Almost...

The screeching sound of metal bending metal reverberates along the walls.

Just a little more…

There is metal shifting about, squeaking dangerously as the ruble is being moved.

If I can just get this last beam to move...

Something rips in the metal pile. Everything begins to fall.

"Shit!"

Moving as fast as I can, I evade the deadly avalanche of metal. The metal rod slams into the ground and kicks dust into the air. 

My heart beats in my ears. A second slower and I would have needed a new leg. Even if this had been the fifth time it had happened, it was never not terrifying. It takes a second or two to collect myself.

After calming down, I evaluate how much of a setback I would be dealing with.

In front of me, I could see the tunnel I had been making through the pile had partially caved in again. The metal rods I had made had mixed into the now bigger pile. While not broken, there was very little chance I would recovered them without hurting myself.

With a tired sigh, full of resignation and frustration, I started over again for the millionth time. Bringing my hands to the floor, I concentrated on the spot between my hands. Little by little, metal began to take shape on the ground. What was once a pebble soon became a rock. Eventually a chaotic blob was growing from the floor upwards.

This was what I had been doing for the past couple of hoursc when I got trapped in this room. The longer I searched for a way out, the more irrational I became. Knocking on walls to check for secret passages. Checking for hidden cameras to see if I could contact someone. Hell, it got to the point where I searched the NanoCrawelrs body to see if it had a remote or something to open the hallway I had come from. Imagine my surprise when I got a little reward for my trouble.

Beneath the open chest laid a cube about the size of my fist. Oddly clean even when surrounded by the sticky oil around it. I picked it up believing it may be what I was looking for. It wasn't, but it was still interesting none the less.

Item: Premium AI Chip

Rarity: Rare

Description: Built like any other AI Chip by the Iridians, this item is capable of holding the full consciences of an AI. Being of premium grade, this chip is sophisticated enough to hold an unshackled AI with full autonomy.

Cool. Useless but cool regardless. Honestly I would have been more exited if the possibility of me dyeing in isolation wasn't a serious issue. As much as I would have liked going more in depth about the implications such an item had, survival was more important. For the moment anyway.

After realizing I was trapped, I went about trying to find a way to solve my current predicament. One that had been rather hard to find I might add.

Being unable to move the walled off hallway in any way left the ruble as the only reliable option. With reliable being an unreliable word in this situation. I first tried to climb over it, seeing as there seemed to be somewhat of a gap at the top. The plan was discarded though after slipping several times and the ruble shifting occasionally. The other option was essentialy to just move it out of the way. An idea I realized I'd have a hard time doing mainly because of a lack of space and my inability to move them safely.

It went on like this for a while. Me coming up with countless solutions only to shut them down almost immediately. Eventually I started playing with the metal I could create now, feeling like I had run out of options. It was a good distraction. Helped keep me from breaking down into a hopeless mess that would accept death.

 I managed to make some rather nice progress with it, making a few discoveries along the way.

I could make the metal out of thin air on any surface. Which was obvious, but what really interested me was the fact that I could make the metal anywhere. A step in front of me on the floor? Done. Floating a meter off the ground? No problem. Upside down in that corner of the room? Easy. The other side of the ruble? ...Well no, but damn I wish I could. Nice to know I need to see where I'm looking to be able to make it as well. Also if I stop consintrating on a floating bit, gravity took effect. Helps to know my limitations.

Speaking of distance, depending how close I made the metal from my hands, the more unstable the form of the metal became. Nearly touching my fingers, and I could get some smooth surfaces. Bumps in some places but still pretty decent. That metal in the corner of the room though? From far away, and if you squinted really hard, it looked like a ball. Up close it was a shard of material that was alternated from smooth to jagged spots in random places.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

There was apparently no limit to how much metal I wanted to make. I could spawn something either as small as a grain of sand, or a cube half as large or thick as I was. I would have gone further, but I came across another interesting fact.

Whatever I used to create magic, probably this 'energy' mentioned when I first got the skill, was limited. Like a battery that I couldn't see, but I could definitely feel in my gut. As I was making the rather large metal cube, I began to feel some tension in my body. The more I made, the tighter this pull was felt in my body. When this happened I needed to concentrate further on the metal as it seamed to have an aver effect on me. The metal began to deform like when I was makeing it on the other side of the room, even when i was basically touching it. The tightness continued until it felt like a rope going taught. I couldn't make anymore no matter how hard I tried after that.

