Chapter 2: Scarce Materials

After a brief inspection, Su Wu carefully installed the three upgraded robotic arms onto a robot leaning against the corner of the wall.

The robot was a crude assembly—headless, with only a torso and legs pieced together using metal brackets and steel plates. Calling it a "robot" was generous; it was more of a roughly constructed model. After attaching the three heavy robotic arms, the entire structure trembled slightly, as if a single poke of a finger could topple it.

"Good enough," Su Wu muttered to himself, relieved that the robot hadn't fallen apart. Given his tight budget, he couldn't afford anything better on the market. This model was something he had cobbled together bit by bit over the past few days. Quality wasn't something he could afford to prioritize.

[Fake-Short Engineering Robot]

[Fitness: 40%]

[Evaluation: This is an immovable simulation model. Although it has qualified robotic arms, it cannot undertake any engineering work.]

[Upgrade Direction: General Light Engineering Robot (15 survival points)]

A 40% fitness level was still far from passing, but compared to the 1% fitness before installing the upgraded arms, it was a massive improvement. The survival points required for upgrading had dropped from an unattainable triple-digit number to a more manageable 15. This progress was a testament to Su Wu's strategy of prioritizing high-fit components.

Still, 15 survival points were a steep price for Su Wu. Focusing his attention on the fitness line, more detailed information appeared on the panel: the robot was missing 100 kg of materials. This was a minor issue. With a limited budget and half a month of scavenging, Su Wu's biggest challenge was the shortage of common raw materials.

After rummaging through the yard, Su Wu returned with a cart loaded with scrap steel bars, wires, and a few electronic boards. He piled the materials next to the robot and checked the fitness level again. It had risen to 55%, and the survival points required for upgrading had decreased by 3.

Knowing this was the best he could do for now, Su Wu didn't hesitate any longer. He initiated the upgrade.

A flash of light later, the pile of materials and the crude model vanished. In their place stood a two-meter-tall engineering robot, its body clad in sleek silver-white metal, equipped with three precision robotic arms. It exuded a sense of technological elegance.

"Use local materials to make an M3 model screw," Su Wu commanded, testing the robot's capabilities.

The robot responded with a series of beeps. Its high-frequency oscillation cutting knife sliced a small piece from a nearby scrap of corner iron. Using magnetic force, it suspended the scrap in the air while another robotic arm emitted a dark red beam from its high-energy smelting laser emitter. In just over ten seconds, a perfectly crafted screw took shape.

Su Wu nodded, satisfied. If efficiency and material quality weren't major concerns, this robot could handle most industrial manufacturing tasks, including welding and assembly. It was essentially a combination of a machine tool and an assembly workshop.

"I'll finally be free," Su Wu thought, recalling the painstaking effort of assembling the crude model by hand just days earlier. For someone with no talent for craftsmanship, even building a simple robot model had been a grueling ordeal. He never wanted to go through that again.

With the engineering robot's capabilities confirmed, Su Wu eagerly opened his laptop and pulled up the design blueprints for a drilling machine and a geothermal generator—equipment he had prepared long ago. These were essential for the next step: building a refuge.

The first prerequisite for constructing a refuge was a stable and sufficient power supply. Relying on external sources wasn't an option. Half a month ago, the federal government had imposed strict restrictions on civil and commercial electricity. Households were allotted a meager monthly quota, barely enough to run an air conditioner. Commercial electricity, though available, had seen prices skyrocket tenfold, with stringent usage qualifications. For someone like Su Wu, obtaining approval was impossible.

Generating his own power was the only solution.

The cheapest option was a diesel generator, but diesel and gasoline were now controlled items. Private purchases were banned, and even refueling was restricted—twice a month per vehicle, regardless of need. The limited supply made it impossible to rely on diesel for power generation.

Wind, hydro, and solar power were either too costly or unreliable in a post-apocalyptic world. After careful consideration, Su Wu concluded that a geothermal generator was the most viable option. However, like everything else, high-end equipment like geothermal generators was strictly controlled. Even if he could afford it, purchasing one was out of the question.

Drilling machines were available, but their prices had skyrocketed hundreds of times over. Su Wu's entire budget wouldn't cover a fraction of the cost. The only feasible solution was to build the equipment himself.

This was why Su Wu had delayed starting construction for so long. Without an engineering robot capable of replacing machine tools and processing equipment, his plans were nothing more than a pipe dream.

Transferring the design blueprints to the engineering robot, Su Wu sent it to work in the yard. He leaned back in his chair, watching the progress bar on his laptop screen as the robot began cutting materials. A sense of relief and satisfaction washed over him.

Since learning from the Apocalypse Survival System half a month ago that the world was on the brink of collapse, Su Wu had been living in a constant state of anxiety. Every minute had been spent screening potential shelter locations, gathering materials, and building connections. The fear of making a fatal mistake and running out of time had haunted him relentlessly.

But now, with the first fully automated engineering robot up and running, that urgency finally began to fade. The robot's professional capabilities and efficiency far surpassed his own. Even while he slept, the robot would continue working tirelessly, ensuring no time was wasted.

For the first time in weeks, Su Wu felt a glimmer of hope.

(End of Chapter)