Suppressing a surge of alarm, Zealot maintained his composed facade, his eyes betraying none of the turmoil churning within. With this newfound knowledge, he knew he had to tread even more cautiously, his every move calculated to outwit his cunning adversaries.
"Thank you for the warm welcome," Zealot said sarcastically, his tone dripping with irony. "I look forward to exploring your magnificent palace."
As he uttered these words, Zealot couldn't help but marvel at the utility of his mind-reading skill. 'This mind-reading ability is undeniably one of the most advantageous skills I possess,' he mused. 'Without it, it wouldn’t have spared me countless troubles...’
The four Kobolds, seemingly pleased with Zealot’s response, exchanged glances and gestured for him to follow. Zealot moved with them, his senses on high alert.
‘For the time being, I shall play along with their little game,’ Zealot thought, his mind already prepared for whatever surprise awaited him.
As they walked, Zealot continued to read their thoughts. He learned that their plan was to lead him into an ambush deeper within the palace, where an army of 775 kobolds awaited, ready to overwhelm him.
‘They think they can trap me,’ Zealot thought with a smirk. ‘But I’ll turn their own game against them.’
They entered a grand hall, and the kobolds subtly shifted their positions, preparing to spring their trap. Zealot remained outwardly calm, but his mind was calculating his next move.
"SKELETON WARRIOR, STEP FORTH!" Zealot commanded.
Instantly, a summoning-portal materialized behind the kobolds, and the Skeleton Warrior emerged from the portal, its bony form poised and ready for combat. The kobolds were taken aback, their surprise evident as they turned to face the new threat.
"Attack!" Zealot ordered his Skeleton Warrior, his voice filled with authority.
The Skeleton Warrior lunged at the nearest kobold, its movements swift and precise. The kobolds, caught off guard, scrambled to defend themselves.
HORIZONTAL SLASH! VERTICAL SLASH! DIAGONAL SLASH!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
TING! TING! TING!
The clash of bone and steel echoed through the grand hall as Zealot's Skeleton Warrior fought with relentless fury.
According to the description of the summoning skill, it claimed that the Skeleton Warrior was highly skilled and experienced in combat. As Zealot witnessed the Skeleton Warrior's prowess, which left the Kobolds defenseless, he couldn't help but think, 'As expected from a skill of Legendary Tier.’
Even amidst the vast expanse of the grand hall, teeming with 775 kobolds, their sheer numbers seemed formidable, overshadowing the solitary presence of the Skeleton Warrior. Yet, against all odds, the bony warrior stood its ground with unwavering dominance. Every movement echoed confidence and prowess, reminiscent of a solitary lion calmly facing a swarm of 775 cats, each one seemingly insignificant in the face of its might.
[You have slain a Kobold!]
[You have slain a Kobold!]
[You have slain a Kobold!]
As the Skeleton Warrior unleashed its flurry of strikes, the kobolds' panic was palpable. Their usual bravado gave way to frantic shouts and desperate attempts to fend off the relentless assault.
"Alert the others! We're under attack!" one kobold yelled, its voice tinged with fear.
"Defend the chamber! Don't let it get past us!" another cried out, brandishing its weapon with trembling hands.
"This situation is dire! We need reinforcements now!" a third kobold shouted, its eyes wide with panic as it scanned the chaos unfolding before them.
But despite their efforts, the kobolds found themselves overwhelmed by the sheer ferocity of the Skeleton Warrior's onslaught. With each slash and strike, it carved through their ranks with precision and efficiency, leaving chaos and confusion in its wake.
In the face of such relentless aggression, the kobolds' bravado faltered, replaced by a growing sense of desperation. They realized they were no match for this formidable bony opponent, and fear began to grip their hearts.
HORIZONTAL SLASH! VERTICAL SLASH! DIAGONAL SLASH!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Meanwhile, Zealot stood motionless, making no effort to defend himself against the kobolds' attacks. After all, these kobolds only had an average level of 40, whereas Zealot was at level 52, creating a significant 12-level gap that made their attacks feel as insignificant as those of ants. Consequently, Zealot saw no need to dodge their assaults, since he received so little damage that it was hardly worth bothering about.
As Zealot observed the panic spreading among the kobolds, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. His summoned ally had proven its worth in battle, and now the tide was turning in his favor.
"Fall back! Retreat to the inner chambers!" one kobold shouted, its voice trembling with fear.
"We can't hold it off! We need reinforcements!" another cried out, casting fearful glances at the advancing Skeleton Warrior.
With their morale shattered and their defenses crumbling, the kobolds hastily retreated, leaving Zealot and his Skeleton Warrior victorious in the grand hall.
