A Metamorphosis Phase Monster Girl could damage their immediate surroundings, like how Vilia temporarily changed the ground into a mini swamp with her innate talent. A Transformation Phase Monster Girl could ruin beautiful scenery and raze a village to the ground, like how Iris froze the forest fighting Greenwood Swordmaster.

Above them was the Condensation Phase Monster Girl. She could wave her hands and command winds and rains, shifting landscapes with her gestures, levelling hills with her anger. Undrila, when meeting Iris for the first time, threatened Amplicia with the power of the ocean despite staying in a separate Layer. If she wished so, she could drown the Main City Layer with just one word.

And then, there was the Solidification Phase Monster Girl, the last step before the ascension into the world of the legends. These existences walked the earth far longer, far higher, and far greater than those below them could imagine. They were the embodiment of peace and disaster, a walking blessing and scourge. Their scope extended beyond mere cities, looking at the world in the scale of countries and empires.

With absolute difficulty, Iris raised her head, staring at the Overseer, who maintained silence. The Faith inside her soul quivered and supplied her with endless amounts of sacred energy, yet it could not resist the pressure, dissipating in a mere moment.

Iris could not move, could not breathe, and could not think. The Corruption Power inside her body froze, solidifying into dark purple lines. Even the Shadow Heart Core remained still, refusing to do anything.

Despite how her soul screamed at her, she could not find the sudden strength to oppose this all-encompassing power.

Is this really the power of those who failed to resist Fate? Iris felt suffocated. This might is unreasonable. How can a civilisation this powerful fall under the tide of Fate?

Just how majestic are the Divine and Gulia and Lilith? Am I really one of their important chess pieces?

With endless frustration and fury swelling in her heart, Iris shattered her membrane. Her slime surged outwards, bursting under the oppressive weight atop her body. She splattered into a puddle before reforming, trying again and again and again until she got on her knees, trembling as her membrane struggled to reform itself.

She forced her slime to stick together, carefully moulding her dissolving silhouette. The dark purple lines gradually broke free from the constraint and circulated her body, resisting the invisible pressure.

Inside her soul, the bloodline of the Mind Breaker boiled as glowing azure tendrils emerged on her body. They turned her slime dark purple, soothing her strained body.

Little by little, Iris rose from her knees and stood up, towering over the rest of the Monster Girls. They held their breaths. Their eyes widened, staring at Iris, waiting for what she would do.

Iris took a deep breath. The chill caressed her inside. She slowly adjusted herself to the pressure. After a while, the overwhelming weight disappeared. It turned into the lightest touch, the gentlest breeze. Even Iris herself was surprised at her resilient adaptation.

It was simply otherworldly.

Still, she couldn't afford the time to be amazed at herself. Exhaling, then inhaling, Iris strengthened her back and met the Overseer’s gaze. The Overseer stared back, and Iris remained still, her head to stay locked on the Overseer. No matter how horrible she felt, she would not look away.

She had endured a lot in both her past life and this new life. It had become the norm for her to endure in silence, even if the pain was beyond her capability.

"Overseer, Miss Quasi had told me about you," Iris said. "I have a question to ask you: Why?"

The Overseer raised his hand, showing only his index finger. His pale, mechanical exterior reflected off the light shining onto him. The air around him glimmered as if there was a ray of light surrounding him, signifying his authority.

"Iris," he said. "I have no grudge nor ill will towards you. Everything I did was for my goal, Quasi's goal, our goal. We are the holder of the last torch, the ember of our legacy, but all of this will change. Because you, Iris, are the key to our salvation."

"And you drag all these innocent Monster Girls into this?" Iris clenched her fists. "Why me? Is it because of my identity, or because of them?"

Iris didn't dare to speak of Gulia and Lilith. She did not do it for herself; she did it for the Monster Girls behind her.

"So you know." The Overseer frowned. "What is your relationship with them? Answer the question truthfully, or you will regret it."

Though the Overseer's words were threatening, Iris couldn't feel any threat. It only made her more frustrated. It would be acceptable if the Overseer threatened to torture her, but he did not. Instead, he threatened to slaughter the Monster Girls behind her!

Damn me and my powerlessness. Just Transformation Phase is not enough. If I want to go against my Destiny, I need more power, more resource, more plans, more of everything!

"If I told you the truth, will you let me go?" Iris glanced at the Monster Girls behind her. "Will you let them go? This is our business. It does not concern them."

"Why should I let them go when they know of my existence?" The Overseer slowly clutched his fist. The pressure around him intensified. "Why should I listen to you?"

