Two days dragged by in this iron prison. My mechanical fingers traced each bar, testing their strength and composition. The metal was thick, sturdy, built to contain creatures far stronger than my current form. Assembly could reshape these bonds, but the guards' watchful eyes never strayed far from my cage. Their curiosity about the "monster" kept them alert. I would have to wait for nightfall, when darkness could mask my abilities.

  A shrill scream suddenly pierced the morning air. My head snapped toward the children's pen where a young-looking slaver yanked Mallie by her arm, her feet scraping dirt as she struggled against his grip. Her green eyes were wide with terror.

  Belmund burst from his tent, his bare chest heaving. "Pike! What's all this hubbub about, eh?"

  The young slaver barely gave the fat man a glance. Lean muscle rippled beneath tanned skin as he tightened his grip on Mallie's wrist. "Just lookin' to having some fun with this pretty thing." Mallie screamed and tried to break away from the man's tight grip, but Pike held onto her tightly.

  "But she's marked for the southern markets!" Belmund's jowls quivered, trying to reason with the younger slaver. "Pure stock fetches triple the price. You can't-"

  "I don't give a fuck what you think." Pike's laugh cut through the air like a blade. "Boss Chanos put me in charge of quality control. I'm checkin' the merchandise."

  "Damn it! At least take one from the adult pen instead!"

  "Where's the fun in that?" Pike dragged Mallie toward his tent, the small girl struggling the whole way. "I like 'em young and fresh."

  Something ancient stirred within my broken memories. A familiar rage, hot as molten steel, flooded through what remained of my body. My mechanical frame creaked as my fingers curled into fists.

  The rage pulsing through me found purpose. My fingers pressed against the iron bars, and Assembly flowed from my touch. Metal bent and twisted beneath my will, its solid form shifting and bending. The guards, usually so watchful of me, had their gazes remained fixed on the confrontation between Pike and Belmund, their weapons slack in their hands.

  Bar by bar, the cage transformed. Metal groaned and twisted, pulling free from its moorings. The sound was lost beneath Mallie's continued struggles and Pike's cruel laughter. Iron reshaped itself, components joining together into a new form. The net's hemp fibers wove themselves around the weapon's base, creating a perfect grip for my mechanical hand.

  The mace took shape, brutal and efficient. Spikes erupted from its head, each formed from broken metallic shards, every one of them promising devastating force. My fingers closed around the wrapped handle, testing its weight and balance. It was perfect.

  My legs, all five of them, coiled beneath me. With one powerful thrust, I launched my armored form through the gaping hole where the bars once stood. I landed on metal hands and feet, each of my five lower limbs absorbing the impact easily. The wooden supports in each leg clicked, and plant fiber ligaments pulled, as I sprinted toward Pike and his struggling victim. My mechanical body moved with deadly purpose, each step bringing me closer to the man who dared try to harm an innocent child in front of me.

  Pike's back was turned, still dragging Mallie toward his tent, still not noticing his death approaching. Mallie's eyes widened as she saw me charging forward, my mace raised high.

  I brought my new weapon down in a vicious arc. Pike's head turned at the last moment, his eyes meeting my visored face. Recognition, terror, and death flashed across his features in rapid succession as the spiked head pulverized his skull. Blood and gray matter sprayed across the dirt as his lifeless body crumpled, limp fingers finally releasing Mallie. She screamed and scrambled away, diving behind a stack of barrels.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  I spun, mechanical legs clicking as I sought more threats. The guards stood frozen, weapons dangling uselessly at their sides as they gaped at their comrade's remains. Belmund's fat face turned purple with rage.

  "Get that bloody thing!" His jowls quivered as he jabbed a finger towards me. "But don't mangle it up too badly, it's still worth something!"

  Guards rushed forward, steel glinting in the morning sun. I met their charge head-on, swinging my mace in a wide arc. The weapon connected with the first guard's temple, reducing his head to a red mist. Another slaver's sword clanged harmlessly off my exposed arm, the blade leaving no mark on my pale flesh. I pivoted, bringing the mace around in a brutal counter-strike. He attempted to block but his shield splintered like kindling under the blow, the mace continuing forward to slam into his side. The fierce blow shattered ribs beneath his leather armor, causing the man to gurgle blood before collapsing.

