Chapter 556: Those Who Challenge Fate Itself [Part 2]

Published Mar 14, 2026, 09:24 AM

Chapter 556: Those Who Challenge Fate Itself [Part 2] "So, you mean to say that the challenges we face become our strength once we overcome them?" Charles asked. "Exactly," Diona confirmed. "That is the true power of the Void-Touched." The young lady warily glanced up at the sky because she could sense that the Paragon of Space was listening to their conversation. Since this secret was something that was only known to the members of their organization, she decided to communicate telepathically with Charles. "I already told you that I’m a Beast Master," Diona said silently. "But that’s not really the truth. Morax warned us to not tell our true professions to other people because it might spark their greed, envy, and jealousy. "The Headmaster of Frieden Academy might be eavesdropping on our conversation, so only reply to me using your mind. This is a skill that all members of the Void-Touched can use freely. We can talk telepathically with our kind even over long distances." After giving Charles some time to process this, Diona resumed her explanation. "My true Profession isn’t a Beast Master. I am actually a Beast Conqueror. I can dominate any monsters that are equivalent to my Rank or lower. Right now, I am Rank 7, so I can dominate Monsters that are Rank 7 and below. However, there is still a limit. "At most, I can control three Rank 7 Monsters, twelve Rank 6, twenty Rank 5, and a hundred Rank 4 Monsters. But it doesn’t end there. I can also command over a thousand Rank 3 Monsters and below. What do you think? Not too shabby, right?" The corner of Charles’ lip twitched after hearing the capability of the lady in front of him. She could practically raise a Monster Army and raze villages and towns if she wanted to. Even smaller cities could easily fall to her. He had to admit that if Diona really wished to harm them, they would not stand a chance with their current level of strength. Seeing her junior’s surprised expression, the young lady felt very smug because this was the reaction that she was looking for. "I already told you about my Profession and Abilities," Diona said. "Now, tell me what kind of Challenger’s Mark you possess. Don’t worry. As your senior, I can give you plenty of advice on how to overcome it." Charles hesitated at first. This was his first time meeting Diona. He couldn’t possibly say that he trusted her right now. However, it didn’t change the fact that she was a Void-Touched and was part of the organization that he would eventually join. "I... my Challenger’s Mark also attracts monsters," Charles replied. "Oh? So are you some kind of Beast Conqueror then?" Diona grinned. "Wouldn’t that make us very compatible?" "Dungeons..." "Hmm? What did you just say?" Charles stared straight at the Beast Conqueror’s eyes before saying the secret that only a handful of people knew. "My Challenger’s Mark compels all Dungeon Monsters to try killing me," Charles declared. The young lady blinked once then twice before she reached out to grab both of Charles’ hands. "You’re not messing with me, right?" Diona said solemnly. "Are you serious? Does your Challenger’s Mark aggro all Dungeon Monsters?" "Yes," Charles replied. "I’ve confirmed it with the help of my friend." Diona narrowed her gaze when she heard the word "friend". She had a very bad memory of being backstabbed by so-called friends. Because of this, she didn’t trust anyone except the other Void-Touched. "Charles, listen very carefully." Her gaze was so serious that it made Charles gulp subconsciously. Before he knew it, he was holding his breath. "Will you marry me?" Diona asked. "Huh?!" Charles looked at the madwoman in disbelief. "What are you talking about?!" The young man hastily shook the young lady’s hands off and backed away. Right now, the playfulness in Diona’s words and gaze was all gone. She was looking at him as if he was some kind of prized prey that she wanted to take back home, lock in a cage, and display in her living room. Understanding that she had spoken her inner thoughts out loud, Diona decided to take a step back and explain Charles’ current situation to him. "Charles, do you think my Profession as a Beast Conqueror is awesome?" Diona asked. The young man nodded, still eyeing her cautiously. Diona smiled faintly before pressing her hands together, as if saying a silent prayer. "A Beast Conqueror can command over a thousand beasts and rampage across the land, but you, Charles, are a bigger threat than I’ll ever be." Diona’s voice was filled with excitement. "I already told you that our Challenger’s Mark is both a curse and a blessing. "I was hunted down by monsters in the past. But now, those same monsters obey my will. Tell me, do you understand what your true power is?" Charles instinctively wanted to disagree with whatever nonsense this crazy lady might say, but a sudden realization dawned upon him. Two words appeared inside of his head, and it was a Profession that even he believed would be a force to reckon with. "Dungeon Conqueror," Diona said the words that had appeared inside Charles’ mind. "Charles, you will have the power to subjugate dungeons and make them your own. "This means that you are a one-man army, and once you overcome the challenge of the world, there will be no one who can become your equal!" The young man shuddered as if an electrical current had shocked his spine. Everything was now making sense to him. The reason why the Dungeon Monsters wished to kill him was because they were afraid that he would absorb the Dungeon Cores and make them his servants. There were many types of Dungeons in the world, ranging from Rank F to Rank S. Even the strongest Adventurers didn’t dare to challenge a Rank S Dungeon unless they were fully prepared and possibly suicidal. If Charles absorbed the core of a Rank S Dungeon... this meant that he could truly become an absolute powerhouse that could move across the lands unhindered. ’I better get on his good side while he’s still weak!’ Diona thought. ’Once he matures, our organization will have another absolute powerhouse like Morax.’ Suddenly, Diona remembered the words that Charles had told her a while ago. "I’ve confirmed it with the help of my friend." The young lady clenched her fists because no one else must know about Charles’ secret. If people were to know about it, they would definitely capture him and make his life miserable. Diona didn’t even want to imagine how bad it would get. In order to prevent that kind of future, she decided to eliminate those who knew about Charles’ secret, even if that meant that she had to kill one of his friends. ’I’m sorry, but this is for your own good, Charles.’ Diona lowered her gaze to look at the ground beside her feet. ’Humans are greedy creatures. Even the people you call as friends can stab you in the back the moment they realize that they can take advantage of you.’ She had suffered so many betrayals in the past that she no longer had any faith in humanity. ’I will not let you suffer the same fate,’ Diona vowed as she eyed Charles up and down. ’You may hate me now, but this is for your own good.’ Charles had no idea what the Beast Conqueror was thinking. For now, he was still reeling from the realization that with his powers he could make the world a peaceful place... or destroy it on a whim.

React

Discussion