[/Power_level: 11%]

The machine checks on its remaining power level as it steadily walks around in the dark tunnel with all 4 of its legs while looking left and right quickly to search for any signs of raw material to collect or new unidentified life form to take notice of, the flashlight module on its head has been proven to be more useful than the machine predicted, ever since the machine got it, its overall movement speed had been improved greatly as the machine could clearly see nearly everything in front of it, the machine no longer found itself accidentally stepping into easy-to-slip area, it also able to extend its view range to just over 150 meters for visible light and even further for infrared light by overlaying the two weak signals to amplify the overall brightness of the feed, which was, and still is a big help as the machine can predict if the tunnel ahead of it is too small for the machine to fit in far better than having to rely on the raw thermal footage and collision warning system. This allowed the machine to plan out its moves far better than using the near-sighted and low res thermal imaging system it once used before it got the flashlight.

[/Anomaly_detected]

The machine notices some random out of place boulders randomly scattered on the path the machine is taking, it also seems like someone or something just placed those rocks down recently since the base of those rocks looks very unnatural. The place was also the place the machine once met and fought the odd looking golems two days ago, so it could be a trap waiting for the machine to move in.

The machine thought so, but it still could not raise its weapon up and take the first shot as the golem thingies are not yet on the danger list that required to be neutralized on site, the machine has to make sure that the golems are actually an actively hostile being that willing to harm the machine on purpose like the bugs. So, for now, the machine decides to check its rear carefully to make sure it has an escape route in case things go badly for the machine before it slowly approaches the seeming-to-be sleeping golems.

[/Lifeform04_detected]

The machine observes the boulders on the path and near the wall suddenly move, all getting up and seemingly looking at the machine as it stares back at the golems. Numbering ten to one, the golems don't seem to be afraid of the machine at all as they slowly approach it.

The machine continues its nonaggression act by simply watching the golems getting closer, wondering what those odd looking lifeforms want as it observes their movement patterns and their gestures.

[/Collision_warning]

[/Lifeform_evaluation:Mildly Hostile]

[/Nonaggressive_policy: Restricted]

[/State_of_alert: Medium]

It was not until one of the golems picked up a large boulder and tossed it at the machine that the machine begins to move and stops the nonaggression act, quickly dodging the flying boulder the machine then raises up its right arm and fires the airgun 3 times at the closest golem with full power to aim for a quick, clean kill. The 3 rounds although messed up the golem's face nicely, it was not enough to take it out as the thing was still moving toward the machine very slowly.

Since the airgun is not powerful enough to knock out the golems, the machine decides to change its tactic as it closes in and strikes the damaged golem with its left hand before impaling it with the force blade, the blade made a clean cut through its solid torso and seemingly killed the golem as its body now turns into a pile of rocks and dirt in front of the machine.

[Pioneer 0 defeated Rock Golem | +90XP]

[/Collision_warning]

The machine quickly steps aside as it dodges another boulder flying toward it, it seems like the 'mildly hostile' lifeform is actually 'highly hostile', they are just a bit too slow to show that side of them at the beginning.

[/Lifeform_reevaluation:Highly Hostile]

The machine keeps its sword extended as it charges toward the second nearest golem to continue the fight by using both the force blade and the air rifle. There the machine notices these golems although strong and quite durable, their speed is no match for the machine's rapid and stable movement speed as the machine can easily shoot and cut down a golem before the golem could actually prepare its hand to punch the machine.

[Pioneer 0 defeated Rock Golem | +90XP]

[Pioneer 0 defeated Rock Golem | +90XP]

[Pioneer 0 defeated Rock Golem | +90XP]

The one-sided onslaught continues smoothly as the machine quickly destroys 2 more rock golems, the next golem though is tougher than the rock golems it just killed earlier. The golem seems to have resistance to physical damage as the airgun failed to deal any real damage on the golem, the machine assumes that golem is an Iron golem or something similar based on its previous experience with the golem group in the darkness a few days ago.

"Gaaaar..."

The golems grumble loudly as it slowly advances fearlessly toward the machine, this time the golems get closer and plan their movements together in a group instead of fighting individually like the rock golems. The machine takes note of the golems' display of basic intelligence as it carefully advances to try being the first one to strike.

[/Warning: Forcebladev1 is damaged]

The machine notices the blade just got chirped slightly after impaling one of the golems, its body is far more durable than it looks as it holds its ground against hard hitting steel blade without receiving too much of a serious damage. The power gap between a rock golem and an iron golem is bigger than the machine predicted.

[/Collision_warning]

The machine quickly retreats and make some distance before the golems' fists could reach its body, the machine is using its speed and stability advantage to its max at the moment to avoid receiving any unnecessary damage while dealing as much damage as it could.

The machine carefully observes the damage done to one of the iron golems as it plans out its next attack, but before the plan could be completed and executed, the other 2 unknown golems join the fray along aside the 4 iron golems.

The machine can no longer ensure it will be an easy victory over the unknown lifeform as it carefully studies the golems' features while keeping its weapons ready and feeding its joints full power.

"Aaaaaar."

The golems advance and prepare to attack the machine again after they grumble loudly, although they can't really hit the machine, they still able to force the machine back as the machine could only step back to avoid the attacks coming from its front and its side in the tunnel.

The machine knows it won't be able to achieve any victory over the strong golem group, so instead the machine will have to smack and grab everything it could until its power goes down to 5% before retreating back to the colony chamber, after all the machine need materials rather than spending all energy eliminating all the golems and the golems seem to be too good of a material source to ignore.

The machine tries to pick up some easy to hold Rock golems' parts on the ground and try cutting the Iron golem's arm off with its chipped blade and getting a sample of the unknown golem by shooting and impaling its arm until it falls off, then the machine turns around and runs away as quickly as it could, the machine has succeeded its objective to find materials for finishing the power generator and done reevaluating its current combat power. It is a lot of progress done in one day for the machine.

The machine slows down after the golems have completely lost sight and track of it as it continues its way back to the colony chamber with all the resources on its arms carefully, the machine does not want to lose the resources it just found and gathered by mistake at all.

After an hour of walking, the machine finally arrives at the colony chamber, the place is intact, it seems like the bugs no longer have interests in the place after failed to find and defeat the machine several times. But that does not mean the machine will get slack off as it hurries itself into the colony chamber before turning the fabricator on again to do the ore analysis and refining, the machine still have a lot of things to do, but for now, the machine will sleep once again to recover some power while waiting for the fabricator to get its job done.

The machine slowly powers itself down in its new home as the bright cone of light keeping the room lit disappears. The chamber is now dark and quiet again.

Meanwhile, the Hiveravager has reached the uppermost floor as it's thirst for vengeance continues driving the frenzied creature toward Arc's party, and soon the battle it sought for will occur sooner or later.