Special Individuals (1)
‘Repetition. Otherwise, treat automatons like consumables.’
If he’d used mana iron or quality alloys for the automaton’s skeleton and armor, that might’ve been different, but Allen still lacked the funds and machinery to work with such materials.
As he scrutinized the manhole for improvements, fixated on it—
Psssh!
The manhole cover burst open, and a mantis-like automaton leaped out. The panther crouched beside the cart reacted instantly, rising to its feet.
Allen, positioned behind the panther, aimed his staff.
Shhk shhk!
The mantis crossed its two blade-tipped forelegs, issuing a menacing rasp, then charged with rapid leg movements.
A real multi-legged insect might’ve been creepy, but a metal automaton like this? Tolerable enough.
Allen glanced at the still-motionless panther and pulled out his laser pointer. A red dot appeared on the mantis’s torso.
The panther’s eyes flushed red and it lunged. Spotting the straightforward charge, the mantis slammed down its raised foreleg.
Clang!
The scythe blade met the panther’s backplate, sparks flying. The iron sheet, which would’ve been pierced under normal circumstances, deflected the blow beautifully.
With the mantis’s attack fizzling out, it was naturally the panther’s turn.
The panther reared its head and savagely bit into the mantis’s slender midsection connecting to its abdomen.
Crunch!
As the panther shook its head, the mantis split in two. Cables spilled out like entrails as it thrashed on the ground.
Allen finished it off with a mana round from his staff and spoke.
“Stop. Come here.”
The panther’s gaze, fixed on Allen, glowed white—unlike when it had locked onto the mantis. Proof that Allen’s modifications were working perfectly. A shame it had smashed the mantis so thoroughly, though.
‘Unlike the centipede, why did the panther recognize it as an enemy right away? Did tweaking the soul stone change the aura it emits?’
Allen set aside the question and inspected the panther. Aside from a dented backplate, it was in excellent shape.
Preparations were complete. He could now descend deeper, even solo, as effectively as with a full party.
Allen sold his spot to the startled dwarf man who gawked at him with the panther, then headed to the next layer.
Special Entity (1)
The maze had intersections and dead ends, but straight corridors dominated.
Encounters with automatons bursting from manholes mid-travel—or head-on in passages—meant they had to be eliminated without fail.
Fleeing was an option, but most explorers who hunted for a living were slower than automatons.
Allen was no exception—in fact, slower than average due to mana excess syndrome. Thus, automaton sightings inevitably led to combat.
‘Four legs are faster than two, after all.’
Allen gripped his staff and glared ahead. Three goats with curved saw blades instead of horns charged in single file.
Clop clop clop!
Vreeee!
The metallic hooves and whirring saws produced a savage sound that raised goosebumps. If Allen let them hit, he’d be ground meat for sure.
“Deer, forward. Boar, hold.”
The deer, which fired its small antlers like bullets, planted itself squarely in the corridor’s center. The boar blocked Allen’s front, ready for emergencies.
As the goats closed in—
“Fire.”
Its drill-like antler shot forward with ferocious momentum. Normally, the wire between antler and head would restrict the target’s movements, but—
Grriiind!
It couldn’t fully halt the goats’ hefty mass. As the deer’s sleek armor crumpled into scrap, brilliant sparks flew high enough to kiss the ceiling.
Even as his deer companion shattered, Allen didn’t flinch. Calmly, he lasered the leftmost goat.
“Boar. Charge.”
The boar guarding Allen barreled toward the goat exposing its flank, lowering its head at the last moment to ram with its reinforced skull plate.
Klang!
The clear ring signaled a perfect hit. The boar charged again, shoving the goat against the wall.
One goat that had finished the deer thrust its spinning saw at the boar’s hind legs, but Allen’s mana round silenced it before it could connect.
Crunch!
The targeted goat flattened into scrap between wall and boar’s head. Cables and circuits spilled out like guts.
But there had been three goats from the start, and the last one barreled toward Allen.
It closed to where the saw’s wind nearly brushed his skin.
Even in crisis, Allen maintained his impassive gaze and expression. Instead, with steady hands, he activated the laser pointer.
“Bite.”
On command, something crouched in the shadows pounced on the goat. It clamped onto the red dot’s mark at the throat and thrashed viciously.
The saw, which seemed it would spin forever, ground to a halt. Allen turned his head. His headlamp illuminated the panther still chewing through cables.
“Gather here.”
The panther and boar obeyed promptly. The deer, now in pieces, couldn’t.
