Global Lords: Hundredfold Increments Starting With the Undead
Chapter 1446 - 1016, The Stone Shell Monster

"Sir, we are also transmigrators. Please save us."

"If you help us escape, we will give you a generous reward."

"I have several troll maids in my territory; their melons are as big as basketballs, guaranteed for comfort. I'll give them all to you."

"Bro, breasts, buddy, save me!"

Upon discovering Fang Hao was also a transmigrator, they began shouting loudly.

There were even some trying to speak in broken Chinese, throwing out nonsense like 'good brother' repeatedly.

The entire Stone Forest was filled with their cries.

Clatter, clatter!

Before Fang Hao could say anything, the Stone Forest's surroundings erupted with the sound of stone slabs scraping and earth bursting forth.

The moment the sound appeared, all those turned to stone showed terrified expressions.

In unison, they shut their mouths tight.

It was obvious even to Fang Hao that the enemies had arrived.

And clearly, they were disturbed and drawn out by these idiots screaming so loudly.

Surrounding the Stone Forest, the ground began churning violently.

Soon after, enormous creatures with exoskeleton-covered bodies and countless legs burst from the soil right before everyone's eyes.

Shaking off the mountain dirt, they fixed their gaze directly on the invaders ahead.

[Dormant Stone Shell Beasts (Tier Ten Troops)]

Stone Shell Beasts?

Fang Hao frowned slightly as his eyes took in their names and forms.

In appearance, he had seen creatures like these before.

Previously, he had purchased a book, which recorded archaeological contents and theories about the Giant God Kingdom, compiled by an elf archaeology team.

Among the descriptions included a picture of these creatures, alongside roughly one hundred words of concise explanation.

He vaguely recalled the archaeology team's description as "Ancient Remnants," "Immortal Guards," and "Carriers of the Petrification Virus."

He hadn't expected to encounter such creatures here.

In other words, these monsters had remained hidden in the vicinity and would only emerge when approached or disturbed.

All the petrified transmigrators immediately shut their mouths, their occasional glances filled with regret and fear.

Why bother screaming! Now look, they've drawn these horrors out into the open.

Hiss, hiss, hiss!

The Stone Shell Beasts extended tendril-like mouths and launched an assault on Fang Hao and the rest.

Countless legs, swift movements.

The Dragon Queen stepped forward slightly.

Golden radiance exploded from her body, and one beam after another shot forth, piercing precisely through the heads of the charging monsters.

The creatures surged forward, only to collapse in swathes onto the ground.

Within a hundred-meter radius, an incline formed from the corpses of the Stone Shell Beasts.

The pile of bodies reached over a person's height.

Both the transmigrators and guards in the central Stone Forest, along with those who had previously seen the Dragon Queen in battle, gawked wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

"Is that even human?"

"What kind of hero does one have to be to possess the strength to single-handedly stop an army of tens of thousands?"

Golden beams rained down like a torrential downpour.

Each beam carried a straight line of enemies with it.

Vast swathes of enemies were grotesquely slaughtered beneath the beams.

Even the few stragglers attempting to flee were pierced and felled by the golden rays.

Nearly ten thousand monsters were disposed of by one individual.

Their corpses littered the area, creating an eerie and nerve-wracking scene.

Fang Hao turned to Nisbit behind him and said, "Check whether these monsters' bodies contain any dropped materials."

"Yes!" Nisbit immediately gave the order to nearby troops, who began dissecting corpses on location to search for materials.

Judging from previous battles, these types of monstrous enemies often dropped 'Excitation Crystals,' items that enhance bloodlines.

Fang Hao suspected that these monsters might drop something valuable this time as well.

The soldiers began combing through the corpses.

Fang Hao, accompanied by two of Nisbit's men, headed toward the transmigrators in the Stone Forest.

Perhaps because of the Dragon Queen's overpowering display, the previously chaotic transmigrators merely shuddered, no longer shouting.

"Were you petrified by these monsters?" Fang Hao asked.

One transmigrator near the outskirts replied, "Yes, it was these monsters."

"How did the petrification occur? Tell me," Fang Hao followed up.

The transmigrator continued, "We engaged in combat with these Stone Shell Beasts near the entrance. We were continuously surrounded and retreated into the Stone Forest. Seeing that the monsters dared not chase us in, we decided to rest a bit, but then began noticing our bodies couldn't move. Shortly after, the petrification symptoms set in."

"How long has the petrification lasted?"

"Over a day now. Please rescue us. If you're unable, could you send word to our companions outside and ask them to save us?"

The companions must refer to the transmigrator holding back the ogres.

"Your companions have already retreated. They were overwhelmed by the ogres and sustained heavy losses, so I instructed them to withdraw early," Fang Hao said.

