Iris walked along the ruined street, her expression profound. The devastated town had turned into a gigantic ruin where countless grey puppets crawled out and fought against the Monster Girls. Despite the chaos, Iris didn't have to do anything; Serinda and Artium wouldn't let her do anything.

"Sister Iris, you've protected us when we were weak," Serinda said, blushing. "Now that we've become strong, it's time for us to repay your kindness. Please stay beside us and provide us with your endless love."

"Trying to score extra points?" Artium said. "Sister Iris, before you came to us, we've made a bet. Whoever destroys more of these puppets would have the first chance to make an advance on you. Please sit back and watch us. We won't disappoint you."

Iris stared at the two, but they remained determined, even excited. She could only shake her head and keep silent, her heart throbbing in anticipation. The feeling of happiness, of guilt, and of pride rose in her heart. She loved that the two would fight to have her; she felt like a treasure.

"But," Iris said, "when did you ask me? I have never agreed to this bet."

"But you won’t reject it, right?" the two simultaneously said.

Iris sighed, not retorting. She stared at her hands and slapped her cheeks. Her human appearance gave her more trouble than expected. She almost thought of herself as a fiery maiden; the reckless temperament influenced her mind. Her profound ability had imitated Errenia too well, well enough to mimic her spirit and manner.

"If this trend keeps up, will I eventually forget myself? Will we, clones, gain new identities and betray our main body? What about our shared soul?" Iris murmured. "What have you done, Main Body?"

As anxiety emerged in her heart, Iris unknowingly increased her pace, forcing Serinda and Artium to exert a little more effort. The group moved deeper towards the pillar of light until they converged with Iris's main body. The confusion and doubt on Artium's and Serinda's expressions made Iris chuckle.

"So this fiery maiden is just your clone?" Serinda said. "Just your clone is this strong and beautiful. Sister Iris, you're way more amazing than I thought. Can you divide yourself again? If so, Artium and I won't need to fight among ourselves."

"If I could endlessly divide myself, I would have already done so." Iris giggled and gestured her hand. The fiery maiden clone walked towards the main body and turned to look at Serinda and Artium. "I can only maintain two clones at any given time, and I've already used both chances. One of them is here, while the other is outside."

"Can we meet all three of you once we get out?" Serinda said. "Sister Iris, if you don't have anywhere to go, you can come with us. I want us to be together. I'm sure Artium wants this too.”

"I have a family outside, but I won't deny you from joining." Iris looked down and smiled. "I'll have to tell you that I don't have the highest seniority within the family. There are two Monster Girls above me and four below me."

Serinda turned to Artium. They stepped away from Iris and whispered for a while, their eyes gleaming with a mischievous light.

"You don't need to answer right now," Iris said. "I know it is an important and difficult choice. We'll have a lot of time to spend together. I won't force you to join me, but know that I can't leave my family and join you."

"We understand, Sister Iris. Your heart is the most important thing for you; it is also for us." Artium grinned. "If we don't grasp this opportunity, I'm afraid we might not have another chance. We'll go with you. If you can accept it, we wish to be a part of your family. I hope you will allow us to be unreasonable again."

"Are you sure? This matter could be a life-changing moment for you two. Once you join, there are many, many consequences you can't avoid." Iris shivered in fear with a hint of excitement.

"We three are originally together and have nothing else to bind us," Serinda said. "After Marina returned to amber, there exists a void in our heart. Sister Iris, you filled it, but now, you're going to leave. How could we let that happen?"

Iris trembled as guilt manifested in her heart. Before she fell into a cycle of remorse, a thought hit her. It ignited hope in her chest. She opened her mouth but only took a deep breath, eyeing Serinda and Artium. It was unwise to give them false hope.

"I fill the void in your heart? Very poetic, Serin. Reta will get along well with you." Iris giggled. "If you join us, your seniority will be right below me, unless some of my sisters break through and become Transformation Phase Monster Girls."

"What about me, Sister Iris? Who would be compatible with me?" Artium said. "Could that person be you? I feel like we're destined for each other."

"Varda will be gentle with you. She's a talented mage; your dream abilities will be irresistible to her."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"What about you? Sister Iris, who is compatible with you?"

"No, no one!" How could she say that all the sisters loved her? Too embarrassing! "Anyway, we should stop this girl talk. We'll have more opportunities later. Time is of the essence; I have a bad feeling about this."

Serinda gravely nodded and looked at Iris expectedly. Her heart also felt a little strange; Sister Iris also had such ability. She was too amazing.

Iris didn't know what her sisters thought but knew she had to make the decision. She turned in the direction of the outer forest and walked forwards. Her fiery maiden clone retreated to the back of the group, staying behind Serinda and Artium, protecting them from the ambush.

Serinda and Artium eyed the two Irises and talked with the fiery maiden clone. They learnt that the two shared senses and thoughts, which amazed them to no end. Their minds naturally wandered into the immoral territory, but Irises firmly denied them any chance to make bad suggestions.

