After confirming the direction and position, I commanded, "All cavalry, follow me.
" With that, I set forth with 101 skeleton scouts towards the northern abandoned mine.
We navigated through the woods and crossed the lands, gradually nearing the mine's location.
Just as I halted my horse to reassess our position, a sudden commotion erupted ahead, accompanied by furious roars.
Is there a fight? I furrowed my brow slightly.
Moreover, the sounds of battle obstructed my path forward.
Let us investigate.
The cavalry hastily advanced, and we soon beheld the source of the conflict.
It was a group of 10 pigh-headed warriors wielding swords and displaying anxious expressions.
Their adversaries, however, were far more unsettling.
An assembly of decayed creatures with sunken heads encircled the pigheaded warriors, launching their assault.
Goodness, it felt like a scene from a horror tale.
Chapter 63.
The iron eating worm Fong Hao, having witnessed the sight of decaying corpses at Infong Fortress, felt an unparalleled shock in this moment.
The animals he typically observed had transformed into bizarre creatures, their bodies grotesqually rotting.
A colossal stag, its form covered in putrid boils, had a significant portion of its skull caved in with its ike dangling limply, yet it relentlessly charged at a pig-headed creature.
The pigheaded beings that perished in combat upon collapsing to the ground rose as if infected, joining the ranks of the decaying beasts to attack their former companions.
The entire battlefield was enveloped in a surreal atmosphere.
Corpse of the colossal stack, corpse of the prairie wolf.
Fong how continued to peruse the details of several animal corpses.
Each one unequivocally identified as a mere body rather than a combat unit.
This was perplexing.
At Infoam Fortress, encountering the undead would at least display their rank and skills.
Why then? Were these presented simply as corpses? The sound of thundering hooves reverberated through the air, drawing the attention of both the pigheaded creatures and the animal corpses.
The sight of a cadre of undead cavalry rendered the pigheaded beings even more pallet.
Realizing they had been ins snared in a dire predicament.
Today, their demise seemed inevitable.
The zombie animals more direct in their approach immediately launched an assault upon Fong How and his companions.
Onward, slay them.
I refuse to believe that even skeletons can transmit infection.
Fonggho murmured.
Even if you are a zombie, your contagion can only affect ordinary beings.
I shall not be swayed by the notion that skeletons can also spread it.
Upon hearing Fong Ha's command, the cavalry unshathed their iron blades, driving their steeds forward into the fray.
The charge of the cavalry was formidable.
In a mere instant, several animal heads were severed.
One severed head of a prairie wolf rolled to rest at Fong Housemount's feet just as the horse halted.
A slender worm emerged from the prairie wolf's head, attempting to flee into the distance.
Iron eating worm ability parasetism with a gentle stomp of the skeletal hoof.
The iron eating worm was crushed into a pulpy mass.
It appeared that this creature possessed no offensive capabilities of its own, relying solely on its parasitic nature to conduct its attacks.
Soon, the animals that had been parasetized were vanquished by the cavalry.
The iron eating worms that emerged from the beast heads were swiftly trampled by the surviving pigheaded beings.
Once detached from their hosts, these worms posed no threat, making them easily dispatched.
As the battle concluded, the skeletal cavalry encircled the remaining dozen pigheaded beings, awaiting Fong Hao's command on whether to execute them or spare their lives.
Fong Hao approached at top his skeletal steed, scrutinizing the pigheaded assembly with a cold gaze.
This marked his second encounter with these creatures.
Do any of you recognize Lord Fong Hao? As the skeletal cavalry prepared to strike, one pig-headed being summoning its courage, stepped forward.
Hearing the inquiry, Fong Ho paused momentarily.
You know me, Fong Hao inquired.
The pigheaded creature, noticing that the skeletal cavalry was advancing from the direction of Fonggha's domain, decided to take a chance.
To its astonishment, the skeleton before it acknowledged itself as Fong Ho.
The pigheaded man hesitated slightly and cautiously inquired, "Are you Lord Fong Ha? A few days ago, I accompanied you to the Mana Market.
Do you recall?" Uh upon hearing this, Fong Hao recognized him.
This pig-headed individual was Bolton, the very one who had escorted him to man him.
Bolton, is your village nearby? Fonhao directly addressed it by name.
He noted that all pigheaded beings bore a striking resemblance to one another.
Without such identification, it would have been nearly impossible to distinguish between them.
Yes, yes indeed, Lord Fong How, you have saved me for the second time," Bolton exclaimed, his excitement causing him to kneel and express his gratitude fervently.
He was oblivious to the reason behind Fong how skeletal form and held little concern for it.
However, he understood that their recognition implied he and his companions would not be immediately met with violence.
Seeing Bolton kneel, the other pigheaded individuals followed suit, loudly voicing their thanks for Fong How's life-saving intervention.
Rise, what brings you here? Funhound inquired.
Bolton, along with several pigheaded companions, stood up respectfully and replied, "My lord, there's a mine ahead where we are extracting some ores in a safe location.
Are you referring to the abandoned mine?" Indeed, the mine is quite extensive, yet has been overrun by these iron eating worms.
For quite some time, no faction has dared to venture there.
"Our village is nearby, and we occasionally send people to extract some or from safer areas," Bolton explained softly.
"From Bolton's account," Fungha gleaned some understanding.
"This mine had existed for a long time, with various factions attempting to exploit it.
However, any creature that approached would be attacked by the iron eating worms, transforming them into lifeless puppets.
The losses were unbearable for any faction, leading to the mine's complete abandonment.
The pig-headed village was not far from here and would occasionally send individuals to extract or despite the frequent occurrences of casualties.
Such was their plight.
The pigheaded village was not affluent and often face threats and plundering from other beast tribes.
Even at the risk of lives, they would still muster individuals to extract the precious ores.
Very well, lead me to the mine, Fonghouse said softly.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of all the pigheaded individuals shifted dramatically.
Bolton, quick to respond, said, "My lord, these few are injured.
Let them return to the village while I guide you.
" Agreed.
Do not waste time.
Fonggho nodded in approval.
The few pigh-headed beings exchanged glances with Bolton before departing.
Bolton then led Fong Hao and the cavalry forward toward the mine.
With Bolton as their guide, they soon arrived at the mine's entrance.
The mine was vast, resembling a small mining site, complete with abandoned rail carts and various disused facilities.
It appeared that this place had once been subject to special construction efforts.
My lord, the worms are particularly active today.
Any approach will provoke an attack, making it quite challenging to handle, Bolton remarked softly.
Very well.
You wait here while I venture inside.
Fongo declared, leading all the cavalry forward.
As he stepped into the vicinity of the mine, he beheld a procession of animated corpses emerging from the depths comprising various beasts and manipulated orcs.
Dismount.
Engage in battle, Fongo commanded.
The cavalry dismounted, drawing their weapons to initiate their assault.
Fongo sought to ascertain whether these iron eating worms had any effect on the undead.
Indeed, amidst the fray, one iron eating worm detached from its original host, and seizing the opportunity, ascended onto the cranium of a skeletal cavalryman, and burrowed inside.
Yet in the blink of an eye, the skeletal horsemen thrust a finger into its own eye socket and seized the worm, extinguishing its life.
It appeared that the ironing worm was utterly ineffective against the skeletons.