The Goddess of Redemption stood up and turned to the First Goddess of the Seven Goddess, who calmly seated in her cloud-like chair, crossing her legs, listening to the discussion of the other Gods and Goddesses. Of all seven, the First Goddess was the only one who could attend the Divine Throne Meeting.

"Seven Face, what is your excuse?" the Goddess of Redemption said. Her lofty voice echoed, pulling in all attention. "Your arrangement failed to eliminate the Fallen Maiden. Your negligence has caused many unintended consequences."

"I merely send my people to investigate the forbidden seal. The Fallen Maiden was too weak to interfere with the plan." The First Goddess covered her smile. "You suffer because of your carelessness. Do not try to mask your incompetence."

"I wasn't the one who let a mere mortal slip past my grasp, twice."

"Everyone knows you're scared, Redemption." The First Goddess giggled. "When you lost your prized Redeemer, you didn't even dare to rescue her. You only watched as she willingly abandoned her faith."

"Why should I suffer in vain? I don't need to get ripped into pieces to understand that I can't win." The Goddess of Redemption gawked at the First Goddess. "As an Ancient Goddess, you're a disgrace to your prestige title."

"Even in my current condition, I can easily crush you, Redemption."

The First Goddess tapped the smooth, golden meeting table. Her sharp finger cracked the surface, which ruptured into rifts that expanded outwards. The rifts shone in golden light, radiating pressure which shook the hall.

The other Deities glimpsed at the First Goddess and commenced their power. Countless divinity emerged and formed a great barrier around their owner, generating exotic elements and visions, which brightened the dull meeting hall into a colourful landscape. The power concentrated around the table softly shook the plane they resided in, though it was a small dimension above the material plane.

"Seven Face, you shouldn't take Redemption's words to heart," a voice echoed.

At the far end of the meeting table, an elderly God casually clapped his hands. Countless murmurs emerged around the room, chanting in multiple languages, all praising the divine. The voices were ambiguous, some sounding ladylike, others manly, though all of them had the same ancient quality, which reflected the age and the authority of the Ancient God.

"I was just playing," the First Goddess said. "If you said so, I'll drop this matter. Redemption, don't forget that you're a new Goddess, and thank Knowledge for his generosity."

Goddess of Redemption puffed and sat down. Though she acted calm and casually treated her hair and dress, her body faintly quivered as sweats manifested on her cheeks, dripping down and vanishing as soon as they left her skin. She miscalculated; despite being a shadow of her former self, the First Goddess was still an Ancient Goddess, a deity who saw through the unfathomable war.

As the other Deities lowered their defence, the mumbles slowly cease. The God of Knowledge rested his hands on the table. Though all eyes were on him, he merely kept his gaze on the First Goddess.

"Seven Face, how is the result?" he said. "You must have gained critical information about that being."

"Indeed, I have, but it isn't something too pleasant." The First Goddess frowned. "Though Second volunteered to clean up her mess, no one expected that she would react."

The other Deities turned solemn and whispered to one another. Their voice seeped throughout the atmosphere, merging with the cool air that permeated the Divine Throne Meeting. Though most Deities had never seen or experienced the full might of the Foreign Existences, tales and myths had painted them a terrifying, ghostly picture.

The First Goddess softly coughed. The whispers silenced.

"I couldn't confirm her condition, but her reaction led me to believe that she still has hidden cards in her hands." The First Goddess gawked at the Goddess of Redemption. "My Second Sister lost her right arm. It wasn't only you who suffered a loss."

"Why then did you not tell me?" Redemption said, though her voice was now soft and meek. "I've lost much of my people, even if it couldn't be compared to your loss. My faith is tiny compared to yours; I can't afford to throw them away senselessly."

"We need a sacrifice to feint weakness. The loss of humans and faith are but temporary, but the death of a Foreign Existence will bring us permanent prosperity."

The Goddess of Redemption was about to speak when the First Goddess raised her hand. The space above her palm collapsed into a rift, which revealed an exotic dimension made of golds and jewels, filled with treasures and artefacts. The First Goddess smiled and pulled out a red chest decorated in thick magical fabric.

"I apologise for intentionally omitting certain facts from you, Redemption," the First Goddess said. "Inside this chest is a drop of my Divine Essence, from when I was still at my peak. With it, you will be able to solidify your foundation and further refine your Divine Flame."

The Goddess of Redemption blinked and averted her gaze. Her eyes gleamed bright and shiny as she resisted the urge to get up and walk to seize the chest, just to hold it in her hand. She quickly recovered and waved her hand, creating a ray of gentle light that flowed towards the First Goddess.

It danced and wiggled with grace until it reached the chest. As it twirled around the chest, the First Goddess drew her hand back and smiled, withholding the chest.

"Your words hurt me, Redemption," the First Goddess said. "Tell me you're sorry, and that you appreciate my gift. Redemption is what you embody, right?"

The Goddess of Redemption frowned, but she immediately beamed a sad smile and lowered her head, collecting her air of divinity. The glow which lingered on her skin dimmed, leaving her smooth, pale flesh alone to fend against the cold air and the piercing gazes.

