I build up a series of surface armor pieces that attach via the ligament like mana threads. The more segmented look gives a slight insectile vibe, but it certainly seems sturdy. "I think that'll make them easier to take off and replace when they're damaged. But. All this gold on gold is, kinda getting me down?" I look around, and my eyes quickly settle on the blue metal ingot I found in a treasure chest. "Water Iron, was it? But how should I use it? Plating? Patch, Mend. Can you two help me out with something?"

I grab the metal, then detach all the armor segments and set them down on the floor along with the ingot. "Okay, what I need, is for you to put a thin layer of this metal on all of these surface pieces. Think you can manage that?" They bob briefly, then roll over the ingot together. They look pretty interesting with a swirl of blue added to their black-gold bodies. They have to go over the first few pieces twice, but after that they seem to hit their stride, coating the rest of the pieces with just one pass over them.

As they are covering the armored plates with the new metal, I set about making another Tier Two Brain from the Soul Sapphire. Once the Slimes are done, I put the brain in the skull, then have Patch help fuse the skull and the cap together. Then I make a Tier Two Heart that I fill with the Goblin Commander's magic stone and place into the skeleton's chest, using a few spare mana threads to hold it in the center. I reattach all the plates and look over my creation.

It is five and a half feet tall, making it a few inches taller than the original one, and has similar proportions. It maintains a generally ball jointed look, but the segments are more armored by comparison. The shiny silvery blue metal has a near mystical appearance to it, and the gold of the underlying frame and muscle showing through a little at the joints lends a bit of variety to it. The eyes are a much deeper blue than the metal, and solidly that color save for a black dot for a pupil, maybe they took on the color of the brain? I made the face a little more detailed, bearing a general human shape now instead of only really having eyes. It gives an impression similar to an Anbu mask I guess? Though without any animal inspiration.

I gave the body profile a similar layout to a human body. Which leaves a ton of open space in the torso. I guess that could be useful if I need to make and integrate more components? Ah! How much time is left for the Soul Siphon Research? {4 Hours Remaining} Mh, well that's not so bad. That aside, I think I'm done with this body. . . "Oh! I should scan it before I hop over." [Custom Automaton: Defense +30, Attack +10, Water Attribute Resistance +5%, Strength +10%, Vitality +10%: A handmade Automaton body that draws clear inspiration from organic life]

"Oh, my stats will be boosted then? Probably because of the bones and muscles set up. How do I boost Agility and Wisdom? . . ." I have some ideas on that, but probably shouldn't waste too many materials just getting a little buff for myself right now. Especially when I'm not certain what will work. I give a soft sigh, then decide to change bodies. {Transfer Essence(Y/N)} Yes. My black with multi-colored speckles spiritual body walks out of the body I was in and approaches the new vessel. The Goblin Smith body I had been in falls to the floor, and my spiritual form breaks apart and sinks into the Custom Body. {Body saved as Custom Automaton 001} [Skill [Light Magic]Acquired] 

Alright,  now lets see. I try to move my new body without Mana Control. There is a reaction, specifically several of the muscles throughout my body spasm randomly, causing a visible twitching overall. Ahha, so it might be possible to learn without MC? I pour mana throughout the muscles, then deliberately move the muscles with it. My first action is to walk towards my previous body. Integrate the Voice Box from the old body.

The Goblin Smith body's chest pops open and the Voice Box floats out. One of the armor plates on my torso, a bit below where the ribs are, opens and several mana threads reach out to grab it. Then it is quickly pulled out of sight, I do at least have the impression that it is placed up just behind the top of the sternum, like before. "Well, now that that's through, I suppose I should decide on a name." I seem to have a strong focus on souls. My spiritual skills being the quickest to develop. "I think, I'll be Anima."

