[1500 units of anti-mana in weight collected. Protocol 4C completed. Blueprints for Type 1 Peasant Mind, Type 1 Freeholder Mind, and Type 1 Factory Core imprinted into databank.]

[Protocol 4D started. Collect 2500 units of anti-mana in weight to unlock new production capabilities. 60% completed.]

‘F…’

Custodian refreshed its interface, then checked if there was any bugs in its status.

‘Factory Core?!’

[Factory Core

Basic factory AI chip which could take in simple modules. Can only process small amounts of biomatter and mana matter at a time. Requires a lot of anti-mana surrounding it to power it.

Produced using 5 Type 1 Peasant Mind processors and 2 Type 1 Freeholder Mind processors.]

In essence, this was basically a mini-Custodian! Though, it seemed that it was limited to only processing and manufacturing smaller drones. It wasn’t capable of thinking but this was good enough for Custodian!

‘Wait… it requires a lot of the new processing chips.’

[Type 1 Peasant Mind

Unable to use magic, but could use bigger frames and understand more complex instructions. In addition, it could take in up to two smaller non-magical processors.

Produced using 5 Type 2 Slave Mind processors, 15 units of biomatter and mana matter each in weight.]

[Type 1 Freeholder Mind

Capable of using magic, understanding more complex instructions, and have higher independence protocols, but can only use slightly bigger frames than its predecessors.

Produced using 2 Type 2 Serf Mind processors, 15 units of biomatter and mana matter each in weight.]

‘These things are expensive!’ Custodian complained.

Given Custodian’s current resources, only up to three Factory Cores could be made. Even then, it wouldn’t have enough resources to construct a body for them!

But still, this was a pleasant addition to Custodian’s drones. The new Peasant Mind could create workers that could do complicated tasks which would have required the use of the original ten drones. On the other hand, the Freeholder Mind could finally replace the Serf Mind combat and hunter drones.

The fact that it could use magic and engage in combat meant that Custodian didn’t have to produce two types of combat drones every time. Not only that, the combat drones could be bigger or have a different shape. After all, the bigger a combatant is, the bigger advantage it would have!

Custodian used all of its resources to create a prototype for each new processor. The first one was a large spider drone with a small headless torso atop its body. Its hands would allow it to use tools and even do other things such as shaping, picking up, and sorting objects. It was even faster at doing its job, and was capable of being modified, such as putting a basket on its back. The best thing about this was that the worker was able to defend itself, and even speak.

“Oh dear.” The worker drone’s high pitched, soft voice leaked as it tried to pick itself up from the ground when it was activated. Its legs were shaky when it was trying to stand, but it got used to it after a quick walk.

“Go collect silk,” Custodian instructed.

“Yes, master,” the worker drone replied.

The next prototype was a Freeholder brain with a small humanoid body. It was almost a third the size of the original drones. They were smaller and dumber, but they were specialized into combat roles - guards, hunters, raiders, and so on. It was also capable of simple speeches such as “DIE!” and “MATTER!”.

Custodian doesn’t know what causes this...

When the A.I. activated its first ever soldier, it rose up from the ground and looked around to examine its surroundings. Custodian dropped a shield, spear, and a set of fur armor in front of it.

“Pick it up. You’re patrolling the rat’s nest with your spiderkins,” Custodian instructed.

“DEATH!” it shouted as it picked up its weapon then promptly left. Although Custodian theorized that the new humanoid combat drone could fight toe-to-toe against a spiked rat, it was simply too expensive to upgrade every single combat drone. Besides, not everything had to be upgraded, just like the basket drones. It was simple, yet reliable, so the combat spider drones could be kept as is.

Finally, Custodian molded a lot of anti-mana into a large ball which covered a factory A.I. chip until it eventually looked like a mini-Custodian. Upon activation, the ball floated in the air, and a red eye appeared in its glass-like body.

“Go assist me in production,” Custodian ordered.

“Beep.” The ball floated into the corner of the room, then started processing monster cores.

‘Hmm? What the…’ Custodian realized that whatever mini-Custodian processed was automatically stored into Custodian’s body.

‘Do the materials teleport instantly?’

It was useless to think about it now, so Custodian decided to check on the progress of the original drones.

If what the humans said was true, there could be a weapon which could benefit Custodian and its forces, but they didn’t know what exactly was the weapon.

Nevertheless, Custodian benefited from this as the undead provided a lot of materials. Other than the raid team, Drone 4 was also busy exploring the fort once more. It went up the stairs once again until it reached the top of the tower.

True enough, there seemed to be an invisible barrier in the cavern passage leading out. Drone 4 tried to kick the barrier, and even used magic against it to no avail. In other words, they were trapped under the mountain.

