Dice In The Darkness: Cthulhu Calls

Chapter 82: Earth-boring Demon Worm

Liu Xing took a couple of deep breaths, finally regaining his composure, only to realize that the van had stopped in complete darkness outside.

"Uh, Wang Wei, why have we stopped? Have we already reached Earth Dragon Village?" Liu Xing asked, puzzled.

Wang Wei shook his head, pointing ahead and explained, "We're about five kilometers from Earth Dragon Village. However, a landslide caused by an earthquake has blocked the road ahead, so we can't drive any further. We'll have to get out and walk to Earth Dragon Village, which is why I woke you up."

Using the light from the van's headlights, Liu Xing saw that the road a few meters ahead was blocked by huge rocks and mud, impassable for their van.

Liu Xing nodded and said, "Alright then, let's get out and proceed on foot."

Thus, Liu Xing and his group, carrying their backpacks, got out of the van, preparing to trek towards Earth Dragon Village.

"Why don't you eat something first? We can't park here due to the curve in the road, and landslides are likely here, which could damage the van. I'll reverse the van a bit for now, and we'll set off once I return," said Wang Wei, looking up with a hint of worry.

The group had no objections, as Wang Wei's temporary departure gave them an opportunity to initiate their Private Room time.

After Wang Wei drove the van back out of sight, Mo Jin eagerly said, "Kp, activate the Private Room time for us."

"Sure, I've activated it for you. But just a heads up, Wang Wei will be back in three minutes, so make sure you discuss quickly," said Kp Snail with a smile.

"Let's make it quick then," said Tang Tai, seriously. "You all know how tough the second promotion game is, and you've probably guessed the final boss, right?"

Liu Xing nodded, "Of course, if I'm not mistaken, the boss for this scenario should be the Earth-boring Demon Worm."

Everyone nodded in agreement, sharing the same thought.

The Earth-boring Demon Worm, a superior species from the Cthulhu Mythos, is a powerful mythical creature, far surpassing the lesser Formless Offspring. It resembles a giant squid living in the soil, its elongated, worm-like body always coated in mucus, and a chant-like sound accompanying its presence.

These strong Earth-boring Demon Worms can live for a thousand years, fiercely protecting their offspring, making an encounter with a juvenile one rather ominous.

Their abilities are unusual; young Earth-boring Demon Worms communicate using heart inspiration, allowing them to connect with any member of their species, anywhere. Adult worms can control other species using this ability.

Adult Earth-boring Demon Worms can withstand extremely high temperatures, up to 4000 degrees Celsius, usually residing near the Earth's core. Only wanderers, exiles, or those accidentally carried to the surface during magma eruptions are seen above ground.

A fully mature Earth-boring Demon Worm can cause intense earthquakes, with a limited impact area, leading the group to deduce it as the boss.

The leader of the Earth-boring Demon Worms is the Great Old One, Shude Meier, rumored to have broken free and moving around the Earth's core. Recent major earthquakes are attributed to Shude Meier.

Despite their power, Earth-boring Demon Worms have a fatal weakness: extreme sensitivity to water. Their mucus-coated skin can only isolate a small amount of water, so submerging them in water can easily kill them.

However, Liu Xing doubted their ability to kill the Earth-boring Demon Worm, given its size and the difficulty of sourcing enough water in the arid northwest, especially since Earth Dragon Village likely doesn't have running water.

Moreover, he suspected the villagers of Earth Dragon Village might already be under the worm's control.

"Right, I heard from Wang Wei that this Earth-boring Demon Worm was sealed in Earth Dragon Village centuries ago. So, we're likely facing a fully matured one, capable of using heart inspiration. I suspect the villagers are already under its control," Liu Xing shared his thoughts.

Liu Xing agreed with Tang Tai, who believed the worm must be severely restricted, as a full-grown Earth-boring Demon Worm was too terrifying and typically appeared in higher-level games.

"So, our enemy might be the controlled villagers of Earth Dragon Village. Do we have anyone capable of fighting?" Shi Ying asked, looking at Mo Jin, a brawler with combat skills.

Mo Jin, somewhat reluctantly, replied, "I can fight, but we're outnumbered. If the villagers are controlled and attack us with weapons, we won't stand a chance."