As Zealot progressed, he remained vigilant, knowing he would soon face the dungeon's ultimate challenge—the boss monster “Mega Red Ant Queen.” He needed to conserve his energy and mana, and stay focused to ensure he could overcome this final hurdle and clear the dungeon successfully.

‘The real challenge will be facing the Ant Queen. Ah, just thinking about it already makes me excited and looking forward to it.’ Zealot thought to himself as he pressed on, knowing the most formidable opponent in the dungeon awaited him in the deepest part of the ant nest.

As he ventured even deeper into the Mega Red Ant dungeon, he encountered increasingly complex and challenging pathways. The tunnels grew narrower and more treacherous, and he had to navigate through tight passages and sharp turns. His senses remained on high alert, scanning the surroundings for any signs of the ant queen or her elite guards.

‘This ant nest is like a colossal maze…’

Zealot faced more Mega Soldier Ants along the way, using his agility and strategy to defeat them one by one. His well-honed combat skills allowed him to handle the ants efficiently, though he remained cautious not to underestimate them. He took care to manage his stamina, mana, and health as he fought through the ants.

[You have slain a Mega Red Ant Worker!]

[You have slain a Mega Red Soldier Ant!]

After several intense battles, Zealot's levels and stats continued to increase:

[Level Up!]

[Level: 25 >> 26]

[Strength: 95 >> 100]

‘So far, I've leveled up four times, marking a considerable amount of progress. I'm curious about the potential level increase I'd achieve if I were to slay the Mega Queen Ant. With the Ant Queen standing at Level 30 and myself at 26, I reckon I should ascend by at least two, if not three levels upon defeating her, considering that completing the dungeon also grants bonus experience points.’

Zealot was pleased with his progress and could feel his power growing with each victory. As he journeyed deeper into the dungeon, he finally reached the innermost part of the nest, where the boss room was located.

Upon arriving, he encountered a massive stone door standing at an imposing height of 75 feet. It was the largest door he had ever seen. Given its immense size, he speculated that the Mega Queen Ant must be a gigantic monster, far larger than the average ant soldiers and workers he had faced so far.

‘I've read about this door being enormous in the novel, but seeing it in person is truly mind-blowing… totally different from the experience of simply reading it.’

With determination coursing through him, Zealot steadied himself, drawing a deep breath as he braced to confront the challenge ahead. Summoning every ounce of his strength, he pushed against the towering door that guarded the entrance to the boss room. Despite his efforts, the massive door remained firmly locked in place, refusing to yield to his exertions.

Ding!

[The boss room is currently occupied by a party of adventurers engaged in a raid. Do you still wish to enter? If yes, note that the experience points (EXP) gained upon slaying the boss monsters will be divided among the total number of adventurers present in the boss room.]

"What?! How could this be?! I thought I was the only one raiding this dungeon?!" Zealot exclaimed, surprised. "Wait, let’s calm down. This is truly unexpected. To think there were other adventurers here before me... Nonetheless, the crucial question remains: are they human adventurers or demon adventurers?"

If they turned out to be human adventurers, Zealot would need to exercise caution, as those humans would likely be intent on ending his life. However, if they were demon adventurers, he could find some degree of peace. Yet, it's important to note that his fellow demons could still pose a threat; however, the likelihood of danger would be reduced.

Normally, after defeating a dungeon boss monster, the respawn time typically spans from 24 hours to a week. It's important to note that the respawn rate varies from dungeon to dungeon; some dungeons have a faster respawn rate, while others have a slower one. Each dungeon is unique, with its own distinct characteristics and respawn intervals.

Having knowledge of the novel, Zealot was well aware of the four-day respawn rate for this dungeon boss. Simply put, if he chose to wait for the adventurers to finish raiding, it meant he would have to endure a four-day delay before challenging the boss monster. With the possibility of four days being wasted, he could have instead raided other dungeons.

However, having journeyed this far, he was reluctant to depart so hastily. Besides, completing a dungeon also yields additional bonus EXP, far superior to farming monsters in the forest. Faced with the prospect of missing out on such an advantageous opportunity, Zealot found himself in a dilemma: whether to abandon this dungeon or press on until the end.