Allen squatted to examine the goat’s neck. Designating precise strike points with the laser yielded far better results than verbal orders alone.
Grunting as he gathered loot, Allen hitched the cart to the limping boar.
Screeech screeech!
Its damaged legs emitted eerie noises with each step, hobbling along.
“Hang in there. Rest soon.”
Even knowing no response would come, Allen spoke. It was as much for himself.
Down from three to one, loot tripled—but so did the risks.
High risk, high return—a universal truth.
Fatigue tripled too; without the red flower, physical limits might’ve forced a day trip.
A bit farther, a rest spot appeared: a wide clearing where explorer groups clustered.
Near the path from layer 5 to 6—a typical campsite—Allen slumped against his cart.
Capacity limits meant prioritizing mana stones, soul stones, and IC chips over shells. His cart still had room.
‘Internal space left, so the panther…’
The panther’s dents from the attack were minor; [Hardening] protected its internals, no combat issues.
Relying solely on the panther would’ve wrecked it by now, but adding more automatons slashed that risk.
Allen stripped the boar-like automaton’s armor and wielded his rune pen.
This one would frontline, panther exploiting gaps. Truth be told, third-gen successors to the late beetle and deer.
Advanced materials could’ve fortified them far better, but conditions weren’t ripe—a real pity.
Repairs done, Allen ordered the boar to walk. Its screechy joints smoothed out.
“Good enough. Sit.”
Panther and boar sat on command, forming a triangle around Allen with the cart.
“Hoo…”
Allen exhaled deeply, wiping sweat.
Working star letters or rune letters always drained him. Precision in touch and mana control consumed stamina and mental energy.
With mana excess syndrome, control demanded extra effort.
Put another way, Allen delivered this performance while shackled.
Brain and hands exhausted, he prepped a meal.
His energy bars—compressed nutrient bricks—were tasteless and tough, but boiled with seasonings, they were decent.
The maze’s inherent chill made hot soup a warming bonus for weary bodies.
Next, he pulled a thermos-like canteen from his pack. The water generator—combining [Condensation] and [Purification]—sloshed inside.
‘Wonder when I’ll link two runes interactively…’
Grabbing the pot from his pack, Allen tilted the canteen. Fresh water poured crisply.
‘Next: pot on stand, plop in energy bar.’
Finally, he placed the [Flame]-etched iron plate beneath and stimulated it with mana-charged fingers.
Whoosh!
Bright light graced the drab stone walls, warmth permeating the damp air. Lungs warmed, body lightened.
As he mashed the softening bars, a voice called from afar.
“You a magitech engineer? Mind helping out?”
“What do you need?”
Maze rule one: don’t crowd other parties. The middle-aged man, scrupulous about it, scratched his head at Allen’s reply.
“Automaton dropped on my pack in a fight—smashed my canteen. Debating a trip up. Then I saw you fixing one.”
Allen spotted the cracked water generator and the man’s distant party awaiting reply.
Deep maze had water sources, but layers 1-10 lacked them.
Exploration fatigued; group schedules made detours risky for quotas.
Stuck? A magitech engineer was a godsend.
Allen nodded, knowing this.
“I understand. Leave it there; I’ll check if it’s fixable.”
“Thanks.”
The man approached slowly, set down the generator, and retreated. Allen fetched it and returned.
Activating his left eye’s x-ray vision, he diagnosed. Unlike his, only [Condensation] engraved; purification via internal filter.
‘Rune intact, other parts…’
As Allen examined, the man eyed the panther and boar standing guard, intrigued.
“Magitech thing? Heard it’s terrible cost-performance…”
“Agreed. Still turns a profit, somehow.”
Impossible without mana excess. Otherwise, part-time gigs would pay better.
While chatting, Allen pinpointed the issue and drew his rune pen to reconnect the broken mana circuit.
Simple verbally, but wizardry to the man. If everyone could, magitech engineers wouldn’t exist.
Key differences: mana sensitivity and control demands.
Repairs done, Allen tilted the canteen—water flowed steadily.
He handed it back the same way received.
“Finished.”
“Thanks. How much for the fix?”
Magitech was core to maze runs; hence engineers in expeditions. Fixing on-site beat retreat or flailing. Vital for long hauls.
Rare birds, though—not for low-layer scrubs.
“No charge. Keep it.”
Allen shook his head. A single stroke was trivial; payment felt off.
Besides, the man seemed familiar. At that age, likely a family man—overlapping someone Allen knew. Charity, then.
“C’mon. Makes me wanna pay more…”
“It’s not that big a deal