All the transmigrators' faces paled further.

"Please rescue us; we will reward you handsomely once we are freed."

Fang Hao nodded and said, "How did you obtain information about this place?"

The transmigrators felt anxious but had no other options. After calming themselves, one answered, "We were doing a task related to ancient beliefs. It was the dying wish of an elderly troll believer, a quest we had pursued for more than half a year. Ultimately, the mission pointed us here."

"What was the belief?"

"The belief in ancient giant spirits. The troll believed ogres were descendants of giants and sought proof persistently."

Fang Hao nodded, feeling that trolls might indeed possess traces of giant bloodlines.

Elven archaeological records also contained similar conjectures.

"The giants are dead. What does he believe in?"

"He believed the giants hadn't perished, which is why he tasked us with seeking out evidence of their existence."

Fang Hao nodded, indicating his understanding before continuing, "One last question: What reward could be obtained from this mission?"

"We're not sure, but according to what was said, it's the Giant's Legacy."

The Giant's Legacy.

Legacy could mean power, or it could signify allegiance.

It was hard to speculate.

Fang Hao fixed his gaze on the transmigrator; he wasn't lying.

Asking further wouldn't yield new information.

So he simply asked, "How do I save you?"

"Uh, we don't know." The transmigrators' faces changed.

Fang Hao thought deeply before saying, "I can think of two methods: One, I break apart the petrified areas to see if that works, though it carries the risk of damaging your bodies. Two, we use a stone petrification antidote, but you'd have to bear the cost yourselves."

They were alive, suggesting the stone hadn't penetrated critical organs.

It was likely a surface layer.

So the first method was also an option.

"The second! The second!" The transmigrators spoke up in unison.

Contrary to Fang Hao's expectations, they were unwilling to take risks.

"Alright, I'll check whether that quantity of antidotes can be procured."

"Yes, thank you. We'll pay double—no, fivefold the cost!"

Fang Hao ignored their pleas and took out the Book of Lords, instructing Li Rong to purchase two bottles of antidotes from the Alchemist Guild for a trial.

Soon, two potions were transacted.

The potions were purple in color, enhanced in detoxification efficacy.

Fang Hao administered a dose to the transmigrator nearest the outskirts.

After the antidote was consumed, within about a minute, the petrified areas on his body began to shed.

Rough, poison-like blue-purple-colored skin emerged beneath.

Seeing this, everyone visibly relaxed.

Fang Hao procured more antidotes and instructed those capable of moving to administer it to others.

Gradually, more and more transmigrators regained their mobility.

Fang Hao left them to their own devices afterward.

...

Meanwhile, the battlefield was still being cleaned up.

Aside from the Tiger Talisman, the Stone Shell Beasts dropped two additional items:

[Speckled Stone], a grape-sized stone orb, a special material with Stone Element and gravity traits, suitable for crafting equipment.

The second item was [Tireless Heart], a heart that could be used either as food or alchemy material.

As food, it was distinctly for those with adventurous palates.

These Stone Shell Beasts had lived for centuries, if not millennia, indicating the incredible endurance of their biological systems.

Perhaps these ingredients could yield potent potions.

The material collection concluded, and the transmigrators were mostly restored to activity.

Their leader approached, while scratching reddened, inflamed skin, "Thank you for saving us. I'd like to add you as a friend so I can pay back the cost of the antidotes later."

Fang Hao thought briefly and said, "Let's do it this way. I'll have someone reach out to you. The Divine Power Alliance is pretty well-known."

He still refrained from casually adding friends.

Even if they guessed who he was, they couldn't be certain. If he added them, his real name and whereabouts could easily be leaked.

"Alright then." The transmigrator agreed.

Fang Hao followed up, "What are your plans next?"

"We'll retrace our route and retreat. We don't intend to continue fighting here," he said after some hesitation. "The dangers outside alone are overwhelming; deeper in must be even worse."

"Retreating is wise; once you're out, don't linger near the Giantstone Ruins to avoid being targeted by ogres."

"Understood. Thank you again for saving us."

"Hmm!"

The transmigrators stayed a bit longer before heading off toward the entrance.

Meanwhile, Fang Hao reorganized himself and his companions to continue advancing.

...

The army moved forward, their surroundings gradually revealing a massive city ahead.

Even from such a great distance, the city's disproportionately tall walls and the skytower at its core could be clearly perceived.

Could this truly be the Giant's City?

"Look to the skies!" The Dragon Queen suddenly said.

Fang Hao and Nisbit raised their heads.

Above the dense, somber clouds appeared bizarre-looking creatures—purple-blue spiders crawling relentlessly within the cloud layers.

They covered almost the entire sky.

"What are those?"