[Ņ̵̬̤͕͊̓̒a̶̤͎͒̒͌̀m̴̛̝̎e̵̢͊̌̆̀͝l̴͈͝e̸͓̻̓̇̏̕ͅs̸̰̃̎͠s̴̳͑ ̶̘̼̩͌M̶̨̢̦̿̌͗͌ä̵̲̞͑ç̴̪̦̘̇̔̀̒̅h̶̝̫̙͕̊̕i̴̢̞̺͈̎͒̾͝n̷̛̞̭̩̥̑͐̊e̸̝͕͋̽̄̈́̀ ̷̼͊̈́̄͠S̶̫̋͗͆ͅo̷̠͍̦̿͊ͅǘ̵͖͍͈̄̉l̷̿͗͗͐͝ͅ ̶͈̉̔̆̅͑h̵̩͍̟̻̪̅ä̷͕͈̳͖́ͅs̸̡̰͍̼͂̃͛̆̌͜ ̷̫͖̍ç̸̪͈̉̀̊̓̚h̶̪͚̰̻̿̎͋̆̚o̸̧̢̻̓̀̎̾͗s̵͎̭̺̏ě̷͍̈́͊n̴͈̜͓̬͖͐͋͒̍͘ ̵̤̜̘͎́͘t̴̬͕͋̌̀͆h̵̲̳̲͔͇̀̂ẹ̷̑ ̶̦͕͔͑̾n̸̙͙̐́̽̀̚ȁ̸͓̝͇̂m̸͓̝͗͘e̸͎͚͕̹͚͛͝ ̴̧̱͉̀À̷̡̬̺̙̊̇́͝n̸̡̦͚̫̊̌̍i̵̟̝̦̳͌́m̵͍̲̂͐̆̉͘a̸̘̽͐̍]

"What the fuck? You okay System Announcer?" Nothing else pops up, and nothing seems wrong with me. So I figure maybe the system just doesn't want someone to decide their own name? "Well, I guess I'll check my status too."

"Well, my status looks fine. Guess that system glitch didn't do anything. For now. Going on the tropes, it'll be important later somehow though." I shake my head, then move on. First grabbing the pouch holding Sapph's gem. "Alright, now we need clothes. I mean, we don't have anything important to cover, and I doubt that we need protection from weather. But clothes are important to civilized society, so we should try to fit in a bit." I take back the Star Obsidian. "Ah, but. Gold again?" After a moment of thought I strike upon another idea.

I focus mana on my hand, then focus on the sensation of a cool breeze, after a moment of visualizing that, the mana in my hand changes, then I bring that hand over to the Star Obsidian. I use mana control to change the shape of the crystallizing mana, creating a thread. The color of the thread that comes out this time is a light green instead of gold. "Success!" I cut off the flow of mana and scan the thread. [Mana Thread: A piece of crystallized mana in the shape of a string] "Huh. It doesn't care that I used wind mana? Well. Different color at least. Not sure about green on blue though. Kinda a forest vibe?"

It then occurs to me that I just got a new magic type. "Oh yeah, how do I use Light Magic?" The word "Flash" pops into my head, so I repeat it and focus on my mana sense as my hand moves out and a bright light bursts out. The sensation of Light Mana is like staring into a light bulb for too long then blinking. Or like staring at anything too bright really, but without the excess heat of staring at the sun? Anyway, I gather more mana and focus on that sensation, this time, the thread that comes out is white.

I wait a while to make sure I'm at full mana, then draw most of it out, converting it into primarily Light Mana, with a bit of Wind Mana mixed in, then quickly print out something like a long robe. The robe is primarily white, but has green trim on the collar, sleeve ends, and hem. The others who had been out searching for materials come back in just in time to see me putting the robe on. Among the full group, Crimson specifically seems interested in the robe. They ask, in their oddly monotone voice. "Can you teach me how to make that?"

"Well, you would need mana control, as well as Light magic and Wind magic. . . Oh. Perhaps I could make a bunch of threads and teach you how to knit?" They tilt their head at that. I go ahead and make a pair of crochet needles for them, as well as three spindles, while waiting for my MP to recover. After that, I fill the spindles with each of the three thread colors I can make. I hand the spindles and the crochet needles over to Crimson. The way they look at the needles makes me worry for a second that they might try to use them as weapons in a fight. But I shake that idea off. "I don't really know how to knit myself, but the needles have these little hooks, and you use those to help move the threads. . . Uhm. Its, kind of like a pattern?"

