As the frantic screams of Lilith’s party grew louder, Zealot knew that he couldn't stand idly by while they faced such formidable adversaries. With a determined expression, he turned to his two skeletal companions, silently conveying his resolve to protect the fleeing adventurers.
"Prepare yourselves, bony!" Zealot said, his voice filled with determination. "We have another battle ahead of us, and this time, it's against three Tyrannosaurus Rexes. But with Minion Berserk at our disposal, we stand a chance."
His skeletal minions nodded in understanding, their empty eye sockets reflecting Zealot's determination as they braced themselves for the impending clash.
ROAAAAARRR!!!
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
With each thunderous step of the approaching 75-foot Tyrannosaurus Rexes, Zealot could feel the ground tremble beneath his feet, a testament to the sheer size and power of the colossal predators.
As the first of the Tyrannosaurus Rexes burst into the clearing, its massive jaws snapping hungrily, Zealot sprang into action, his skeletal companions following suit with swift and synchronized movements.
MINION BERSERK!
CHARGE!
With a surge of wild aggression, Zealot's skeletal minions charged forward, their movements swift and precise as they engaged the towering beasts. The Tyrannosaurus Rexes roared in fury, their razor-sharp teeth and claws poised to strike, but Zealot and his minions were ready for them.
HORIZONTAL SLASH!!! VERTICAL SLASH!!! DIAGONAL SLASH!!!
PUNCH! KICK! HEADBUTT!
ROAAAAARRR!!!
With each strike, Zealot's skeletal warriors unleashed a flurry of blows upon the Tyrannosaurus Rexes, their enhanced strength and speed driving the massive creatures back with relentless force.
Despite the ferocity of their opponents, Zealot and his companions refused to yield, their determination unwavering as they fought to protect Lilith's party from harm. Meanwhile, Lilith’s party also did their utmost to assist Zealot and his minions as much as possible.
As the battle raged on, Zealot could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, his every movement fueled by a burning desire to emerge victorious. Beside him, his skeletal minions fought with equal fervor, their weapons flashing in the sunlight as they clashed with the colossal predators.
ROAAAAARRR—!
Finally, after approximately five minutes, the last of the Tyrannosaurus Rexes fell before them, its once-mighty form now lying lifeless amidst the clearing.
THUD!
It appeared that Zealot didn't even need to utilize his Eyes of Truth or Curse of Diarrhea skills, as his battle experience, Minion Berserk, and his two skeletal minions proved to be sufficient.
However, you might be curious as to why Zealot refrained from using his other skills. The reason lay in his need to exercise caution not to expend too much mana. Summoning two skeleton warriors simultaneously already depleted a significant amount of mana, which would not be ideal if he happened to need it in crucial moments that could determine whether he survived or perished.
[You have slain three Tyrannosaurus Rexes!]
[Leveled Up!]
[Level: 61 >> 63]
[Skeleton’s Progression: 19% >> 31%]
With their victory secured, Zealot breathed a sigh of relief, his chest heaving with exertion as he surveyed the clearing before him. Lilith’s party, though shaken, appeared unharmed thanks to his timely intervention, their expressions filled with gratitude as they gathered around him once more.
"Thank you," Lilith said, her voice filled with emotion. "Once again, you've saved our lives."
Gareth nodded in agreement. "Indeed, we owe you our lives. Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Serana's eyes shimmered with emotion as she smiled warmly. "Words can't describe how deeply grateful we are. We feel truly blessed to have you fighting alongside us."
As Zealot stood among the grateful demon adventurers, a sense of satisfaction washed over him. He had not only gained valuable experience and leveled up once more but had also earned the respect and gratitude of his fellow demons.
But amidst the celebrations, his thoughts turned once more to his primary objective: finding Belial Nocturnus and putting an end to his nefarious schemes.
"Thank you, my friends," Zealot replied humbly. "But there's no time to waste. Belial Nocturnus is still out there, and I must find him before it's too late."
Just as Zealot was about to leave, Lilith's urgent plea halted his departure. "W-Wait! We have something important to discuss with you!”
Zealot turned around, his curiosity piqued. "Something important to discuss? What is it?"
Lilith took a deep breath, her voice filled with sincerity. “Your bravery has saved our lives, and we are deeply grateful. We wish to repay you in any way possible. Please, tell us your needs, and we will gladly offer our assistance. Moreover, we humbly request to join forces with you, as we recognize our vulnerability alone. Your leadership and strength give us hope for survival in this perilous dungeon."
