Who Designed This Underworld Dungeon?

"Dal, our target is that guy, right?" Leon looked at the Insect King, slowly standing up from the explosion's dust cloud with unhappiness written all over its face. He switched his weapon to the Calia Straight Sword, wanting to test the magic's effect on the opponent.

"Are we going to hold it here until more people arrive before making a plan?" Steeran's injuries were healed, and he seemed even more invigorated, a testament to Aleya's value.

Dal looked at the Insect King and said:

"No, we're going to crush it in one go right here!"

The confidence brought to Dal by Leon and the others was akin to the arrival of Fran Guards for support, perhaps even greater.

Feeling the battle intent in his tone, Leon smiled and also gathered his energy, bringing out the vigor when he used to beat his old man.

"You bastards!"

The Insect King's body emitted a cracking sound, its size suddenly reducing significantly, making its momentum appear more restrained and potent.

The newly arrived individuals all possessed notable strength, yet in the Insect King's eyes, there was no trace of worry. Instead, it grew more excited with the increase in numbers.

The battle was imminent.

Large plants cultivated by Aleya first caused disorder throughout the field, with rocks and dust swirling everywhere.

Maru's figure flitted through the dust like a ghost, and in the blink of an eye, several clear slash marks appeared on the Insect King's exoskeleton. The Mercenary Dual Blades were indeed that sharp, but unfortunately, they didn't cut the flesh.

Though the exoskeleton damage was extensive, it was of no consequence to the Insect King, which suddenly locked onto Maru, thrusting its spear like a dragon!

With a "bang," it pierced Maru, but the body suddenly exploded into a wooden stump, surprisingly an illusion technique. The nearby Elf Mage who successfully cast the illusion laughed slyly.

Before the Insect King could get angry, the wooden stump suddenly shimmered and transformed into a giant-eyed cute Curse Frog, which spat out dense Curse Death Smoke with a "wah."

"What is this!"

For some reason, sensing a strong death threat from the smoke, the Insect King's speech became fluent as it retreated explosively, wanting no part of the Curse Death Smoke.

This move was just what the people wanted; Steeran, who had long anticipated the position, unleashed Arrow Rain at it. The shower of arrows didn't cause any damage, but the various effects combined, leaving the target dizzy and confused.

Great Calia soared into the sky, seemingly gathering power.

Uffie's battle experience told the Insect King that it must interrupt the opponent now, but the sound of a wolf's howl rose up, and as it turned back, Dal once again attacked with a Wolf Jump.

The Insect King snorted disdainfully, raising its hand to block. Having understood the strength of the Wolf Jump, it only needed to use a little force.

"Slash—"

Like a sharp blade tearing through cloth, the Fran Greatsword unexpectedly sliced most of its arm in half!

"What!"

As Great Calia finished gathering power, it descended. Its massive blade instantly crushed it, bathing the scene in a bright blue magical glow!

"Cough, cough," having succeeded with the strike, Dal coughed out a mouthful of blood. Though uninjured, blood was streaming from his seven orifices... No need to guess, this was due to stacking numerous buffs on himself, jokingly called 'monkey play,' the last time he used such 'monkey play' was when facing Artorias.

Although his body ached somewhat, it felt invigorating!

"Did we kill it?"

He searched around for the Insect King's figure; Great Calia had left a deep sword mark, but the enemy was nowhere to be found.

At this moment, he suddenly sensed something standing behind him, but without looking back, he leaped forward abruptly.

However, the thing had already appeared in the direction of his jump; it was the Insect King with its exoskeleton shattered mostly!

Despite the blood flowing, it was not disheartened. Instead, it opened its mouth wide at Dal, roaring:

"Give it to me!"

An ominous glow burst from its mouth, hitting Dal powerfully!

In an instant, he felt his body losing control, as if it was about to be taken over by the opponent!

"Dal!" People charged over, but it was already too late.

Strange light appeared in Dal's eyes; the Insect King's consciousness successfully entered his body!

This was its ultimate move, possessing another's body!

Everyone's inner spirit scenery is different, and having successfully entered Dal's spirit, the Insect King felt like it saw an unnamed tomb, an ancient, bleak tombstone, with nothing around, only an empty square under the moonlight.

Next, it just needed to find something in Dal's heart that was most sensitive and detested to shake his inner heart, thus being able to take over his body!

After taking over Dal, it would go for others', and in the end, it would become the strongest, so it felt that the more people there were to fight against it, the better.

But just then, a low growl came from behind.

Strange, it seemed it hadn't done anything yet, why was Dal's spiritual world already responding?

The Insect King turned around.

It saw the moon and the tomb.

Along with a grey giant wolf holding a Great Sword, standing atop the tomb!

Not the Ancient Wolf of Fran, but a presence even older!

"Roar!"

The dignified wolf's roar exploded in the Insect King's mind as the grey giant wolf appeared.