My own idea is starting to break down, but Crimson already looks like they're willing to give it a shot. They move off to a corner and I decide to prepare some extra thread while they get to work. After finishing that, I make some clothes for each of the others. Though the other clothes are all, simpler and less "fabric" intensive than my robe. More like crude pants with a draw-string belt and a short shirt. All in white to leave my white and green to stand out a bit more. Perhaps I'll customize it all a bit more next time I get more magic? Or maybe they can learn more about how to do these things themselves?

{Soul Siphon research completed}

Aha! Well. Go ahead and make me one. The skill takes over and moves my body to grab a gemstone, a bundle of mana threads, and a small amount of metal. All three go into the Gem Binder, then they come together into a small box with threads sticking out of the corners? Then I feel a small spiritual injury, more like scratching at myself than getting a paper cut, when I check my status, a single point of SP is missing. "Ah, I don't like that number. Multiples of five only please. Make four more soul siphons." The process repeats a few times, then I take my robe off briefly to integrate one of the siphons. After that I have Goibniu help me install the others into Crimson, Emeth, Number 1, and one of the Blanks. Though after their last trip out the Blanks have leveled up and are all close to the tipping point of fifty SP.

Crimson has managed to make something like a scarf from golden threads, and seems a little uncertain of what it could be now. I hold a hand out, then when they hand it over I wrap it around their neck loosely. After a moment, they nod and grip the needles tightly in hand. "Well, go ahead. I'm going to use my skill to make as many extra bodies as I can, then store them in my components warehouse. If you need more threads, ask Goibniu or Sapph. They both have enough Mana control to manage. I think."

{Use available materials to produce Automatons(Y/N)} Yes. {Select blueprint/s} Eh, just make them all Goblin Prime types. The clockwork version. {Enter Rest Mode during production(Y/N)} No. I am not doing that again thanks. My body leaves my control and starts going through the action. At the end, I have ten more Goblin Prime Automatons. Then I store all the inactive bodies in my components warehouse. [Unique Skill Automaton Artificer 2›3] {Tools Warehouse Unlocked}

"Well. Thats convenient timing." I store the Gem Binder, Heart Spinner with the Star Obsidian in it, Magic Smelter, and Magic Forge in my new warehouse. Then put the few remaining materials, the slimes' cube, and Crimson's knitting supplies into the baskets. "Welp. Time to head out." I lead the group on the path to the cliff that leads to the entrance. Then jump down first. The others quickly follow after that, though Patch and Mend cling tightly to the face of the cliff and more, pour themselves down. Using any ledge they can as a, well, not a foothold, but a grip point nonetheless.

"Okay, I'll head out first, you guys give me a minute or so. That way, if there's anybody on the other side I'll have the chance to talk to them before they manage to misunderstand stuff." They all nod agreeably, then I walk through the dark portal.

When I come out the other side, there seems to be some sort of a metal reinforced wood fort built around the dungeon entrance, which from out here just looks like a large rock with a black opening on it, though unlike the swirling vortex on the inside, out here it looks pretty static. Looking around, I notice that the sky has that particular changing of colors that only comes about at dawn or dusk, though I can't guess which it is now. Then I hear a robust voice, "Well, you sure took your sweet time. Not that I mind an excuse to get away from the desk. Eh, wait. What are you?"

My gaze snaps down to land on a short bulky figure. His general appearance makes me think of a kindly old man with a thick beard. Like, really thick. But the large war axe on his back gives a wholly different impression. Ehmmm. Scan?

NOPE! I turn around and walk right back into the portal, though perhaps due to the dungeon being sealed, I just end up essentially walking into a wall with a thumping noise. Apparently sensing my panic, Sapph dives into the pouch holding her gem and disappears. Granzine calls out again. "Hey, you okay over there metal kid?" Once I step back, then turn around to look at him again, and rub the back of my head bashfully, he laughs heartily, and I end up relaxing a little. "Guess you used scan or have a battle sense skill or some such huh?"

