The ambiance was even more morose and tense than usual as the group made by the remaining Ancestors and the survivors got up. Raphaela had initially pinned the cause on the fact that they had seen the closest thing to their home utterly destroyed, but the more time passed, the more it was obvious there was more to it. There was a mix of fear and loathing aimed at her in particular, and while she pinned the blame on Tamamo for brainwashing them, a quick look around informed her that the kitsune herself was slightly surprised -if satisfied- by this development as well.

Raphaela huffed in a mix of anger and offense as they once again reached the dark city where Uriela met the worst of fates. At the very least, they were far away to not be incommodated by inconvenient smells or memories. As the party took a break into a random house and she could still feel the hostility aimed at her, and while she had grown accustomed to the one pouring from the Ancestors, she could no longer tolerate the one coming from their servants.

"Out with it."

"What?" Ben raised from his ration and looked at Raphaela with an eyebrow raised. Even Tamamo and Saja were looking at the Archangel in surprise.

"I can feel your hatred coldly festering. There is more than just hating me because your dark masters want you to. We will face lethal enemies that ridicule the small fry you've been facing tomorrow. We do not need a conflict at such a critical time, so please come out clear so that we can bury any hostility between us."

Saja huffed in bemusement. "Do you really expect them to stop fighting and join hands with you because you asked them?"

Tamamo shushed her. "She's still right though. We don't need another conflict. Out with it."

Ben remained still for a moment, hoping that the three goddesses would be too distracted with their standoff. However, once it was obvious that they would keep latched on him, he placed his meal on the ground. Instantly getting the message, Leo pulled out his phone and showed everyone the footage of the base being attacked.

The reactions were varied, but the feelings of the men on the matter quickly changed when Raphaela looked utterly mortified by the scenes shown. While Tamamo was taking a sadistic amusement in the discomfiture of the Archangel, Saja was simply frowning at the reveal of yet another source of conflict. As soon as the video was over, Raphaela shook her head in denial.

"No… I didn't order this. I did not want this!"

"And yet it happened!" Everyone glared at Tamamo who remembered just a second too late that she desired a good entente between people as well. If those humans were caught in the crossfire, chances were she wouldn't find a way out herself. "You didn't want to use those attackers as your personal army, but you still shared the teachings of the goddess to them, didn't you?"

Raphaela humbly nodded.

"Then tell me. What did you expect then from people who were drilled in their brain that monsters were evil and that anyone that associate with them must be killed?"

"This was just a lesson… nothing more." Raphaela was looking down and shaking her head muttering. "I didn't want them to kill their fellows… not in those times of need."

"You underestimated your charisma." Tamamo fanned herself in self-satisfaction. "Let it be a lesson for you too."

Saja sighed and made a dismissive gesture with her head. "Let us move on before tonight. We don't have time to lose."

As much as she disliked her, Raphaela conceded to the yoma. They simply couldn't afford time to mourn their mistake given the danger still ahead of them.

That's it?! We found out they died because of their petty conflict, and they still expect us to accompany them as if nothing happened?!

The four men looked at each other in shock. Granted, they had a point, and it was clearly not what they had intended, but the death of their friends got dismissed so callously they reconsidered helping those demi-goddesses.

And… it's not like we can go back to our offices now. Three full bases razed in less than a few weeks. It's… it's a disaster.

Ben shook his head and looked in the direction of the trio. The yoma was impatiently gesturing for them to follow the party forward and lead them away from here. As they searched through the streets, Ben took a moment to deeply examine his relationship with those obscenely powerful beings.

Two bases destroyed because one wanted to kill the other… now I wonder if the disaster in the great city wasn't also started by one of them too. They showed up, provided safety and sex, and then wrecked our most important outposts. That's… not a good result.

…Wait, why do I even care about the sex?! Granted, each time is amazing, but it's just… it shouldn't matter! Hundreds of people die, we may be going to die… there's better to do than getting exhausted by getting laid!

As they progressed through the dark streets, Tamamo turned back to give him and his companions a knowing smirk. Ben felt his heart flutter for a bit. Then again, it's not like it did hurt anyone, and he could enjoy the solace provided by the act. Besides, if none of those three was around, they'd end up entity chow in a heartbeat.

