“Trying to play dirty now, huh? Very well. If that’s the case, I’ll go all out as well,” Zealot replied, his voice unwavering.
MINION BERSERK!
Without hesitation, Zealot unleashed his trump card, activating his most powerful skill. The minion buff was a force to be reckoned with, enhancing his minions’ strength to unprecedented levels. It was a display of sheer power, leaving even the Vampire King no chance of survival.
"Bony, let’s switch!" Zealot called out to his skeleton minion. "I shall handle the remaining Vampire Royal Knights, and you focus on taking down the Vampire King!”
Zealot was acutely aware that, at his current level of power, he had little to no chance against the formidable Vampire King. However, he believed that taking on the Vampire Royal Knights would present a significant yet manageable challenge, one that he was confident he could handle with his skills and strategy.
The skeleton companion nodded, and immediately sprang into action, charging towards the imposing figure of the Vampire King with raging energy, fueled by the minion's berserk buff.
CHARGE!
Bony, empowered by the Minion Berserk skill, surged forward with a renewed ferocity, its skeletal form glowing with an ominous red light. The Vampire King, towering and menacing, braced himself for the onslaught, his eyes narrowing as he prepared to unleash his formidable power against the relentless skeletal warrior.
"Are you looking down on me?! How dare you make me fight your minion?!" the Vampire King roared, his voice reverberating through the vast arena, shaking its very foundations. His crimson eyes blazed with fury as he glared at his opponent, his fangs bared in a menacing snarl. "I will crush you both! You will regret underestimating my power!"
Bony closed the distance with astonishing speed, its blade aimed straight at the Vampire King. The Vampire King countered with a powerful swing of his colossal 30-foot sword, the force of the blow creating a shockwave that rattled the arena. But Bony, with its berserk-enhanced agility, dodged the attack and retaliated with a devastating vertical slash.
VERTICAL SLASH!
CLANG!
The Vampire King blocked the strike, but the impact forced him back a step. He growled in anger, his crimson eyes burning with rage. "You think a mere skeleton can defeat me?!" he roared, his voice echoing through the grand arena.
"Don't underestimate my skeletal minion," Zealot called out from the sidelines, a confident smirk playing on his lips. "He's far more than just a skeleton warrior. In fact, he's even stronger than I am."
“Hahaha! Your minion is stronger than you?! What a joke! Do you expect me to believe such nonsense?! There are no minions in this world stronger than their master, you moron!” The Vampire King, feeling mocked by Zealot, sneered, “Now stop being a coward and fight me yourself, instead of hiding behind your minion!”
“You talk too much for someone who's struggling to defeat my skeletal minion. Defeat my minion first if you wish to face me,” Zealot replied.
“Fine, you bastard! I’ll crush your minion in five minutes! Just you wait—I’ll be coming for your life next!” the Vampire King snarled.
The tension in the arena was palpable as the Vampire King and Bony clashed in a furious dance of steel and bone. Each strike and parry echoed through the expansive arena, the air thick with the scent of burning ozone and blood. The Vampire King’s enormous sword was a blur of lethal intent, but Bony, now powered by the Minion Berserk buff, moved with a speed and ferocity that seemed almost supernatural.
HORIZONTAL SLASH! VERTICAL SLASH! DIAGONAL SLASH!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The Vampire King swung his sword in a wide arc, but Bony anticipated the move and ducked under the blade, delivering a bone-crushing punch to the king's midsection. The Vampire King staggered, momentarily winded by the unexpected strength of his opponent.
PUNCH!
“Ugh, you son of a bitch! Damn skeleton, you will pay for that!” the Vampire King snarled, his voice dripping with venom.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
The ground shook with each impact, the force of their blows sending ripples through the arena. The Vampire King, his eyes blazing with fury, swung his sword with all his might, aiming to cleave Bony in two. But Bony’s movements were swift and fluid, each dodge and counterstrike a testament to its unmatched skill and strength.
As the battle raged on, the Vampire King’s frustration grew. His attacks, once precise and calculated, began to lose their edge, his movements slowing as he struggled to keep up with Bony’s relentless onslaught. "How... how is this possible?!" he hissed, his voice filled with a mix of rage and disbelief. "No mere skeleton should be able to match my power!"
While Zealot fought fiercely against the Vampire Royal Knights, he briefly glanced at the battle between his skeletal minion and the Vampire King, a smirk widening on his face. “I told you, didn’t I?” he called out, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “My skeletal minion is more than just a simple warrior. You should have taken him more seriously from the start.”
CLANG!
