After days of fruitless searching for the Demon King’s treasure room, Sasha’s party conceded defeat and opted to alter their plan, shifting their attention to their secondary quest. They hadn’t embarked on this journey solely for the sake of the Demon King's treasure; they also had another mission at hand — to raid the renowned B-Class Dungeon named “Stone Golem Castle.”
"Stone Golem Castle" presented a daunting challenge for any adventuring party attempting to raid it. Golems, renowned for their colossal size, devastating attacks, and formidable defense, made this dungeon a formidable obstacle.
To conquer it, one had to face and defeat every Golem, a task that demanded not just courage but also considerable stamina and mana. The exertion required to battle these formidable foes often left adventurers depleted, struggling to maintain their strength and mana reserves. As a result, many found themselves overwhelmed by the challenge, ultimately failing to emerge victorious from the depths of the golem castle.
‘Stone Golem, huh? A very tanky monster that makes most adventurers struggle, since the amount of energy it takes just to kill one Stone Golem is substantial. Furthermore, I've heard you have to defeat at least 250 Stone Golems and 1 Stone Golem King to complete the quest. That sure sounds like a very physically demanding dungeon to raid…’ Zealot thought.
As they gathered in the grand throne hall of Zealot Castle, Sasha's voice echoed with authority, commanding the attention of her companions who stood ready before her.
"Alright, is everyone ready?" Sasha inquired, her eyes sweeping over the party, each member eagerly awaiting her command.
"Absolutely!" Ethan replied with a confident grin, adjusting the straps of his armor. "I've been itching for some action all week."
Elara, the nimble rogue, nodded in agreement. "Ready and waiting," she affirmed, her fingers tapping impatiently against the hilt of her dagger.
"Count me in!" Marcus declared, his muscular frame exuding strength and determination. "Let's show these Stone Golems what we're made of."
"Ready as ever," Zealot affirmed, his voice steady despite the anticipation that pulsed through his veins.
With their readiness confirmed, Sasha nodded in satisfaction. "Good," she said, a hint of determination in her voice. "Let's make our way to Stone Golem Castle’s Dungeon and claim the treasure that awaits us."
“Yes, boss!!!" echoed the unified response from everyone, their voices filled with excitement and resolve as they prepared to embark on their next adventure.
***
Zealot couldn't help but feel a mix of apprehension and excitement as they set out towards Stone Golem Castle’s Dungeon. The prospect of facing such formidable foes stirred his adrenaline, yet he couldn't shake off the danger of raiding a B-Class dungeon when he himself was only Level 30 (F-Class).
‘Well, it's fine. I won't be fighting anyway; I'm just a slave, cooking their meals and carrying their belongings.’ Zealot thought.
As they journeyed towards the dungeon, Zealot couldn't help but ponder the events that had transpired. Despite narrowly evading suspicion, he knew that Sasha and her party remained wary of him. He needed to tread carefully if he hoped to maintain their trust and ensure his safety.
Eight days later…
Finally, they arrived at a vast ruined city called "Porion City," which was considerably smaller than the capital, Zealot City. While it was only a medium-sized city, it was still as large as a colossal island.
Porion was once one of the thriving cities within Zealot Kingdom, but it fell into ruin after the war. At the heart of Porion stood a grand, gigantic castle, "Porion Castle," the target of Sasha's party's planned raid.
This marked Zealot's first visit to this city, let alone venturing so far from his beloved home castle.
As they approached the ruined city of Porion, Zealot couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation mingled with curiosity. The once-thriving city now lay in ruins, its streets lined with crumbling buildings and signs of recent destruction, evident from the devastation just a month prior.
"Wow, this place looks like it took a beating," Ethan remarked, eyeing the devastation around them.
Sasha nodded grimly. "Yes, it seems the battle was fierce. But our target lies ahead," she said, gesturing towards Porion Castle in the distance.
The colossal castle loomed before them, its once-grand walls now battered and broken. Yet despite its damaged state, there was a certain majestic aura to the castle that spoke of its former glory.
