Dungeon Interface:
- Core Integrity: 97/100
- Mana: 4/100
- Reserves: 1/50
- Expand/Collapse
Yep, it's a status screen of everything going on with me. I sigh as I look at my Core Integrity, which can be considered the health of my core. It seems like it took some damage during the battle and all the banging around the vents. It could have been worse though.
As I focus on Reserves, I suddenly understand it's talking about Mana Reserves that my core absorbs to fuel my growth. I suppose the humans of my era would have considered it life experience that allows them to grow as people. Obviously, Mana is the amount of it available for me to use.
Since it's so low, I can assume it's going to take some time for my managenerator gems to refill it to capacity. I glance back at my status screen. Well, it's safe to say my Avatar is just as much of a broken toy as it was before, but at least it seems my core's damage is being fixed.
I frown as I study the screen. It seems I have to spend 50 mana if I want to fix the broken spawner. I put a pin in that for now until I explore all my options. After all, 50 mana is quite a lot to me right now. I'm leaning toward creating more nodes right now, as that will increase my mana regeneration. Or should I consider it income?
As I'm pondering this, I notice the interface is displaying a 3-second countdown. When it reaches zero, a strange sensation invades my mind. A second later, I feel like I've just downed ten cups of coffee. My vision shakes as I try to comprehend what just happened. What... the heck... was that?
The interface suddenly displays a notification, and I focus on it.
Dungeon Interface:
- Mana + 10
- Mana: 14/100
- View Breakdown? Y/N
Ah, it seems like my managenerator is responsible for this. At least I don't even have to try to see what it did, since the notification displays a breakdown when I agree to that option. Well, that's convenient. I could get used to this. It would be better to experiment with more options, but I'll need to save up more mana first. And I'm still getting a feeling that my Avatar is running out of time, so I might have to focus on that. Well, I would if I could find some way to repair its damage.
I mentally sigh at my predicament. I guess I'll just have to wait it out. After poking about a bit, I've noticed most of the icons and options are currently unavailable. So, my plan of action just now is to create as many nodes as I can so I can be prepared to take action to fix my Avatar once I discover how. Until then, I'm going to focus on making more automatons to guard my core. Just in case. Sure, that'll cost mana, but I think it's a prudent measure for now.
I order Arachea to send spiders to my node. I figure it should have some protection in case more invaders appear. Since I have no idea if they'll find them valuable and potentially try to mine the gems. After a bit of time passes, I gain more mana and immediately purchase another node.
Alright, that should do it.
I smile to myself as I turn my attention back to the invaders. My prisoners are still sound asleep. Well, except for Lorithian. It looks like he was the last one to pass out. I wonder why he's awake now?
"Excuse me, uhm Adam? Can you hear me?" Lorithian looks a bit unsure for a moment before he continues. "I need to use the bathroom."
Oh, well, that's going to be difficult. I don't have anything like that. But I also don't want him to create a mess. If it's rear-end action it should be fine, since the cocoon will prevent it from falling on me. But I'd have to put up with the smell. And if it's a piss he needs, well, I'm not too keen on the idea of having a puddle slowly form by dripping on me.
Alright, let's see if there's anything I can do. Hmm, well, that might work. Using my interface, I manipulate another hole to appear in the prisoners' room. Luckily it seems I can also control the rock beneath the metal floor and dig out a hole. The whole process is costing some mana, but it's only a small amount. Once I'm finished, I order Arachea to allow the elf to do his business while they keep guard over him.
He's definitely going straight back into a cocoon when he's done. I deliberately prevent my senses from telling me what's going on over there as he takes care of his needs. Meanwhile, I've gained another influx of mana that's twice the amount from before. Well, here comes another node. I nod as I stick it in with the other two, but that room is looking a bit full now. It'll probably be a good idea to start spreading them out.
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Arachea lets me know that Lorithian is done and has been secured again. Thanks! Turns out it was the rear-end option so I quickly manipulate the hole to fill itself and push the filth out of my boundaries. It's a bit of a pain, but I just wouldn't be comfortable keeping that within my body.
I mentally nod to myself as I consider the next course of action. I'll create more automatons, more nodes. I'll build up my strength and power. I'm considering having the automatons cover a lot of the ruins I've absorbed in their webbing. It should be more difficult for anyone to move around freely within me.
Hmm, some traps wouldn't be so bad either. I could dig pitfalls and have the automatons cover them with weak webbing so invaders fall in when they step on it. With a bit of luck, the web will wrap around them like a blanket during the fall, effectively immobilizing them. Guess I'm going to be busy for a while.
