At this juncture, Zealot no longer felt the need to rush to personally eliminate the adventurers, knowing he could rely on the Mega Ant Queen to handle the task. His role now shifted to supporting the Ant Queen in battle, confident that this would suffice for the adventurers to meet their demise eventually. Moreover, as a demon, Zealot reasoned that the Mega Ant Queen was less inclined to target him, given its preference for the taste of humans.
On top of that, the boss room's door remained sealed indefinitely, rendering escape impossible for adventurers. They could only unlock the door and exit upon defeating the boss monster; failure to do so would result in being trapped here forever. Such are the rules of dungeons in this world.
Zealot’s cunning plan had set the stage for chaos within the boss room. With the adventurers distracted by their discomfort and the sudden attack from the Mega Ant Queen, Zealot found himself in a favorable position. His mind raced with possibilities as he observed the unfolding chaos with a mixture of amusement and satisfaction.
Despite the initial shock and confusion among the adventurers, they quickly regained their composure, realizing the gravity of their situation. With the Mega Ant Queen and Zealot both posing significant threats, they were faced with a daunting challenge.
As the battle intensified, Zealot remained vigilant, carefully assessing the dynamics of the conflict. He knew that timing would be crucial in determining the outcome of the skirmish. With his legendary-tier skills and strategic prowess, he was prepared to exploit any openings that presented themselves.
Meanwhile, the Mega Ant Queen unleashed a barrage of attacks upon the adventurers, its massive form casting a shadow of fear over the battlefield. The adventurers, now fully engaged in combat, struggled to fend off the relentless assault of the monstrous creature.
GRAAWRRRR!!! RAAAWRRRR!!!
"By the gods, what is happening?!" one of the adventurers exclaimed, their voice trembling with fear as they narrowly dodged a swipe from the Mega Ant Queen's massive claw.
"We need to focus! Stay together and watch each other's backs!" another shouted, rallying their companions as they attempted to regroup amidst the chaos.
A third adventurer, their voice tinged with urgency, chimed in, "Don't let fear cloud your judgment! We've faced tough battles before, and we'll get through this one too! Keep your wits about you and remember our training!"
The adventurers nodded grimly, their determination reignited by their companion's words. With renewed resolve, they tightened their formation and prepared to face the onslaught of the Mega Ant Queen.
At this moment, Zealot decided not to get involved temporarily. He stood aside and simply observed the battle between the adventurers and the Mega Ant Queen. His goal was to wait for both the adventurers and the Mega Ant Queen to weaken. Once both sides were weakened, he planned to finish off both the adventurers and the boss monster simultaneously, essentially killing two birds with one stone.
To prevent sharing EXP, he intended to eliminate the adventurers first and then the boss monster last.
‘Well, I'll simply relax for the time being and conserve my energy in case I require it later.’ Zealot thought.
The adventurers chose to ignore Zealot for the time being, focusing their efforts on dealing with the boss monster. Despite their intense hatred and desire to eliminate Zealot, they found themselves unable to do so due to the interference of the Mega Ant Queen.
Zealot's plan to bide his time and conserve his energy while the adventurers and the Mega Ant Queen battled it out was working perfectly. With each passing moment, both sides grew increasingly fatigued and vulnerable, creating the ideal, favorable situation for Zealot.
As the battle raged on, Zealot maintained his composure, carefully monitoring the ebb and flow of the conflict. He waited patiently for the opportune moment to intervene, knowing that timing was crucial to the success of his plan.
After what seemed like an eternity of intense combat, Zealot sensed that the time was ripe to make his move. The adventurers were visibly exhausted, their movements sluggish and their defenses weakened. Similarly, the Mega Ant Queen showed signs of fatigue, its attacks becoming less coordinated and more erratic.
‘Alright, time to wrap this up and go home.’ With a decisive nod to himself, Zealot sprang into action, launching a relentless assault on the adventurers. He caught them off guard in their weakened state.
"Game over! Time is up, you human scum!" Zealot declared, his voice ringing with determination as he unleashed a barrage of devastating attacks on the unsuspecting adventurers.
The adventurers, taken aback by Zealot's sudden aggression, scrambled to defend themselves amidst the chaos:
"What?! Who does this demon think he is?!"