Zealot considered her words for a moment before nodding. "Very well, I accept your offer. But in return, I need your help to find Belial Nocturnus and eliminate him. He is a very dangerous individual, and we can't let his plans come to fruition."
Lilith exchanged glances with her companions before nodding resolutely. "We agree. Belial has always been a source of unease among us. We will help you track him down and put an end to his schemes."
Gareth stepped forward, determination in his eyes. "We’ll follow your lead, party leader. Just tell us what needs to be done."
Serana stepped forward, her voice firm and steady. "We're ready to fight by your side. Belial's treachery must be stopped, and we'll do whatever it takes to see it through. Just tell us what we need to do, and we’ll gladly assist you."
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Zealot nodded, appreciating their resolve. "First, we need to gather as much information as possible about Belial's whereabouts and his activities in the dungeon. We must be cautious and strategic. The deeper we go, the more dangerous it becomes."
The truth was, Zealot didn't know Belial’s current level. However, since this was a D-Class Dungeon, he figured Belial’s level should be around D-Class. Naturally, Zealot wasn’t concerned; he was powerful enough to solo a boss monster, so what threat could a mere demon like Belial pose?
Besides, having knowledge of the novel, Zealot knew almost everything about Belial’s strengths and weaknesses, which gave him a significant advantage. The only aspect that gave him slight concern was the presence of other demon adventurers in Belial’s party. While Zealot remained confident in his ability to emerge victorious, he acknowledged that facing Belial’s party alone would still undoubtedly pose quite a challenge.
Zealot's acceptance of Lilith’s party's offer to join forces brought a sense of relief to the adventurers. They now had a chance to survive the treacherous dungeon with a strong leader by their side. The air was filled with a renewed sense of hope and determination as they prepared to hunt down Belial Nocturnus.
"Alright, no time to waste. Let's move," Zealot declared, his voice infused with resolve as they embarked on their quest to hunt down Belial.
The party nodded in unison, ready to follow Zealot's lead.
***
At the pinnacle of a colossal ancient tree reaching 2,500 feet into the sky, with a trunk diameter spanning approximately 45 meters, sat a massive beehive known as the grand "Bee Palace." This was where the boss monster resided within this vast prehistoric forest.
The Bee Palace stood apart from your typical beehive. At first glance, it might resemble a colossal beehive, but upon stepping inside, its interior transformed into a fantastical, luxurious royal palace.
At the majestic grand entrance of Bee Palace, a towering door loomed before them. Belial's party had finally arrived after a grueling journey, during which they battled countless monsters to reach their destination.
The colossal entrance door to the Bee Palace stood before Belial's party, an imposing gateway to the mysteries and dangers that lay beyond. Despite their weariness from the journey and the battles they had fought along the way, the members of Belial's party remained resolute, their determination unwavering as they prepared to face whatever challenges awaited them inside.
Belial, the party leader, stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied the massive door before him. He could sense the presence of powerful magic emanating from within, a sign that the boss monster they sought awaited them on the other side.
"Prepare yourselves, my comrades," Belial declared, his voice firm and authoritative. "We've come too far to falter now. Whatever awaits us beyond this door, we'll face it together."
His words resonated with the seven members of his party, each of them steeling themselves for the trials ahead. With a collective nod, they gathered their weapons and magic, readying themselves for the battle to come.
With a surge of determination, Belial pushed open the gigantic doors of the Bee Palace, revealing the opulent interior that lay beyond. As they stepped inside, they were greeted by the sight of intricate honeycomb patterns adorning the walls, illuminated by the radiant glow of sunlight filtering through the towering windows, casting a warm, golden hue across the grand hall.
However, their attention was quickly drawn to the colossal figures standing at the far end of the grand hall: seven mini-boss monsters known as the "Honeybee Royal Knights."
[Name: Honeybee Royal Knight]
[Level: 70]
The Honeybee Royal Knights' appearance resembled a fusion or cross between humans and bees, essentially humanoid bees. They possessed human bodies and faces; the only distinguishing features were their bee tails, wings, claws, and bee-like eyes.
Among all the fearsome qualities, their sheer size was the most intimidating; standing at 25 feet tall, they were true giants capable of instilling fear in anyone. In contrast, Belial’s party stood only slightly above average human height.