"Because I’ll force you to." Iris raised her hand. A pitch-black dagger manifested in her grip. She lowered it in front of her abdomen, where the Shadow Heart Core remained. "If you don’t let them go, I shall commit suicide right here, right now. Do you dare?"

The world went silent.

The Overseer's eyes flashed with dim light. His silhouette faintly trembled as he relaxed his fist. The immense weight on top of the Monster Girls dissipated, allowing them to stand up again.

Nevertheless, none dared to utter a single sound. They grouped into one, standing behind Iris, holding their breaths, breathing as quietly as they could. Even their muffled heartbeats sounded like an echoing bell, reminding them of how slow time could march.

Every second was an eternity.

Seeing that the Monster Girls were safe, Iris heaved a sigh, but her dagger remained in contact with her membrane, tingling her abdomen. She had no plan to let her guard down, for the Overseer might disarm her, and then all hope would be lost, all survival chance obsolete.

"Let them leave this place, and I will remain here," Iris said. "I know your plan requires my presence, my living body, my intact soul. Do not try to mislead me. You've tried everything to keep me here. Don't you think it’s reasonable to accept my request?"

"And why should I trust that you will obediently help me? It would be the same if I just wiped them all out, then resurrect you." The Overseer took a step forward. "That way, no witness, no uncertainty, and no risk."

"There is a risk, and that risk is me." Iris smiled. "You can keep resurrecting me, but I can also keep killing myself. Even if you restrain me, will you be able to proceed with your plan?"

In Iris's eyes, there were sparks of madness, of madness so intense the Overseer could not doubt her resolve. If he pushed too far, she would really end her life. It was the quality that permeated her very existence, the stubbornness which moulded her into what she was today.

If not for this stubbornness, she would not abandon her faith in the Lord. She would not try to help Herrifer. She would not try to break away from the shackles of the Divine and Gulia and Lilith.

If not for it, she would not exist.

"Answer me, Overseer!" Iris trotted forwards, her pace unwavering. "Let them leave or kill me. I'm right here. In front of you, walking towards you. Kill me. Kill. Me."

As Iris was about to reach the Overseer, the Overseer drew out his hands and swung downwards. His fingers radiated black electricity as the fabric of reality tore into pieces, revealing a magical portal whose interior was full of hazy mist.

Iris halted and stared at the portal. Though she could not see into the other side, she immediately understood that it was the exit, the path to freedom.

It was so close, yet so far.

Smiling, she turned around. The Monster Girls behind her looked at the portal, but they didn't move. Their gazes shifted to Iris, feeling conflicted, ashamed.

"What are you waiting for?" Iris said. "Is this not the ray of hope you dream of, the way towards freedom, towards the outside world, towards your family, friends, sisters, lovers?"

"But, Sister Iris," Serinda said. "What about you?"

Her words echoed the sentiments of all other Monster Girls.

"What about me?" Iris chuckled. "I'm the one who starts this; I'll be the one who ends it. It is only natural."

Artium wanted to speak up, but Flamira placed her fingers on Artium's lips, sealing her mouth. Though unwilling, Artium lowered her head and remained silent, comforted by Flamira's gentle caress. The rest of the Monster Girls knew there was no convincing Iris.

From all the time spent together, they understood that Iris was stubborn, too stubborn.

"Then, Iris," Kurion said. "I'll be waiting for you on the other side."

She walked forwards. She stopped to pat Iris before going through the portal. The haziness engulfed her figure until she merged into the void, returning to the outside world at last.

Prompted by Kurion's action, the rest of the Monster Girls marched forwards, slowly moving past Iris. When they got near her, they hugged her, kissed her, grasped her hands, thanked her; they did everything they could to express their gratitude. Some Monster Girls even confessed their love and admiration to her, but Iris merely smiled.

Those who loved me are destined to suffer. It is better to crush those hopes before they grow too big.

The last few Monster Girls to leave were Artium, Serinda, and Flamira. Artium and Serinda didn't say anything, but their reddened eyes spoke everything. Even if they knew Flamira was Iris's clone, it hurt them to abandon Iris.

It was like with Marina.

"Maybe karma does exist," Iris said. "Two Monster Girls have lost their lives because of me. Is it my turn to repent?"

Once all the Monster Girls left the Puppeteer Legacy Ground, the portal instantly collapsed into nothingness.

In the Safe Zone, there remained only two beings: Iris and the Overseer.

And their confrontation, one which started since Iris first stepped into the Puppeteer Legacy Ground, was coming to an end.