"I, uhmmm. Yeah. Your stats are a little, over the top. And that Axe Maniac title." He waves his left hand dismissively. Then I notice that he is missing his right hand, with a simple prosthetic in its place. I don't want to know what could injure this guy. "Ah right, I have several friends that should be coming out soon. Just uuh, they're like me, but also kinda based on goblins. So, please don't attack them?"

"Why would I do that?" Eh? I tilt my head, kinda asking for clarification. "Well, they wouldn't be hostile to me would they? And, there is a Race that evolves from goblins. Goblinoids I think? Might be a couple evolutions separate from normal goblins though."

"Why the emphasis on the word race? And, goblins evolve to something you wouldn't be hostile towards?" I scratch my cheek, thinking about all the things I don't know. "Ahh, sorry. I don't really know anything." I decide to just get that out there. "I kinda just woke up in there several days ago, so I don't know anything about the world." I wave back to the dungeon entrance.

"Ha! So you are a new race huh? Even for Automaton, not just Machine Soul." The fact that he scanned me too catches me off guard. "Well, I'm not an expert on everything you probably want to know, but I'll answer what I can. Then we can have my Vice Guildmaster Marel cover any other questions. Though he probably won't appreciate me dumping more extra work in his lap." He laughs heartily, then beckons me closer. I hesitate slightly, but do end up walking over. "To start with, Races are well, races recognized by the Gods, and the System. Easiest way to tell is usually that the System will hide their Skills. Class too, but Animals and Monsters and whatnot don't have classes anyway." Ah, so thats why I couldn't see Shali's skills. He offers his left hand, So I grab it with mine and he shakes it pretty firmly.

"I don't actually have a class either." I take my hand back and lightly dust it off with the other one. I hear some clanking footsteps behind me, the others apparently having come out now. Granzine glances that way with a nod, then pauses.

"Well, I would imagine not. You'd have to pray in a God's Shrine, or church or whatever else, to select a class. No reason for one'a those to be in a dungeon. I'll bring you by the town's Shrine to Geosia later, if you'd like." His gaze drifts towards the others again. "Say, uh. I can see those other guy's Skills. . . So, I guess. Automaton isn't one of the Races. But Machine Soul is. Suppose thats why you're just the Progenitor of Machine Souls then."

"Not one of the Races? . . . Does that mean they won't be treated fairly by those that are?" I look back towards the others with a hint of worry.

"I'm sure there are some people who'd look at it that way. Should be fine around here at least, so long as I tell the town about you. Though you could just get em to evolve like you did." He looks thoughtful a moment, then leads us to the little wooden fort's door. As we walk I look up and notice that its getting brighter out. Apparently the answer was Dawn. "For now, lets head back to the Guildhall. I'll go ahead and shelter you guys and we can talk about more there. I've got a few questions for you too."

Chaos_Sinner777

Well, Anima was winning already, so I just wrote the next CH before the poll ended. It was the best name, but still. Feels a little bad that none of the other names I thought up got any attention. Cept for the one person who voted Ikaruga. Shout out to them. Oh, and each of the Names would have focused on a color scheme. Ikaruga would have doubled down on the gold, L3G10N would have used Black with Magic Iron and Jet gemstones on the surface, and Exeda would have tried to use the silver coins from the chest for a silver coating. Next up. I didn't explain the eyes previously. . . Welp. Lets go with, they're just glass, but are affected by the magics of the brain. Also there's probably sand somewhere to melt into glass to use for them. Moving on, I'm thinking about making a Status tracking chapter where I'll take note of Anima's progress on each chapter, mostly to keep track of things easier. And, should I start listing skills alphabetically? And in a different layout, probably like how I put Granzine's Titles, cause having a paragraph spacing between them makes it take a ton of space. Lastly I accidentally closed the tab while writing this like, three times having to retype a few paragraphs each time. Need to save more often.