Inside the workshop, the machinery hummed like a precisely orchestrated metal symphony.

Allen stood before his workbench, a freshly processed Control Core lying next to him.

As the final Control Core slid into its slot, the dim reconnaissance module on the twelfth Spider Slayer instantly lit up with an eerie blue glow.

"Run a full diagnostic."

CLICK.

The twelve killing machines rose in perfect unison, their jointed legs tapping the ground with a crisp sound.

"Form up by pre-assigned groups."

Allen ordered casually.

They quickly dispersed, merging with the units already waiting to the side.

Combined with the original twenty, he now had thirty-two Spider Slayers at his command.

Working in concert, their strength was roughly equivalent to sixteen Advanced Apprentices. In the desolate Zone 18, it was just enough for him to survive.

"Jarvis, bring out the little guy."

[Command Confirmed. Jumping Spider prototype activated.]

A Mechanical Body of exceedingly simple design crawled off the assembly line.

It was only the size of a football, resembling a metal box with four mechanical legs carelessly attached underneath. It had no extraneous armor.

This was the "Jumping Spider."

Ugly, cheap, and possessing the slapdash quality of a disposable item.

"Test mobility."

T-01 activated instantly. Its four thin legs possessed astonishing explosive power, and it darted around the workshop like a startled flea.

"The speed’s not bad."

"Run an attack simulation." Allen pointed to a steel plate in the corner testing area.

T-01 abruptly contracted its limbs, then shot forward like a cannonball.

BOOM!

A flash of fire erupted, and the muffled sound of the explosion echoed through the enclosed workshop.

When the smoke and dust settled, the one-centimeter-thick steel plate was severely warped, with a hole blown through its center.

The Jumping Spider’s metal body housed ten Low-Level Magic Stones for power. Upon encountering an enemy, it used Rune technology to detonate the internal Magic Stones. This was a design compromise made due to a lack of resources and to simplify the manufacturing process.

"Acceptable power. And more importantly, it’s cheap."

Allen nodded in satisfaction.

The logic core’s design was very simple. Allen could produce one in a minute; all it needed to do was run and explode.

With enough numbers, even a Mid-Level Magical Beast would be in for a world of hurt if a few hundred of these things swarmed it.

"Jarvis, set up production. I want a first batch of two hundred."

[Understood. Estimated consumption: 40% of Black-Pattern Iron stock, 8% of Low-Level Magic Stone stock. Execute?]

"Execute."

’When you’re strapped for cash, you rely on tactical infiltration. When you’re rolling in it, you just blow everything to kingdom come.’ This little gadget did both, a perfect embodiment of that glorious military tradition.

Having set the production tasks for the base, Allen glanced at the time.

It was time to get to the important stuff.

He picked up the carry-all bag, which had been enlarged by spatial-folding technology, and strode toward the workshop’s main entrance.

"PX-0, PX-1, and all Mining Golems, with me. Leave sixteen Spider Slayers to guard the base. The rest, move out."

RUMBLE—

The heavy thud of metal striking earth shattered the silence of the wilderness.

Two four-meter-tall "Pacifists" led the way, like mobile steel fortresses.

Behind them followed three even taller and more cumbersome Mining Golems.

Sixteen nimble Spider Slayers had already fanned out to form a defensive perimeter.

Allen felt the earth tremble beneath his feet, and his brow furrowed slightly as he watched the plodding Mining Golems.

’Their travel speed is a problem.’

’Walking on two legs is just too slow. After I secure this batch of ore, I need to find the time to design a troop transport or a cargo airship.’

He mentally added another item to his to-do list.

「Half an hour later」

They arrived near the Black-Pattern Iron vein.

"Clear the area."

At Allen’s command, the sixteen Spider Slayers instantly fanned out, surging into the outskirts of the mining area like a black tide.

A few minutes later, several short-lived screams echoed out, followed by dead silence.

The few scattered Low-Level Magical Beasts lurking in the area were picked off by precise shots before they even had a chance to reveal themselves.

"Let’s get to work."

Allen opened his spatial carry-all and took out the components for four standard-model Magic-guided Cannon turrets.

"Factory Servants, set up these turrets on those four vantage points."

Several of the accompanying "Good Fortune"-model Factory Servants immediately moved forward. Hoisting the turret components onto their shoulders, they huffed and puffed their way up the surrounding rock faces.

Soon, the four turrets were assembled. Their dark muzzles rotated slowly, creating overlapping fields of fire that covered the four corners of the mining area.

The sixteen Spider Slayers were positioned around the perimeter of the mine, their limbs clinging to the rocks, ready to respond to any unexpected situation.

The two Pacifist Golems stood near the mining area, their dark Divine Punishment Main Cannons aimed into the distance like two imposing sentinels.

Only with this layer of security in place did Allen direct the three Mining Golems into the work zone.

WHIRRR—

The shrill sound of drills breaking through rock echoed through the valley.

Large chunks of black ore were stripped away and piled on the open ground.

Allen didn’t remain idle. He found a flat patch of ground and took out the big one from his bag—the medium-sized ore refinery.

The device resembled a small steel furnace, its surface covered in complex Magic Power conduits and heat-dissipating grilles.

’Manual... where’s the manual...’

Allen scrolled through the user manual on a holographic projection while directing the Factory Servants to calibrate the machine.

"Magic Power circuit connection... Coolant refill... Slag discharge port calibration..."

After nearly an hour of tinkering, the money pit finally let out a low hum.

[Device activated. Energy consumption at full load: 15 Low-Level Magic Stones per hour.]

They were too far from the workshop; he couldn’t connect it to the main power supply.

And that was just the refinery’s energy consumption. On top of that was the standby power for the turrets and the energy needed to recharge the Golems...

He was like the owner of a luxury car who couldn’t afford to put gas in it.

’I have to ramp up production as soon as possible,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, I’ll go bankrupt before the fighting even begins.’

Gritting his teeth, Allen installed five Mid-Level Magic Stones into the energy slot.

The machine’s roar intensified as the first batch of Black-Pattern Iron ore was fed into the intake chute.

A moment later, a dark red light flickered, and ingots of refined, standard-grade Black-Pattern Iron slid out from the output chute, all impurities removed.

Allen picked one up. It was scalding, heavy, and of exceptional quality.

’This is all money,’ he thought.

’I’ll also have to establish a safe transport route and schedule the Golems to make regular pickups.’

Just as he was about to marvel at his success, a glaring red box suddenly popped up on his tactical map.

[Warning! High-energy biological signature detected!]

[Bearing: Southeast. Distance: 4 kilometers.]

[Approaching rapidly!]

’A Crystal Shell Giant Scorpion?’

Allen narrowed his eyes as the view on the map zoomed in.

It was a giant scorpion nearly four meters in length and pitch-black from head to tail. Its carapace reflected the sunlight with a vitreous sheen. Its eight jointed legs scrabbled furiously, kicking up clouds of dust, while its iconic tail arched high, the venomous stinger at its tip glinting with a cold, eerie blue light.

It was fast, and its objective was clear.

It was heading straight for the mining area.

Allen’s expression turned cold in an instant. He casually tossed the ingot in his hand back onto the material pile.