Custodian’s material processing lines were stopped for a monumental event. Two of the three kojans, stripped of their gear, were lined on the conveyor belt. As the kojans were processed one by one, Custodian’s material count went up tick by tick.

“What an incredible source of material!” Custodian proclaimed.

[7500 units of anti-mana in weight collected. Protocol 1E completed. Memory 6 unlocked. Now playing...]

‘Stop!’ Custodian commanded.

[Memory 6 stored. It can be played at any time.]

‘It worked,’ Custodian rejoiced. After studying the memory fragments for some time, it had better understanding of how they worked especially since every time a memory surfaced, it would put the A.I. into sleep mode. This would be a fatal problem if Custodian was busy during an important task.

For a while, Custodian had been trying to skirt around the problem by using up as much anti-mana as possible. The protocols, for whatever reason, only required Custodian to store and collect the required anti-mana. It didn’t matter if Custodian had already created a planet’s worth of raw anti-mana as long as it used the anti-mana for something else.

Now, it could, once again, confidently start storing more anti-mana and progress deeper into the protocols. Custodian had a feeling that the only way it could develop any further would be to unlock the secrets hidden within its glassy core.

[Protocol 1F started. Collect 15000 units of anti-mana in weight. 81% completed.]

[10000 units of anti-mana in weight collected. Protocol 4G completed. Blueprints for Basic Anti-Mana Power Module imprinted into databank.]

[Basic Anti-Mana Power Module

A basic anti-mana module which could increase a unit’s overall power, thus enhancing its processing chip.

Produced using 2500 units of anti-mana.]

After studying its newly acquired blueprint, Custodian rejoiced. Depending on the drone model, it could increase its efficiency by up to 33%! Even the poorly constructed drones would gain at least 10% efficiency. Obviously, the drones that would benefit from this module the most would be the ones which were already good to begin with.

Thane drones would reach a new level of combat lethality as they could efficiently use magic without compromising their movement and reaction with the help of the new power module. For some time, these drones were very binary; it was either they were using magic or not. Now, they could passively create a small shock field around their body or empower their weapons like how Custodian’s main drones would sometimes shock their weapons during combat.

The only problem was the absurd amount of resources needed to create the modules, so Custodian had to be picky on who gets upgraded for now, especially since he needed to deal with the kojan threat first. The Daedelus drones, Custodian’s best of the best, would be a no-brainer choice to upgrade first.

Before the A.I. could get to work, it realized that Protocol 4 had changed drastically.

[Protocol 4 Basics completed. Protocol 4 will now consume the required amount of anti-mana to upgrade one chip type. Please think carefully before proceeding.]

[Protocol 4X started. Consume 20000 units of anti-mana to gain one upgrade point.]

The cost of the next upgrade almost made Custodian just pack up and leave the dungeon, but knowing how Protocol 4 worked, its hard work would certainly be rewarded bountifully. For now, Custodian decided to set Protocol 4 aside. If it weren’t for the kojans, Custodian would’ve focused on collecting resources in order to make a mad dash to upgrade its worker drones.

‘Wait a minute…’

Kojans provided a lot of resources. One dead kojan could be compared to hundreds of humans or thousands of troglodytes. Rather than taking the upgrades and destroying the kojans as a mutually exclusive goal, Custodian could actually use the kojans as a means to achieve its plans!

Somewhere deep inside the A.I., a newly-formed greed swelled inside its personality matrix. However, before it could start planning how many new storages it would need to build, it realized that a new protocol had popped up.

‘What’s this?’

[Protocol 10 started. Every ten (DESIGNATION:KOJAN) would earn you one Core Token.]

[UNKNOWN_USER has designated (DESIGNATION:KOJAN) to be a high priority target for all Core Units (updated 1.857e+6 hours ago). Core Tokens would be awarded based on participation. It could be used to request data from Main Databank.]

‘What could any of these mean?’ Custodian wondered. It analyzed the message carefully and meticulously. It was clear that the protocols were made by someone—possibly Custodian’s creator—and that its creator wanted the kojans dead a long time ago. Other than the obvious reveal that the protocols probably came from its creator, the message once again confirmed that there were many other super-A.I.s active somewhere else… hopefully.

Before Custodian could launch a merry adventure to look for other cores, it would need to deal with the kojan threat first.

‘Niner, I require you to find a new iron vein on the surface,’ Custodian commanded in hivespeak.

