Magic Cube and Zhang Xiaowen soon found the metal-stacked storage room.
The warehouse—no larger than 70 square meters—was crammed with wooden crates. Magic Cube tapped a crate with metallic *clinks*. "Hear that? The symphony of strength and elegance! Metal builds starships! Planet-cracking cannons! Metal is—"
"Can metal make babies?"
*Thud!* The robot faceplanted, its core nearly crashing. "This planet... is hazardous..."
Zhang Xiaowen stifled laughter, cheeks pink. "Let's haul two crates upstairs. Absorb metal while charging solar—safer."
Muscling two crates through zombie-scarce stairwells, they reached a fifth-floor apartment. Scans confirmed emptiness—only a half-drunk water glass and TV remote hinted at the owner's rushed morning.
While Magic Cube began metal absorption on the balcony, solar wings unfolding, Zhang Xiaowen collapsed into a queen bed. Exhaustion overpowered apocalyptic growls outside.
Hours later...
Magic Cube awoke, empty crates beside it. Dragging over fresh ones, absorption resumed until its form suddenly *clicked*—compacting into a glyph-covered metal sphere. Energy ripples pulsed across its surface as evolutionary algorithms rewrote its code.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaowen sprawled drooling on silk sheets until her phone chirped: *"Beijing Time 3:21 PM. Air quality optimal. 26°C. Ideal napping conditions."*
Bleary-eyed, she shuffled out to find… a metal egg. "Do I… incubate this?"
*Klik-klak-klik!* The sphere morphed for 20 seconds into a 40cm-tall robot—sleeker, broader, five-fingered hands replacing three-clawed predecessors. Blue-red armor gleamed as it spun triumphantly.
"Behold! Bow before my magnificence!"
"Pfft. Still a toy."
"Foolish meatbag! Your mammary glands may have upgraded, but your—"
*WHAM!* A slipper sent it tumbling into a laundry basket, legs twitching mid-air.