Uploading Consciousness... 75%

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Uploading backup... 70%

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Compatible waves found.

Downloading waves… 90%

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Uploading... 80%

Complete.

Wake up.

Wake… Up? Where am I? I’m surrounded by darkness… No, it might just be that my eyes are closed. After finally opening my eyes. I pause. Yes, I must be in a dream. That’s right. Take a deep breath, in, out. Now let’s open my eyes again. Ah… The dream is still going on. Let me close my eyes again… Breath in. Breath out. Please tell me this dream is over.

Opening my eyes again I realize that this is my reality. I’ve woken up surrounded by an army of robots. How did I even get here? The last thing that I remember is falling off a building… Why was I falling off a building? Now that I think about it, what was my name? I think my name was 1. No, my name wasn’t a number. It was 17. Um… I think my new name is 1744174. Why is my name a number? When did my name get changed without my knowledge?

Peaking down. I close my eyes again. Let's try this again. Looking down again. I see a metallic exterior. I... I can't believe this... I'm a robot? How? I... I don't understand... Sure. I died, I fell. But usually, when someone reincarnates. THEY REINCARNATE AS A LIVING THING. NOT. AS A ROBOT. Breathing deeply I calm down a bit. Lets think of it like this... What am I supposed to make of this? That I reincarnated? NO! Of course not! Mmmm... Let's just ignore the fact that I'm a robot. Yup. La la la. Nothing wrong... Wait. I can't distance myself from reality. That won't save my life... I've got to face it. Right. I am now a robot. I was a human. Nothing to change it. Yes... Breath in. Breath out.

Ah... The robots around me are starting to boot up. And I find the reason as to why I couldn’t move. I was hooked up to a pipe that stretched from one side of the room to the other. I wonder… Is there something like a battery? How do I move? Do I use pressured air to move?

Battery: 100% full

Pressurized Tank: 65% of limit reached

Solar power: Empty

So… I have 3 methods of power? Is this good or bad? I don’t know.

Following the other robots in their march seems like a good idea. Conforming was always something I was good at. Was? Why the past tense?

Ah, we’ve stopped moving. We stand in a large grassy area in the open, with a single podium in the very front. And someone starts to walk up the podium.

“Hello everyone.” Says the man, “My name is 666. I am the current leader of our species. The sentient robots. As you are all newly created, you are still lacking information. And that is why you have all been gathered here. If you have already discovered your energy sources, which I’m sure many of you have, you may wonder how we, as a species move. The answer is actually very simple. The pressurized power is for every day movement. While the battery power is used to move your eyes, your fingers, your toes, and you mouth.”

Ah… That wasn’t too far off from what I was thinking of.

666 continues, “However, many of the other species dislike the fact that we see ourselves as a species. They call us artificial beings and say that it is the will of their gods to strike us down. The unholy beings. Of course, I don’t ask you to go to the front lines now. But know, in the future when you are ordered too, you WILL. Be called to the front lines.”

I see this guy is using the dramatic pause to get everyone’s attention.

After 666’s dramatic pause, he continues, “Of course. We will help you become strong enough.”

I seem to be getting the we versus they vibe here…

“In order to improve ourselves, we must absorb different materials. The way in which we are created allows us to use our own innovation to improve ourselves. For example, if number 667 here decided to absorb a cat monster. This would allow 667 to place those very same cat ears on herself. Or she could decided to replace her eyes with cat eyes.” Said 666. “Although I don’t see why she would do that as our eyes are obviously far superior to that of other species.”

I see… So can’t I just absorb a whole mountain of resources, and make myself hundred of meters tall?

“Of course, there is a limit.” Says 666.

Of course there’s a limit.

666 continues, “The limit is that although we could simply make ourselves hundreds of meters tall, we still only have the very same battery and tank. So far, our engineers have only made slightly improved tanks. Which were provided for you all. But if you build too much, just remember that your tanks and batteries may not be able to sustain movement.”

Ah, that was the problem? My one year of robotics and engineering can probably solve this problem. Engineering? Robotics? What? Where did that come from? Whatever, this knowledge will help. I wonder what type of battery I use… If I use lithium ion batteries, I won’t be able improve myself. But if I currently use nickel metal hydride batteries, I should be able to double my current capacity. Good thing I have random information popping up. But the problem then is where do I find the materials to make it… First I’ll have to dissect myself in order to figure that out… That won’t be fun. Hmm? What’s this? A floating hologram of my body? YES! I won’t have to dissect myself!

“I hereby dismiss this meeting!” Announces 666.

Ah… What did I miss? Anyways, going off my own train of thought. What if I used lithium polymer batteries? Ah, but they don’t have good conductivity… And lithium ion batteries deteriorate as time goes on... Oh well. But since this is another world, maybe their batteries are actually better than the ones in my head…

Tapping on my body to where it labels my battery. I’m shocked. I simply have no words to describe what I’m seeing. Why? Because I have no idea what the words in front of me mean. Until, that is, the words start to morph into something readable. Mana crystal battery. Right… Hm… I think I’m still dreaming. Mommy? Where are you~? Mommy? Why… I have no idea how powerful a mana crystal battery is… Maybe I could improve the circuitry in my body? Right, let’s click this label called circuitry.

Mommy? Where are you? I really need you now… The circuitry is made up of liquid mana. What is that? How does this even work? How? Why? If the temperature is the same, how can this mana be in 2 different phases? When water reaches 100 degrees celsius, it boils and starts to turn into a gas. Common sense right? When a temperature is reached, the material changes phase. So mana would have to be either solid, liquid or gas at this temperature. But this doesn’t make sense as the mana is currently a crystal, and also a liquid. How does that even work… And if the answer is magic, well crap. I need to ask someone who knows what’s going on… Or you know what? I could just make the battery bigger. Problem solved. Screw looking for a different material to improve my battery. Yup. I’m just going to look for mana crystals. And including the fact that mana crystals were used to create so many, that just means that mana crystals aren’t that rare. Right… How are mana crystals even made? Maybe I should’ve listened…

Mana crystals are usually the hearts of monsters. Simply defeating one and absorbing the monster will add the mana crystal to your battery.

I see… So just beat up some monsters. That’s good. I mean, I’VE NEVER BEEN IN A SINGLE FIGHT IN MY WHOLE LIFE AND NOW I HAVE TO FIGHT. But it’s okay. I won’t be alone right?

Just then, I see a robot probably from my generation walking by with cat ears sticking out. Okay… So is fighting preprogrammed? I hope so.

Anyways, now the last matter of business is to improve the tank. Tapping on the tank now… Ah… Father? Where are you? The tank is made of orichalium. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO IMPROVE THAT? HOW?!

Monsters usually have orichalium in their blood. Simply absorbing a monster will add the orichalium to you tank.

Ah… So everything I need are found in monsters… And to absorb a monster means I have to fight… BUT I STILL DON’T KNOW HOW TO FIGHT!

Ah… Maybe I should’ve taken those self defense courses more seriously... What? Self defense? Where is this information coming from… But whatever. Actually. Does self defense even help me protect myself from monsters? Self defense would only help against humanoids, right?

So in the very end. I still don’t know how to fight monsters… Actually. Why do I even need to improve myself? It’s not like this is a base for the frontlines. Right? Am I right? Life. Please don’t jinx me.

“We’re under attack! For all noncombatants, move to the bunkers!” Announces a voice.

What? Bunkers? Where? Ah… A floating map… Of course...