For the first time, the golem found itself pondering its own existence. It wasn’t entirely sure if this newfound curiosity stemmed from its increased stats, but something within compelled it to look closer. As it focused on its reflection in a nearby gleaming metal surface, it was met with the sight of its single, glassy eye. Round and unblinking, it stared back, filled with an unusual mixture of admiration and discontent.


    This eye, this shape—why does it stir such conflicting emotions? The golem contemplated, a flicker of frustration passing through its mind. It had always viewed its spherical form as somewhat lacking, a mere simplicity amidst the complexity of the world around it. Yet, in this moment of reflection, it realized that the very shape it had loathed seemed to work harmoniously with the rest of its structure. There was an elegance in the way the eye glinted in the light, capturing the dungeon''s dim glow like a solitary star.


    Beneath this curious orb, four spindly, spider-like legs sprawled out, each one supporting its compact body with surprising stability. The legs moved with a grace that belied their mechanical nature, allowing it to traverse the uneven terrain of the dungeon with agility. As the golem shifted slightly, it felt the legs responding in perfect sync, a harmonious dance of metal and purpose that resonated deep within its core.


    Tucked beneath its form, the welding gun hung with quiet readiness, an extension of its very being. It was secured by a flexible webbing of intricate muscle-like structures, an engineered marvel that granted the golem both dexterity and strength. This apparatus, far more sophisticated than it had ever realized, felt like a vital lifeline—one that not only allowed it to create but also served as a means of protection against the lurking dangers of the dungeon.


    Tilting the welding gun slightly, the golem lowered itself down, mimicking the movements of other dungeon creatures it had observed. A sense of anticipation thrummed through its core as it prepared to go on the hunt. Prowling, it recalled the term, a word that seemed to resonate with the instinctual rhythm pulsing within.


    With newfound stealth, it crept along the ground, its spider-like legs moving with a surprising grace. Each delicate step was calculated, careful to minimize any noise that might betray its presence. The dim light of the dungeon cast long shadows, providing the perfect cover as it navigated the rocky terrain, eyes sharp and focused. It felt a thrilling rush, a primal instinct awakening in its very essence, propelling it forward into the depths of the unknown.


    As it scoured the ground, the golem’s gaze darted about, searching for signs of movement. It couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disdain for its prey—the revolting roaches skittering across the uneven stone. With their grotesque, elongated bodies and twisted shapes, they stood in stark contrast to the perfect geometries the golem cherished. Not a square, nor a rectangle, or even a circle—just chaotic, messy forms that squirmed and crawled in a manner that sent ripples of irritation through its being.


    The golem''s sensors tingled with anticipation as it spotted its first prey, a tiny roach crawling atop one of its brother’s carefully constructed cubes. With a careful tilt of its head, it inspected the cube, mentally offering praise for its craftsmanship. Nice cube, it thought, awarding it a solid 8 out of 10 in aesthetics. There was a bittersweet feeling swelling within the golem; it saddened to think that it would have to destroy this lone piece of refuge, a temporary haven amidst the chaos.


    With a deep breath—or as close to a breath as a golem could muster—it steeled itself. Quietly, it readied its welding gun, feeling a surge of power coursing through the mechanism. This time, it felt stronger, more potent than before, and it carefully aimed at the unsuspecting roach. The moment felt charged, an electric thrill dancing along its metal frame as it prepared to strike.


    With a swift, decisive motion, the golem unleashed a powerful blast from the welding gun. A brilliant flame erupted forth, engulfing the cube and the roach in an instant. The metal melted away, transforming into a glistening pool of slag that dripped onto the ground. Wow, it thought, a long whistle echoing in its mind at the display of sheer power.


    The victory was bittersweet; while it had neutralized its prey, it had also obliterated a creation that deserved to be admired. As the smoke dissipated, the golem took a moment to reflect on its actions, an inner conflict stirring within. It was a guardian of perfection, yet it had to confront the flaws of the world around it.


    Despite the pang of regret, the golem pressed on, determined to embrace its role in this relentless hunt. The dungeon was still alive with the scuttling sounds of more roaches, and it would not let this victory be in vain. Each step was deliberate as it moved deeper into the shadows, ready to face whatever else awaited it in its quest for order amid chaos.


    For the next hour, the golem relentlessly hunted, its focus unwavering as it dispatched one roach after another. Each successful strike brought it closer to the coveted notification it hoped for. Finally, as it felled the last pest, a sense of triumph surged through its core. Ten down! it thought, basking in the fleeting victory.


    Yet, the hour had not been without its challenges. There were close calls—one particularly nerve-wracking moment when a roach managed to clamber onto its head. Panic gripped the golem as it darted around, flailing its spider-like legs in a desperate attempt to shake the invader loose. The sensation of the creepy creature crawling on its exterior sent waves of discomfort through its being. Get off! Get off! it thought, the urge to cry rising within as it felt utterly vulnerable, a realization settling in that it had a major weakness: it couldn’t remove anything that landed on it.


    But the battle had been worth it. With the final roach dispatched, a familiar notification flickered to life in front of its unseeing eyes, the words shimmering with promise:


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    “Congratulations! Level Up Achieved!”