After I stopped, the tugging in my gut slowly left my body. I could only geusse that this was some form internal muscel  that was used to fule my skill. Oddly enough this magical battery being used to power my magic wasn't the only side effect. I was drenched in sweat, breathing a lot harder than before.  It was then that I realized magic was exhausting. I had to let my body calm down after that, feeling mildly tired even after I recover my energy fully.

While I was resting I went around the room and studied the numerous metal bits I had made. I came to learn there was some distinction between making metal when it was or wasn't touching another surface. The cube for instance, was fused to the ground. I had made it on the floor, not wanting to risk bodily harm if I dropped such a heavy object. This was the same for any other metal that came from another surface. In contrast, the very first metal I had made could be freely moved around, as well as all other similar ones

This perplexed me at first. Why was it like this? What caused this change in properties? Confusion begets investigation, so I went about making two more metal shards. One on the floor, the other a meter above the ground. The tightness had returned, but I had rested long enough and these metals were small enough that it didnt affect the metal too much.

Paying close attention this time, I found the difference between the two easily.

When creating the one detached from any surface, the metal pooled in from the center. Like a bubble that grew in size across every direction. In contrast, the one on the floor started from the surface it was on. Like a tree that aged rapidly. And just like a tree, it was nailed to the ground, impossible to move.

With one of my all too common sighs, I sat on my giant cube. One that had taken the shape of some small throne for some reason. It wasn't too important to the curent situation, so I ignored it. As entertaining as this had been, it was proving to be a pointless use of my time. I was still trapped. Only now I was more tired than I had been before with less space at my disposal.

I looked at my metal throne dispassionately. Without any real reasoning behind it, I made another blob of metal on it. Just like it had done on any other metal surface, it emerged, fused tightly to it.

Well. I can have it sprout from other metals I had made. Huh. Repeating this process a few times, using metals of varying sizes each time, I ended up making a bubly tower. Even when each block was of varying size, it still managed to remain quite sturdy. Impressed by my own ingenuity, I was wondering if something similar could be done with the other blocks. 

Some testing and minor error's later, I had a pole that was of moderate length. Giving it a few test swings, along the floor and the tower I made, it broved to be quite resistant to blunt damage. Sadly, I was not. When I hit the tower, a painful shock went up my arm.

"Fuck!"

I then dropped the rod on my foot.

"Double Fuck!"

I really need to stop hurting myself.

----------------------------------------

Haveing learned quite a bit of important facts related to my power, the next step was somewhat obvious. I cant go around it. I cant go over it. I cant go under it. So i'll go through it.

Since my metal pole was quite sturdy, especially if they grew from a metal serface, I went about the process of makeing a tunnel while using my metal powers to make structual beams. I wouldn't want to have my makeshift passage fall appart and crush me. It was a shame that was basically what was happening a numerous amounts of time. Every other beam, if the ruble didn't shift dangerously, it partialy colappesd. Sometimes half way with me still in in it. It didn't help that I was periodically in nead of rest.

Overall, this was a slow and demanding endevor with several setbacks comeing up. Assuming I didn't passout from the mental and physical stress, it could take the rest of the day for me to finnaly get past the trash heap blocking my way. But as my luck was proveing to be rather good, another interesting set of windows apperead.

Metal Manipulation has increased in skill.  Metal Manipulation has evolved to Metal Manipulation (Basic) Lv2

Haveing increased a skill's level has unlocked the skill rating system.

Current known skill levels: Basic (Lv1-???)

Achivement: Self Taught

Rareity: Uncommon

Discription: Being one of the many unfortunate souls to have learned part of the mechanics of The Game without reaching a safe zones is no easy task. Your injinuity is admerable.

2% increased skill leveling.

Testing out my metal manipulation, I could see the change easily. My control and the speed at wich I made metal had doubled. So instead of a zombies crawl, I could go at a snailes pace. Horray! But joeking asside, I also had this faint awaerness that it took a bit longer for my magic to fully drain my energy. I only was aware of this after making the same number of beams and not feeling as tired as I did previously.

Really wish I could keep track of how much energy I was using and had but hey, beggars can't be choosers. Besides I'm alright with what I've got. A skill, a title, and all the other bonuses I got are really uplifting. I couldn't realy test the skill level increase, or other such bounuses at the time, but it would definitely help in the long run.

Feeling invigorated by the new development, I kept digging. Still cautious but no less exited.

Who knows, with the way things have been going, I just might make it out of here alive.