"Stay focused! We can't let him defeat us!"
"He's strong, but we can't back down now! Fight back!"
Despite their resolve, the adventurers found themselves overwhelmed by Zealot's ferocity and skill. Their defense was crumbling, but even in such a disadvantageous situation, they refused to give up. Determined to stand their ground until the end, they fought on with unwavering determination.
"Hahaha! It’s futile, humans! Just accept your defeat and die!" Zealot jeered.
Zealot's relentless assault continued as he pressed his advantage, exploiting every opening and weakness in the adventurers' defenses. With each blow, he whittled away at their strength, pushing them closer and closer to defeat.
EYES OF TRUTH!
CURSE OF DIARRHEA!
The adventurers, despite their discomfort, dwindling numbers, and waning stamina, fought back with all their might. They refused to surrender to the demon who had betrayed their trust and turned against them. Their weapons clashed with Zealot's attacks, creating a cacophony of clashes and grunts echoing through the ant nest.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
‘Tch! These scum are proving to be even more stubborn than I had anticipated,’ Zealot mused to himself, a hint of frustration creeping into his thoughts. ‘Well, let’s see just how much longer they can endure.’
As the skirmish intensified, Zealot's mind raced with adrenaline-fueled anticipation. Victory was within his grasp, and he could taste the sweet satisfaction of triumph. With each fallen adventurer, he drew closer to achieving his goal of claiming the boss room for himself.
“Noooooooo!! Please, don’t kill m—!!!”
“Aaaaaahh!! Stooop!! Have mercy o—!!!”
[You have slain a Level 26 Adventurer!]
[You have slain a Level 22 Adventurer!]
…
Suddenly, amidst the chaos of battle, a deafening roar echoed through the boss room as the Mega Ant Queen unleashed its most devastating attack yet. The ground trembled beneath Zealot's feet as he struggled to maintain his balance amidst the onslaught.
GRAAWRRRR!!!
RUMBLE! RUMBLE RUMBLE!
With lightning-fast reflexes, Zealot dodged the Mega Ant Queen's attack, narrowly avoiding being caught in its deadly grip. Sensing an opportunity, he seized the moment and launched a counterattack against the distracted adventurers.
“We surrender!!”
“Please, spare us!!!”
"I wish I could grant your plea, but I find myself unable to trust you folks," Zealot replied, his tone tinged with regret.
With each strike, Zealot drew upon his vast reserves of strength and skill, channeling his fury into devastating blows that left his adversaries reeling. The adventurers, overwhelmed by Zealot's relentless onslaught, found themselves struggling to keep pace with Zealot’s ferocious assault.
Despite their best efforts, the remaining adventurers were no match for Zealot's unmatched combat prowess. One by one, they fell before his unstoppable onslaught, their bodies lying motionless on the blood-stained battlefield.
[You have successfully slain all the adventurers present within this boss room! Proceeding to eliminate the boss monster now will grant you the maximum experience points.]
[Level Up!]
[Level: 26 >> 27]
‘To think I level up from killing humans…’ With the adventurers defeated, Zealot turned his attention to the Mega Ant Queen, his eyes burning with determination.
[Name: Mega Queen Ant]
[Level: 30]
“Alright, Mega Ant Queen! You’re next!” With a fierce battle cry, he launched himself at the monstrous creature, his fists and kicks flashing in the dim light of the boss room, illuminated by the flickering flames of the torches mounted on the walls and ceiling.
EYES OF TRUTH!
The Mega Ant Queen, sensing the threat posed by Zealot before it, unleashed a barrage of attacks in a desperate bid to defend itself. But Zealot was undeterred, his resolve unshakeable as he pressed his assault against the formidable boss monster.
GRAAWRRRR!!!
CURSE OF DIARRHEA!
The discomfort from diarrhea and the fatigue from earlier battles with the adventurers had significantly depleted the Mega Ant Queen's strength, leaving it only capable of fighting at a quarter of its total battle power. As a result, Zealot gained the upper hand.
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!
KICK! KICK! KICK!
DODGE! DODGE! DODGE!
