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Worm Hulk — Description

The abominations known as the "Worm Hulks" are a horrific fusion of man and White Worm. They are born from those who have undergone the Koroni Netsu and aligned themselves with the feverish bugs. However, it seems that in rare instances, the parasitic worms that inhabit these willing hosts may find something suitable within. The internal population explodes as they multiply into sickening quantities, swelling the body with their writhing forms. They burrow and take root, pumping the flesh with Feverish Sweat and infection. The muscles are the most affected by this, mainly those in the upper body, growing to obscene proportions till they rip the skin apart. But that isn't all, as the White Worm aids in this sickening transformation. The worms themselves begin to mimic the function of muscle fibers, banding together to create parasitic bulges of fake muscle. Thus the wretch is able to grow even further, and gain incredible strength. The end result is this hulking brute, a host swollen with parasites and diseased power.
Worm Hulks are powerful warriors for the Arimakki cause, their insane strength putting them on the level of siege weapons. Their bulging bodies have them looming over soldiers, and the mass of muscle and worm lets them pound foes into paste. Shield and armor are a joke compared to their sickening might, these beings can let loose punches that can crack city gates. Siege weapons are torn apart like a cheap toy in the hand of a rowdy child, even their fists slamming into the ground cause tremors that leave soldiers rattled. Their powerful melee is so brutal, that they are the rare Arimakki warrior to have their garb crafted from Kameshaku No shell. The fortified plates of this Arimakki type are the only parasite parts that can withstand the assault the Worm Hulks unleash. With this, their attacks gain an extra edge, while also giving their parts extra defense when foes try to retaliate.
With how insanely strong they are, it is obvious that any Worm Hulk spotted must be destroyed as soon as possible. How easily they barrel through one's forces, how they threaten to crack open walls and gates to let the parasites pour in. They must be taken down, yet doing so is incredibly costly. Their armored garb helps deflect blows, but that doesn't mean their exposed muscle is a weakpoint. The woven flesh and worm are so tight and thick that blades have a hard time cutting deep. Wounds are shallow, and the critical organs are buried deep beneath swollen layers of muscle. The brute is also pumped full of Feverish Sweat, the boiling fluid just waiting for a wound to spray out from. The swollen body lets them shrug off damage, even Humor magic having a hard time penetrating the thick layers. Worm Hulks are a horrible answer to the Xankaust Legion's flame, as the scorching fire can only eat away at the outer coating of muscle. The end result is a burning brute barging through cleanser and warriors, crushing all in a brutal frenzy.
To bring one down, piercing weapons are a must. Slashing tools cannot bite deep enough, and blunt weapons are obviously useless. Quicksilver weapons can give an edge, but the sheer amount of muscle quickly erodes its bite, calling for multiple tools to carve deep and get the job done. Its weakpoints are the buried internal organs and its head, though the latter is protected by a black mask fused to its skull. Pierce deep into its body and snuff out this wretched abomination, hopefully before it reduces you to a sticky pulp.
A quick note on fighting strategies: the stubby legs are not as useful of targets as you may think. Though they appear comically small, and perfect for tripping the beast, Worm Hulks often also use their arms to charge during a frenzy. With their strength, they literally tear across the battlefield, their clawing limbs ripping gouges into the earth. Hitting their legs may make them stumble, but their huge arms quickly make up for it, and they hardly miss a beat. Your best bet is luring them onto soft, squishy terrain, like a Fecal Swamp, where their weight and strength betray them. Just be prepared for it to be incredibly messy, as their violent thrashing will spray muck and fluid everywhere. And do remember that they won't drown, at least not before they are able to flail free, this tactic is about miring them long enough to take your shot. And once they fall, burn their worm infested bodies til nothing is left and thank the divine Ichor that these freaks are rare.
It has been observed that a Worm Hulk tends to travel and fight alongside the feverish champion known as "The Red Queen." It and a Tormentipede accompany her often when she appears. The purpose of this duo is unclear, as The Red Queen has shown time and time again that she does not need protection, and she has also been seen in battles without them. Perhaps they are a back up in times when the Arimakki horde is thin, leveling out the playing field if foes have greater numbers. Or maybe the trio are a monstrous strike team of the Arimakki, their greatest strengths combined to destroy obstacles and individuals standing in the way of expansion.
Perhaps the most concerning fact of The Red Queen's minions is that they are not unique individuals. In rare instances, one of them will fall in battle, yet the next time she appears, another will have taken their place. At first this seems unremarkable, as the Arimakki lose and replenish their horde often. But the worry is that these mutated variants are supposed to be rare, freak occurrences, yet how is there a backup on standby if one of her minions perish? Is their creation not as random as folks would hope? Does this twisted woman have something to do with their birth? If so, then her slaying is even more important than ever before, yet good luck putting her down for good...