Chapter 101: Burrowing Worm (2)

Su Lun was quite interested in these Drow Elves. Especially in some of their writings, like “Analysis of Shadow Tentacle Thirty-Six Binding Techniques,” “Local Applications of Enlarge and Reduce Spells,” and “Seventy-Two Seductive Finger Techniques for Mage Hand.”

Ugh. Scratch all of that above. Su Lun was actually thinking about how to subjugate this Drow Elf tribe. From Aydin’s performance just now, it was clear these Drow Elves were now in a desperate situation. Even so, putting them under his banner wouldn’t be easy.

Elves were proud by nature. Drow Elves were no exception. Unless Su Lun showed overwhelming power, he couldn’t hope to subjugate them. While the strength of Su Lun’s Territory was good, it still wasn’t enough to take control of these Drow.

Su Lun led the Drow to a warehouse. This was one of many storage facilities he had built at different locations around the town for storing supplies. This one was just one among them.

“This warehouse has food, medicine, weapons, and other supplies. You can take these back to your people. Of course, payment will be required,” Su Lun said, pointing at the warehouse before him.

Aydin looked at the warehouse with excited surprise. It wasn’t very large, but it held a substantial amount of supplies. The grain alone would feed his clan for two months! Combined with the other goods, his people could live quite well. They had traded with others before, but often the prices were exorbitant, and the quantities limited.

This resolute-faced Drow Elf stared at Su Lun with intense emotion, then saluted him respectfully, saying fervently, “Thank you for your aid, honorable Lord.”

They truly were nearing the end of their rope. Without supplies, without support, and without strength overwhelming enough to dominate, survival on the Wasteland was harsh.

Su Lun looked at the Drow Elf before him. “These supplies should sustain you for a time. But without the protection of the Dark Maiden, your options are few. I can offer help, but I require repayment. The future depends on your choice.”

“Inform me of your decision once you’ve decided.”

With a wave of his hand, his subordinates began loading the supplies from the warehouse onto waiting carts.

With the Drow Elf’s intelligence, Aydin naturally understood Su Lun’s implication. But trying to recruit them now would likely result in rejection, maybe over ninety percent chance. So, for now, Su Lun planned to offer aid, build goodwill, and conquer them outright once his strength was sufficient.

It took a full day to load everything onto the carts. Su Lun had his men drive the carts to the agreed meeting point. Aydin had already returned ahead to notify his companions. At the rendezvous, Aydin had his comrades take the supplies away, while he returned to Su Lun’s Territory with the payment.

Su Lun assigned Aydin the task of training some Scouts. The trainees were chosen from among the Refugees, then sent to the Military Camp for training. Aydin had no objections to Su Lun’s arrangement and diligently instructed them in various skills.

…

The two Burrowing Worms slain by the Barbarian Warrior had been butchered. Burrowing Worm meat didn’t taste good; it had an earthy, muddy flavor. Some said its texture was similar to an earthworm’s. The meat was set aside to be used as rations for the Goblins, Kobolds, and Gnolls.

The most valuable parts of a Burrowing Worm were its chitinous shells. In the hands of a master blacksmith, these shells could be crafted into fine armor. Burrowing Worm chitin naturally provided a +1 defense. Compared to steel armor offering the same protection, it weighed only a third as much. Armor made from this shell had defense rivaling Plate Armor, yet weighed as little as light armor.

Beyond this excellent defense, the armor offered significant acid resistance. Unlike metal armor which corroded quickly when exposed to strong acids, this armor held up well.

The shells from these two Burrowing Worms were enough to make roughly two suits of armor. Once removed, they were immediately sent to the Blacksmith Shop. Bruce possessed the best forging skills in Su Lun’s Territory. His constant work forging weapons had honed his abilities, and Su Lun had even bought him a forging guidebook from a vendor, greatly boosting his skill. He was currently the only blacksmith in the Territory capable of crafting this chitin armor.

Burrowing Worms were social creatures with strong territorial instincts. Despite killing two last time, some had escaped. Their bodies resembled giant earthworms but covered in multiple legs. They could grow up to ten meters long and detected prey through vibrations in the ground.

They possessed terrifying maws capable of swallowing an adult human whole. Their sharp teeth could easily bite through trees. Even steel wouldn’t last long against them. They could also produce powerful acid. During combat, they could unleash a deadly Acid Spray attack. The effect was similar to a Wizard’s Acid Arrow spell, but covered a much wider area.

A nest of Burrowing Worms typically contained two to five individuals. The group Su Lun encountered during the road repair numbered at least three. To complete the roadwork quickly, Su Lun had no choice but to deal with the remaining Burrowing Worms himself.

Road construction resumed. Su Lun remained constantly alert to underground movements. As the stone roller passed repeatedly, the roadbed gradually hardened and stabilized. The Brick Kiln was located not far from the city, about three kilometers away. The connecting road was also a gravel path wide enough for two carts side-by-side.

The increasing noise of construction eventually disturbed the Burrowing Worms living beneath the area. They moved rapidly underground, converging on the construction site.

BOOM!

A strange, thunderous sound suddenly erupted from the earth. Su Lun looked over just as a large patch of grass exploded upwards. A terrifying Burrowing Worm burst from the ground the next second. Its monstrous jaws lunged at the slaves working nearby.

A Goblin didn’t even have time to scream before it was devoured by the beast’s gaping maw.

Su Lun’s hand moved, and a Steel-Reinforced Bow appeared in his grasp.

TWANG!

The bowstring sang as a special arrow over a meter long hurtled forward. Entirely made of Refined Iron, this arrow featured vicious barbed points designed to make extraction nearly impossible. A sturdy rope was secured to the arrow’s tail.

The arrow struck the Burrowing Worm, burying itself deep into its flesh. Enraged by the painful wound, the monster went berserk.

“Acid Spray!”

A glob of dark green, viscous liquid shot from the Burrowing Worm’s mouth. Two Goblins failed to dodge in time. The acid hit them squarely. They barely had time for a final, agonized scream before they melted into piles of rotting flesh.