Back to that fucking hell for the third fucking time. Speaking of…

"Is it me, or there are very few watchers around? Not that it's wrong, but... I'm worried a bit."

Saja smirked. "Mmph. Maybe these creatures have some measure of self-preservation."

"Or maybe it's just the Backrooms getting random again." Sam looked around, but the numerous houses strewn around blocked any line of sight. "In case that wasn't obvious by now, that place isn't the most consistent."

"I'll take a look myself." Saja became invisible before everyone else could feel the wind move as she took to the sky. A small minute passed in silence as Tamamo and Raphaela stared at one another with their usual contempt and hatred, once again making the men regret their decision to accompany them. It was a background noise that would accompany them until they escaped.

Barely a minute had passed before Saja descended back, particularly nonplussed. "There's nothing as far as I can sense. Let's just find a way back to that city that seems so important."

Tamamo was caught by a sudden burst of laughter. "My apologies, dear sister. I just can't wait to find an appropriate means of transportation that will bring us to our destination."

Saja raised an eyebrow, but she quickly caught on when the humans around started examining the different vehicles and grimaced. "Do not bother finding a vehicle adapted to me. I will accompany you through the sky.

"For two hours? Over two-hundred kilometers?"

"This is an easy task for me. Do not worry."

Ben threw a questioning look at Tamamo, but the kitsune nodded in confirmation: Saja would have to deal with that trip on her own. Even as he kept examining cars, the man couldn't shake the feeling of dread rising around him, but even the sensation of a threat lurking around was secondary compared to the impatience of the monsters on their back.

"Is it always taking this long? I'm sure I would have already arrived if we didn't waste so much time searching for nothing."

"Be patient, sister… It looks like the quality of our findings only get as good as the danger surrounding them."

That's not quite correct, but if it calms her a bit… Aaaargh, that feeling is getting worse! If only they could at least get off our back when we work!

Ben quickly got his wish fulfilled. Unfortunately, it happened in the worst of fashions as their three guardians simultaneously turned in the same direction while preparing for a fight.

"Is that…"

"Kanade." Tamamo pointed at the end of the street. A blue fluid was slowly pouring in, methodically devouring everything organic that had the misfortune to enter in contact with it, tires included. Ben could also see a pair of flying eyes approach it and gaze on the river only to get suddenly grabbed by a blue tentacle and brought down to get dissolved. "That part of hers has gone completely feral. She doesn't even see us as anything other than so much food." Upon seeing Raphaela and Saja prepare themselves for combat, Tamamo turned tail. "We would just waste energy fighting her. We'd have to cut off her access to food if we wanted to completely stop her."

"Do you really suggest that we flee?"

"We intended to leave that place as quickly as we could, didn't we? Briskly walking away while hiding ourselves is the most efficient defense against her rampancy." Tamamo pointed at an appendage that was happily munching on a wooden door. "I wished destroying the place where we landed was as simple as that."

Ben and his companions had difficulties sharing the same level-headedness as her. "Huuuh, can we move away now? This… gooping sea is creeping me the fuck out."

"Yes, yes, of course." Tamamo started walking away without any sense of urgency before Saja took the lead with a brisker pace, pushing Tamamo to walk faster in an attempt to take the lead and forcing the humans to strut to keep pace. However, a quick look behind informed Ben that running didn't help in the slightest with their problem.

"...She's still gaining on us."

After a short, silent struggle between the two Ancestors, the party turned in a street sideway in hope of losing that threatening river of slime. However, it only showed that the next street was also inundated. They were not actually facing just a river. They were facing an ever-expanding tide that was stretching as far as the eye could see, devouring everything that wasn't fixed to the ground, and looking more and more inescapable by the second.

God damn it! This level has never been the best to hang around, but I swear that it gets worse and worse each time we end up there!

Saja solemnly pointed in the direction of the slime. "We won't escape it. We should fight it now or it will just grow stronger."