With a final, powerful strike, Bony pushed the Vampire King back, the force of the blow sending him sprawling across the arena floor. The Vampire King struggled to rise, his breaths ragged and his eyes filled with a dark, burning hatred. "You... you will pay for this, skeleton!"
Bony, undeterred, advanced on the fallen Vampire King, its skeletal frame glowing with an eerie red light. Meanwhile, Zealot, having just finished eliminating all the Vampire Royal Knights, walked toward the weakened ruler, his eyes fixed on him. “It’s over, Vampire King. Your reign ends here.”
[You have slain a Vampire Royal Knight!]
[You have slain a Vampire Royal Knight!]
[You have slain a Vampire Royal Knight!]
[Skeleton’s Progression: 43% >> 48%]
The Vampire King, summoning the last remnants of his strength, staggered to his feet, his sword raised high. "I won’t... I won’t be defeated by the likes of you! This is not the end!" he roared, his voice echoing through the vast arena.
ROAAAARRRR!
Bony, with a final, decisive move, leapt forward, its blade slicing through the air with a sharp diagonal cut.
DIAGONAL SLASH!
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The Vampire King’s eyes widened in shock as the sword struck true, the force of the blow splitting his armor and sending him crashing to the ground, lifeless and defeated.
THUD!
[You have slain the Vampire King!]
[You have gained a significant amount of EXP!]
[Leveled Up!]
[Level: 77 >> 78]
[Skeleton’s Progression: 48% >> 55%]
Zealot stood over the fallen king, his eyes cold and unyielding. "And that is how you end a reign of terror," he said, his voice steady and final.
The underground arena fell silent, the echoes of the battle fading into the stillness. Zealot turned to Bony, a nod of approval passing between them. "Excellent job, Bony! You were incredible!"
Bony, its skeletal form still glowing with a faint red light, gave a silent nod, its eyes glowing with a triumphant light. The battle was over, and the Vampire King’s dark reign over the 10th floor had finally come to an end.
Upon the boss monster's defeat, a shimmering exit portal materialized directly above the fallen Vampire King. Without hesitation, Zealot and his skeletal minion stepped through the portal, leaving the Bloodmoon Tower behind and emerging into the main dungeon, where a lush, verdant prehistoric forest stretched out before them.
Despite the days Zealot spent within the hidden dungeon, known as the Bloodmoon Tower, only a few minutes have elapsed in the main dungeon.
"Well, that was quite a journey inside the hidden dungeon," Zealot remarked. "Alright, let’s head back to the camp and check up on Lilith’s party."
The skeletal minion nodded, and together they navigated the dense, prehistoric forest, making their way back to camp.
Upon arriving at the camp, they discovered that all was calm, and Lilith’s party was sleeping peacefully. It appeared that Skeleton Warrior Number Two was doing an excellent job guarding the camp while its master, Zealot, was away raiding the hidden dungeon.
“Great job, Skeleton Warrior Number Two,” Zealot said, his voice calm and measured in the stillness of the night.
Skeleton Warrior Number Two nodded and gave a thumbs-up, his hollow eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.
Sitting down and gazing up at the night sky, Zealot admired the twinkling stars, the glowing moon, the distant planets, and other mysterious celestial objects. It was a breathtaking view, leaving Zealot in awe.
After a while, Zealot yawned, feeling sleepy. “I’m going to sleep now. Please ensure the camp is guarded,” he instructed his skeletal minions.
The two skeletal companions, standing at attention, nodded in unison. Their hollow eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, a silent promise of vigilance through the night. Moving to their positions, they prepared to watch over their master and the camp.
The next morning…
Everyone woke up, and Zealot’s party, consisting of Zealot himself and Lilith’s party, had a quick breakfast. Afterward, they began their journey toward the 2,500-foot-tall ancient tree, where the boss room, Bee Palace, was located at the top.
Meanwhile, Belial’s party had just finished their breakfast and was making final preparations for their journey. They gathered their equipment, checked their supplies, and reviewed their strategy for the raid inside Bee Palace. With determination in their eyes and a clear plan in mind, they set out to tackle the challenges ahead. The anticipation of the confrontation with the boss monster added a sense of urgency and excitement as they moved forward.
As Zealot’s party made their way to the colossal ancient tree, they faced numerous challenges along the way. They encountered a diverse array of monsters that blocked their path, ranging from towering T-Rexes and swift Velociraptors to swarms of Giant Bees and other fearsome prehistoric creatures.
At this very moment, Lilith’s party noticed a significant change in Zealot. His aura had grown more potent, and his two skeletal minions appeared significantly stronger than before. This transformation surprised Lilith’s party, as they were unable to comprehend how Zealot had become so much more powerful overnight, a change that didn’t make sense to them.
