Shades of Things to Come (Five of Hearts)

Hints & Solutions
Highlight the white text inside the block for hints ranging from vague to specific...

Hint 1: This puzzle is really hard, but rewarding, so do not despair or worry you are doing it wrong. Hint 2: The instructions are a little confusing, so here is some clarification. For the first clue, the "(9 9)" means you are looking for two 9-letter words.

So, if you add up MALIIOSFAACIE you will see you only have 13 letters, so will be inserting five more to make 18 total. These five letters will come from the answer to one of the other clues. Hint 3: Be very careful, it is easy to get confused between the answers to the clues and the inserted letters into the clues. They are distinct categories you need to keep straight! Hint 4: I started with #15, which may also be a good starting point for you. Stare at the letters GIEFRMATION and try to deduce what two words would form from them. Hint 5: The inserted letters from #15 are from the answer for #9. The Solution: Here are all the answers:

MALIIOSFAACIE -> maliCioUs faLLacieS (CULLS) = LIBEL

RCESAISTEPERO -> FOrces aRMistICe perIoD (FORMICID) = TRUCE

TERALLYANFU -> LIterally BanEfuL (LIBEL) = TOXIC

UNTSNMA -> Hunts AnImaLS (HAILS) = CULLS

INSETINTENTFAILY -> inseCt in tHe AntS faMily (CHASM) = FORMICID

DRANEDTEERTUEOU -> draIned teMPerAtuRe ouT (IMPART) = CHILLED

GULHTATSWA -> gulCh tHat Is waLLED (CHILLED) = CHASM

IINGULTHIER -> BiLinguAl thiNKer (BLANK) -> DIGLOT

IINGULTHIER -> WIne itaLIans ingEST (WILIEST) = VINO

NEITAANSING -> BegUILing the mosT (BUILT) = WILIEST

WHIEBNROSSWORDS -> whiTe bOX In Crosswords (TOXIC) = BLANK

CONSTD -> consTRUCtEd (TRUCE) = BUILT

ESNATIONAPPIEDTOHERS -> DesIGnation appLied to OThers (DIGLOT) = THEM

AHEEMTRIZATIONAEW -> aChIeVe mILItArization aNew (CIVILIAN) = REARM

GIEFRMATION -> giVe INfOrmation (VINO) = IMPART

COSOWNSAPETNGORM -> coMEs Down As a peLtIng STorm (MEDALIST) = HAILS

NOINTARY -> noT in tHE arMy (THEM) = CIVILIAN

PIZWEINGAN -> pRizE-weARing Man (REARM) = MEDALIST

The shaded letters spell LETS REMOVE NUMERALS. As suggested by the use of "Pluto" and "legionnaires", the Shades are Roman.

If you remove the Roman numerals from all the answers, you are left with:

BE TRUE TO US FOR HE HAS GOT NO WEST BANK BUT THE REAR PART HAS AN EAST

The monster with "EAST" as a 'rear part' is the NETHER BEAST.