Chapter 45: Devourable Orc Camp
We’re 15th on the new book charts—at least, you can see us there on the desktop site—so I’m releasing an extra Chapter. Please add this to your collection, leave a recommendation, send a monthly ticket, and show your support in any other way you can!
——————————
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
Gu Su stood deep within the Orc Camp, his brow furrowed as he scanned his surroundings. A familiar, unsettling feeling inexplicably rose within him.
It was the exact same feeling he’d had when he saw the Oil Storage Centipede Shell.
He realized in an instant: this Orc Camp couldn’t be treated as an ordinary temporary outpost.
This camp, built around an abandoned building, was just like the Oil Storage Centipede Shell—a target that could be corrupted and devoured by the Graveyard Demon’s Corroding Mycelium.
At that thought, Gu Su could no longer hold back. Without a moment’s hesitation, he snapped at the sky, "White Crow, go at once! Get Suburban Wolf and his squad over here. Be quick!"
After giving the order, he turned and hurried back to the edge of the forest, calling for the Skeletons still collecting materials and clearing the battlefield to come quickly.
The first priority was to move all the supplies and usable materials out of the Orc Camp. The previous plan to build a cart would have to wait until the Suburban Wolf Squad arrived and they had enough hands.
The Skeletons immediately stopped what they were doing and quickly followed Gu Su toward the camp. Though their movements were still stiff, they didn’t dawdle in the slightest.
About ten minutes later, a flurry of hurried footsteps echoed from the distance. Suburban Wolf, having received his orders, rushed to the camp entrance with his Suburban Wolf Squad.
Gu Su’s eyes swept over them, and he immediately noticed their hands were empty.
’He understood instantly. Suburban Wolf must have guessed his intentions. Before coming, he’d already sent all the materials the squad had been transporting back to the Graveyard Demon to avoid delaying the current hauling mission.’
"Suburban Wolf, perfect timing."
Gu Su pointed at the Orc Camp before them, wasting no words.
"Haul away everything you can carry from this place. Take the Orc corpses from the woods, too. Don’t leave a single thing behind."
Suburban Wolf glanced inside the camp where he pointed, then quickly scanned the pile of corpses at the edge of the forest. He immediately understood the priority of the mission. Without hesitation, he bowed. "My lord, rest assured. Leave it to me. I guarantee we’ll have it all cleared out as fast as possible!"
After speaking, he took a closer look at the camp’s layout. His gaze fell on the rough logs, Beast Skins, and the wreckage of the abandoned building used in its construction. He looked up and asked,
"My lord, can we dismantle the lumber and Beast Skins from the camp structures, and any usable parts from this ruined building, and haul them away too?"
"Dismantle them. Take everything. Don’t waste a single usable item."
Gu Su’s tone was firm. He paused, then added, "You and the squad get to work here. I’m heading back to the Graveyard Demon. I’ll be back shortly."
The moment he finished speaking, he turned and headed out. As he passed the heavily wounded Skeletons, he had them follow him.
’The Graveyard Demon’s burial ground will help them recover quickly. I can’t just leave them here.’
Moving at a rapid pace, Gu Su soon returned to the entrance of the Graveyard Demon.
He didn’t even take the time to go inside and catch his breath, speaking directly toward the Graveyard Demon. "Give me a shopping cart full of Corroding Mycelium. The faster, the better!"
The moment he spoke, the ground trembled slightly. A rusty but mostly intact shopping cart shot up from the earth, packed to the brim with snow-white Corroding Mycelium that radiated a faint, cold Yin Qi.
"You lot, head inside."
Gu Su waved a hand at the heavily wounded Skeletons beside him, his tone softening slightly.
"Go back to your graves and rest. Once you’ve recovered enough, follow the path back and find me at the Orc Camp."
After watching the wounded Skeletons slowly enter the Graveyard Demon, Gu Su delayed no further. He grabbed the shopping cart full of Corroding Mycelium, turned, and sprinted back toward the Orc Camp.
The round trip, including the time it took to send the Skeletons off to rest, hadn’t taken long—about fifteen minutes in total.
But when Gu Su returned to the Orc Camp with the shopping cart, the scene before him had completely transformed.
The Suburban Wolf Squad’s efficiency exceeded Gu Su’s expectations.
Several neatly packed piles of supplies were already stacked outside the camp. Suburban Wolf was directing his squad, who were working in organized teams.
A few Skeletons were using coarse hemp ropes from the camp to tie dried wild fruits and root vegetables into small, separate bundles. They then wrapped each bundle in a thick layer of Beast Skins to keep out moisture.
Weapons were sorted by type: Big Sabers and Heavy Sticks were grouped together, while the Beast Bone Long Spears were bundled and tightly bound with vines to prevent them from scattering during transport.
The dismantled logs were cut into equal lengths and tied in pairs. The Beast Skins and usable planks from the ruined building were stacked neatly, then tied securely with hemp rope in a crosshatch pattern.
All the materials were sorted, packed, and bound. Teams of two Skeletons held them steady, awaiting orders.
Even the Orc corpses from the forest had been moved to the camp entrance and prepared for transport.
The Skeletons had fashioned simple biers from thick tree branches. They laid the Orc corpses side-by-side on top, securing them with short ropes to prevent them from slipping. Two Skeletons worked together to lift each bier, which held eight Orc corpses, and could move steadily without any issue.
’It’s clear that with tools, two Skeletons working together can easily carry at least eight corpses without slowing down.’
’Suburban Wolf’s squad alone can pack up and haul away all the materials and corpses without any delay.’
Suburban Wolf patrolled back and forth, occasionally using his Bone Claw to tighten a loose knot, ensuring every bundle was secure and nothing was wasted.
’Truly my best transport squad. Efficient and hassle-free.’
Gu Su watched the scene, inwardly impressed, but his face remained expressionless.
He hadn’t rushed back with a shopping cart just to check on their progress.
He strode to the center of the camp, stopped, and abruptly dumped the entire contents of the shopping cart—all the Corroding Mycelium—onto the ground.
The snow-white mycelium scattered, instantly blanketing a small area. It began to spread slowly outward, seeping into the cracks in the ground.
The moment the Corroding Mycelium touched the camp’s ground, a voice suddenly rang in Gu Su’s ear:
[Corruptible land discovered: Orc Camp (abandoned street security office). Do you wish to devour?]
As expected!
This was exactly what Gu Su had been waiting for.
He answered decisively, "Devour."
[Please select a conversion path:
1. Obtain Broadcast Station (Level 1). Can broadcast once per day (consumes 5 Yin Qi) to attract 5 to 10 Undead to the base.
2. Obtain Combat Outpost (Level 1). By consuming Yin Qi, Gold Coins, Metal, and other materials, convert ordinary Undead into their corresponding Undead Warrior counterparts.
3. Obtain Gate Guard Post (Level 1). Undead can be assigned to it, converting them into Garrisoned Undead responsible for patrolling and maintaining the gate.]