[First challengers: 0:1:09]
***
Salome's pink eyes glowed with lust as she stole glances at her master, who was standing with confidence befitting his passion. His arms crossed in an astute defiance while facing toward the visages of unknown challengers.
***
Vale stared at the black wall…
'Shit! I'm so scared!'
'I'm gonna fucking die!'
Vale barely contained his nerves as he dug his fingernails into his obliques to calm himself and stop from shaking.
Through the black haze, he could make out ten silhouettes, each armed with a weapon of sorts. It appeared they all had either an axe or a sword. Thankfully, none of them had a bow, or Vale would have probably started crying.
How the hell was he supposed to defend himself against an arrow while wearing practically no armor!
If what Salome told him was right, then his Rudimentary Shapeshifting and bracers ran on his Aether, which was severely lacking. So, he couldn't even use his armor!
The timer continued to tick down, and the two taciturn apostles of lust continued to study their adversaries, whose bodies were growing less and less obscured.
Vale couldn't help but notice…
'Seriously…'
The beings on the other side of the black wall had long ears and wore only a loincloth. He would have thought they were elves, but their green skin color made him think otherwise.
If he had to guess… they were…
'Goblins?'
The problem was they were… attractive goblins. Unlike the stereotypical small green ugly things he was used to in pop culture.
'Of course…'
Salome looked at him with a devious smile.
"Ready?"
Vale stared at the translucent wall as it fell, finally allowing them to face their adversaries fully.
"Yeah…"
[Defend your Dungeon Core from the Goblins of Lust!]
'Why is everything lust-themed!'
Well, this was the tutorial of the lust dungeon.
Vale had an inkling that actual goblins held a different appearance than the conjurations before him, which were probably made by whatever entity brought him here.
They were all strikingly handsome or beautiful, even their facial features.
"Kreeeee!" the goblins screamed.
Half of the ten goblins were male, and the other half were female, and the only clothing they wore was the thin loincloth over their genitals, including the women. They all stood about 150 centimeters or a little more, and the women were… well-endowed.
Meaning, their green tits were bouncing around unrestrained as they ran forward into the alcove with their weapons drawn, charging Salome and Vale.
Salome smiled, and the purple under glow of her wings intensified as a multitude of quills began to separate and float in the air around her.
Salome snapped, and the ten purple shimmering quills floating in a circle around stopped and flipped around with the sharper ends of the quills pointing at the challengers. Then, with a wave of her hand, the projectiles flew forward and punctured the chests of the two nearest goblins, sending them crashing to the ground.
[Goblin of Lust has been slain]
[Goblin of Lust has been slain]
[+2 Aether]
'So… I was right.'
Strangely, the bodies of the two male goblins disappeared. Yet, their loincloth was left behind, and so was one of their swords, but not the other's.
'Interesting…'
Vale would have time to ponder this mystery once this threat was expelled. For now, he needed to focus.
Salome smiled devilishly as she rushed and met the goblin's head on, using her sharp nails as claws, biting into their enemy's flesh while dodging each of the goblin's attacks with ease. She simultaneously recalled her quills and was preparing another barrage.
Vale, on the other hand, had been spectating, having already been told by Salome that she'd be able to handle it alone.
Yet… he couldn't just sit still when his life may be on the line.
While he couldn't move, he was still guarding the corridor that led to the Core. He began cracking his razor whip at whatever unfortunate goblin got in striking range.
The eight remaining goblins were surrounding Salome, who had yet to receive a blow while dishing out quite the punishment.
And, while Vale's attacks couldn't kill, he was able to seriously maim two unlucky goblins, which had been forced into his radius to dodge Quillstorm.
Salome let out a fiendish shriek as she barreled into the two injured goblins and thrust her hands into their chests and snuffed out the beating of their hearts.
The goblins screamed as they fell.
"Kreee…"
[Goblin of Lust has been slain]
[Goblin of Lust has been slain]
[+2 Aether]
Once again, the loincloth was left behind, but this time, both of their weapons disappeared along with their bodies.
With a ferocious smile, she turned and faced the remaining six, who were all battered and bruised except one, the green blood of the goblins she'd slain dripping from her hands.
The goblins cowered, but didn't flee as if they were being forced to attack the dungeon.
'Well, they probably are…'
Vale brought her hand to her mouth and began licking the green goblin blood off her fingers while preparing another volley of Quillstorm.
The terrified goblins tried to rush her before she could shoot once again, but they were too late. The deadly barrage slammed into the group, and instantly, four more of the goblins fell and disappeared, leaving only two behind.
[Goblin of Lust has been slain]
[Goblin of Lust has been slain]
[Goblin of Lust has been slain]
[Goblin of Lust has been slain]
[+4 Aether]
The two remaining goblins… both were female.
And one was hanging on to life by a thread.
Vale forced himself to watch as Salome ruthlessly plunged her arm through the goblin's chest, killing it.
[Goblin of Lust has been slain]
[+1 Aether]
It was a gruesome sight, but one that he couldn't look away from. He felt he should have been disgusted — that would've been the typical reaction — but instead, he was intrigued.
He didn't necessarily like the fact that he wasn't disgusted at the sight of humanoid things dying, even if they were bestial by nature…
Something seriously ill was going on with his mind. Lust… not 'lust,' but 'Lust'… whatever it was, was controlling him, devouring his conscience slowly and insidiously.
Salome's grin widened as she looked away from the petrified goblin and at Vale, her arm somehow cleaning itself in the small time he'd been distracted.
"Master, may I?"
Vale internally sighed, then replied.
"Yes…"
Before the wall had even fallen, Salome had requested that she be allowed to charm one of the attackers if the situation permitted, which is why she worked so hard to spare this particular goblin from harm.
The remaining goblin, with long, dark green hair, was shaking as she faced Salome, her once-defiant green eyes now glowing with despair. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Her sword nearly fell from her grip.
"Kree?"
She made a sound as if begging to be spared as Salome approached her.