Dungeon of Lust: Managing Otherworldly Beauties

Chapter 240: Assessing the Challenger

The black ball began to wobble.

"Toy, my darling, I’ll be there to back you up if things go south."

The goblin, wearing her light leather armor and [Wolf’s Howl], smiled.

"Thank you, Master."

Salome kissed the small goblin’s forehead and stepped away, moving to stand beside Vale.

Vale added,

"I will try my best to assist in any way I can as well."

"Thank you as well, sir."

Toy kept her eyes on the sphere as a vague human silhouette took shape within it.

"But I don’t intend on needing help."

Her dagger fit neatly into her hand as she flipped it, angling the blade toward the black sphere.

Vale smiled dimly.

’None ever do.’

With [Featherweight] and [Sixth Sense], Toy was the best option for drawing the enemy’s attention. Salome would use her quills to attack, while Vale and Alpha would remain back to assess the enemy’s capabilities.

’Any moment now.’

In mere seconds, the Dungeon of Lust was about to face the strongest foe it had ever encountered.

As the translucency of the sphere prison increased, Vale could tell the destined foe was human. A single man.

He was tall, clad in bulky armor from head to toe, a longsword held in his right hand.

Salome’s eyes narrowed as she jumped further back, putting more distance between herself and the sphere.

"Get ready."

Vale followed, retreating even farther until he stood beside Alpha near the hall’s end. From there, he could hear the dull thump of plated armor against the stone floor.

The man was freed.

Toy jumped back, widening the gap between them, while Vale remained still, watching.

Then, the man came fully into view.

’Bloomed Prime...’

The man walked slowly toward Toy, inspecting himself as he moved. His eyes, visible through the slits of his helm, were hollow, lacking the typical bloodlust of other challengers — yet his intent remained just as lethal.

Vale, standing at the far end of the hall, watched as the man raised his sword.

’Aspect. Traits. Enchantments on sword and armor.’

That’s what he needed to figure out.

However, judging by the man’s size, option C was ruled out. He wasn’t large enough to justify fighting in the Grand Hub.

Salome’s quills whizzed to life, all twenty-two tips pointing toward the man.

The man lunged at Toy, delivering a simple downward strike while completely ignoring the quills.

Toy easily dodged to the side, but the force of the strike was immense — the wall behind her cracked, a deep fracture splitting its lower half.

Salome’s quills shot forward, aiming for the chinks in his armor.

The man straightened, glanced at Toy, and began walking toward her again. Just before the quills could strike him, they abruptly redirected and slammed into the ground.

"I’m going to assume that wasn’t your doing."

Salome sneered.

"No."

Vale sighed.

"Okay then. He can either distort surrounding Aether, has projectile nullification, or some form of telekinesis."

’All of which would make any archer useless.’

The question was whether it was an active or passive effect — and whether it came from him or his armor. Did each use require Aether?

Salome easily recalled the quills.

’So it’s not distortion or telekinesis.’

Or the invader simply didn’t care about her retrieving her weapons.

Vale turned to the one-eyed archer, Alpha, who would relay all information to the attack squad.

"If it is projectile nullification, Diana is to wait on standby unless we find a counter. And Sapphire is to only use her ability for support. Tell Stacy and Edith they may be required."

Alpha nodded.

"Got it."

She remained in place, waiting for Vale’s signal before leaving.

The man lunged at Toy again, delivering a downward slash followed by a cross swipe. Toy barely managed to slide aside and then backflip over the second attack, landing a few steps farther back.

Each missed strike carved another scar into the walls around them.

’One hit...’

If Toy suffered even a single clean hit, she would almost certainly die.

’Come on. Use an ability!’

To test the man’s resistance to projectiles, Salome detached her crystal arm and sent it flying toward him.

The man ignored it, focusing instead on Toy as he swung again.

The detached hand struck the ground near his feet, but its fingers twitched and reached toward his ankles—only to be subtly repulsed as he continued walking forward.

Toy retreated, jumping back toward Salome, tightening their formation.

Vale’s eyes narrowed.

’Is he walking to conserve energy?’

Or was there another reason?

Perhaps the armor was heavy, or the man had some limitation that required him to move at a measured pace.

Vale thought of the perfect test.

"Alpha, can I have the shield?"

"Of course."

[You have equipped: Absolution, Shard of Ancile]

"Salome! Toy!"

The succubus glanced at Vale and instantly understood his intent. Toy, mid-movement, flicked her eyes toward him and nodded before retreating fully.

She landed beside Salome just as Vale stepped forward, planting the shield firmly between them and the approaching enemy.

The man, still showing no urgency, continued his slow advance.

The moment he crossed into the shield’s range, Vale activated its enchantment.

The man’s eyes widened.

’Oh shit!’

Salome unleashed her quills. They struck the man’s armor and bounced off harmlessly. But the man snapped out of his sluggish pace and surged forward in a sudden sprint, sword raised.

Vale braced himself and raised the shield just in time.

The longsword crashed into it.

The impact sent violent vibrations through Vale’s arms, making them feel as though they had turned to water.

’Ow! Fuck.’

Before the man could follow up, Toy darted in from behind and slashed at the back of his neck.

Vale jumped away and tossed the shield back to Alpha.

[You have unequipped: Absolution, Shard of Ancile]

’So walking is a choice! Got it! Damn!’

The man twisted, throwing a brutal backhand strike toward Toy.

Salome reacted instantly, grabbing Toy by the hair and yanking her backward just in time.

She caught the goblin against her body and leapt away, creating distance.

The man turned slowly, his hollow gaze sweeping over the four of them.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he resumed his steady walk.

"So, it can be nullified..."

’But it pisses him off and makes him move fast?!’

Vale looked at Alpha.

"Make sure Diana knows all of this."

The four of them retreated together, backing into the first corridor of the maze while maintaining visual on the enemy.