It was a tough decision; he could either be seen as a coward who constantly flees from challenges, or he could embrace the role of a risk-taker, facing challenges head-on and reaping additional rewards.

Zealot stood before the imposing stone door, contemplating his options. He weighed the risks and benefits of waiting for the other adventurers to finish their raid versus pressing forward and confronting them directly. Each choice presented its own set of challenges and potential rewards.

On one hand, waiting for the other adventurers to finish their raid would ensure a safer confrontation with the Mega Queen Ant. Additionally, he could also avoid direct conflict with the other adventurers by simply leaving and returning four days later, thereby reducing the risk to his own life.

On the other hand, pressing forward and confronting the other adventurers directly was a riskier but potentially more rewarding option.

‘Worst-case scenario, I can always team up with the Queen Ant and handle the adventurers first if they prove untrustworthy. With my two legendary-tier skills - mind-reading, which allows me to gauge their trustworthiness, and diarrhea as a backup for a swift escape - I'll be well-prepared for any situation. Besides, these adventurers who raid this dungeon are mostly between Level 20 to 30 anyways, not nearly as formidable as Jack's party. Therefore, outrunning them shouldn't pose a significant challenge.’

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After carefully considering his options, Zealot made his decision. "Alright, let’s do this," he said to himself, determination flickering in his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the colossal stone door, stepping into the boss room with determination radiating from him like a palpable aura.

RUMBLE!

His eyes locked onto the chaotic scene before him, where the Mega Queen Ant clashed with the party of human adventurers. "Looks like I've got some company," Zealot remarked, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

GRAAWRRRR!!!

CLANG!!! CLANG!!! CLANG!!!

TING!!! TING!!! TING!!!

The adventurers, caught off guard by Zealot’s sudden appearance, paused momentarily in their battle, eyeing Zealot with a mix of surprise and suspicion.

"W-Who the hell is this guy?!" one of them exclaimed, tightening their grip on their weapon.

“Hey, look! It’s a fucking demon!” another adventurer chimed in, pointing accusingly at Zealot with wide eyes filled with suspicion.

"A demon?! What in the world?! Weren't all the demons in this kingdom supposed to have been eradicated from the recent war?!" a third exclaimed, disbelief coloring their tone as they stared at Zealot with a mixture of fear and mistrust.

The recent war concluded approximately three weeks to a month ago, with humans emerging victorious and eradicating all demons except for Zealot, who now stands as the sole remaining demon in this kingdom. Funny enough, the kingdom itself, “Zealot Kingdom,” along with its capital city and castle, were all named after him.

Additionally, Zealot was also the first Demon King to die among the 9,999 Demon Kings in this world. However, through transmigration, he managed to inhabit the body of the real Demon King Zealot and revive, albeit with his own soul instead of the original Demon King's soul.

"Hey, demon! I'm not sure how you ended up here, but how about lending us a hand to defeat this boss monster? We promise to reward you generously for your contribution."

"What a brilliant idea! Indeed, demon! We have a common enemy, so let's collaborate and bring down this Mega Ant Queen!"

"Absolutely! Together, we can conquer this threat and emerge victorious!”

EYES OF TRUTH!

A quick scan of the adventurers revealed to Zealot that they weren't trustworthy. Initially, he had planned to cooperate with the humans to raid the Mega Ant Queen. However, it became apparent that they intended to use him to kill the boss monster and then dispose of him afterward. With no other option, Zealot realized he had to eliminate them before they betrayed him.

‘These pathetic human scums! Thinking they could use me and then toss me aside, huh?! Nice try, idiots! I'm not falling for that obvious trap!’ Zealot thought, seething with disdain.

With his Eyes of Truth revealing the adventurers' true intentions, Zealot had an idea. He decided to play the role of a cooperative ally for now, nodding in agreement to their proposal. "Absolutely, let's work together," he said with a deceptive warmth in his voice, masking his underlying distrust.