“Did you see that?” Lilith asked, her eyes wide with surprise. “Zealot’s aura… it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. What could have caused such a significant change?”
Gareth, observing the two skeletal minions with curiosity, replied, “I’ve never seen his minions look this formidable. They seem much more powerful now. Do you think he discovered some new power or artifact?”
Serena, her eyes still fixed on Zealot, added, “It’s quite unexpected. I’m curious to know what could have brought about such a profound transformation.”
Nevertheless, although Lilith’s party was surprised by the sudden change in Zealot, they were pleased. They reasoned that the stronger Zealot became, the higher their chances of survival in this dungeon would be. In short, they viewed it as an advantageous situation.
ROAAARRRR!!!
KRAAARRRR!!!
GRAAARRRR!!!
As they approached ever closer to the colossal ancient tree, the monsters grew increasingly aggressive. Giant orcs, standing fifteen feet tall and fully armored, appeared and attacked Zealot’s party. However, despite their formidable strength, these orcs were no match for Zealot’s skeletal minions.
HORIZONTAL SLASH! VERTICAL SLASH! DIAGONAL SLASH!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
However, Orcs weren’t the only type of monsters present. Alongside them, there were formidable Giant Insects, terrifying Dinosaur-like monsters, and a myriad of other prehistoric beings, each more fearsome than the last.
[You have slain an Orc!]
[You have slain a T-Rex]
[You have slain a Giant Ape!]
[Skeleton’s Progression: 55% >> 59%]
Eventually, they slew all the monsters within the area, clearing the path of any threats. With the danger now behind them, they could finally approach the colossal ancient tree peacefully. The tree stood majestically before them, its massive trunk and sprawling branches a testament to its ancient origins. As they drew closer, a sense of awe and reverence filled them, knowing they had reached their target.
However, before embarking on the climb up the colossal tree, Zealot’s party decided to take a few minutes to rest and replenish their energy. “Alright, let’s take a short break before we proceed,” Zealot announced to his party. Although Zealot wasn’t exhausted, Lilith’s party appeared to be.
They then found a comfortable spot beneath the tree, where they could relax briefly and gather their strength for the challenging climb ahead.
Once everyone felt sufficiently rested and prepared, Zealot stood up and declared, “Let’s continue.” Excitement surged through the party as everyone nodded in agreement, and with that, they began their ascent up the colossal tree.
“Woohoo! Let’s do this!” shouted one of the members, grinning widely.
“We’ve got this!” exclaimed another, pumping his fist in the air.
“Just think of the view from the top!” called out a third member, her voice brimming with exhilaration.
Zealot sighed inwardly as he observed how immature Lilith’s party behaved, further convincing him that Belial's decision to get rid of them was understandable.
WHOOOOOO!
As they climbed, the strong winds howled around them, testing their resolve. Despite fierce gusts threatening to push them off course, their determination remained unshaken. They pressed on, each climb bringing them closer to their goal: the legendary Bee Palace awaiting them at the summit. The climb was grueling, but their resolve to reach the top never wavered.
With every footfall on the rugged bark, the anticipation within Zealot’s party grew. The climb was no easy feat; the colossal tree was a natural fortress, its branches twisted and gnarled, creating a labyrinthine path upwards. The howling winds and the daunting height were relentless adversaries, but they pressed on with unwavering determination regardless.
As they ascended, they encountered more formidable flying monsters. Swarms of Giant Bees buzzed menacingly around them, their stingers poised to strike, along with groups of Colossal Pterodactyls. Zealot fought valiantly, with his skeletal minions at the forefront, cutting down enemies with swift precision. Lilith’s party members, despite their initial immaturity, showed flashes of bravery and skill, contributing to the battle with their own unique abilities.
[You have slain a Giant Bee!]
[You have slain a Juvenile Pterodactyl!]
[You have slain a Pterodactyl!]
…
…
…
[Skeleton’s Progression: 59% >> 61%]
The progress notifications echoed in Zealot’s mind, a constant reminder of his skeletons’ advancement.
After what felt like an eternity of climbing and fighting, they finally reached the top. There, they were greeted by the sight of a colossal beehive known as the grand “Bee Palace.”
Seeing the entrance to the Bee Palace wide open, Zealot’s party figured that Belial’s party had already entered and begun the raid.
"Seems like we’ve arrived just in time as Belial’s party hasn't completed their raid yet," Zealot remarked. "Very well, let’s not waste time and proceed."
Everyone nodded in unison, and with determined steps, they began moving forward.