[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-dungeon-of-lust-managing-otherworldly-beauties":3,"chapter-dungeon-of-lust-managing-otherworldly-beauties-dungeon-of-lust-managing-otherworldly-beauties-chapter-240":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Dungeon of Lust: Managing Otherworldly Beauties",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1445792,1897,"Chapter 240: Assessing the Challenger","dungeon-of-lust-managing-otherworldly-beauties-chapter-240",240,"\u003Cp>The black ball began to wobble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Toy, my darling, I’ll be there to back you up if things go south.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goblin, wearing her light leather armor and [Wolf’s Howl], smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salome kissed the small goblin’s forehead and stepped away, moving to stand beside Vale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vale added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will try my best to assist in any way I can as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you as well, sir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toy kept her eyes on the sphere as a vague human silhouette took shape within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I don’t intend on needing help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her dagger fit neatly into her hand as she flipped it, angling the blade toward the black sphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vale smiled dimly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’None ever do.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Any moment now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In mere seconds, the Dungeon of Lust was about to face the strongest foe it had ever encountered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the translucency of the sphere prison increased, Vale could tell the destined foe was human. A single man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was tall, clad in bulky armor from head to toe, a longsword held in his right hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salome’s eyes narrowed as she jumped further back, putting more distance between herself and the sphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get ready.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was freed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toy jumped back, widening the gap between them, while Vale remained still, watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the man came fully into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Bloomed Prime...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vale, standing at the far end of the hall, watched as the man raised his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Aspect. Traits. Enchantments on sword and armor.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what he needed to figure out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, judging by the man’s size, option C was ruled out. He wasn’t large enough to justify fighting in the Grand Hub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salome’s quills whizzed to life, all twenty-two tips pointing toward the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man lunged at Toy, delivering a simple downward strike while completely ignoring the quills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salome’s quills shot forward, aiming for the chinks in his armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m going to assume that wasn’t your doing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salome sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vale sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay then. He can either distort surrounding Aether, has projectile nullification, or some form of telekinesis.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’All of which would make any archer useless.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salome easily recalled the quills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’So it’s not distortion or telekinesis.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or the invader simply didn’t care about her retrieving her weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vale turned to the one-eyed archer, Alpha, who would relay all information to the attack squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alpha nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Got it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She remained in place, waiting for Vale’s signal before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each missed strike carved another scar into the walls around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’One hit...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Toy suffered even a single clean hit, she would almost certainly die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Come on. Use an ability!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To test the man’s resistance to projectiles, Salome detached her crystal arm and sent it flying toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man ignored it, focusing instead on Toy as he swung again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toy retreated, jumping back toward Salome, tightening their formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vale’s eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Is he walking to conserve energy?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or was there another reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the armor was heavy, or the man had some limitation that required him to move at a measured pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vale thought of the perfect test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alpha, can I have the shield?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You have equipped: Absolution, Shard of Ancile]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Salome! Toy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The succubus glanced at Vale and instantly understood his intent. Toy, mid-movement, flicked her eyes toward him and nodded before retreating fully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She landed beside Salome just as Vale stepped forward, planting the shield firmly between them and the approaching enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, still showing no urgency, continued his slow advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he crossed into the shield’s range, Vale activated its enchantment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Oh shit!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vale braced himself and raised the shield just in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The longsword crashed into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact sent violent vibrations through Vale’s arms, making them feel as though they had turned to water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Ow! Fuck.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the man could follow up, Toy darted in from behind and slashed at the back of his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vale jumped away and tossed the shield back to Alpha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You have unequipped: Absolution, Shard of Ancile]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’So walking is a choice! Got it! Damn!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man twisted, throwing a brutal backhand strike toward Toy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Salome reacted instantly, grabbing Toy by the hair and yanking her backward just in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She caught the goblin against her body and leapt away, creating distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man turned slowly, his hollow gaze sweeping over the four of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, as if nothing had happened, he resumed his steady walk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, it can be nullified...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’But it pisses him off and makes him move fast?!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vale looked at Alpha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Make sure Diana knows all of this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four of them retreated together, backing into the first corridor of the maze while maintaining visual on the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>",1085,"2026-06-06T01:43:37.938Z",1,"novelbin.me","dc68a98522624cd5af07748a91a04d6701e3a587332e586f335b2f07c85d266d","dungeon-of-lust-managing-otherworldly-beauties-chapter-97","dungeon-of-lust-managing-otherworldly-beauties-chapter-96",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdungeon-of-lust-managing-otherworldly-beauties-cover.jpg"]