The adventurers, momentarily relieved by Zealot's apparent compliance, returned their focus to the Mega Queen Ant, their weapons raised and their resolve renewed. "Let's finish this!" one of them declared, rallying the group for the final push.

As the adventurers refocused their attention on the Mega Queen Ant, Zealot subtly positioned himself, patiently awaiting the opportune moment to strike. He engaged in combat alongside them, fighting the Mega Queen Ant with apparent determination and skill.

"Nice moves there, demon!" one of the adventurers remarked, momentarily letting their guard down as they exchanged blows with the monstrous creature.

"Likewise," Zealot replied with a charming grin, concealing his true intentions behind a facade of camaraderie.

As the battle raged on, Zealot carefully observed each adventurer, assessing their strengths and weaknesses. He waited for the perfect opportunity to betray them, biding his time until they were at their most vulnerable.

Then, after approximately ten minutes of calculated deception, Zealot seized his chance to strike.

"Let's begin!" Zealot's voice cut through the tension in the air like a blade, his words laced with a chilling resolve. "This is the price you all pay for plotting to exploit me for your own gain!"

WHOOSH!

With lightning speed, Zealot launched a sudden and devastating attack, catching one of the adventurers off guard. “Die, you filthy humans!!!”

“Hey! What are you trying to d—?!!!”

PUNCH!

CRACK! CRUNCH! THUD!

[You have slain an Adventurer!]

"One down! Six more human trash to go!" Zealot declared, his tone brimming with determination.

The adventurers, caught off guard by Zealot's sudden betrayal, were consumed by a mixture of shock and rage as they witnessed one of their companions fall to Zealot's ruthless assault.

“Hey, you demon bastard! What is the meaning of this?!”

"Damn traitor! How dare you betray us?!"

“Son of a bitch! I knew it! We shouldn’t have trusted this goddamn demon!”

"You'll pay for this, demon! We trusted you, and you stabbed us in the back! You'll regret ever crossing us!"

“Kill him! Kill that demon traitor now!”

The adventurers, now fully aware of Zealot's true intentions, turned their weapons towards him, their expressions twisted with anger and betrayal. They were determined to avenge their fallen comrade and eliminate the treacherous demon who had deceived them.

Zealot, unfazed by their hostility, prepared to face the wrath of the adventurers. He knew that he had to act quickly and decisively if he wanted to survive this unexpected confrontation.

"Shut up, you humans! Don't act like you guys weren't planning to betray me in the first place! You think I'm stupid enough to fall for your scheme?! Now just accept your fate and die!" Zealot snapped back.

CURSE OF DIARRHEA!

Without mercy, Zealot activated his Diarrhea skill, causing an instant wave of discomfort to wash over the six adventurers.

“Ugh! What the heck is this weird sensation?!”

“Aaah, crap! I gotta hit the bathroom, like, now!”

“Fuck, seriously! Why do I suddenly feel like I gotta go too?!”

"Hahaha! What's the matter, folks? Feeling the urge to dash to the restroom for some relief?" Zealot jeered, a smirk playing on his lips.

Upon hearing Zealot's words, they quickly realized he must have been responsible for their discomfort.

“So it's you! What have you done to us?!”

“You sneaky demon! What kind of black magic have you cast on us?!”

"Nothing, honestly. I swear," Zealot lied, a sly grin betraying his deceit.

"You damned demon! Cut the crap! We all know it's your black magic messing with us!"

GRAAWRRRR!!!

As the adventurers were fixated on Zealot, the Mega Ant Queen seized the opportunity and launched a surprise attack. In a swift motion, it captured one of the adventurers, beginning to devour its unfortunate victim.

“Aaaaaaaahhh!! Noooooooo!! Help!! Somebody, please, h—!!”

In an instant, another adventurer met their demise, dwindling their party to just five people remaining.

"Well, well, well. Shouldn't you lot be focusing on the Mega Ant Queen instead of pointing fingers at me?" Zealot remarked casually, a smirk playing on his lips.