‘There goes plans of going to the surface… unless the weapon in the castle could be the key to getting us out!’

The castle within the city was fortified and guarded by living armors. In order to successfully breach it, Custodian would need an army.

As Custodian finished constructing a new humanoid frame, it formulated battle plans in silence.

It had been a week or so since Gerard and his group was rescued. They had set up tents made out of fur given by the drones to live in, but they were still agitated by the fact that the drones wouldn’t let them out of the pool chamber.

Dyvona stepped out of a tent, clutching her stomach. Placed at the other side of the room was a tent used as a toilet. It only had a chair looted from the city and a bucket.

Nevertheless, it served its purpose.

Dyvona noticed that her group was sitting in a circle with the stranger named Weaver, so she decided to join them.

“You ever think about what they do with our crap?” Dyvona leaned closely to Aefelred and whispered.

Aefelred looked behind and saw a drone taking the crap bucket out of the pool chamber.

“Obviously, they throw it… somewhere. Why?” Aefelred furrowed his brows.

“A crap pit underground would stink a lot. There’s probably not much sources of water so throwing them into a stream of water is out of the question. Then how are they disposing our…”

“Quiet down, woman. Your curiosities annoy me. Just believe that they have some kind of tool to deal with the smell,” Aefelred grumbled.

Dyvona sighed as she clutched her stomach. “I wish they would give us something else other than rat meat.”

“Beggars can’t be choosers. These people might have survived all this time solely on rat meat, you know?” Aefelred pointed out.

“Maybe they eat other things? I might as well ask.” Dyvona walked next to Gerard and Weaver, who were conversing with each other.

“Hey, fella. Mind if I ask you a thing?” Dyvona sat next to Weaver then rested her elbow against her leg.

“Yes? I answer… as best as I can.” Weaver nodded.

“What do you people eat?” Dyvona shot her question immediately.

“Eat? Ahh… rat meat. Yes. Eat rat meat every day,” Weaver lied. What else was he supposed to say? That they survive on Custodian’s will?

“That’s just depressing…” Dyvona sighed.

“Hey, that’s rude, you know,” Gerard scolded.

“Yeah, yeah. Say, do your people have a leader or something?” Dyvona asked another question.

“Leader? Yes. Why?” Weaver asked back.

“Can we meet him? Or is that not allowed?” Dyvona replied.

“Ah, Dyvona, I already asked them before. Weaver said that we can’t meet with their leader. He says he’s… busy,” Gerard answered.

“Yes. Leader busy. Can’t-…” Weaver was interrupted when Princeps placed a hand on his shoulder. They both stared at each other before Weaver turned and said, “Sorry, I must go. Leader is calling.”

Not only did Princeps and Weaver leave, Exarchi also left for the core room. The chamber was still guarded by the spider drones, so the humans still couldn’t get out.

“How do they do that?” Dyvona muttered.

“Do what?” Gerard asked as he passed a slab of rat meat to the other young man in the group.

“Whenever they’re not playing bizarre music to each other, they would be staring. It’s like they’re telepathic! Hey, Aefelred! You’re the smartest among us. Do you know any telepathic races that live underground?” Dyvona turned to the redbearded mage.

“Not that I know of…” Aefelred replied as he shook his head.

“Ah! Guys! Help! The fire in the furnace died!” the young man was trying to cook rat meat in a magic furnace given by the drones when he accidentally killed the fire.

“Damn it, Osvart. You know we don’t know how to operate this contraption. We’ll have to call for the strangers to fix this now,” Aefelred reprimanded the young man named Osvart.

Just as Aefelred was about to check the furnace, the chamber entrance opened.

“Ah, Weaver! My young lad was being stupid, so could you help us-…” Aefelred stopped mid-sentence when he saw a large group of armored men march towards the chamber’s exit which faced the ruined city.

Compared to Weaver and Princeps, the newly arrivals were shorter and stockier. They were armored from head to toe with fur and chainmail. Armed with identical shields and axes, they looked like a disciplined army.

Leading them at the front were Slayer, Princeps, Magus, and Exarchi. Weaver was at the back with Apoth, armed with a crossbow.

“Wait, what’s this?” Gerard rushed up and asked Weaver.

“My people go fight,” Weaver simply replied.

“Can we also join you?” Gerard offered.

“No. You stay,” Weaver ordered.

An angered Aefelred shouted “You can’t keep us in here. We’re free men! Besides, we are experienced warriors!”

“You all will be… burdens.” Weaver was straight to the point. After all, drones were apathetic, oblivious to other people’s feelings.

