Scrap.

'These things look very weak… I could probably destroy one in two hits? What's more, it doesn't even look like it can do any real damage.' Even if there were 20 of them…. Just look at the way they move….. They're so slow, I could probably kill them all myself…. Easily…. Was our help really even necessary?'

Marcus was taken aback by my words…. I'd even go as far as to say that he looked shocked…..….. There was an awkward silence..

Am I wrong? The first rat I killed was also lv20…. It did 20 damage with a single charge. That's not much but 25-30 hits like that would kill me. And that was an elite monster... How much damage could this normal Protectron do to me before it's destroyed? 5? No even less than that…. My Strong Hide trait would protect me, and now it's even stronger than when I fought the elite rat…..

Wait a moment. That's only considering my own strength….. How much HP does a normal ghoul even have? I can't remember….. I have over 500 HP…. So using myself as a reference might not be fair…. A normal human or ghoul may have only around 30 Hp for all I know, maybe even less… What's more….. They are much weaker than I am…. They have guns but my attacks are comparable to an average adult Deathclaw…. To them…. A single Protectron may actually be dangerous…. Let alone 20…

'Let's just keep our guard up.'

'Excuse me…. I said something strange….. But I think you're underestimating me a bit too much…. The robot in the next room may prove to be a challenge to you but to me….. Well, it's very weak. All it would take is one or two swipes from my claws and It'd be over.'

Marcus just looked at me with a weird expression….. I could tell he didn't believe me….

"Lets-"

'Nonsense, it doesn't matter. You'll see what I'm talking about soon enough. I'm going to grab its attention.'

He seemed a bit hesitant but didn't reject the idea so I turned around and cracked the door open again.

He was facing the opposite wall.

'Hmm, no extra enemies in the surroundings….'

The yellow Bot was playing some pre-recorded messages. But, I didn't pay attention to what it was saying.

Grabbing a piece of paper I crumpled it up before slowly opening the door the rest of the way.

'Hide behind the door. When it comes in, shut it.'

Confirming that Marcus was ready. I chucked the paper ball at the Protectron.

[Delinquent behavior confirmed! The violator will be removed!]

The machine turned around and started walking in our direction. I was already out of its line of sight, but I was standing in the middle of the room. Once it's in the doorway it will have a clear shot at me. So I have to hurry.

A few seconds passed and the Utility Bot appeared. Walking right into the room.

[Attention. This is now a combat zone. You may suffer from harm up to and including death. This notice is required by law.]

Marcus shut the door and I ran, leaping towards the Robot scratching it with my claws. A deep gouge was formed into its metal plate as It rose its mechanical arms into the air and brought them down onto my head.

The blow made me slightly flinch, but it didn't really hurt much. I just felt a sting and that was it. I was right…. It was weak. I brought my hand back.

[Peirce]

Empowered, My hand bent the metal inward before exiting out the backside. Immediately the machine powered down.

-You have destroyed Utility Protectron. Lv20-

-You gain 300exp.-

Peirce[1] Levels up to Pierce[2]

And it was over….. Just like that. Two hits were all it took. The ex-soldier couldn't even get a shot in before it ended. It was almost amusing. The face he was making.

Raising my leg I kicked the broken Protectron unlodging my arm.

I released a sigh and looked towards the surprised Marcus….

"Y-You really took it down with only two hits…. These things are built to last a couple dozen bullets. Even if we brought all of our ammunition we may not be able to kill them all."

His own words seemed to shock him even more.

"You are so young. How could that small body do so much damage?"

"If I was like the others from my species, I'd be much weaker. But I'm different. You've seen me training around that farm of yours haven't you?… I've been doing that for a long time now."

'This thing is dangerous.'

I narrowed my eyes. But I ignored it.

Marcus wasn't aware that my Mind Link was still active.

I'm no fool…. I know what he wants the power armor for….. Isn't it obvious?.... He wants it for Insurance…. Just in case things go south and he needs to use it. Probably against Snow and I. It would act as a sort of safety net, just in case we become hostile.

Why would I help him?

I felt a smirk creep up onto my face.