In order to beef up its defenses and armies, Custodian would need a lot of material like iron which was mostly obtained from underground mines found in the dungeon. However, the dungeon had two areas of focus - the mountain surface and the underground dungeon. Unfortunately for Custodian, the only reliable way up and down the dungeon was the tower in the underground city. Worse still, the tower’s stairs were so narrow that there were only two lines for traffic, one going up and one going down. In order to cut traffic, Custodian would need to supply the surface and the dungeon complex separately.

‘Actually, we found a possible location for a new iron mine a while ago,’ Niner reported.

‘What? Why didn’t you report it?’

‘I did report it, but my message was simply drowned out into background noise because of the… unwelcome intrusion by our guests.’

‘Then go ahead and start setting up a new mine. The earlier the surface has a source of iron, the better,’ Custodian said.

‘Unfortunately…’ Niner paused for a while before continuing, ‘our new friends got to it first.’

Niner sent a video to Custodian through hivespeak. Several scout drones were observing a cave entrance by a rocky hill from afar. Using the trees as cover, the drones mapped the area of the supposed iron vein. However, none of the drones dared to get closer.

Inside a small iron vein pit, a large tree extended its tendrils towards the ground, drilling inside until the iron vein cracked. Several other tendrils scooped up the broken fragments of iron ore and placed them inside a hole within the tree’s trunk, like it was devouring it. The drones could also note that the temperature of the tree increased drastically every time it ate a chunk of iron.

The nearby cave entrance was also covered in roots and vines, though it was hard to tell if there was anything inside.

Around the pit was a squad of kojans, all armed with blades and polearms, as well as a pair of fresh monster carcasses. Broken trees and pools of blood silently told memories of a recent battle.

Not wanting to alert the kojans, the drones retreated, and the video cut off.

‘How far is this place?’ Custodian asked.

‘Quite far, and deep north. It’ll be littered with monsters of every kind,’ Niner explained. ‘It’ll be hard to do anything with the monsters running about.’

‘Perhaps we can use this to our advantage,’ Custodian said. ‘Minos, prepare your forces.’

The kojans patrolled and watched the mine’s perimeters carefully. There were only five of them guarding the mine, but they should be more than enough against anything far north in Varangia.

“Have you heard? Another group of scouts disappeared,” a kojan said.

“Third group this week. It must be the mechanical monsters,” someone else replied.

“Or not. The underground would turn into a labyrinth due to the presence of Mother’s Will. It would not be a surprise to be lost and never be seen again,” the first kojan replied. “First Will’s wasting time by sending warriors to scout for alternative paths. Our numbers are too few already, losing more is just cutting one’s own roots off willingly.”

“First Will is the mother’s chosen voice, we must listen to him. If you are unsatisfied, go challenge him and take the name First Will.”

“No.” The kojan shook his head. “We are here to fight the war-machines. Not with each other. My suggestion is to regroup with-”

Both kojans stopped and glanced to their sides. They could sense that something was wrong. The other kojan noticed that an alarming number of birds were flying away from the forest. “What’s going on?”

“Get into formation! Something is coming!”

The five kojans each took a corner of the mine’s perimeter and stood ready.

The trees surrounding the mine started to shake. Small critters jumped out of bushes and scattered in every direction. From a distance, the kojans could see trees were falling. The quaking of the ground got stronger for every second that passed.

Out from the trees, a spider drone leapt out and rushed at the kojans. It was quickly dispatched by one of the kojans, but the problem had only started. Several beasts emerged from the foliage and charged at the kojans with uncontrolled fury.

From every direction, all kinds of oversized monsters appeared—bears with scale skin, three-headed giant serpents, a half-eagle half-monkey hybrid, and so on. While some monsters would attack each other, most of them focused their hatred and attention towards the kojans.

No matter how fast the beasts were, the kojans were faster. It only took three moves to dispatch a beast, but the problem was that more and more monsters were emerging from the forest. Normally beasts would avoid the mine since the kojans tried their best to avoid provoking the denizens of the forests, but it was obvious that the destroyed spider drone had something to do with this.

Every few seconds, new spider drones would emerge, launch a suicide attack, and immediately be destroyed, only to be followed by an angered monster. Up in the sky, black clouds of drone bombers gathered.

“The war-machines are here!” a kojan shouted.

The area around the mine was indiscriminately bombarded with explosives, littering the already chaotic battlefield with craters and pools of blood. The explosions enraged the beasts more, increasing their ferocity against their foes.

“Protect Sister-Tree!” a kojan ordered loudly.

The beasts ignored the large tree in the middle of the pit, but several smaller humanoids rushed at it from the sides. Two of the kojans ignored the beasts attacking them, rushing to protect the sister-tree.