"I've overstepped my bounds, Seven Face," she said, her voice quivering. "Please forgive me."

"I forgive you, Redemption. We live a long, contemplative life. You still have time to refine your mindset." The First Goddess flicked her fingers and sent the chest flying towards the Goddess of Redemption. "Remember: faith is but transient power. Only our Domain and our Myth are eternal."

The Goddess of Redemption held the chest in her hand, carefully probing the majestic power inside. Between her brows, golden light emerged and enveloped her body and her surrounding, rapidly shining until it covered her existence. As the holy light fizzled out, her figure and presence dissolved, leaving her seat empty.

The other Deities gazed at her place, their expression expressing subtle envy. The Essence of the Ancient Goddess was one of the greatest treasures. With it, the Goddess of Redemption would refine her power much better and faster, slowly stepping away from lasting to everlasting.

...

After the initial uproar, the Labyrinth of Love plunged into chaos as every Layer was filled with the mystical spheres of light. The message inside them endlessly echoed, agitating both the minds of the Monster Girls and the spell formations which protected the Layers from the outside influence.

The force that penetrated the defence revealed no trace and did nothing, but their profound reach frightened even the Transformation Phase Monster Girls.

Though Iris was dealing with Lenmia's punishment, she felt an intense power emerging underneath her, a power so ancient and strange that her Shadow Heart Core screamed in joy upon sensing it. Her body quivered in apprehension and excitement, mixed with the pleasure from Lenmia's membrane. An opportunity had arisen.

While the others were inspecting the spheres of light, Iris quickly slipped out of the room and headed to her own bedroom, which Dulcie told her before. Inside, she quickly shut her door, fastened the lock, and closed the windows. With each movement, her body ached, and her mind shivered. Her sensitivity rose as Lenmia's membrane continuously rubbed against her skin.

She covered her mouth, but her lips tensed as they grazed her palm, leaking out the feverish voice that tempted even her own mind. Concentrating on the Shadow Heart Core, Iris disregarded the pleasure and the pain and lay on her bed, breathing in cold air, breathing out hot desire.

At the corner of her eyes, a phantom manifested. Vilia leant her head on the bedsheet, using her arm to support her breasts, letting her hair form a branch-like pattern. She glided her fingertip across Iris's forearm, reached her chest, slowly teasing her boobs.

"Your face, Iris, it looks painful," Vilia said, smiling. "Do you need my help? I can relieve that pain, that pleasure, that love."

Though Vilia was no more, her voice was full of life, her touch full of energy. She giggled as she pinched Iris and listened to her soft, leaking moans. Her hands gradually drifted downward, deliberately slowed and teased, waiting for Iris to beg for the ultimate satisfaction.

Despite the pleasure, Iris's mouth curved into a dull smile. Her bright blue eyes dimmed as the air of melancholy coursed through her body, greying her colourful slime, clouding her joyous mind. The room's temperature dropped as the staleness of dead memory seeped out.

"Sister Vilia, I know you wouldn't do it," Iris whispered in her clear, peaceful voice. "You are within me now, and I'm within you. I've known you more intimately than anyone else."

"You're getting too arrogant, Dear." Vilia placed her hand slightly above Iris's crotch, teasing. "Have you forgotten that night when you broke into pieces, which I carefully moulded and shaped until your heart and soul satisfied my love?"

In her tranquil expression, Iris remained motionless, quivering only to suppress the sensitivity of her body. She kept her gaze on the ceiling, only glimpsing at Vilia for the tiniest instant, afraid that she would vanish if her vision lingered for any longer.

Knowing that she couldn't ruin the moment, Vilia sighed and withdrew her hand. The punishment from Lenmia was the training for Iris, who would one day go out into the wild and met with many Monster Girls, strong and weak, lewd and reserved. If she could endure the punishment, she would have gained a valuable advantage over other Monster Girls.

"You're getting more and more cunning, Iris. Where did my cute little sister go?" Vilia got on the bed and lay on her side, staring at Iris's face. "You're getting prettier, too. It's my fortune to be with you, watching you turn into a real beauty."

"Just wait, Vilia," Iris said. "I'll bring you back. I'll gift you a body. I'll gift you a soul, and I'll gift you a home. Just, don't leave me."

"You're hopeless." Vilia leant closer. Her face touched Iris's, licking the slimy cheek with her long, slithery tongue. "You need to let go. I'm content with helping you. Sacrificing myself, isn't that heroic? Don't ruin my moment by bringing me back."

"I know you mean well, but I'll bring you back. It's your fault you infected me with your stubbornness."

"If you say so, Iris. I'll be waiting then." Vilia rolled over her back and closed her eyes. "No need to hurry, though. I have an eternity to wait, and I'm sure you'll have an eternity to spend when you can bring me back."

Iris turned her head to Vilia, but she had already disappeared, leaving behind the untouched bedsheet. Alone, Iris felt her cheeks. Though there was no real saliva, her membrane was sticky and cold as if Vilia were there and licked her.

A pain manifested in her soul. Iris closed her eyes and focused on the Shadow Heart Core, slowly, steadily refining her emotions, her heart, and her soul. As her control over her power grew, the membrane Lenmia imposed onto her loosened.