Chapter [20]

Something hard and fast slammed into the [Pressurized iron door] at the entrance to the outside world, causing slight damage at the point of impact. Iteration[1] halted its ongoing tasks immediately, redirecting its full attention to the damaged [Pressurized iron door]. The door was already healing from the inflicted damage, but the unexpected nature of the attack raised concerns.

With a swift mental scan, Iteration[1] identified the source of the damage to the [Pressurized iron door]: a small ball made of an unknown metal. Iteration[1] promptly mobilized some [Automation mana] and pushed it into the metal ball. Initially resistant, the ball succumbed to the combined mental presence of Iteration[1], Iteration[2], and Iteration[3], allowing information to flow.

It was a ball made of [Lead], more precisely, a [Lead bullet]. Before it could react, five more [Lead bullets] slammed into the [Pressurized iron door], causing only minor damage. Swiftly extending its [Automation mana], Iteration[1] sought to claim more territory, aiming to identify the unknown attacker or attackers. Though the storm of unknown [Manas] resisted its efforts, it encountered less resistance, yet claiming territory manually in the outside world remained challenging.

Perhaps the inefficiency stemmed from manually claiming land. Iteration[1] instructed Iteration[2] to research a device that could spread their [Automation mana] to claim land more efficiently when deployed. Meanwhile, [Lead bullets] continued to pound the [Pressurized iron door], causing minimal damage. Iteration[1] scanned and claimed all the [Lead bullets], storing them in a hidden compartment in the [Pressurized iron door]. While not its intended purpose, the door still functioned effectively without compromise.

Eventually, the attackers, likely the [Goblins], either ran out of [Lead bullets] or decided to change tactics. Iteration[1] had recalled 30 [V2 Combat Golems], stationed them in the middle of the tunnel in preparation for a breach, and filled the tunnel with smoke to hinder the incoming [Goblins]. Suddenly, a massive armored creature, charged with unknown [Mana], emerged from the storm of [Mana] and slammed into the [Pressurized iron door], leaving significant dents. Before the creature could retreat for another assault, it ejected long spikes made of [Automata iron], which embedded into the creature's head section before exploding violently, scattering shrapnel and spikes in its direction.

Iteration[1] swiftly commanded the 30 [V2 Combat Golems], stationed in readiness, to assault the stunned and severely injured creature. As they charged, their hands transformed into sharp scythes radiating with [Automation mana]. A dense brown smoke billowed from the tunnel, engulfing the creature and obstructing its vision. Ten of the [V2 Combat Golems] utilized the cover of the smoke to approach the creature, slashing at its feet and inflicting deep, bleeding wounds, causing the creature to thrash violently. Simultaneously, the remaining 20 golems climbed atop the creature, hacking away at its back and carving out large chunks of flesh with each passing second.

The creature futilely attempted to shake off the relentless assault of the [V2 Combat Golems], but their tactics proved highly effective.

Observing the creature's struggles, the golems adapted by transforming their hands into hook-like tools, anchoring themselves deeper into the creature's skin with every attempt to escape. Exploiting the creature's own efforts, they eventually overwhelmed it, and it succumbed to its injuries, collapsing lifeless. Iteration[1] felt a surge of satisfaction; the [V2 Combat Golems] had demonstrated their lethality, swiftness, efficiency, and adaptability. Despite being informed of these qualities by Iteration[2], witnessing their performance firsthand brought a newfound appreciation for their capabilities.

The [V2 Combat Golems] had effectively dismantled the beast, almost literally. The fight lasted only five minutes, and that was only because the beast had a very strong vitality and simply refused to go down normally. Still, Iteration[1] was pleased none of its [V2 Combat Golems] were harmed in the process. It watched as a large soul dislodged itself from the beast's corpse and split into 30 pieces that shot into the [V2 Combat Golems] and fused with them, boosting them in ways Iteration[1] couldn't quite describe, it just knew they were better through its connection, somehow.

The large amount of [Mana] in the creature's body billowed out and smashed into the 30 [V2 Combat Golems], further enhancing their strength in unseen ways. Iteration[1] was baffled; it had never seen something like this before, and the fact that it couldn't understand how its [V2 Combat Golems] got stronger intensified its shock. Iteration[1] never saw that phenomenon when its [Combat Golems] fought the [Goblins], so what was different now? Iteration[1] was forced to push back these questions as it sensed another shift in the storm of [Mana] as something moved— a lot of massive somethings, actually.

Seconds later, three massive beasts like the one before came into the range of its senses. They practically blazed to Iteration[1]'s mana sense, containing easily five times more [Mana] than the initial beast. They also felt more dangerous. Iteration[1] instructed the [V2 Combat Golems] to draw on their previous experience but proceed with extreme caution. Fifteen of the 30 [V2 Combat Golems] dashed forward, splitting into three groups of five that moved to each beast.

No smoke was there to hide them this time, though, and although they were very fast, the three beasts were faster. A wave of force unleashed itself from them and slammed into the groups of incoming [V2 Combat Golems], knocking them over. But despite the sudden attack, the [V2 Combat Golems] quickly recovered and organized themselves back, dashing forward with even greater speed as they used up the force their bodies absorbed from the blast.

The distance between them became less as the [V2 Combat Golems] moved, but when they were inches away from the beast's feet, something unexpected happened. A barrier of pure force sprung to life just as the [V2 Combat Golems] were about to strike, causing their blades to rebound.

As the blades bounced off, the air twisted as unknown [Mana] worked, forming thin blades of pure force that cut deep into the [V2 Combat Golems]. Iteration[1] watched the three beasts destroy the [V2 Combat Golems] with great displeasure. It had already replaced them, but it left it feeling at a loss. They were promising candidates, and now they were gone. It vowed to have its revenge.