WHOOSH!
Amidst the chaos, Zealot couldn't help but smirk. His plan was working perfectly, and soon, he would claim victory over the Kobold Valley Palace. But he knew that greater challenges awaited him deeper within the palace, particularly the boss monster, the Great Kobold King.
‘Now, let's check the Skeleton Warrior's progression rate...’
[Current Progression: 27%]
‘Twenty-seven percent, huh? Well, that’s not too shabby,’ he thought, stroking his chin.
“Alright! Let’s proceed to the next area. Hey, bony! Lead the way!” he commanded his skeletal companion with authority.
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
The Skeleton Warrior nodded, acknowledging the command, and began moving forward, its bony form clattering with each step as it led the way deeper into the palace.
Navigating through the labyrinthine hallways and winding corridors, they found themselves confronted by a relentless onslaught of kobolds. Throughout the entire skirmish, Zealot maintained his disinterest, leaving his skeletal minion to handle all the fighting while he relaxed and enjoyed the spectacle.
HORIZONTAL SLASH! VERTICAL SLASH! DIAGONAL SLASH!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The clash of steel echoed through the corridors.
“Hahaha! Splendid performance! Excellent job, bony!”
[Skeleton’s Progression: 42%]
Eventually, they arrived at a vast, ten-story tall ancient library nestled within the depths of the Kobold Valley Palace. Stepping into the grand library, Zealot's eyes widened in awe at the sight before him. Towering shelves lined with ancient tomes stretched towards the vaulted ceiling, their weathered spines bearing the weight of centuries of knowledge.
“Wow! Would you look at this place,” Zealot remarked, his voice filled with wonder as he gazed around the vast expanse of the library.
The Skeleton Warrior, ever obedient, stood at attention beside him, its empty eye sockets seemingly scanning the towering shelves for any signs of danger.
As Zealot perused the shelves, his eyes alighted on a particularly ornate tome nestled amongst a collection of lightly dusty volumes. Intrigued, he reached out and carefully withdrew the book from its resting place.
The tome, bound in cracked leather and adorned with intricate symbols, felt weighty in his hands. Its pages, yellowed with age, exuded an aura of ancient wisdom.
"Skeleton, stand guard. I'll be occupied for a while," Zealot instructed his skeletal minion, who nodded in acknowledgment before assuming a vigilant stance beside him.
With the Skeleton Warrior standing watch, Zealot settled into a nearby chair next to a shelf and began to delve into the contents of the ancient tome. However, after barely half a minute of reading, the library began to tremble, as though a miniature earthquake had struck.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
More and more kobolds descended from the library staircases, poured in through the entrance, and emerged from every corner. In a matter of moments, Zealot and his bony minion found themselves surrounded, with no means of escape.
"Look what we have here, boys! A puny demon and his pathetic skeleton lackey," one kobold taunted, its voice dripping with disdain.
"Seems like we stumbled upon some fresh meat, eh? Let's tear them apart!" another kobold growled, brandishing its weapon with menacing intent.
"Haha! You think you can challenge us, demon? You're nothing but a weakling in the face of our might!" the third kobold jeered, its laughter echoing through the library.
Zealot narrowed his eyes, his gaze steely as he assessed his adversaries. Despite their mocking words, he remained unfazed because in his eyes, they were just a bunch of small fry. And his Skeleton Warrior alone was more than enough to handle them all.
"Kill them all, bony! Show them the true meaning of fear!" Zealot commanded his Skeleton Warrior, his voice resounding with authority and determination.
The Skeleton Warrior nodded and charged into action, its bony form a blur of movement as it cut through the ranks of kobolds with precision and efficiency. The kobolds, despite their earlier bravado, quickly found themselves overwhelmed by the relentless onslaught.
HORIZONTAL SLASH! VERTICAL SLASH! DIAGONAL SLASH!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
TING! TING! TING!
The cacophony of battle echoed through the grand library, the clattering of bones and the clang of steel filling the air. Zealot watched with satisfaction as his skeletal minion tore through the kobold formations, their taunts and jeers quickly turning to cries of panic and pain.
[You have slain a Kobold!]
[You have slain a Kobold!]
[You have slain a Kobold!]
The notification messages flashed before Zealot's eyes, each one a testament to the growing prowess of his Skeleton Warrior.
Zealot's laughter echoed through the grand library as he cheered on his minion. "Hahaha! Excellent work, bony! Don't stop until every last one of them is defeated!"
"Retreat! We can't hold it off!" one kobold screamed, its voice quaking with fear.
"Call for reinforcements! We're being slaughtered!" another kobold yelled, desperation seeping into its tone.