  More slavers converged, shouting battle cries that quickly turned to screams as my mace found its mark. Some tried tossing nets, but without the element of surprise, their clumsy attempts were easy to avoid. My mechanical legs carried me between their throws as I continued my assault, each swing of my weapon leaving broken bodies in its wake.

  "Look out!" Mallie's shrill cry pierced through the chaos of battle.

  Something heavy smashed into my back, and I felt as well as heard something penetrate my armor. White-hot agony exploded through me as the sensitive red flesh on my back was hit, causing waves of pain coursing through what remained of my body. My mechanical legs scrambled as I spun around, coming face to face with Chanos. The slaver chief stood before me, his massive battle axe held high, having just carved through my armored back like it was paper.

  I swung my mace in a vicious downward swing, but Chanos deflected it with contemptuous ease. He moved with impossible speed for his size, the axe blade whistling through the air. Metal screamed as it struck my head. The rusted helmet I wore shattered, pieces raining down around me as my eyeless face was exposed.

  Chanos stared at me, eyes going wide as he and his men saw my pale, human-like features for the first time. He then threw back his head and laughed. "What a shame! You'd be quite pretty if it weren't for those... deformities."

  Rage burned through me. I lunged forward, mace swinging in deadly arcs, but Chanos danced away from each strike. My weapon found nothing but air as he dodged and weaved, that mocking smile never leaving his scarred face. His agility was unreal.

  He leaped suddenly, his massive frame spinning in the air with a grace that defied his bulk. The axe came down in a devastating overhead strike. I raised my pale, bare arm instinctively, counting on my invulnerable flesh to block the blow.

  The axe head struck my forearm with earth-shattering force. While my flesh held firm, the impact traveled through my entire mechanical frame. Wood splintered. Vines snapped. Metal groaned and warped. The ground beneath me cratered from the sheer power of his blow.

  My carefully crafted body all but exploded, components flying off and scattering across the blood-stained dirt. A cloud of dust fell heavy in the air, and when it cleared all that was left of my form was scrap metal. I lay silent upon the dirt, stunned amidst the wreckage, my consciousness swimming from the devastating impact. Through the haze of pain, I watched pieces of my mechanical form rolling away across the ground.

  Chanos loomed over my broken body, his battle axe resting casually on his shoulder. He glanced around at his men, who stood back warily, eager to keep their distance.

  "What's everyone standing around for?" Chanos' voice boomed across the yard. "It's just a crippled freak now."

  Slavers crept forward cautiously, their weapons still raised. Some kicked at the scattered pieces of my mechanical body, metal and wood skittering across the earth.

  "Look at you cowards." Chanos spat. "Jumping at shadows like children."

  A ragged cheer went up from the gathered men. They crowded closer, emboldened by their leader's words and my helpless state.

  "Belmund!" Chanos turned to the fat slaver who stood trembling nearby. "Is our prize still breathing?"

  "I... I..." Belmund's jowls quivered. "Harke! Get over here and check this thing!"

  The healer hurried forward, kneeling beside what remained of my body, which was now just a head, partial torso, and a single arm. His hands shook as he reached toward me, hesitating inches from my flesh.

  "It's... it's alive." Harke's voice cracked. "I don't understand how, but it's definitely alive."

  Chanos threw back his head and laughed. "Perfect! Looks like we'll still get paid after all."

  Rage burned through me, hot and impotent. I wanted to scream, to tear him apart with my bare hands, but my broken body refused to respond. The ease with which he'd defeated me stung worse than any physical pain.

  "Clean this mess up," Chanos commanded Belmund. "And find somewhere stronger to keep it this time. I don't want any more surprises." He strode away, his men trailing after him like loyal dogs, still celebrating his victory.

  I lay in the dirt, watching them go. Shame and fury mingled in my chest, a toxic brew that threatened to consume what was left of my sanity. That monster had swatted me aside like an insect, and now I was even more helpless than before.