He's….. Dangerous…. But he's both smart and cautious…. I wasn't actually surprised when he agreed to join me...… I needed people like him… People that know how to take every advantage they've been given. If I only surround myself with fools then I would just be the king of fools. That kind of thinking won't get far. Don't get me wrong. Someone like Bert isn't stupid, on the contrary he's also pretty wise…. You can't underestimate someone capable of breaking down their own psyche so thoroughly. Bert would make a good figure head. Maybe even a good combatant if he tried to train himself. These people just need a push into the right direction… A chance to flourish.

So yes… I will allow him to have his power armor… I will have more of them in the future anyway, and currently, he is the only one who can use it. Plus, I don't think he can beat mother, A smart albino Deathclaw… He might not even be able to defeat me… I won't let that kind of thought make me arrogant though… I'll still be cautious. Though I will have to inform mother on how to deal with power armored individuals…. But hopefully, it won't come to that.

Moving around, I grabbed a few more old Papers, crumbled them all up, and pushed them into Marcus's hands. He looked a bit irritated that I expected him to hold the trash but hey, He won't be much help… The least he could do is be a pack mule…. He didn't say anything and reluctantly put the papers into his satchel.

"Let's continue."

Nodding he followed me and we entered the hallway the Protectron was standing in. it was just as decrepit as the main entrance. But it was empty.

We continued for a short while until we came across two more utility bots. This time they were just around the corner.

'Hmm, There are two this time… Both are looking away from us…..'

----Utility Protectron Lv20(Red)----

HP 190/190

----Utility Protectron Lv20(Red)----

HP 170/170/190

One has less HP even though the level is the same… It must have been damaged at some point.

Marcus looked to me… Probably waiting for a suggestion.

A few seconds passed as I contemplated on how I should approach them…. Suddenly I got an interesting idea.

I looked at Marcus and said something through the Link which surprised him a bit.

'Stay here.'

He looked at me in confusion and watched as I crouched down like a tiger. Honestly, I could probably kill them both easily. But I was thinking…. Might as well see if I can try to gain a new skill… Although these enemies are very weak, they were a higher level than me… Which meant I could most likely gain a decent amount of exp from them…. And it shouldn't be too much trouble even if they spot me.

I Slowly prowled towards them… They constantly repeated the same message over and over again.

[Please remember to wear your hard hat.]

I was right behind them now…. They had no idea. Still, I didn't attack them… After 30 or so minuetes, I gained a new skill.

Info page.

The black screen appeared and I immediately noticed it…

Sneak[1]

Good. So sneaking around hostile enemies counted as a combat situation? or maybe it's something else?

A part of me was tempted to just stay here and level the skill up…. But Mother was waiting outside.

With a thought, I activated a skill and my tail rose, snapping at the Protectron on my left side. It was instantly pierced through and its insides destroyed.

-You have destroyed Utility Protectron. Lv20-

-You gain 300 exp-

-New skill created. By using 2 different skills in tandem a new skill is formed. Sneak Attack.-

The robot fell to the ground unmoving and the new skill prompt flashed in front of me. I didn't have time to view it though as the other Utility bot became aggressive.

[Attention. This is now a combat zone. You may suffer from harm up to and including death. This notice is requ-]

Not letting the bot finish its dialogue. I jump onto its head while clawing at the metal… Instantly it tore through… My claws digging deeply into its Machine brain or whatever it was called. Not dealing enough damage it survived, clamping down onto my left arm squeezing it tightly. 

[Do not resist arrest or subj-]

[Scratch]

Slashing my right claw against its outer exterior the robot continued speaking for a moment, before its audio became distorted.. Slowly after it powered down.

-You have destroyed Utility Protectron. Lv20-

-You gain 300 exp-

As the hunk of metal fell I hopped off landing on the floor.

'Hmm? So the head actually wasn't the weakness? They seem to go down in one hit when I aim for the chest. That's where their CPU must be located…. Still… For something higher level than myself to go down in one hit is a bit surprising… Well, I guess it wasn't really designed to be a strong combatant.

Marcus walked up behind me and inspected the bots….

"Why were you hiding behind them for so long? No, nevermind it doesn't matter. Anyway, These things have useful items on them… I'd be best to scavenge through their remains for parts."

"You're right… But it's best to save that for later… For now, let's just keep moving... If we encounter anything dangerous we can lead them back to mother.

End of chapter.