[Dungeon Completion Rate: 89%]
[Time Limit: 3 hours remaining]
With renewed resolve, the demon adventurers regrouped and continued their journey deeper into the vast labyrinthine corridors of the Minotaur Castle. Each step brought them closer to their ultimate goal: challenging the boss monster, the Minotaur King.
During their journey, they encountered more Minotaur Soldiers obstructing their path. However, they were swiftly dispatched.
[Your group has slain a Minotaur Soldier!]
[Your group has slain a Minotaur Soldier!]
[Your group has slain a Minotaur Soldier!]
…
…
…
As they ventured deeper into the castle, the atmosphere grew heavier, the shadows more ominous. The air itself seemed to pulse with dark energy, a testament to the formidable foes that awaited them.
"Stay vigilant," Viviana's voice carried a note of caution as they approached the next threshold. "We're nearing the boss room. Prepare yourselves."
The demon adventurers nodded in silent agreement, their weapons at the ready and their senses sharp. With Viviana Scarlet leading the way, they moved forward, ready to face whatever trials awaited them in their quest to confront the Minotaur King.
[Dungeon Progress: 91%]
[Time Limit: 1 hours and 44 minutes remaining]
The enormous corridors twisted and turned, each passage more labyrinthine than the last. Ancient carvings adorned the walls, depicting scenes of battles won and lost, and the rise of the Minotaur King. The adventurers moved cautiously, their hearts pounding in anticipation of the battle to come.
RUMBLE!
Suddenly, the ground beneath them rumbled, and the giant walls shifted once more, revealing a vast royal throne room ahead. The demon adventurers braced themselves, weapons at the ready, as they entered. The grand throne room stretched out before them, its walls lined with towering pillars and adorned with ancient tapestries depicting the Minotaur King's reign.
“This is the moment. Brace yourselves, everyone,” Viviana declared.
At the far end of the vast throne room—an immense space easily the size of several soccer fields—loomed the imposing figure of the 100-foot Minotaur King. Seated regally upon a majestic throne of polished obsidian, he was enveloped in armor that gleamed with the brilliance of countless diamonds. The armor’s radiant facets caught the flickering light, casting an aura of unassailable power and grandeur over the entire room.
[Name: Minotaur King]
[Class: Destroyer]
[Level: 100]
His eyes, glowing with a fierce intensity, fixed upon the approaching adventurers. A low, rumbling growl escaped his lips as he rose to his feet, towering over them with an aura of undisputed power and authority.
Encircling the Minotaur King, the enormous statues that had once stood silent now came to life. On the left and right flanks, six colossal statues on each side stirred and moved, their stone forms transforming into twelve towering Minotaur Royal Knights, each a 75-foot tall colossal giant. Their immense presence added a formidable and awe-inspiring air to the already tense atmosphere.
Viviana Scarlet and her companions stood just beyond the grand entrance, their faces a mix of awe and determination. The sheer scale of the Minotaur King and his minions was intimidating, but their resolve remained unshaken. They had faced countless perils to reach this point, and they knew that the final confrontation would demand every ounce of their strength and skill.
“Stay sharp!” Viviana’s voice cut through the tension, commanding attention as she stepped forward. “We’re up against the Minotaur King and his Royal Minotaur Knights. This will be the fight of our lives!”
Aaron the mighty 7 foot Demon Warrior, standing beside her, nodded in agreement. “Everyone, split into teams! We need to keep the Royal Knights occupied while focusing our main efforts on the Minotaur King. Mages, prepare your most potent spells. Warriors, be ready to face the knights. Archers, find a vantage point and rain down arrows. Healers, stay close and keep us in fighting shape! Assassins, move stealthily and target the enemies’ weak points!”
The demon adventurers sprang into action, quickly organizing themselves into their assigned roles. The Mages began chanting incantations, their hands crackling with arcane energy. The Warriors readied their weapons, their expressions steely and determined. The Archers found elevated positions, their bows poised and ready. The Healers moved among the ranks, their eyes scanning for any sign of injury or fatigue. Meanwhile, the Assassins melted into the shadows, their movements swift and silent, preparing to strike from unseen angles. Each member of the team knew their role and executed it with precision, a testament to their coordination and skill.