“You all really…” Gerard sighed and continued,”Fine. We’ll stay put.”

“Gerard, we-…”

“Aefelred, enough. I’m sure they just want to keep us from harm’s way,” Gerard interrupted.

“Well, they really want that so-called weapon for themselves, huh?” Dyvona pointed out as she watched the army marched out of the chamber.

“I’ll pray to Humanos for their success!” Elena declared.

“I don’t even think they’re humans…” Aefelred shrugged.

In truth, Custodian had been assembling an army right outside of the pool chamber. There were less than fifty of them, but given how most of the living armor were guarding the fort, the A.I. surmised that this was enough to storm the lord’s castle located atop a hill in the city.

Using the scout drones, Custodian managed the scout out the enemy force. The castle was guarded by a force of living armor no larger than Custodian’s current army.

But still, there were sizeable groups of wraiths patrolling near the castle. Not to mention that there were skeletons nearby that would jump into action the moment a wraith yells.

Nevertheless, Custodian has all the time in the world. It didn’t matter if it took years or centuries to take this castle.

The automaton’s army was careful and slow. They would fight and clear small forces around the castle, and stop for repair once a skirmish ends.

Custodian also realized fighting armed humanoids was different from hunting beasts. At first, the combat drones had simple movements and formations, but learning was Custodian’s expertise.

The automaton army was marching down the street when a wraith and its mob of skeletons encountered them. The undead officer screeched at the drones, rousing the skeletons into combat.

“Shieldwall,” Slayer ordered. The drones locked their shields against each other, then held tight. Without saying a word, the shieldwall moved as one, step by step with perfect synchronization.

“Brace.”

The freeholders held their ground and braced. Moments later, the skeletons collided with the near impenetrable metal wall. The drones, now armed with spears, thrusted their weapons in retaliation.

Countless skeletons fell under the onslaught of the automatons. The wraith approached the wall and swung its greatsword, slicing through a few combat drones.

“Open!”

Upon the command, the shield split into two, opening a direct path to the wraith. A path for Magus’ purple lightning, that is.

In an instant, the wraith was vaporized and the battle was won.

The freeholders carried the injured drones, three of them in particular, and the army marched back to the forward outpost with bones at hand.

The bulk of the army waited in front of the pool chamber entrance, while a few escorted the damaged drones to the core room for repairs.

Gerard looked as the drones carried their damage brethren away, though from a distance, it looked like they were carrying critically wounded people.

“How many has it been since they began?” Aefelred grumbled.

“How many what?” Gerard asked.

“Dead, of course. Everytime they come back, they bring in more dead people. Worse still, they still go back to the city with yet more people,” Aefelred explained.

“They… they could just be bringing them back for healing. They do have a pool of holy water here,” Gerard theorized.

“Look at that soldier. His arm is cut off! If he was human, he would probably just be a juvenile given how short he is!” Aefelred pointed as two drones carried an one-armed drone across the room. “I really think we should be helping them.”

“They already told us to stay out of-…”

“Regardless, Humanos taught us to be compassionate, and help those in need. Isn’t that right, little girl?” Aefelred interrupted Gerard then turned to Elena who nodded in reply.

“I’ll try to ask Weaver again, but don’t hope for anything,” Gerard said as he went towards the drone.

“Weaver, we want to help you. What do you gain from protecting us? We don’t want to be a burden to your people,” Gerard declared.

“Hmm. I will talk to… leader.” Weaver left the pool chamber in order to ‘talk’ to Custodian. In truth, all Weaver had to do was speak to Custodian directly through hivespeak. But still, they had to keep an act for the humans.

‘What do you think?’ Weaver asked as soon as he left the room. He didn’t need to explain the situation since they know Custodian was always watching them.

‘Tell me, are the humans still useful to us?’ Custodian asked nonchalantly. It was a simple and straightforward question without any malicious intent.

‘They know more of the surface than us. Quite possibly, we need them as guides. Especially to Vyssium - their point of origin. We must think of the long term goal rather than the short term goal,’ Weaver replied.

‘Do we need all of them?’

Weaver thought about it for a minute, then replied, ‘We only need the black haired one.’

‘That is good to hear. We need more material for our campaigns to come,’ Custodian noted.

‘How do you plan on exterminating them while still retaining their cooperation?’ Weaver asked.

‘Simple. Have all but the black haired human join the battle. The organics are squishy and would eventually fall in battle. They wish to die like the illogical fools they are? So be it,’ Custodian declared.

‘Your will be done,’ Weaver replied.

Feeling that Custodian had focused its attention somewhere else, Weaver stood in silence. He clasped his hands, then rubbed the back of his hands with his fingers.

“Heh…”