As more corpses emerged from the mine, Fongo issued a retreat.
Withdraw, the cavalry remounted and distanced themselves from the mine's domain.
Upon reaching a safe distance, the manipulated corpses began to retreat, re-entering the mine.
At that moment, Bolton approached, "My lord, are you unharmed?" He was well aware of the perils posed by the forsaken mine, where none who entered ever return alive.
Fongo was the first exception.
Yet, given the current circumstances, Bolton could not ascertain whether Fong House still belonged to the realm of the living.
Let us proceed to your village.
Chapter 64.
The Worm mother.
The arrival of a contingent of undead cavalry incited a brief turmoil in the village of the pigheaded folk.
Those standing along the roadside exchanged whispers tinged with panic.
Under Bolton's guidance, Fonggho ventured directly into the village.
It was evident that the pigheaded settlement was not affluent.
Its size comparable to the previous goblin encampment with a populace of around two to 300 individuals.
Please wait a moment, my lord.
I shall summon the chieftain.
Bolton respectfully proposed.
No need.
Find me a thatched hut and ensure we are not disturbed.
Fong how instructed.
Very well.
Bolton scurryed to a corner of the village and located a thatched hut.
My lord, is this suitable? He inquired anxious to please.
Yes, but during our stay.
No one is to approach us.
Fongghao reiterated.
I shall inform the chieftain and ensure no one comes near.
Bolton assured him.
With that, Bolton departed.
After guiding a h 100 cavalry into the thatched hut, Fong how dispelled his divine presence, allowing his consciousness to return to his corporeal form.
He rose from the bed and stepped outside the lord's wooden cabin to stretch his limbs.
After approximately half an hour of repose, he commenced with his subsequent plans.
Opening the lord's book, he navigated to the crafting interface, locating the blueprint for torch.
Torch, one wood, two straw, one leather.
This blueprint for the torch was previously acquired from slaying Hong, yet had remained unused until now.
He decided to craft a 100fold amplification triggered, obtaining 10 100 torches.
10,000 torches materialized before Fongo.
He instructed the skeletons to bring several carts to bundle and load them all.
With preparations complete, Fongo returned to his chamber and activated his divine presence once more.
divine target, skeleton soldier compatibility 88.
Upon opening his eyes again, he found himself inhabiting a skeleton soldier.
He counted 8,000 skeleton soldiers, 2,000 skeleton spearmen, and 100 skeleton giant bats and assembled force of 11,000.
Equipped with the prepared torches, set forth once more towards the abandoned mine.
Several hours later, Fongo's team arrived at the forsaken mine once again.
The mining area remained desolate with vegetation withered and devoid of life.
The spearmen formed ranks while the skeleton soldiers lowered their shields and grasp the torches.
Funhow issued commands with authority.
Skeleton spearmen form ranks and create a shield wall, allowing your spears to protrude through the gaps in your shields.
The skeleton soldiers relinquish their shields and seize the prepared torches from the carts.
Employing flint, they ignited one torch and proceeded to light the others in succession.
Fonggha's strategy was straightforward.
Given the minuscule and elusive nature of the insects, wielding swords was impractical.
Instead, the flaming torches could be used to press down upon and eliminate them.
As all the torches blazed to life, illuminating the surroundings, Fongo commanded, "Avance and eradicate all creatures.
" The skeletal army entered the cavernous region where dim light illuminated a multitude of manipulated beasts and orcs once more launching an offensive against the skeletal legion.
The skeletal spearmen pressed forward relentlessly, their extended lances piercing the bodies of all asalants.
Iron eating worms emerged from the cadaavvers, seeking new hosts.
Yet in the next instant, a torch forcefully pinned one to the ground, charring it to a crisp.
8,000 skeletal soldiers followed closely behind the spearman, pursuing the scurrying worms across the floor.
Faced with the long dead undead, these parasitic creatures found themselves utterly powerless, destined to perish in the aftermath of their host demise, either scorched or crushed beneath heavy feet.
Soon, the center of the mine became a grim tableau littered with hundreds of various animal corpses and the charred remains of the worms.
With the battle outside concluded, it was time to delve into the depths of the cavern.
Prepare to enter the mine, Fonggha declared, beginning to organize the troops.
The mine's narrow width permitted only three individuals to walk side by side.
Thus, he assigned three skeletal spearmen to lead the first and second ranks, followed by three rows of torchbearing skeletal soldiers.
The remaining troops were instructed to stand by at the entrance.
Once arrangements were complete, they formed ranks according to the plan and commenced their descent into the mine.
Fongo positioned himself in the third rank, holding a torch and closely trailing the spearman.
Inside, darkness enveloped the space, and chilling winds caused the flame to flicker.
By the feeble light, one could discern various artificial markings on the cavern walls, indicative of early mining endeavors.
It seemed that these worms had not been present during the initial excavation.
They had appeared later, claiming the mine as their own.
As they ventured deeper, the ground began to reveal an array of animal skeletons, densely packed as if in a mass grave.
Before long, a multitude of parasetized animals emerged from the depths of the mine, launching an assault against the undead ranks.
In this constricted space, a fierce battle ensued.
The parasitic beasts charged fearlessly while the skeletal spearman thrust their lances, impaling their targets with relentless precision.
Meanwhile, Fong Ho and his companions were equally occupied, utilizing their torches and feet to exterminate the fleeing worms.
After repelling several waves of attacks, the group pressed onward into the darkness.
Ultimately, they reached the mine's terminus, where at the deepest recess lay a nest constructed from an array of bones.
Its design bore a resemblance to a swallow's nest.
Yet within resided not a bird, but a colossal worm.
Its bloated form writhed like a spider, incessantly undulating, ironing worm, matriarch, ability, reproduction.
Lo and behold, it was the mother of the worms.
No wonder no faction had succeeded in eradicating these creatures over such a prolonged period.
The worms had established their own societal structure.
As long as the matriarch remained alive, the iron eating worms would persist indefinitely.
A skeletal soldier's iron swords struck the cavern wall, the crisp sound reverberating endlessly within the mine.
The once closed eyes of the mother worm suddenly flared open, revealing countless bloodshot orbs glaring at the group.
At such a close distance, Fong Ho could distinctly sense the fury emanating from the motherworm's gaze.
The creature's body began to writhe violently, its tail twisting at an unnatural angle towards the skeletal battalion.
The massive abdomen of the mother worm undulated with increasing speed.
In the next instant, its tail expelled a torrent of iron eating larve akin to an inkspraying cuttlefish, inundating the area.
Fongghao, positioned in the third row, witnessed the swarm of insects shooting forth like a high-press water jet, his expression shifting dramatically while the skeletons remained unperturbed by the approaching insects.
A wave of revulsion surged within them.
They raised their shields in defense, and the spear wielders in the first and second rows lifted their wooden shields.
The sound of incessant collisions echoed as the insects struck against the wooden shields.
The spear wielders, intent on slaying the mother worm, pressed forward, leaving the others to fend off the encroaching larve.
Fong Hao, having dodged the onslaught, began to issue commands.
The spear wielders disregarded the surrounding larve and advanced towards the mother worm, while the rest employed various means to clear the area of the ironing pests.
Chapter 65.