Zealot's relentless barrage of attacks battered the Mega Ant Queen, each blow striking with precision and force. Despite the creature's size and strength, it found itself struggling to keep up with Zealot's lightning-fast movements and strategic strikes.
The reality was that Zealot wasn’t inherently fast; rather, his mind-reading skill consistently kept him one step ahead, creating the illusion that he was faster than the Mega Ant Queen.
GRAAARRRR!!!
As the tension in the air reached its peak, Zealot charged towards the Mega Ant Queen, his movements swift and precise. With each step, he closed the distance between himself and the monstrous creature, his mind filled with a singular purpose: to emerge victorious at any cost.
With each passing moment, the Mega Ant Queen grew weaker, its movements becoming slower and more sluggish. Sensing the opportunity, Zealot pressed his advantage, unleashing a flurry of strikes upon the creature's weakened form.
The Mega Ant Queen, sensing the impending threat, once more unleashed a barrage of attacks in retaliation. Its massive claws slashed through the air with deadly precision, while its razor-sharp mandibles snapped menacingly at Zealot's feet.
Thanks to his lightning-fast reflexes and mind-reading ability, Zealot deftly dodged and weaved through the onslaught, narrowly avoiding the Mega Ant Queen's deadly strikes.
'This Mega Ant Queen is truly stubborn... Well, let’s see how much longer it will hold out before collapsing. I estimate it's on its last legs.'
Zealot's relentless assault continued unabated, his determination unwavering as he pressed his advantage against the Mega Ant Queen. With each blow, he sought to exploit the creature's weakened state, driving it ever closer to defeat.
Suddenly, amidst the chaos of battle, Zealot spotted an opening—a brief moment of vulnerability in the Mega Ant Queen's defenses. With lightning-fast reflexes, he seized the opportunity, launching himself at the creature with renewed ferocity.
WHOOSH! PUNCH! KICK!
His fists and kicks blurred with speed as he unleashed a flurry of devastating attacks upon the Mega Ant Queen, each blow striking with pinpoint accuracy. The creature, caught off guard by Zealot's sudden onslaught, staggered backwards under the force of his assault.
But even as the Mega Ant Queen fought to defend itself, Zealot could sense that its strength was waning. Its movements grew sluggish, its attacks becoming increasingly feeble as it struggled to keep pace with Zealot's relentless assault.
DOUBLE HAMMER PUNCH!!!
With a final, decisive blow, Zealot struck the Mega Ant Queen’s head with all his might, delivering a devastating finishing move that sent the creature crashing to the ground in a heap. The boss monster let out a final, deafening roar before succumbing to defeat.
ROARRRRR—!!!
THUD!
"Yes, finally!" Zealot exclaimed, celebrating his hard-earned victory. "Phew! Battling a boss monster is truly an experience like no other."
[Dungeon Boss Monster, Mega Red Queen Ant, has been successfully defeated!]
[Congratulations! You have cleared the Mega Red Ant dungeon and emerged victorious!]
[Dungeon’s Completion Reward: Double experience points!]
[Leveled Up!]
[Leveled Up!]
[Leveled Up!]
[Level: 27 >> 30]
"Whoa! Three levels all at once? Now that's what I'm talking about!" he exclaimed with excitement.
As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded away, Zealot stood victorious amidst the wreckage of the boss room. His chest heaved with exertion, his body battered and bruised from the fierce struggle, but his spirit remained unbroken.
With a triumphant smile, Zealot surveyed the scene before him, taking in the sight of the defeated Mega Ant Queen and the fallen adventurers. Despite the challenges he had faced and the obstacles he had overcome, he had emerged victorious, proving himself to be a true champion of this dungeon.
"Alright, it's time to return to the castle and indulge in some delicious hot meals! Ah, just the thought of it is already making my stomach rumble," he exclaimed with enthusiasm.
Upon the boss monster's defeat, a shimmering exit portal materialized directly above the fallen Mega Ant Queen, providing a convenient shortcut for adventurers to exit the dungeon without the arduous trek back to the dungeon's entrance.
“Now, let’s get the hell out of here!” With his head held high and his heart filled with pride, Zealot stepped into the portal, exiting the boss room and finding himself back outside the entrance of the dungeon.