The first contradiction did not came from the angel, but from the kitsune who haughtily huffed. "We would lose too much energy. Let's just keep moving away faster than her, this will be enough to escape her!"

"And do you know for how long we will have to move that way?! This will just be a waste of time!"

After Saja exploded, Raphaela made the understandable but horribly timed decision to give her own opinion. "I agree, however taking her on would just waste energy. If we used a spell to hide…"

Tamamo rolled her eyes. "Don't waste your saliva trying to convince her of anything, angel. She has made up her mind a long time ago."

As their three inhuman companions argued, Sam pointed at a house with a visible floor, and Ben quickly got his point: for a reason, the slime avoided entering the houses, and it wasn't reaching the second floor in height. Hiding inside one of those houses now was their best chance to escape their current threat.

None of the men made themselves beg before dashing in the house to the surprise of their semi-divine companions, and Ben found something amusing in seeing those pseudo-omniscient beings rush behind them and acquiescing with their idea without a word.

Then again, if anything, it means they were smart enough to acknowledge that their decision was the safest one. However, when he opened the door leading to the second floor, he felt a vague sense of dread seizing him. A quick peek inside informed him that there was no threat, and everyone entered inside without fanfare. He quickly followed suit himself and closed the door before a seal appeared on it, courtesy of Raphaela. With a relieved sigh, he turned around…

…and instantly collapsed on the ground with a groan.

"Fuuuuuck."

"Again?!"

Again, that world summarized their situation so well… they were back to that annoying yellow floor with its insufferable buzzing noise, that damp-smelling carpet, and that total lack of direction that had characterized most of their travelling since their arrival. Tamamo slowly passed both of her hands over her face and released a long-suffering sigh.

"This place is starting to look familiar..."

"I admit you're right Promestein, a night of sleep helps a bit… even if I'm not even sure it was a night in the first place."

"Don't ask yourself about it too much, focus on who got back."

"Oh, you're here too, admin. Do you have good news?"

"...You don't seem enthusiastic to see me."

"Sorry, it's just… let me whip up an Inarizushi for you. Any good news?"

"Well… there is news. Raphaela and Tamamo ended in The Diversion and joined forces with Saja here. They were accompanied by a quartet of humans… please don't burn my inarizushi!"

"It's fine, it's fine, just… are you sure they're real humans. I mean a hundred-percent humans who have always been human so far?"

"Please. My nose can tell that, just as it can tell that you two haven't fucked since I left and really need to."

"...Too much information."

"But still… this is amazing! If one of those humans end up here-"

"Without the Ancestors, hoping that they don't fall for The Shard and its inhabitants, and I'd say that simply a single one arriving here alive is wishful thinking in the first place. I understand what the Monster Lord meant when she said your head was full of sugar and rainbows."

"You're right Promestein. Sorry, I got carried away a bit. It's just that everything is spiraling out of control faster than we anticipated. I thought we would have time to do some testing before being forced into that conundrum. I guess I underestimated just how much damage they would do."

"...Luka, you gave me a genius idea. Here's what we're going to do… we just need to make sure they hear what we want them to think, and here's what we want them to think."

"I agree that it could work. Wait. Do I have to go back up there?"

"Yes, Admin. You need to do that to pass the message."

"Do I have to get caught?"

"No. You must not."

"Can I at least watch you go at it before I leave?"

"..."

"I can't help it and you know it! It's in my very essence!"

"It's fine I guess. Just make sure to obliterate that memory if an accident happens. Luka? Get over here."

"Please go easy on meEEEEE!"

"That's not going easy. Is this what they mean by the flowers and the bees? Because it looks like the flower is the one getting busy with the bee."

"Please enjoy the show in silence at least. This is awkward enough as is."

"Haaaa…"

"I'll stop here before you pass out again. We have a lot of work to do."

"I think it's too late for that."

"Oh. Let's make sure our unwanted guests aren't creating more trouble then."

"From sexy time to serious time in a heartbeat, huh? I'm always impressed with how scientifically-minded you are and treat sex as just another field of study."

Promestein groaned.