"How is this possible?! It's just one skeleton!" a third kobold cried out, its disbelief evident as it watched the chaos unfold.
As the battle raged on, Zealot kept a close eye on the progression rate of his Skeleton Warrior.
[Skeleton’s Progression: 58%]
The rate was climbing steadily, and Zealot knew that with each kobold defeated, his minion grew closer to its next evolution or upgrade. He couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation at the thought of what his Skeleton Warrior might become.
"Skeleton Warrior, press on! Do not let them overwhelm you!" Zealot shouted, his voice carrying through the chaos.
The Skeleton Warrior responded with a renewed surge of aggression, its attacks becoming even more ferocious. The kobolds, despite their numbers, were no match for the skill and ferocity of the bony warrior.
While there were some moments where the Skeleton Warrior struggled a little, overall, it still consistently emerged as the dominant force in the end.
Meanwhile, Zealot remained vigilant, his mind-reading skill active as he scanned the thoughts of the surrounding kobolds. He gleaned valuable insights into their strategies and weaknesses, using this knowledge to direct his Skeleton Warrior more effectively.
As the tide of battle began to turn in their favor, Zealot's confidence grew even more. He knew that victory was within their grasp, and he was determined to see it through to the end.
Amidst the chaos, the kobolds struggled in pain, their cries echoing through the grand library.
"Argh! This skeleton is relentless! I can't hold on much longer!" one kobold groaned, clutching its wounded arm.
"I-I can't... My strength is failing... This is too much!" another kobold whimpered, staggering under the onslaught of the Skeleton Warrior's attacks.
"Someone... Anyone... Help me! I don't want to die like this!" a third kobold pleaded, its voice trembling with fear as it desperately sought assistance from its comrades.
At this juncture, the Skeleton Warrior had already slain approximately a couple of thousand kobolds.
[Skeleton’s Progression: 75%]
"Bahaha! Great job, bony! Just 25% more to go! Keep pushing!" Zealot cheered.
The Skeleton Warrior's progression rate continued to climb, each new percentage point bringing it closer to a critical threshold. Zealot could feel the anticipation building within him, knowing that his minion was on the verge of a significant transformation.
With a final, coordinated effort, the Skeleton Warrior cut down the last of the kobolds, their cries of defeat echoing through the now-silent grand library.
[You have slain a Kobold!]
[Skeleton’s Progression: 100%]
As the last kobold fell, a notification message flashed before Zealot's eyes.
[Congratulations! Your Skeleton Warrior has reached 100% progression! You can now choose to evolve or upgrade your Skeleton Warrior.]
“Woohoo! Fantastic work, bony! You nailed it!” Zealot exclaimed.
Zealot's heart raced with excitement as he considered his options. The potential to summon an additional Skeleton Warrior or to evolve his current one into a more powerful form was a tantalizing prospect.
"Alright, let's see what you've got, bony," Zealot muttered to himself, his mind racing with possibilities.
After a moment of contemplation, Zealot made his decision. He opted to evolve his Skeleton Warrior, intrigued by the promise of greater power and enhanced abilities.
[Evolving Skeleton Warrior… Estimated time, approximately 10 seconds…]
10 seconds later…
[Congratulations! Your Skeleton Warrior has successfully evolved into a Skeleton Bronze Warrior!]
Before his eyes, the Skeleton Warrior underwent a transformation. Its bones took on a metallic sheen, and its overall form became more imposing and robust. The newly evolved Skeleton Bronze Warrior exuded an aura of strength and menace, a testament to its increased power.
Zealot couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and satisfaction as he surveyed his newly evolved minion. The Skeleton Bronze Warrior stood ready, its eyes burning with an eerie, otherworldly light.
"Hurrah! Excellent!" Zealot exclaimed with a grin. "Now, it's time to put your new power to the test."
With his newly evolved Skeleton Bronze Warrior by his side, Zealot felt more confident than ever. The kobolds had proven no match for his Skeleton Warrior before, and now, with his minion's enhanced power, he was certain that his bony warrior would be unstoppable.
"Onward, bony. Let's conquer this palace and claim our victory!" Zealot declared, his voice filled with determination.
As they continued deeper into the Kobold Valley Palace, Zealot couldn't shake the feeling that something significant awaited them. The challenges ahead would be greater, but he was ready. With his Skeleton Bronze Warrior at his side, he was prepared to face whatever lay ahead.
‘It’s about time the mini-boss would appear. Let's see if my newly evolved Skeleton Bronze Warrior could take on the challenge,’ Zealot thought with eager anticipation.
Zealot couldn’t wait, knowing the showdown between his bony warrior and the mini-boss would be an awesome spectacle to behold.