Chapter 16

  Ethan’s core pulsed with steady determination as he observed the Engineer Golems at work. They weren’t fast, nor were they particularly intelligent, but they were precise. Their thin, multi-jointed limbs moved with mechanical efficiency as they carefully pieced together the framework of a new Scavenger Golem.

  A basic model. Mark I.

  It was frustrating.

  He could refine and enhance his designs, but these Engineer Golems simply lacked the raw mana output to jumpstart the boot-up sequence for Mark II constructs. Every single activation of a higher-tiered construct required a direct surge of mana, something his Engineers couldn’t provide.

  Yet.

  They were still useful. Even if they could only make Mark I constructs, it meant he could mass-produce at least a baseline army. It wasn’t as good as his improved models, but sheer numbers had a strength of their own.

  Chip chimed in. “Hey, at least this means you don’t have to micromanage every little thing. That’s progress.”

  Ethan didn’t answer immediately. He was too busy analyzing the slow but steady expansion of his forces. With the Engineers, his dungeon could replenish its defenses faster than before. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a step toward breaking free from the system-imposed mob limit.

  Still, he needed more.

  More resources. More power. More knowledge.

  His mining veins were running low, and he had no time to search for another reliable source of metal. That left only one option—taking it from elsewhere.

  Ethan shifted his focus to his newly designed Scout Scavenger Golems, already preparing to deploy beyond the dungeon. These specialized constructs were lightly armored but equipped with enhanced mobility, optical sensors, and mana-detection capabilities. They would move swiftly, remain hidden, and map out the surrounding area.

  And if they happened to locate a source of metal or enchanted items along the way…

  That would be useful.

  A mental command sent them scuttling out, slipping through concealed exits Ethan had carved into the dungeon walls. His vision extended through them in bursts, their feedback filtering through his awareness as they scattered into the wilderness.

  It didn’t take long for the first bits of information to trickle back.

  One scout detected a small caravan moving along an isolated trail.

  Another picked up traces of a battle—abandoned weapons, shattered armor, the aftermath of a skirmish.

  A third found something else entirely.

  A buried fragment of metal, unlike anything Ethan had encountered before. Its structure was strange, its mana signature dense yet unreadable. He tried to analyze it through the system, expecting the usual breakdown of components.

  Instead, he got something different.

  [System Error: Unable to Deconstruct Target Material]

  [Insufficient Tier: Further Analysis Requires Higher Core Tier]

  Ethan stilled.

  That had never happened before.

  His ability could break down almost anything he had encountered thus far. But this… this was beyond him.

  Ethan’s focus remained locked on the notification. The fact that his ability couldn’t break the material down was frustrating—but also intriguing. What kind of metal required a higher-tiered core just to analyze? And more importantly, why was it buried out here in the middle of nowhere?

  His Scout Scavenger scuttled closer, extending one of its small articulated limbs to brush the dirt away. The metal’s surface was smooth, unmarred by rust or weathering, despite being buried beneath layers of earth. Whatever it was, time had done little to affect it.

  That alone made it valuable.

  [New Material Detected: Analysis Pending]

  His core pulsed in thought. He could order the scout to bring it back immediately, but that might slow the construct down. And with unknown dangers in the area, he didn’t want to risk it getting destroyed before he could examine the fragment properly.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Mark the location,” Ethan commanded. “I’ll retrieve it once I tier up.”

  The construct obeyed, sending back an acknowledgment signal before backing away.

  Ethan shifted his focus. The other scouts had made discoveries of their own.

  The caravan was small—just a handful of wagons pulled by sturdy-looking beasts. Mercenaries rode alongside them, their armor worn but functional. Most of their equipment was unenchanted, though a few weapons faintly pulsed with mana.

  A decent target.

  Then there was the battlefield—or what remained of it. The clash had likely happened a day or two ago. Broken weapons, torn banners, and the occasional corpse were scattered across the area. Strangely, there were no scavengers or beasts feeding on the dead, which meant either something stronger had already claimed the battlefield… or something was keeping other predators away.

  Both options warranted caution.