/locate Tamamo

-Location: Floor 0 (V 109, H 315, L 0)

"Ah… that can be a problem… this place is fulfilling its functions a little too well."

"Can't you just guide the humans there?"

"That's now it works or we'd already have been done a long time ago. Now, let's check for our two biggest threats."

/Locate Adramalech

Error: No ID Match

"Huuuh, she-"

"...Right, I forgot. She's technically not from our world."

/Locate E143

-Floor 11 (V148, H516, L16)

"She didn't move much, which is good, and the other…"

/Locate Lucifina

-Location: Floor 0 (V 163, H 426, L 0)

"Ah… Shit."

Promestein's hands slowly slid down her face. "...I'm impressed by how, so far, everything has gone so horribly right as intended; it loops right back to screwing us in the most epic fashion. Of course, I didn't anticipate anything better from our benefactor, but even at that point I'm wondering if it was a miscalculation or maliciousness from her end."

"I'm… sorry? I mean… I'm not quite responsible myself but… I guess I'll shut up and fetch the humans here."

"Please do so. Quickly. Don't get caught. And good luck, Admin."

"A good luck doesn't sound like you… are we that desperate?"

"Yes. Yes, we are. We're still in the middle of phase two, but we're clearly approaching phase three and I do not have enough data to say how long it will last before it enters phase four… and if we don't get them by then…"

"Then you can just reboot the whole mess, can't you?"

"..."

"Right, going on my way, see you next time with four humans and no one else in tow!"

"Use The Remnant if necessary. It won't be needed. And watch out for Kanade. Considers that she's on every floor from now on."

"Yeah… do you think getting dissolved by her would feel good?"

"..Just how much of a perverted familiar are you?!"

Another door. Another new environment. Another impossibly large world that shouldn't exist by all logic. It was as if a forest had turned into stone, endless rows of trees showing endlessly with no end in sight. She didn't question how that place had come into existence.

The only thing that mattered was whether she was getting closer or further from her own companions. Her senses informed her that they were not on this floor. They could be anywhere else. However, there were still… other beings. She refused to think of them as people. They were merely byproducts of the Backrooms themselves, a parody of existence that didn't care about itself or about others.

Were you sentient when every single one of your actions was guided by a script?

However, she still decided to check on them. She didn't want to accept it herself, but she was starved for company, and right now even those artificial things able to spout a few lines could do.

She quickly found them. Just as she expected, a bunch of researchers in full green hazmat suits were using advanced scientific machines without any real goal in mind. And they casually greeted her from afar as soon as they saw her, like one would welcome a known one. Even if it was meaningless, it still felt heartwarming to be acknowledged in a human fashion.

And naturally, the Backrooms decided to destroy any pleasure she could take from that moment. A blue slime wave swallowed the legs of several researchers who looked at the new phenomenon with curiosity even as they were quickly getting dissolved.

She quickly corrected herself. It wasn't the Backrooms that had just decided to ruin this moment. That blue slime looked quite familiar, but she didn't imagine that its owner would devour random people so casually. Her heart started beating faster… Did she finally find one of her companions?

Even as the slime approached her, she used a low-level spell to attract its attention in hope of being recognized. Instead, the slime gathered and tried swallowing her like a tide, only stopping when she raised a barrier and cast another spell to send it back. Finally, the slime took on a feminine form that she recognized.

And this wasn't one of her friends. The slime monster looked outraged after being denied a meal and was visibly preparing another attempt on her.

She struck first.

"■■■■■■■■■"

The slime completely disintegrated in front of a wave of light and darkness that also obliterated the closest trees. The shockwave alone was enough to knock down several stone structures, and once the spell was over, its caster was the only thing remaining on the scene. Everything else around had been utterly destroyed.

She snarled. That false hope had put her in a terribly sour mood. Who would play such a cruel prank on her? That world was unbearable enough as it was, it didn't need to twist the knife further down.

Then the rational part of her brain gave her the answer. That one was part of a group, wasn't she? How did she end up here? Were they actually followed all along? Did that scientist mess up? Or did someone throw them here for a reason?

Ultimately none of these questions mattered.

They were just more obstacles between her and her companions.