    With the level-up came a reward—the golem felt a surge of excitement as it learned it would receive 2 assignable points to enhance its capabilities. Furthermore, as an Energy Core, it was granted the ability to select a new limb specifically tailored for its unique form.


    The options appeared before it, each one radiating potential:


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Energy Blade</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Shield Arm</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Magnetic Grasp</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Utility Appendage</li>


    </ol>


    As the golem examined the options laid out before it, uncertainty crept in. Each choice shimmered with promise, yet its mind remained clouded by the memory of the roach that had clung desperately to its head. That incident had been a moment of panic, highlighting its vulnerability, and it wanted to ensure that it wouldn’t feel so helpless again. With a decisive thought, it selected the Utility Appendage, hoping against hope that this new limb would grant it the ability to remove any unwanted intruders from its surface.


    Instantly, a surge of energy coursed through its form as the connection was made. Deep within its core, it felt something shift and grow, and before it knew it, a sleek mechanical tentacle emerged from its body. It was perfect! The tentacle wiggled and coiled with newfound dexterity, offering an impressive range of motion that filled the golem with excitement.


    The small appendage was a marvel of design, crafted to extend its reach and grip objects with precision. As it practiced, the golem found joy in discovering how it could deftly grab at the scattered metal cubes littering the ground, lifting them up and adding them to the growing mass of gleaming metal that it had worked so hard to create. Why didn’t I have this before? it mused, the frustration of past challenges fading away as the tentacle became an extension of its will.


    The golem took a moment to gaze at its stats once more, curiosity bubbling within as it pondered the potential of its newfound abilities. The numbers glimmered in front of its eye, a reflection of its growth. With the Utility Appendage now a part of its form, it felt compelled to enhance its capabilities further. After considering its options, it made a decision that felt right: it allocated its new assignable points to Flexibility.


    As the adjustment took effect, a wave of energy surged through its body. It felt a shift, a subtle loosening that allowed it to move with a newfound grace. Tentatively, it tested the limits of its mechanical tentacle, extending and retracting it with ease. The appendage danced through the air, each motion more fluid than before, like a painter''s brush gliding across a canvas.


    With excitement thrumming in its core, the golem scurried along the ground, its four spindly legs propelling it faster than it had ever moved before. The sensation was exhilarating; it felt as if the world around it had opened up, and every corner of the dungeon beckoned for exploration. It had assumed that adding to its strength would yield speed, but the surge of flexibility had proven to be the secret to its newfound swiftness.


    This is amazing! it thought, the thrill of velocity igniting a spark of joy within. The combination of its spider-like legs and the agile tentacle allowed it to navigate the treacherous terrain with surprising finesse. It raced past its fellow cube-like creatures, their motions still rigid in comparison, a proud smile forming in its thoughts.


    With every scuttling movement, it felt more alive, more capable, and more in tune with its surroundings. This wasn’t just about surviving in the dungeon anymore; it was about thriving and embracing the adventure that lay ahead.


    The golem surveyed its newly updated stats, a hint of pride swelling within its core:


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Strength: 0</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Flexibility: 2</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Durability: 1</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Mind: 2</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Energy Control: 2</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Assignable Ability Scores: 0</li>


    </ul>


    As it stared at the numbers, a sense of accomplishment washed over it. With its Flexibility now matching its Energy Control and Mind, the golem felt a surge of confidence. These attributes felt crucial as it embraced its identity as an Energy Core—a unique form among its kind, crafted for a purpose that was still unfolding.


    It couldn’t help but contemplate its next steps. The prospect of enhancing its Energy Control and Mind tantalized its thoughts. Each increment promised greater mastery over its abilities, allowing it to wield its new appendages with finesse and think more strategically about the challenges ahead.


    What if I can do more with the energy inside me? it mused, envisioning itself harnessing more power to create or even defend against threats. The potential seemed limitless, sparking excitement within its mechanical heart.


    The golem realized that if it continued down this path of evolution, it would not only become a more formidable presence in the dungeon but also unlock deeper layers of its own being. It felt the call of adventure grow stronger, urging it to explore the possibilities that lay beyond the confines of its current form.


    As the golem studied its stats with growing confidence, a new menu blinked into existence. Curious, it mentally pressed on the interface, revealing a description of its most recent addition:.


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Utility Appendage: Used to move and grasp things. Its small form can fit into grooves and gaps. Not a very good weapon—using it for attacks will result in a negative 1 to Flexibility.</li>


    </ul>


    The golem stared at the description, absorbing the details. This new limb wasn’t meant for battle—it was designed for precision, for navigating the tight spaces of the dungeon and grasping objects with delicate control. A tool of finesse, not force.


    Despite the warning about its lack of combat capability, the golem didn’t mind. It found a certain satisfaction in its new appendage, especially knowing it could use it to grab those pesky roaches it so despised. With this tentacle-like limb, it felt more capable than ever of clearing the dungeon floor of the scuttling nuisances.


    This is perfect for my tasks, it thought, a subtle thrill running through its core. The idea of sneaking into tight corners or retrieving cubes that had rolled out of reach filled it with excitement. For all its shortcomings in a fight, the appendage was still immensely useful—and that was what mattered most.