As the eight demon adventurers entered the Bee Palace, their footsteps echoing in the grand hall, they laid eyes upon the formidable Honeybee Royal Knights. A tense silence descended over the chamber, broken only by the faint buzzing of the Honeybee Knights' wings. The air crackled with anticipation as both sides prepared for the imminent clash, their determination palpable in the charged atmosphere.
Belial, his gaze unwavering, took a step forward, his eyes locked on the towering figures before him. "Honeybee Royal Knights!" he called out, his voice carrying through the hall with authority. "We seek passage through this palace. Stand aside, and we shall not harm you."
The Honeybee Royal Knights, their insectoid features betraying no emotion, remained unmoved by Belial's words. With a collective buzz, they readied themselves for battle, their imposing forms casting long shadows in the golden light.
One of the Honeybee Knights, the leader, stepped forward, its eyes fixed on Belial with a mixture of curiosity and hostility. "You dare to intrude upon the domain of our queen," it buzzed, its voice a low, guttural drone. "You shall face the consequences of your trespass!”
Belial's party bristled at the Knight's challenge, their resolve hardening as they prepared for the impending clash. Swords were drawn, spells were conjured, and tension hung thick in the air as both sides stood on the brink of battle.
"We will not be deterred," Belial declared, his voice ringing out with unwavering confidence. "If you stand in our way, we will remove you by force!"
THUMP!
The leader of the Honeybee Knights stomped the ground in anger. "Kill them! Spare none of these filthy demon adventurers alive!"
CHARGE!
With a sudden surge of motion, the Honeybee Royal Knights charged forward, their massive forms hurtling towards Belial's party with terrifying speed. Belial's comrades met the Knights head-on, their weapons and magic unleashed with deadly precision.
Swords clashed against chitinous exoskeletons, spells crackled through the air, and the grand hall echoed with the sounds of battle. Belial, leading the charge, fought with unmatched ferocity, his colossal greatsword cutting a path through the swarm of Honeybee Knights.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
FIRE BALLS! ARROWS OF THUNDER! ICE WALLS!
RAAARRRR! KRAAARRRR! GRAAARRRR!
Amidst the chaos, dialogue exchanged between Belial's party members fueled their determination.
"Stay focused! We can't afford to falter now!" Belial bellowed, his voice cutting through the din of battle.
"Watch your flank! They're trying to flank us!" one of Belial's companions shouted, alerting the others to the Knights' tactics.
"We're holding our ground! Keep pressing forward!" another yelled, rallying their allies with unwavering determination.
The Honeybee Royal Knights fought with tenacity, their claws and stingers a deadly threat to Belial's party. But despite their formidable opponents, Belial's comrades stood their ground, their determination unyielding in the face of adversity.
As the battle raged on, the tide slowly began to turn in Belial's favor. Blow after blow was exchanged, each side refusing to yield an inch of ground. Spells of fire, ice, and lightning illuminated the colossal grand hall, casting shadows that danced across the honeycomb-patterned walls.
FIRE BALLS! ICE RAIN! LIGHTNING STRIKE!
ALMIGHTY SLASH! THUNDER SLASH! WIND SLASH!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Finally, with a final, decisive strike, Belial and his companions delivered the blows that brought the last of the Honeybee Royal Knights crashing to the ground.
GRAAARRRR—!!!
THUD!
With their victory secured, Belial's party took a moment to catch their breath, their chests heaving with exertion as they surveyed the aftermath of the battle. The grand hall lay in disarray, the once-opulent surroundings now marred by the signs of their fierce confrontation.
"Excellent work, everyone!" Belial exclaimed, his voice filled with pride as he addressed his comrades. "But our journey is far from over. We must press on, deeper into the Bee Palace, and confront whatever challenges await us."
"Agreed, Belial. The hardest battles are yet to come. We can't let our guard down now," one of his comrades replied, determination evident in his eyes.
"We're ready for anything," another added, her eyes shining with resolve. "Let's keep moving and show them our strength!”
Belial’s words were met with nods of agreement from his companions, each ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead.
"Very well, let us proceed," Belial declared with firm resolve. With renewed determination, Belial's party ventured further into the depths of the Bee Palace, their quest for victory driving them ever forward.
Little did they know, however, that their actions had not gone unnoticed. High above the grand hall, hidden within the shadows of the honeycomb-patterned walls, a pair of glowing eyes watched their every move with keen interest.
‘That individual wielding the colossal greatsword... appears to belong to the Berserker Class. How intriguing,’ the Honeybee Queen mused from her majestic throne. ‘It seems these adventurers hold promise this time. Let’s hope they do not disappoint me.’