"For a place that's been destroyed just about a month ago, it still feels unsettling," Elara whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps.
As they entered the city gates, the silence enveloped them, broken only by the soft shuffle of their footsteps. The air hung heavy with the aftermath of destruction, casting a somber atmosphere over the scene. Despite the chaos surrounding them, Zealot remained calm, his demeanor steady amidst the unsettling quietude.
"Everyone, this way," Sasha said, leading the way towards Porion Castle with determined strides.
As they approached the castle gates, everyone couldn't help but marvel at the sight before them. It was a spectacular view, a glimpse of royal splendor.
"Alright, let's get ready," Sasha said, turning to face her companions. "We need to be prepared for anything once we're inside."
With Sasha's guidance, the party began their preparations for the raid, checking their weapons and discussing their strategy.
As they passed through the castle gates and arrived right in front of the towering entrance door, they gulped nervously for a moment before mustering the courage to proceed inside. Once within, they navigated their way through the corridors until they reached a vast royal garden, where the portal to the Stone Golem Castle's Dungeon awaited them.
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With cautious steps, the party approached the portal, its shimmering surface pulsating with otherworldly energy. The air around it seemed to hum with power, adding to the sense of trepidation that hung in the air. And the bright sunlight shining upon it only enhanced its beauty, casting a mesmerizing glow.
"This is it," Sasha said, her voice steady despite the tension that filled the air. "Once we step through this portal, there's no turning back. Are we all ready?"
Each member of the party nodded in affirmation, their resolve shining in their eyes despite the lingering doubts that gnawed at them.
"Let's do this!" Marcus declared, his voice echoing with determination.
"Haha! Let's go!" echoed Ethan, his laughter infused with a contagious enthusiasm that bolstered the spirits of the entire party.
"I've been itching for a good fight!" Elara chimed in, her tone brimming with anticipation and eagerness as she readied herself for the upcoming battle.
With a collective breath, they stepped through the portal, feeling a surge of energy wash over them as they were transported to the depths of Stone Golem Castle's Dungeon.
As they emerged on the other side, they found themselves standing inside one of the castle’s luxurious bedrooms. However, this bedroom was unlike anything they had seen before, especially with its towering ceiling, reaching up to 30 feet in height. Even the size of the furniture surrounding them were gigantic, clearly indicating that the entire castle was crafted to accommodate the Stone Golems.
Ding!
[Raid Quest: Eliminate all 250 Stone Golems within the castle, and defeat the formidable boss monster, Stone Golem King.]
With the daunting task laid out before them, the party exchanged determined glances, steeling themselves for the challenges that lay ahead.
"Alright, let's stick together and take them down one by one," Sasha instructed, her voice steady and commanding.
The party members nodded in agreement, each understanding the gravity of their mission and the importance of cooperation.
With their weapons at the ready, they pushed open the colossal titan-like door and exited the bedroom. In an instant after stepping outside, they were suddenly greeted by a Stone Golem, its massive form towering over them like a behemoth.
GRRROOAARRR!!!
RUMBLE!!! RUMBLE!!! RUMBLE!!!
The ground shook beneath their feet as the Stone Golem let out a deafening roar, its eyes fixed on Sasha's party with hostile intent.
"Here we go, everyone! Stay focused and watch each other's backs!" Sasha called out, her voice cutting through the chaos of battle.
"Got it, Sasha! Let's take this thing down!" Marcus shouted, his sword gleaming as he charged towards the Stone Golem, his muscles tensed for action.
"I'll cover you from behind!" Elara yelled, her daggers flashing in the bright light as she darted around the Golem, striking at its heels with precise, calculated strikes.
With unwavering resolve, Sasha's party consisted of nine adventurers charged into battle, their coordinated strikes finding their mark against the creature's stony exterior.
As the battle unfolded, Zealot remained on the sidelines, his eyes darting back and forth as he analyzed the situation. Despite his desire to join the fray, he knew that his best chance of survival lay in providing support from a distance, at least for now.
GRRROOAARRR!!!