Viviana took a deep breath, her grip tightening around her sword. Her eyes locked onto the Minotaur King, who descended from his throne with a slow, deliberate gait. The Minotaur King’s roar echoed through the room, a primal sound that shook the very foundation of the castle.
ROOOAAARRR!!!
RUMBLE!!!
After flexing his roar of dominance, the Minotaur King approached, his voice boomed with authority, resonating through the grand throne room. "You’ve fought valiantly to reach this point," he intoned, his voice like thunder. "But your journey ends here. This castle, and my reign, shall be your tomb!"
Without another word, the Minotaur King charged forward, his diamond armor gleaming with deadly intent. The Royal Minotaur Knights followed suit, their immense forms crashing toward the adventurers with terrifying speed.
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The first clash was explosive. The Warriors engaged the Royal Minotaur Knights, their weapons clashing against the Minotaur Knights’ massive hammers with a thunderous clanging. The ground beneath them quaked as each blow was struck, the sheer force of the battle sending shockwaves through the throne room.
CLANG!
BOOOMMM!
Viviana leaped into action, her colossal sword slicing through the air with precision. She dodged a sweeping strike from the Minotaur King’s enormous diamond hammer, her agility allowing her to evade the crushing blow. With a swift counterattack, she aimed for a vulnerable spot in the Minotaur King’s armor, her sword cleaving through the air with a brilliant flash.
THUNK! CRACK!
The Minotaur King’s armor resisted the blow, but Viviana’s strike managed to leave a visible scratch. The King’s eyes blazed with fury as he turned his attention fully on her, his massive form shifting to strike back with renewed ferocity.
Meanwhile, the Mages unleashed their most powerful spells, bolts of lightning and streams of fire tearing through the air and striking the Minotaur King’s armor. Despite the magical onslaught, the Minotaur King’s armor held firm, though the sheer volume of attacks forced him to stagger slightly.
“Fucking pests!” the Minotaur King growled, his voice dripping with irritation. “Ugh, how annoying! Do you really think your petty magic can make a difference?! You’ll have to do better than that to damage me!”
The Archers let loose a barrage of arrows, their projectiles finding their mark and piercing the gaps in the Royal Minotaur Knights’ armor. The Minotaur Knights roared in frustration, their movements becoming more erratic as they attempted to swat away the relentless assault.
At the same time, Zealot unleashed his curse skills, activated Minion Berserk, and summoned another skeleton warrior to join the battle. Additionally, realizing that time was running out, he knew he couldn’t afford to hesitate and had to give his all in this critical moment.
CURSE OF DIARRHEA! CURSE OF PEE!
SKELETON SILVER WARRIOR, COME FORTH!
MINION BERSERK!
Upon unleashing his potent Diarrhea skill, a sudden wave of intense discomfort surged through the Minotaur King and his twelve Royal Minotaur Knights. This discomfort not only slowed their movements but also shattered their concentration momentarily, leaving them vulnerable and disoriented in the midst of battle.
However, to Zealot's surprise, his action only enraged the Minotaur King and his Royal Knights even further. In response, the Minotaur King unleashed one of his most formidable skills, “Destroyer Group Fury.” This ability, similar to Minion Berserk, significantly enhanced both the power and speed of his Royal Minotaur Knights and himself.
ROOOAAARRR!
DESTROYER GROUP FURY!
Instantly, the Minotaur King and his Royal Knights were thrust into berserk mode, their eyes glowing with a fierce rage energy. Their power doubled, and the pace of the battle quickened, making it overall twice as challenging for the demon adventurers to keep up.
However, despite the formidable buff skill unleashed by the Minotaur King, the demon adventurers stood their ground with unwavering resolve. They refused to yield, even as the battle grew increasingly fierce and the odds seemed insurmountable. Their determination burned bright, unshaken by the overwhelming power of their enemies.
Meanwhile, Zealot remained composed. Having read the Minotaur King’s mind, he had anticipated such an outcome. At the same time, he trusted that Viviana would be able to hold off the Minotaur King long enough for his skeleton minion to reach its next evolution stage.
