He stooped down in the muck to get a closer look. It covered his pants, reaching up to his knees as he reached down to touch it, stopping when he saw a fragment of metal suddenly extend from the core's side.
'What is going on?'
Charon didn't have to think for long.
More and more shards jutted from the main body. Steel, iron, and glass mixed within a few seconds, a full torso appearing, soon followed by legs and arms, then a head.
All of it was the same rusted, decayed color as the rest of the machines.
He screamed out to the others.
"Watch your flanks! The machines are regenerating!"
The mud quaked as the creature's new limbs dug themselves into the ground, clawed fingers rising like spears as it lurched upright. Its purple core glowed similarly to before, albeit slightly dimmer, pulsing in sync with the flashes of lightning above.
Charon stumbled back, nearly losing his footing in the muck.
