[Your dungeon will be assimilated into the real world in: 0:05:59]
Just like when Toy and the other goblins had attacked, Salome and Vale stood next to each other, facing the black translucent wall. This wall wasn't in the same place as the first; it was set farther back and much more opaque.
Vale muttered to himself.
"Real world… I wonder what it all means."
Salome's eyes narrowed on Vale.
"Real world?"
Vale was armed with his whip, and he had stored one of the goblin swords in his pendant. He still wasn't adept at fighting, but having a weapon capable of killing made him feel a little safer.
'Though I don't know how I feel about needing a weapon…'
"Yeah. Apparently, the dungeon is being assimilated into the real world."
"I see."
As for the dungeon itself, they hadn't been able to do much with the resources available. The roof of the main room was at least 4 meters high, so they couldn't build a wall reaching the ceiling.
Instead, they constructed a 2.5-meter wall that blocked the entrance's view into the rest of the room. It ran from the right side of the entrance (when facing inward) across to the left, where it opened into the larger chamber.
The wall was thin, and this world probably had beings that could scale it easily, but they would work on connecting it to the ceiling in time. For now, most workers had been reassigned to mining so they could finish the wall later.
Salome broke the awkward silence.
"Master, are you aware of the enemies we'll be facing?"
Vale shook his head.
"Not a clue…"
He'd kept Larry and the other imp he deemed an artisan, Sizzy, on their task since he believed those skills would be useful in the future.
'Well, they have a use. Even now.
While he couldn't block the way to the core, he could at least conceal it.
The path needed to remain accessible, but he could fix the streamers Sizzy and Larry made from the loincloth above the entrance and let them drape down in front of it, partially obscuring what lay beyond.
He accomplished that by mining out divots above the doorway, then holding the streamers in place as he reformed the rock using the blueprint, sealing them into position.
As for Toy, since she was the weakest, her only task for now was to defend the core. She stood tucked away in the corridor leading to the Core room, wielding a sword.
'I pray she doesn't have to fight.'
As that would mean something was close to the core.
He wished he wouldn't have to fight either.
Salome's face went pale as the wall began to grow transparent.
"Master, I sense… something strange."
Vale looked over at Salome, whom he'd eventually convinced to readopt her outfit.
"What? What do you mean?"
[Your dungeon will be assimilated into the real world in: 0:00:30]
"It… it feels like…"
Vale studied the uneasy expression on her face as her already alabaster skin grew paler and her eyes narrowed.
Salome's voice dropped to a whisper.
"N-no… here? Already?"
[Your dungeon will be assimilated into the real world in: 0:00:15]
Then she let out a feverish scream:
"Master! Hide in the Core with Toy! Now!"
'Huh? What?'
[Your dungeon will be assimilated into the real world in: 0:00:10]
"No time to explain, just go! Don't come out!"
"But—"
"Hurry!"
Vale slowly began backpedaling toward where the wall met the main room.
'What? What's happening?'
Why did Salome start freaking out? Why was she telling him to run?
But also, why would he not listen? He'd watched her mutilate nine humanoids fairly easily a few hours ago. If someone like that was telling him to hide…
'Tch.'
Vale turned around nd began to run away, but all of a sudden stopped.
'Master, right?'
Vale was supposed to be the master of this place.
Was he going to take orders from his supposed "servant"?
It seemed like Salome had sensed something dreadful, something utterly monstrous, on the other side of the wall.
She looked certain of his death if he stayed.
Whatever was coming, she believed he had no right to witness it. To live, he should listen.
'Why do I always run away from this shit?'
'Have I ever faced anything since losing Fleur?'
Salome's voice cracked as she looked at Vale, who walked back to his original position.
"What are you doing?!"
"I'm supposed to be your master, am I not? That's what you've been calling me, at least… What kind of master hides while their followers risk their lives? What kind of master only stares at their backs? Not someone who'll go very far, that's who."
"You won't go very far if you're dead! Ru—"
Vale cut her off and faced forward.
"It's simple. Then protect me. Let me protect you in return. That's what a master should do."
[Your dungeon will be assimilated into the real world in: 0:00:03]
Salome opened her mouth to speak, then quickly decided against it. She clenched her jaw, faced the wall, and grimaced before sighing.
"Fine…"
[Assimilation beginning…]
[The Dungeon of Lust has been assimilated!]
[Challenge different levels to grow your Core!]
[Explore the world outside and all the pleasures and resources it has to offer!]
[You have obtained a Vice-Rank item: Throne of Lust!]
[Good luck, Fifth!]
The onyx wall fell, and a sea of grotesque abominations stared back at the two lone defenders.
Unlike the attractive goblins, these creatures were vile and repugnant.
Black ooze dripped from every orifice. They had misshapen limbs, snouts that extended too far, and teeth arranged with the sole purpose of tearing and killing.
Some resembled malformed dogs with bony skin, their flesh looking as though a single rough step would make it slide off.
Others were missing skin on their cheeks, exposing their entire mandible and teeth.
Others still bore no resemblance to anything Vale had ever seen.
Some had twisted limbs far longer than their bodies, their bloodshot eyes permanently forced open. Others had long, spiked tails that lashed wildly.
The only thing they all had in common was their prey.
Vale would have tried counting them, if there had been any point. Not only could he not see the end of the horde, he couldn't imagine surviving it.
In an instant, the mass surged forward, flooding into the dungeon.
"Don't let the black substance touch you!"
Salome's wings flared brighter than ever, and fifteen quills separated from the leather canvas, floating around her.
Vale slowly let the arm holding his whip fall to his side.
'Oh… we're dead.'
Then Vale felt it again — the same ancient darkness he had sensed when he was first transported into the dungeon.
In the next moment, a tide of shadows washed over the charging abominations, and then consumed both him and Salome.