have irresponsible thoughts and fantasies, her breathing getting rougher.

"Serinda, if you want to, we can do it after this," Iris said, her voice hoarse yet suggestive. "Not right now. If you continue to tease me, I might lose control of myself. You won't be able to back out then."

Serinda shook. She dryly laughed and stopped playing. Her face reddened. Her heart boiled. The feeling of anticipation rose, but she had to stop, not because she feared the threat but because the circumstance didn’t permit such.

It was not long after Serinda stopped when Iris finally found the good spot to rest the night. They were already at the edge of the town, surrounded by small collapsed buildings. Some were still in perfect condition, but Iris intentionally chose a semi-worn-down one to evade any potential search.

Serinda reluctantly got down from Iris and carried Artium with her. She gradually nursed Artium as Iris surveyed the surroundings and cleared the to-be shelter. When Serinda finished dressing the wounds, Iris also finished arranging the shelter.

The three quickly entered the collapsed building. Though they had to couch and crawl at the entrance, the inside was spacious enough to stand up. Iris had dug deeper into the ground and made a few types of furniture from mud. She had learnt from Tardi.

There was no window, only a tiny crack to let the light in. The three couldn't create a campfire in fear of getting detected; Iris cast a simple illumination spell she learnt from her past life. It became the only light source in the shelter, weakly shining in the dark.

Serinda placed Artium on a bed and turned to Iris, her face getting red and nervous. She walked to Iris, grabbed her slimy hands, and leant forwards.

"Sister Iris, remember your promise?" she whispered. "I want to experience it. Artium is too deep in her sleep; she won't hear anything. Even if she did, she could join us. I don’t mind."

"We can do it, but you need to see this first." Iris raised her hand in front of Serinda. "Now, close your eyes and stay still."

Serinda did as instructed. Iris pressed her fingers onto Serinda's forehead and cast a spell. The drowsiness emerged inside Serinda as she opened her eyes, struggling to remain awake. She stared at Iris, her expression full of frustration.

"Sister Iris—"

"Goodnight."

Iris held the sleeping Serinda and placed her on a bed before going to her bed. She was scared. Why were the other Monster Girls so naughty and sexy? She nearly lost her control. Dangerous, really dangerous.