Building a [Golem] capable of withstanding the freezing temperatures outside posed a significant challenge. [V2 Combat Golems] froze over almost instantly, and the other golems fared no better. The problem lay in the violent nature of [Frost Mana] toward anything outside its own essence. The mana aggressively attacked anything within its range, making it difficult to observe how it functioned structurally.
[Automata] attempted to taint and subdue the [Frost Mana] with his own mana, but it proved resistant. Despite his efforts, the [Frost Mana] fought back vigorously, becoming increasingly freezing with each attempt. Calming it became more challenging, turning it into a troublesome task. Now, [Automata] contemplated sending a substantial number of [V1 Miners] toward a nearby lump of [Ice] just to obtain a small piece for study.
The encroachment of frost mana continued relentlessly, freezing over everything in its path. The only thing preventing the entire tunnel from being frozen was the robust and dense presence of ambient [Automation Mana] in the atmosphere. This, coupled with his name, asserted his dominance over the area, making it unequivocally his domain. No matter how strenuous their efforts, no one could displace him from there.
After careful consideration, he opted to dispatch a considerable number of [V1 Miners] to the small chunk. However, the freezing temperatures proved harsh, and by the time they mined off a small chunk, half of them were already frozen over. The relentless onslaught of [Frost Mana] ate away at them constantly, hindering their movement and operational capabilities. When they returned, only five had managed to survive the harsh conditions.
In their pouch lay a substantial chunk of [Ice], bringing satisfaction to [Automata]. Now that they were within its domain, quelling the influence of [Frost Mana] within the [Ice] became trivial. This enabled him and his other two minds to thoroughly examine the details and understand the functioning of [Frost Mana].
After a while, they collectively arrived at the same conclusion: The mana was excessively aggressive, too turbulent. It needed to be somehow tamed, rendered more malleable before they could harness it for any meaningful production. Units seemed distant if it remained in its current state, but [Automata] was determined to leverage every aspect of it, from its violent and freezing characteristics to its corruptive nature.
Nevertheless, it was time to experiment with how it would react to the elements in its domain when he released his suppression over it. [Automata] instructed some [V1 Miners] to bring a chunk of [automata stone], a piece of [iron], and a ball of [Automata iron]. Initially, he had a [V1 Miner] move a chunk over to the [automata stone] before releasing his hold over it. The [Frost Mana] surged out of the [Ice] with vengeance, instantly assaulting the [automata stone] and purging all his mana from it before settling within the material, claiming it for its own use. The [automata stone] swiftly shifted from brown to a spectral blue within seconds and began emitting a chilly aura.
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The stone was no longer [automata stone], transformed into something else entirely. It had changed, no longer belonging to him; it now belonged to the [Frost Mana]. This development surprised [Automata] because he had fully expected it to freeze over the [automata stone] and then destroy it. However, it didn't do that at all; it had instead taken root in it and changed it according to its will, overwriting his influence.
[Automata] never believed this to be possible until now; he never considered the possibility of something overriding his will directly in his domain. The [Frost Mana] dispelled this notion, causing [Automata] to once again reconsider what he thought was impossible.
[Automata] tried reclaiming the lost chunk of [automata stone] and was partially successful; he could easily dispel the remaining [Frost Mana] and return it back to [automata stone]. Still, he held back and tried something else. Instead of forcefully purging the invasive mana, he mingled his with it, intending to fuse the two powers together. It worked, but only for a second before the chunk of stone violently exploded.
[Automata] diligently transferred all the acquired information to his other two minds and proceeded to experiment with the next material: the chunk of [Iron]. Surprisingly, this time, the [Frost Mana] seemed oblivious to the existence of the [Iron], floating in the air with an aggressive determination to find something to freeze. Only when [Automata] compelled it into the commonplace [Iron] did it spring to life. The mana experienced a rejuvenation, swiftly claiming the [Iron] and transforming it into [Frost iron]. The metal exuded a chilling aura, reaching a coldness comparable to, if not surpassing, that of the spectral goblin.
When [Automata] attempted to assert control over the [Frost Iron], his mana encountered a literal freezing barrier just inches from the surface. Undeterred, he summoned his mana, exerting even greater pressure in a forceful attempt to merge with the [Frost Iron]. This initiated a clash as the two opposing mana types engaged in a fierce battle for dominance.
He emerged victorious, naturally, but the [Frost Iron] succumbed to the process, eliciting a wave of mild annoyance within [Automata]. Dealing with [Frost Mana] proved to be genuinely challenging. Turning his attention to the [Automata Iron], he observed that this time the [Frost Mana] easily identified the magical properties of the metal. [Automata] noted that [Frost Mana] appeared to only perceive things with magical qualities and couldn't interact with non-magical entities, a peculiar observation in its behavior.
Despite lacking the ability to perceive non-magical entities and devoid of any form of intelligence, not even a rudimentary one, [Frost Mana] exhibited preferences and followed preprogrammed orders, influencing its actions within its domain. Interestingly, it still infected and transformed the [Iron] despite its inability to visually discern it.
The experiment involving the [Automata Iron] showed the most promising results. Even after being infected, some parts of it retained their original essence, coexisting with the claimed [Frost Mana]. This development pleased [Automata], as it suggested the potential for replicating the process on a larger scale. Building something infused with both [Frost Mana] and [Automation Mana] seemed less daunting, opening up new possibilities.