CLANG!!! CLANG!!! CLANG!!!
TING!!! TING!! TING!!!
With his thoughts focused, Zealot activated his Diarrhea skill, hoping it would provide some assistance.
CURSE OF DIARRHEA!
Surprisingly, the Diarrhea effect worked on the Stone Golem, despite it not being a living being. The reason for this was because Zealot was a player, which meant that his body and powers functioned similarly to those of a video game character, allowing him to defy logic and cause discomfort to the Stone Golem.
Since Zealot joined Sasha’s party, that would mean any monsters they killed would grant him shared EXP. And being only F-Class, this meant that even with the EXP divided among ten people, he would still gain a significant amount—more than enough for him to level up.
The prospect of leveling up simply by following Sasha’s party thrilled Zealot and filled him with excitement.
‘This is truly a blessing in disguise,’ Zealot thought. ‘I reckon I'll gain a few levels once this Stone Golem bites the dust.’
The battle raged on, each strike from Sasha's party chipping away at the Stone Golem's health. Marcus's sword flashed in the air as he lunged forward, his determination driving him to deliver powerful blows. Elara danced around the creature with agility, her daggers finding vulnerable spots with each precise strike.
As Zealot observed the fight, a thought crossed his mind. ‘It appears they're holding back... Well, that’s wise of them to conserve their energy, especially considering there are still more Stone Golems to face later.’ He admired their strategic approach, recognizing the wisdom in pacing themselves for the challenges that lay ahead.
Suddenly, four more Stone Golems materialized out of thin air, their massive forms barreling towards Sasha and her party with menacing intent.
GRRROOAARRR!!!
THUMP!!! THUMP!!! THUMP!!!
Recognizing the immediate threat, Sasha and her companions knew they could no longer afford to hold back. With a shared glance of determination, they steeled themselves for the impending onslaught and prepared to unleash their full might upon the newly arrived foes.
"Here they come! Brace yourselves!" Sasha shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos as she readied her sword for battle.
"Looks like it's time to kick things up a notch!" Marcus exclaimed, his eyes ablaze with fierce determination as he squared off against the oncoming Golems.
"I'll take the two on the right!" Elara called out, her daggers poised for action as she darted towards her chosen targets with fluid grace.
"We've got your back!" the two enchantingly beautiful Healers, their grace and charm matching their exceptional skill, chimed in unison, their soothing words providing a welcome boost of morale to the beleaguered party.
With renewed resolve, Sasha's party engaged the additional foes, their combined efforts now focused on overcoming the sudden surge in opposition.
Meanwhile, Zealot activated his Diarrhea skill once more, aiming at the four Stone Golems.
CURSE OF DIARRHEA! CURSE OF DIARRHEA! CURSE OF DIARRHEA!
Due to the discomfort induced by Zealot's Diarrhea skill, the Stone Golems found themselves unable to fight at their full power. They stumbled and slowed down, their movements hindered by the unexpected discomfort. Seeing this, Zealot felt a surge of pride in his skill, happy that he could provide some support to the party.
As Zealot witnessed the effectiveness of his skill, a sense of satisfaction welled within him. ‘Wonderful,’ he thought, his voice barely above a whisper amidst the chaos of battle. ‘As expected from a Legendary-Tier skill.’
GRRROOAARRR!!!
After a fierce struggle, the first Stone Golem finally succumbed, its massive form crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact, sending tremors through the castle floor.
THUD!!!
[Your party has slain a Stone Golem!]
[Leveled Up!]
[Leveled Up!]
[Leveled Up!]
[Leveled Up!]
[Level: 30 >> 34]
‘Whoa! Four levels just for defeating one Stone Golem? Now that's what I call progress!’ Zealot thought, excitement coursing through him like a surge of adrenaline. ‘This has got to be the best day of my life! Haha! I can’t believe I leveled up simply by supporting the party!’
Zealot couldn't contain his excitement as he witnessed his big level-up, his spirits soaring with newfound vigor. The realization that he had gained four levels simply by supporting Sasha's party filled him with a sense of accomplishment.