Because of the sudden increase in the grey puppets, Iris used them as an excuse to stop talking about strange, shameful topics. She thanked the Overseer for finally noticing her movement and sending more enemies to obstruct her.

The three Transformation Phase Monster Girls obliterated their way through the shattered street. No amount of grey puppets could hinder their progress, but Iris and Serinda couldn't shake the looming danger in their hearts. They increased their speed, quickly reaching the edge of the town, where an army of grey puppets formed a defence line.

Unlike the devastated town, the forest was peaceful and intact. The earlier earthquakes merely toppled a few brittle trees, creating messy paths but no sunken grounds or hills. Once Iris and her friends entered the forest, they would escape from the grey puppets.

"Behind me, everyone," Iris said. "This is the last obstacle in our path. I reckon the danger ahead is life-threatening. My clone and I will protect you two. I've already promised this."

Iris glanced behind her. Serinda and Artium looked at each other, smirking. They laughed and rushed forwards, passing Iris, heading towards the army of grey puppets. Iris wanted to stop them, but they were fast and had already unleashed their powerful methods against their enemies.

Compared to the two Irises, Serinda and Artium shone brighter than the stars and more glorious than the sun and moon. Their power of shadow and illusion swept across the battlefield and destroyed the puppets with a mere touch. The two Irises suddenly found themselves under the protection of her weaker friends.

Irises looked at each other and blushed. A burning sense of shame tingled their faces. When Iris broke through her limit, she didn't have any extraordinary transformation like others. She silently and plainly became stronger; why was she so useless?

"Sister Lenmia became a Saintly Slime Girl, while Sister Pallorn became a Higher Order Fallen Angel," Iris mumbled. She looked at her ordinary self and sighed. "Serinda became a Shadow Snake Girl. Artium became a Dreamflower Girl. What about me? I got prettier? Still the same Slime Girl."

"Main Body, I know you're frustrated, but isn't this pitiful?" the fiery maiden clone said. "Our origin is different from them. We didn't become a Monster Girl through corruption but the Lord. The Mark of the Lord is still within us. We didn't get just get prettier; we got closer to the Lord. We have Faith in our soul."

The two Irises were of one soul; they both knew this. The clone merely spelt it out to curb the main body's moment of fragility. Their conversation happened without Serinda and Artium knowing. They kept their anxiety and worry to themselves.

The main Iris took a deep breath and regained clarity in her heart. She glanced at the fiery maiden clone and nodded. The clone stayed behind while the main Iris sprinted forwards, increasing her speed while manifesting a grenade launcher with her slime. Her gaze pierced through the army of grey puppets and landed on the deepest part of the forest.

Behind the defence line, a green puppet leant onto a tree. He held a sword and stroked it with his firm hands, watching the grand battle. Once Iris locked onto him, he slightly turned his head and found her rushing in.

Serinda and Artium stepped aside and let Iris pass. They wanted to stop her, but her solemn expression pressured them into submission. Though their methods were exotic and powerful, they found themselves lacking compared to Iris's resourcefulness. Her profound ability, though not as eye-catching, was even more unusual than theirs.

They wouldn’t find it strange if Iris started copying their abilities or turned into them. What kind of Slime Girl was that?

"Please be careful, Sister Iris," Serinda said. "We'll hold off these puppets for you. You must win!"

"My heart goes out for you, Sister Iris," Artium said.

Iris faintly nodded and aimed at the puppets in front of her. Multiple explosives shot out of the grenade launcher and erupted into waves of heat and shrapnel. Strong gales flooded the battlefield as screeching noises overwhelmed all sounds.

The puppets fell in rows, opening a path for Iris. She pushed her way through the centre of the army. Her determined gaze exerted an invisible pressure onto her enemies. Even Serinda and Artium paused to admire Iris, seeing her figure overlapping with Marina's heroic silhouette.

In front of Iris, the last line of grey puppets assembled and raised their weapons. The mages held their wands forwards and glowed in bright light. Their power surged around them, about to unleash a multitude of spells.

Behind them, a sword slash ruptured with a grand aura. The strike expanded in the air and cut through all resistance. The grey puppets trembled, their bodies divided into two clean parts, collapsing onto the ground. They slowly turned towards the green puppet, who looked down on them and walked towards Iris, smiling.

"What are you?" Iris said, crushing the grenade launcher into slime. She could sense the mighty strength inside the green puppet. "Are you the Overseer's servant?"

"We, the Floor Guardians, serve only the imperial family. The Overseer is merely the representative of the common will. His authority could not compare to the imperial will."

"If I defeat you, will I get to leave the Legacy Ground?"

"Those who defeat the Floor Guardians will be granted special privileges. You and your friends will enter the treasury and pick one suitable treasure before entering a Safe Zone." The green puppet gripped his sword. "Even the Overseer lacks the authority to prevent you from entering the treasury."

"So I just have to defeat you to leave this place?"

"If you can defeat me, Greenwood Swordmaster, the test will automatically end, even if you haven't reached the time limit. Such is decreed by the imperial will."

Iris nodded and jumped towards Greenwood Swordmaster. Her battle intent surged higher than ever.