[Skeleton's Progression: 99%]
With the skeleton’s progression rate at 99%, Zealot needed only one more kill to reach its full completion. As long as Viviana could buy enough time until one of the Royal Minotaur Knights fell, it would be sufficient to achieve 100%.
‘Come on, Viviana! You can do this!’ Zealot thought. While he maintained a composed exterior, a gnawing worry lingered within him. If Viviana were to die, his entire plan would collapse, and everyone would be in grave danger.
After approximately five minutes of intense combat, Zealot abruptly halted and stepped back, surveying the battle with growing frustration. Despite his relentless efforts, he realized that his attacks had failed to inflict any noticeable damage on the Royal Minotaur Knights. Their formidable defense rendered his punches entirely ineffective.
‘My attacks barely inflict any damage... I guess I’m truly underleveled…’ Zealot thought.
For the first fifteen minutes, the battle was a whirlwind of chaos and fury. Viviana’s group fought with all their might, barely managing to hold their ground against the relentless onslaught of the Minotaur King and his Royal Minotaur Knights. Each clash of weapons and each spell cast seemed to intensify the struggle, creating a scene of unrelenting violence and desperate resistance.
As time dragged on, roughly an hour passed, the tide of the battle began to shift. The demon adventurers, who had fought with fierce determination and unwavering resolve, were now showing unmistakable signs of exhaustion. Their movements grew increasingly sluggish, their once-impenetrable defenses grew weaker, and their coordination faltered under the relentless pressure. One by one, the demon adventurers fell, their strength eroded and their spirits broken beneath the crushing weight of their enemies' relentless assault.
With the number of demon adventurers dropping from 65 to 33, the battle grew increasingly difficult. Unfortunately, not a single Royal Minotaur Knight had been defeated yet, heightening Zealot's concern about the dire situation. On top of that, he was running low on mana from repeatedly spamming his skills, and his skeletal minions had already been resummoned more than 15 times. This constant resummoning had drained his mana to just 12% remaining.
[MP: 261/2175]
Ding!
[Your Skeleton Silver Warrior has been slain by the Royal Minotaur Knights!]
[You have resummoned your Skeleton Silver Warrior!]
‘This isn’t looking good… Even Viviana seems to be nearing her limit. This Minotaur King and his Royal Knights are truly formidable adversaries… Moreover, after reading their thoughts, it seems they didn’t even fight at their full strength. Fuck, to think the gap in power between us is this immense…’ Zealot thought.
With no other viable options left, Zealot understood that he had no choice but to implement Plan B. This alternative strategy relied on outsmarting his enemies through cunning manipulation tactics. However, the major drawback of employing such tactics was the inherent uncertainty of their success. The effectiveness of these manipulation strategies was heavily dependent on the intelligence of the Minotaur King. If the Minotaur King was foolish, Zealot's manipulative schemes might succeed in deceiving him. On the other hand, if the Minotaur King proved to be highly intelligent and perceptive, then there was no guarantee that these tactics would work. Overall, the outcome was sort of like a gamble.
“Hahaha! There’s no point in resisting!” the Minotaur King declared, his voice booming and reverberating through the vast throne room. “Surrender now and accept your fate!”
Knowing there was no time to waste, Zealot took a deep breath and stepped forward with a determined look in his eyes. “We surrender!” he announced, his voice steady despite the dire circumstances. “Since we’re doomed to die anyway, why not let us make the most of our final moments? How about a game? After all, you’ve got nothing to lose at this point, and it might be a bit of fun before we face our end. What do you say?”
“Huh? A game? What sort of games are you talking about?” The Minotaur King’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. He leaned in, his imposing figure casting a shadow over the grand throne room. “It had better be something truly fun and engaging,” he warned, his tone threatening. “If it fails to amuse me, I won’t hesitate to ensure that none of you leave here alive!”
‘Wow, it actually works like that? Well, I can’t blame the Minotaur King for agreeing… After all, he has nothing to lose; in his mind, he’s already convinced that we’re not going to win this regardless,’ Zealot was slightly taken aback, having not anticipated that the Minotaur King would agree so easily.