The setting sun dyed the sky blood-red. A fierce wind sent gravel rattling against the newly installed sentry turret.

Allen finished calibrating the equipment. After watching the Mining Golems bustling at their work for a while, he didn’t linger at the mining site.

He left one mass-produced PX-1 and sixteen Spider Slayers to stand guard, issuing the command: "Abandon the mine and preserve the machines if you encounter overwhelming force." Then, taking the Crystal Shell Giant Scorpion’s corpse and the first batch of refined black-vein iron ingots, he hurried back to the workshop.

"Jarvis, report on the Jumper production progress."

[Report: The first batch of 200 ’Jumper’ self-destruct Golems has been completed.]

Two hundred neat, square metal boxes were arranged in dense rows on the open ground. Their crude mechanical legs were curled up, making them resemble a troop of tin frogs awaiting inspection.

They looked crude, even a little comical.

Allen installed the batch of simple Control Cores he had quickly fabricated, one by one.

"Begin deployment."

Allen walked over to the holographic map, his finger quickly tracing a five-kilometer radius around the workshop.

"Center the deployment on the mining site. Scatter and bury them within a five-kilometer radius to serve as early-warning mines."

The workshop gate slid open, and the two hundred Jumpers were instantly activated.

They didn’t bother with neat formations. Like a pack of mad dogs let out of a cage, they scattered in every direction.

Anyone with trypophobia would have had an attack on the spot if they had witnessed the scene.

The movement patterns of these little things were extremely sly.

They sought out crevices in the rocks or patches of soft sand and used their mechanical legs to quickly dig holes and bury themselves.

Once they entered hibernation mode, their Magic Power fluctuations dropped to nearly zero.

Allen watched the green dots light up on the map and felt slightly more at ease. ’Still, there are too few of them. It’s a good thing the Jumpers can seek out enemies on their own, otherwise they’d have a negligible effect. I’ll make another batch to supplement them once I’ve harvested more souls.’

With the defenses set, it was time to address the problem that had been giving him a headache.

"Jarvis, bring up the detailed reconnaissance footage of Three-way Canyon from Demon Eye No. 5."

[Retrieving images from the past three days... Image analysis in progress...]

The light screen flickered, and a high-definition, top-down view slowly unfolded.

Deep within Three-way Canyon, there was a massive entrance to an underground kingdom that resembled an open-pit mine.

Countless black caves riddled the canyon’s sheer cliffs, resembling a giant Hive.

And at the bottom of the valley, there was a dense, dark mass.

It wasn’t rock—it was all scorpions.

Thousands upon thousands of larval Crystal Shell Scorpions crawled on the ground, fighting one another over some kind of glowing ore.

Surrounding them, dozens of adult giant scorpions over three meters in size were on patrol, their pincers held high like a disciplined army.

But that wasn’t the most terrifying part.

The view zoomed in. In front of a massive cave in the deepest part of the canyon, several even more enormous monsters were lying in wait.

They were over six meters long, with a ring of vicious barbs growing from the carapaces on their heads.

[Continuous observation reveals: 1,072 larvae, 82 adult giant scorpions, and 6 leader-class individuals.]

[Larval Magic Power fluctuation peaks below 500. Adult giant scorpions range from 800 to 1,200. Leader-class individuals reach 1,500.]

Allen drew in a sharp breath.

’Eighty-two adult scorpions nearly as strong as First-level Wizards?’

’And those massive ones... just based on their Magic Power fluctuations, they’re already at the First-level Wizard tier.’

"This is a fucking hornet’s nest..."

Allen’s throat felt a little dry. "That old swindler, Gordon... his intel just said ’of a considerable scale.’ This is ’a considerable scale’? This is a goddamn colony!"

’The one I took out earlier was probably just a scout on the outer perimeter.’

’Now that one of their grunts is dead, worst-case scenario, they’re bound to react.’

’If that army descends on me...’

Allen glanced at his two hundred Jumpers and dozens of Spider Slayers. A moment ago, the force had seemed impressive. Now, they looked like cannon fodder.

’Energy rays will be refracted, and only the PX-0’s physical attacks can break through their defenses.’

’How am I supposed to fight this?’

’A frontal assault is out of the question. I’ll have to lie low and build up my strength. I need to come up with a plan...’

’First, I have to find a way to get stronger.’

Allen’s gaze fell upon the pile of crystal shell materials on the workbench, freshly dismantled from the corpse.

’That scout scorpion may be dead, but its ray-refracting carapace is the real deal.’

"Jarvis, create new project: PX-1 Defensive Module Upgrade."

[Project created. Please provide design concept.]

"If you can’t beat them, join them."

Allen picked up a gleaming black shard of carapace and tapped it lightly. "The structure of this crystallized carapace is unique. It’s incredibly hard, and it can conduct and disperse energy outward from the point of contact."

"Turn the carapace from this corpse into shields."

"Also, process that tail stinger. I want it made into an ’Anti-Magic Spear’ and equipped to the PX-1."

"Modify one unit first! And get the PX-0 onto the maintenance platform, I’ll be over in a moment!"

Allen’s logic was clear. The armor on a standard mass-produced PX-1 was just a bit thick; it couldn’t withstand a Wizard-level physical attack. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

’If the scorpions can take a hit, then so can I.’

’If I run into any lone Crystal Shell Giant Scorpions, we can just trade paint for a while. Once I’m stronger, I’ll figure out how to deal with them properly.’

The workshop was once again buzzing with activity.

The great furnace roared to life. The tough carapace that would have stymied any ordinary Wizard was gradually cut apart by the workshop’s advanced equipment.

Allen personally handled the Rune engraving.

This was more than just slapping on new materials; it was a targeted, custom overhaul.

He even carved a set of "Concussive Counter" Runes on the inner side of the carapace, allowing the Golem to convert part of the kinetic energy from an attack into a reflective shockwave.

’Take what is theirs and make it even better!’

Time ticked by, second by second.

The night deepened. The wind howled ever more mournfully across the wastes, like the wailing of countless tormented souls.

「Four hours later.」

As the final step was completed, a black Steel Giant appeared on the maintenance platform, sporting a new look.

Its left arm was now fitted with a biological shield crafted from the stripped carapace, its back etched with Rune Circuits. Its right arm wielded a long spear reforged from the scorpion’s venomous tail stinger, the tip of which glinted with a menacing cold light.

[Modification complete.]

[Model update: PX-1A Prototype.]

[Defense increased by 45%. Energy Resistance increased by 80%.]

Allen patted the biological shield, satisfied.

"Now *this* is a real heavy tank. If I can just butcher a few more lone giant scorpions, I can build an entire PX-1A squad."

Just then, a piercing alarm blared.

[WARNING! WARNING!]

[Anomalous movement detected among the Crystal Shell Giant Scorpions!]

[Ten groups, each comprised of three adult giant scorpions, are breaking away from the swarm.]

[Assessment: The colony is searching for a missing individual.]

Allen’s heart sank. He whipped his head around to look at the image projected by Jarvis.