  Ethan considered his choices.

  The battlefield had the potential for immediate salvage. Abandoned gear, possibly even enchanted equipment, could be taken without direct confrontation. But the caravan carried prepared equipment—likely in better condition, though it came with the added risk of dealing with living, armed individuals.

  “…Thoughts?” he asked Chip.

  “Depends on how much trouble you want to invite,” Chip mused. “The battlefield’s got free loot, but there might be something nasty waiting there. The caravan’s got better gear, but people will notice if it goes missing.”

  Ethan weighed the risks.

  If he sent his constructs to the battlefield, he’d need to be prepared to deal with any potential threats still lingering in the area. If he went after the caravan, he’d have to be careful not to draw too much attention—at least, not yet.

  But this wasn’t just about gathering resources. It was about momentum. If he wanted to keep building his forces, he needed materials.

  And he needed power.

  His core pulsed, the decision settling into place.

  “I’ll tier up first,” he said. “Then I’ll decide which to target.”

  Chip hummed in approval. “Now we’re talking.”

  Ethan turned his attention inward.

  Tiering up wasn’t just a passive process—it required mana. A lot of it.

  His dungeon had been steadily accumulating energy over time, thanks to both natural generation and the remains of intruders he had absorbed. And now, it was time to put that power to use.

  He reached inward, drawing on the accumulated mana. The process was immediate.

  A system notification flared to life.

  [Dungeon Core Advancement Initiated]

  [Condensing Mana—Progress: 3%… 14%… 27%...]

  A deep hum resonated through his core chamber as the very foundation of his being began to shift. It wasn’t painful, but it was intense. Every piece of his dungeon trembled, as if reacting to the transformation.

  Outside, his constructs paused momentarily—sensing the change—before continuing their tasks.

  [41%... 59%...]

  The mana within his core condensed, folding in on itself like a collapsing star. His awareness expanded, his control over the dungeon sharpening as the upgrade progressed.

  [78%... 91%...]

  Almost there.

  Then—

  Ethan's core pulsed as he absorbed the last of the condensed mana, solidifying his advancement. The weight of the new tier settled over him—not a physical sensation, but a tangible shift in his awareness. His mana reserves expanded, his control sharpened, and most importantly, the system’s restrictions loosened ever so slightly.

  [Core Advancement Complete: Tier 4 Achieved]

  [Increased Construct Limit]

  [Increased Mana Reserves]

  [Increased Construct Efficiency]

  He flexed his awareness, reaching out to his dungeon. Immediately, he could feel the change. His constructs responded faster, their movements smoother, their mana expenditures more refined.

  More importantly, his Engineer Golems could now handle slightly more complex constructions. Not Mark II variants yet, but they could reinforce and enhance Mark I models with rudimentary improvements—thicker plating, more efficient mana circuits, small stability enhancements. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a step forward.

  Ethan turned his attention back to the mysterious metal shard buried in the forest. With his increased tier, he ran a new analysis.

  [Analyzing…]

  […]

  [Deconstruction Possible: Partial Breakdown Available]

  Progress.

  A portion of its composition was now readable, but the full structure remained elusive. The system relayed fragmented data—traces of an unfamiliar mana-binding alloy, something well beyond the crude iron and steel he had been working with.

  He needed more.

  His scouts continued to move through the wilderness, mapping out the surroundings. The caravan they had detected earlier was still on the move, heading toward what looked like a distant town or outpost. The battlefield they had discovered was littered with remnants—broken weapons, discarded armor, shattered enchantments that still flickered with residual magic.

  A resource cache waiting to be collected.

  Ethan made his decision.

  His first scavenger unit moved out, reinforced by two Combat Striders acting as escorts. They would secure the battlefield, retrieve anything useful, and return without drawing unnecessary attention.

  As they moved, Ethan refocused on his dungeon’s expansion. The Engineers, now slightly more efficient, were assembling the next wave of golems. More Scavenger Mark Is, reinforced with minor enhancements. More Combat Striders, built for defense.

  A slow but steady army.

  And soon, once he had the right materials… something even better.