Shine had thought long and hard about how he'd first interact with humans when he first got the chance, people were not machines and as such conversations with them would be slow and prone to misunderstandings if you weren't clear with your intentions. Of course it's entirely possible the intelligent life here is not human at all beyond the beyond appearance and that verbal communication with them is entirely impossible but he was confident that even if their language systems and body language was entirely incompatible he'd find some way to get his point across eventually, After all humans were famed for their adaptation and he was their descendant.
Shine finally took a step forward and was finally able to see the village, as he walked closer he could then see the buildings primitive huts made of thick wood and mud come into view, then then as his towering figure grew closer they started to see him in turn and panic sets in as men with weapons start gathering at the villages entrance to greet him…well more like primitive farming tools than weapons, only one proper spear existed between them. He sees the woman and children being herded indoors and the panic and picks up the audio of conversation in a language he can't understand but slowly decodes. It seems similar to pre ancient Chinese; it should only take a few hours to figure out.
He stops himself 20 feet from the hastily assembled "defenders" the villagers have gathered and stands there unmoving. The fact that they haven't attacked yet means they really don't want to fight so I'll simply wait here and let them make an effort to communicate.
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It takes much longer for them to try and communicate than I assumed it would, I have records of human's innate curiosity and assumed the humans in this world would be the same but apparently they are much more patient. They stand there guarding me for a little over a day. Some of them bring the others food to eat while they watch me, and eventually the lockdown the women and children have been placed in lessens but not once do they drop their weapons or take their eyes off me.The dedication is impressive but surely theyve realized i'm not immediately dangerous yet? Ive even reduced the amount of power I'm producing so they'd be safe around me. I've decoded they're languages hours ago but at this point starting the conversation myself after just standing here like an invalid would be embarrassing. So I continue waiting, doubling down on my earlier decision. Eventually they'll try talking. I'm sure of it.
After another 15 hours after drawing lots one of the men watching me finally approaches. He has olive burnt skin and wields a farming scythe. His face is hideous but most humans are it's not their fault after all they can't exactly choose to look better like artificial lifeforms can. He's only about half my size which is small even for a human back home they'd at least reach my shoulders. It's faint but I see life energy emanating from him too, the same kind the bio weapons of the forest emit but much less potent only about 74,000 watts if my conversion rate of life energy to electricity is correct.
Walking forward the man drags a sack handed to him by an old man coming from the village. I of course know what's inside, they've gathered up all the valuables in the village along with various fruits and salted meats. The man opens it up showing me what it holds and gestures to it before speaking "great creature our village has little to offer you but we give you all we can in exchange for your mercy". No sooner than the very last syllable leaves his mouth I speak, not bothering to contain my excitement at finally getting to meet humans. I place a hand on the man's tiny shoulder, "its okay, I hold no hostility towards you or fellow humans I stand here before you to request shelter and nothing else, you don't need to worry about me being a burden or a gluttonous bum I will also aid you with anything you may require for the duration of my stay". I make sure to speak loud enough so that the humans behind him hear and I don't have to repeat myself
The man recoils in shock at my voice and the guards start murmuring among themselves in relief almost instantly "oh its not a beast it must be a cultivator with an odd constitution", "why is he leaking all out all that ki? Some kinda threat of challenge to deter nearby cultivators maybe?". The man in front of me doesn't take long to regain his composure though he immediately bows and accepts my request "honored cultivator if you wouldn't mind could you meet the village elder before you choose a place to stay?" I nod back to him and quietly accept my status as a cultivator in his eyes "of course I don't mind I intended to check in with the local boss anyway, and you can take this sack of offerings back as it won't be needed, I don't require food or water and I don't have a need for currency yet"
The man waves over the other guards and has them return the bag to the village before leading me to the village chiefs hut, along the way I'm pointed at and talked about. feels different than I expected being the center of attention If I still had a face and my golden chassis i'm sure it would feel better but as am I feels like walking down a zoo full of endangered animals while wearing rag's.
The village chief's house looks the same as every other building in the village, a hut made of mud and sticks. The only special thing about it is its location at the village's center. I take off my makeshift backpack full of perfectium and BLOOD and leave it near the door. I doubt the floor of this place would be able to handle its weight. I have to bend down and shift side ways to actually enter though the door way.I'm not sure what I expected the chief to look like but it certainly wasn't what I saw. An old woman with porcelain white skin and black hair covered in scars, she was fairly tall no where near the height of people back home but more than a foot taller then the guard that led me here.But most shockingly unlike everyone else i encountered in this village she excludes no life energy.