Oh, now there's a thought. Once I'm done getting information from the prisoners, I can use those five as guinea pigs to test it out. After all, I want to experiment with the abilities of my automatons. I need to be sure of what they are capable of.
I wonder if I should try to have Arachea's group fix up the holes in the vents. Well, that's something to consider. It'd be interesting if they have a way to do it. Hmm, if they do, then maybe they'll be able to do some patchwork repairs on my Avatar to keep it together until I find a permanent solution.
A quick mental order to Arachea sets the automatons to work. Hmm, maybe I should start thinking of them as golems so I don't slip up in any future conversations with others. It probably won't go well if I expose myself through my ignorance.
Oh, it seems my spiders are capable of welding the vents back together. It's not the best of work, as it's obvious holes used to be in those spots, but it's something. Probably not a good idea to have them try to fix up my Avatar then. It'd be delicate work, and they're obviously not suited to that. I wonder if I can upgrade them.
I turn my attention to the spawner. The clunky piece of metal that it is, and focus on it. Yes! I wasn't wrong!
Spider Automaton Assembly Unit:
- Create New Units
- Upgrade Unit Design
Why do I feel like the interface system is acting like training wheels? I frown at that thought as I realize I'm probably right. Especially since I was able to manually make it work to create Arachea and the others. Well, this is faster for now and gives me more details. Doing things manually will probably be quicker once I get used to all my options. Let's take a look at what upgrades are available.
Unit Designs:
- Armored Spiders
- Multitool Unit
- Medium Mana Core
- Submit New Schematics
I focus on the last option for a moment. Ok... That's not quite what I was expecting. My current options are all that's available. If I want something else, I'll have to create the design myself. Well, ok, I guess that'll give me more adaptability, but it's a major hassle.
Anyway, at least the Multitool Unit seems to be what I'm looking for. I mentally curse as I click on it to discover it'll cost me 100 mana to upgrade all my automatons, including Arachea. Can't I catch a break? I wait it out until my mana regenerates, holding off on new nodes to get this done, then purchase it after roughly forty minutes pass.
"Can you hear me, Adam?" I hear a voice say as I'm watching my golems insert themselves into a hole that the unit opened up to perform the upgrade.
I turn my focus on Eraina as she calls for my attention. I didn't realize I was zoning out.
"Please, let us go. We only came to explore these ruins. We were hoping to find clues as to what happened to the ancient civilization. We never meant any harm."
I stare at her as I ponder her request. I don't really see why I should trust them. It seems like I'm a pretty big deal in this era. Surely they'll be given a large reward if they give the information of my weakened state and location to the kingdom.
I turn my attention to Tharin for a moment before looking back at Eraina. She's practically begging me with her eyes. I can sense Nana and Lorithian are doing the same. I guess that's why Tharin is glaring around while holding back tears. He wants to live but clearly has a lot of hatred for me. I can feel my heart softening toward them, despite their intrusion. It's been a long time since I felt such emotions.
But, those emotions are short-lived. In all honesty, even if I ask them to keep my existence a secret, I can't see Tharin sticking to it. I feel like his pride will drive him to seek revenge for his defeat here.
I can already imagine what'll happen if the kingdom becomes aware of me. They'll likely use me to gain advantageous trade routes or as a pawn to force a treaty with another country. The idea of having to deal with politics is so unpleasant that it makes me shiver. I really don't want to have to deal with those people.
I can sense my mana levels ticking down as the automaton upgrade continues. If I had enough mana and more automatons, I may have considered her request. At least then I may have been strong enough to threaten them to keep quiet about me. But as it is, I can't afford that risk. The best thing I can do for them is to keep them as my prisoners for the time being.
But, if I don't secure resources to keep them alive, that's just the same as sentencing them to a long, slow, and painful death. Maybe it would be the more humane thing to put them down in this situation. Well, if I'm going to do that, I may as well use them as guinea pigs and get some use out of them. Besides, there's still a wealth of general knowledge I need to extract from them through more interrogations.
I'll reconsider that path if I can find a way to keep them alive long-term. There may be a way for them to become useful to me if I can solve that problem. For now, the best I can do is leave them as is and focus on other things.
My mana drops down to 0 as the upgrade is finished. A quick inspection shows a new panel on their backs that can open to reveal an arm that can take the shape of different tools. I examine each of them in my interface to be sure before giving my orders.