Following the path indicated on his HUD map overlay, Xen moved away from the somber site of the fallen giant, heading towards the area his scans had marked as both [Hazardous Terrain - Entanglement Risk] and containing [Degraded Circuit Boards - Minor Salvage Value]. His earlier scans from the crevice had given him the location, but navigating the terrain itself was another matter. Fully powered and recently leveled, he felt capable, but the memory of past stumbles and damage kept him vigilant.
The environment shifted again. The towering, compacted walls of scrap gave way to a chaotic jumble of thinner, twisted metal struts, thickets of corroded rebar reaching out like skeletal fingers, and dense webs of ancient cables – power conduits, data lines, support wires – lying in tangled heaps or hanging precariously overhead. This was clearly the "Entanglement Risk" zone. Movement required constant attention, weaving around potential snares and testing the stability of foot placements amidst the metallic vines.
He relied heavily on his DEX 13, making small leaps over low-lying cables and contorting his small frame to squeeze through narrow gaps. At one point, a loop of stiff, frayed wire snagged his ankle. He stopped instantly, avoiding a potentially damaging tumble. Activating his [Micro-Manipulation] focus, he carefully examined the snag. The wire was thick, but badly corroded. He retrieved his [Crude Shard Tool (Poor)] from its temporary storage seam. Its sharp edge, though dulled from scraping the Precursor alloy, might be enough for this softer, rusted wire. He positioned the shard and applied careful pressure, trying to saw through the snagging loop.
SNAP!
The brittle metal shard couldn't handle the torsion against the relatively tough wire. It didn't cut through; instead, the shard itself fractured, the sharp tip breaking off and skittering away into the debris.
<[Crude Shard Tool] Durability Decreased: 0/5>
Xen stared at the now-useless handle in his hand for a brief second, a flicker of frustration running through his processors. So much for his first crafted tool. It proved about as durable as expected. Discarding the broken handle, he used his fingers, enhanced by [Micro-Manipulation], to meticulously bend and twist the snagging wire back and forth at its most corroded point until, with a faint creak, it snapped, freeing his leg. [Micro-Manipulation skill proficiency increased by 0.1% to 0.2%]. Another lesson: rely on innate abilities over makeshift junk, at least until he could make something better.
Pressing onward through the hazardous tangle, he finally reached the coordinates marked on his map. Before him lay the source: a large, partially crushed cabinet that looked like it might have once housed server racks or electronic relays. Its door had been torn off, and from the gaping interior spilled a cascade of wires, connectors, and the objects of his search – circuit boards.
There were perhaps a dozen or more visible, mostly standard green or brown fiberglass rectangles of varying sizes, coated in thick dust and grime. Many were clearly cracked or warped, with components missing or dangling loosely. Exposed traces showed significant corrosion. Still, they represented something other than raw scrap.
He found cover nearby and initiated a focused scan.
[Scan Analysis: Multiple Circuit Boards Detected (Qty: ~14 visible)] [Type: Standard Processing/Relay Boards (Archaic Cybertronian Design - Pre-War Era?)] [Condition: Degraded - Moderate/Severe Corrosion / Multiple Broken Traces / Heavy Component Damage] [Salvage Analysis: Primary materials recoverable: Low-Grade Copper (Trace), Silicon (Impure), Basic Polymers. Potential for [Electronic Components (Damaged)] x 1-3 (per board, low probability). Overall Value: Minimal.] [Note: Boards appear physically wedged/bolted within damaged cabinet structure.]
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Archaic design? Pre-War? That was interesting lore, hinting at the immense timescale of Cybertronian history, but didn't change their current state. Minimal value, potential for a few damaged components per board, and physically stuck. Getting them out wouldn't be easy without proper tools. His attempt with the shard tool proved prying was likely out due to his low STR 5.
He approached the cabinet. Using his manipulator fingers, enhanced by [Micro-Manipulation], he carefully probed the nearest board. It was slotted into a rack and held fast by corroded clips and possibly unseen screws or bolts from behind. Pulling directly wouldn't work. He examined the clips, using his fingertips to scrape away some of the grime. They looked like simple pressure clips, but fused by time and corrosion.
He tried wiggling the board gently, side to side, up and down. Millimeter by millimeter, with painstaking care, he managed to work it slightly loose. He applied steady, gentle pulling pressure. There was a faint click as one corroded clip gave way, then another. Finally, the board slid free into his hand. It felt brittle, dusty, circuits dull under the grime.
<+3 XP Gained! (Objective Reached: Salvage Site)>
He immediately stored it via mental command.
<[Circuit Board (Degraded)] x1 added to Inventory.>
Encouraged, he tackled the next board. This one was more stubborn, wedged tightly against a warped metal divider. After several minutes of careful wiggling and applying precise pressure to what seemed like retention points, he managed to free it as well, though a corner chipped off in the process.
<[Circuit Board (Degraded)] x1 added to Inventory.>
He tried for a third board, one that looked slightly less damaged. This one refused to budge initially. He spent more time carefully cleaning around its edges, identifying two corroded screw heads. Without a tool to turn them, extraction seemed impossible. He shifted his attention to another accessible board, repeating the wiggling process. Success again, after another minute of effort.
<[Circuit Board (Degraded)] x1 added to Inventory.> <+5 XP Gained! (Minor Salvage Operation Successful)> XP: 60/250. [Micro-Manipulation skill proficiency increased by 0.1% to 0.3%].
Three boards. It wasn't much, given the number visible, but it was what he could manage with his bare hands and limited strength. Trying for more felt like diminishing returns, potentially damaging the boards further or risking getting his fingers stuck.
He now had three [Circuit Board (Degraded)] items in his inventory. What could he do with them? The scan mentioned recoverable materials and damaged components. Could he break them down? Extract the components? That likely required specific skills – [Salvaging], [Component Extraction], maybe [Crafting] – and probably tools far better than his broken shard. For now, they were just taking up inventory slots (3 out of 5 filled). Potential for the future, useless right now. It was a recurring theme.
He backed away from the cabinet, reviewing his status. HP: 100/100. EN: 136.5/150. XP: 60/250. He had accomplished his minor salvage goal, gained some potentially useful (eventually) materials, and further confirmed his limitations regarding tools and specialized skills.
What next? He consulted his mental map overlay. He could head back towards the Precursor Assembly area, explore the area where the faint Interference Signal was detected, or strike out into a completely new, unscanned sector. Or... now that he'd performed some work and used a bit more energy, maybe top off his reserves from one of the inventoried crystals? Keeping his Energon absolutely full felt like a wise precaution.
Yes, that seemed prudent. Find a secure spot nearby, absorb one crystal, then decide on the next exploration vector.
He scanned the immediate vicinity for a suitable temporary hiding spot, finding a small alcove formed by several large, interlocking metal plates just a few meters away. It didn't look stable enough for the [Sheltered] buff, but it offered concealment. He ducked inside.
Inventory. Retrieve one Energon Crystal.
The medium-grade crystal materialized in his palm, its steady blue glow a welcome sight.