“Filthy war-machines!” a kojan lashed out, thrusting his bladed spear towards the encroaching drones. Heads went flying as a swift flash passed by, but the headless drones weren’t bothered by the loss of their heads. They formed a shieldwall to stop the kojan, while the other drones formed a line in front of the tree. They simultaneously raised their axes and swung down, but before their axe heads could connect with the sister-tree, they were thrown back violently.

The sister-tree unrooted itself and retracted its tendrils to form a wide club-like arm. The drones were sent into every direction with a simple slap, but the uncaring machines formed up and charged again.

From the trees, dozens of bolts darted towards the kojans. Only a few had hit their mark, but the waves of bolts kept coming. If it weren’t for their thick barky skin and their heavy armor, the kojans would’ve lost their lives a long time ago.

“Cut the beasts down quickly! We need to help Sister-Tree!” the leading kojan ordered loudly.

Despite the ferocity of the beasts, once the kojans proved to be a challenging foe, they lost courage and fled back into the forests. Replacing the beasts, however, were stronger and more fearsome monsters made of metal and anti-mana.

Drone riders atop plow-headed metal bulls charged forth and surrounded the kojans. They rode around the trees and skilfully made an encirclement, keeping their distance away from the kojans. Whenever the riders got close to a kojan, it would launch a spear and ride away.

However, the kojans weren’t easy game.

The kojan leader lowered his body and dashed straight at a rider. He was so fast that the drone didn’t even have time to shield itself. In an instant, the rider and its ride were torn into halves. The kojan quickly dodged an incoming lance and chopped another rider with one swift blow.

The other kojans fared just as well, but they were still tied down to their spot by the drone riders. The riders soon adapted to the situation, and it was getting harder for the kojans to kill the drones in just one hit.

Meanwhile the drones had given up trying to attack the sister-tree the normal way. Aerial drones flew down and tossed their last reserves of explosives directly at the large tree. Branches and leaves were burned away, but the sister-tree was still in good shape.

The kojans were even launching javelins made out of magical wood into the air, piercing the skies and the aerial drones. One of the bombers was hit with a full cargo load of bombs, creating a huge explosion in the sky.

When it seemed that the tides were turning towards the kojans’ favor, a swarm of humanoid frogs appeared. Most were armed with rudimentary weapons such as branches and sharpened rocks, but there were a few horned frogmen holding two-handed bone clubs mixed within the swarm.

The swarm of barbaric frogmen didn’t unnerve the kojans. It was the group of robed drones behind them that was the problem. The robed drones raised their staves and pointed at the sister-tree. A gush of fire spewed out and engulfed the large kojan tree with flames.

The area around the sister-tree had turned black, but it was mostly unharmed. When fire didn’t do the trick, the drones quickly adapted, launching arcs of lightning towards the direction of the sister-tree indiscriminately. This time, it proved so effective that the large tree howled in pain.

Worse still, drone catapults had revealed themselves, launching waves of boulders at the sister-tree.

“Ignore the riders! We need to help Sister-Tree escape!” the leading kojan shouted.

“My life for the Mothe-” A kojan was cut short when he was sent up into the air by a new adversary. With lightning, troglodytes, and bolts flying towards the kojan, he was too distracted to notice Minos’ precise strike.

His arm was torn off by the blow, and when he landed onto the ground, he didn’t even have time to defend himself as a thane drone beheaded him with a greataxe.

When the kojan leader saw his ally’s life get extinguished, he tried to fight his way towards Minos, but the drone riders launched reckless attacks towards him. He could only watch helplessly from afar as Minos charged at the sister-tree.

The kojan treant swept its arm wide, knocking lines of drones and frogmen away. It splattered several drones with a slam of its fist. However, locked in its battle lust, it became too distracted to notice a horned metallic monster charging at it. With two well-placed chops, Minos tore the sister-tree apart, yellowish sap splattering all over the ground.

It howled in pain so loudly that the trees swayed as if they felt the pain as well.

“The Sister-Tree!” a kojan yelled.

“Enough! We’ve failed our task! Retreat! We did not expect the war-machines to find us!” the kojan leader ordered. The kojans fought their way out and melted into the forests. The drones tried to give chase, but they were whittled down during the hunt, so they were forced to give up.

With the battle over, the drones secured the mine for themselves. They also checked the nearby cave and found untouched iron veins inside. A few curious monsters were seen loitering around the border of the mine, attracted by the noise and the smell of blood, but they quickly left when they sensed danger.

‘Objective secured,’ Minos reported in hivespeak.

‘What a bountiful raid! We should be able to make up for our losses with the dead organics littered all over the place!’ Niner cheered.

‘Quit talking and start moving workers. The kojans might return with greater numbers so we need to prepare a fortification,’ Custodian said.