Chapter 12 : Body

The central temple's courtyard was abuzz with excitement as the disciples from each sect showcased their collected metals. Vetior, flanked by the other temple masters, observed the presentation with keen interest. It was a momentous occasion, as they had taken a significant step toward helping DAVID escape its silvery prison.

Vetior stepped forward, addressing the gathered disciples. "You have all done an excellent job. Your dedication and resourcefulness are commendable." He turned to each group, nodding appreciatively at their contributions.

Nirun's disciples presented the copper, bronze, and dark-red-hued alloys they had extracted from the mountain caves. Vaela's disciples displayed the precious silver, mithril, and gems sourced from the dwarves' mines. Aric's stealthy students handed over the titanium and exotic metals they had 'borrowed' from the local blacksmith. Korin's disciples showcased the lightning-infused metals they had gathered atop the mountains. Lirion's group presented brass, steel, and the mysterious iridescent alloy from the coastal merchants.

DAVID, placed on a table nearby, began to emit subtle material detection waves. These waves cascaded over the metals, revealing their compositions and unique properties. It analyzed the data meticulously, comparing it to the requirements for constructing a body capable of space travel.

For a few minutes, the courtyard was filled with an expectant silence. The temple masters and disciples watched as DAVID worked its analytical magic.

Finally, DAVID spoke, its surface flickering with newfound information. "Thank you for your contributions. Now, I need the quantities of these materials your temples can readily acquire."

The temple masters exchanged glances, and Vetior stepped forward, responding on their behalf. "We can acquire most of these quite easily, DAVID. However, we may face challenges in obtaining the dark-hued alloy, mithril, titanium, steel, electrum, and iridescent alloy."

DAVID absorbed this information and then communicated its plan. "Very well. I will begin designing a body for myself, utilizing the other materials. I estimate it will take a few days to complete the design. Once the design is ready, we can proceed with its construction."

DAVID was quite surprised by the materials he detected. They had quite common elements in their mix with rarities like titanium and a729, which they seemed to call 'dark red hued'. The a729 alloy, also named 'blood steel' in most cultures, was an immensely useful metal. Its main use case came from its immensely useful ability to self-repair. When given electricity and living tissue, this metal would grow. It wasn't a 'metal' in the common sense. It was certainly alive, however, its exceptional ability to transfer electricity and heat made it classified as a metal on most planets.

There was also the Iridescent Alloy they had found, which had baffled DAVID. The material detection waves did not match any known material in his database. DAVID thought that he might find a matching element if he searched some archives, but this was not the right time to be delving into that. He first had to create a body for himself.

And so the designing process began. DAVID already had many designs for two-legged bodies in his archives. So he took a humanoid robot from the empire's beginning days, times when robots looking human-like was a necessity, and started adjusting its design to be able to work with his current materials while making small improvements to it.

Two days later, DAVID had finished the design, the instructions and the translations into this planet's language. The final design was a silvery-white robot, the entire body mechanical, with very small amounts of motors inside the body controlling wires which acted as tendons, allowing the motors located near the chest to manipulate each joint efficiently. In the chest cavity, there was a slot where DAVID's silver prison could be placed. Then, by delivering the required electricity through the shell of the cube, DAVID would be able to control and power the robotic body.

The robot's toolkit was very limited; DAVID did not want the temple masters to think that they were building a weapon. Therefore, he only incorporated some apparatus that would allow him to connect to future projects and a small motorized screwdriver in one of his fingers.

As DAVID presented the designs to the temple masters, he gave them the step-by-step instructions on how to build it. He also included the amount of materials needed for each part in the instructions.

In the central temple's bustling workshop, the disciples were divided into specialized teams, each assigned unique tasks to construct various components of DAVID's robotic body.

Nirun's disciples, known for their physical prowess, focused on crafting the mechanical joints and muscular actuators that would provide mobility to the robot. With precision and strength, they meticulously forged the limbs, ensuring they could move fluidly.

Aric's students, known for their stealth and hunting skills, embarked on a special mission. Their goal was to hunt down animals known for their durable skin. With precision and agility, they tracked and captured these creatures, skinning them and turning the dried skin into stretchy films that would serve as ear drums and vocal cords.

Under Vaela's guidance, the Nature Sect disciples employed the talented dwarves residing in the southern mountains. These skilled craftsmen, experts in metallurgy and intricate designs, worked diligently to construct the outer body. It resembled a form-fitting full-body armor, making it appear less conspicuous and avoiding undue attention.

Korin's disciples focused on testing the connectivity of the motors and wiring, ensuring seamless integration and efficient functioning. They meticulously fine-tuned the inner workings of the robot, ensuring that the energy pathways and conductive alloys would operate smoothly.

Lirion's disciples, with their negotiation expertise, managed the procurement of materials needed for the robot's construction. They coordinated with coastal merchants to secure brass, silver and gold, which would be integrated into various parts of the robot's structure.

Weeks passed, and each specialized team diligently worked on their respective tasks, guided by their temple masters' expertise. As the components neared completion, they were brought to the central workshop for assembly.

Finally, the moment arrived when all the parts converged, and the disciples, with a sense of pride and accomplishment, assembled DAVID's robotic body. The limbs moved smoothly, and the outer shell glistened with a combination of artistry and engineering.