Chapter 155: Chapter 103: A Great Secret, Want to Know...

[You have successfully imprinted the Puppet Manipulation Rune and learned the Puppet Manipulation Skill, Level 1. ... Special Reward: Survival Points +3, Spirit Level +1.]

[Note: Puppet Manipulation Skill Level 1. Effect: Can control one puppet. Hmm, not limited to Mechanical Puppets.]

’Not limited to Mechanical Puppets?’

Wei’en noticed the notification on the panel and glanced thoughtfully toward the area outside his workshop.

’What if I combined a Mechanical Puppet with an Undead Creature... would that work?’

But he quickly suppressed the idea. First, he would test the Mechanical Puppet’s power.

SNAP.

Wei’en snapped his fingers, signaling for the Driver to begin.

"Pamu, zhu, Linton." (Puppet Manipulation.)

The Driver’s eyes were fervent, its face filled with delight as it stared at the Mechanical Puppet. Several faint threads shot out from its mouth, connecting to the link points on the puppet’s exterior...

"So that’s how it works?"

Wei’en watched the scene with fascination, his gaze shifting back and forth between the Driver and the Mechanical Puppet.

"Move around a bit."

The Driver gave a flick, and its entire head moved to a position above the Mechanical Puppet’s head. Like in a marionette show, it began to control the puppet’s movements through the threads.

It took one step, then a second, then raised an arm, then a leg...

Wei’en noticed that unlike other puppets that tended to float, every movement of the Mechanical Puppet was filled with a sense of power.

At the same time, he could see the gears and chains turning inside the puppet through its black armor.

’Like a big toy?’

That was more or less it, and the Driver was the remote control.

Wei’en rubbed his chin. "Solidify."

Following his command, the Driver meticulously carried it out. A set of Rune Patterns lit up from the Mechanical Puppet’s core, and the Solid Heart Rune began to shimmer faintly.

A faint sheen appeared on the puppet’s body, like a protective shield had been applied to it.

BANG.

Wei’en threw a punch at the puppet, but the shield of light didn’t even ripple.

"Hm? It consumes Spiritual Power?"

He felt the Spiritual Power draining from his body and checked his panel, which brought a flash of understanding.

His earlier question was answered. The effects of a Rune Array also consumed the operator’s Spiritual Power.

The consumption was very small, though. Activating the Solid Heart Rune only cost 1 Spirit Level.

’No matter how strong the puppet is, the user has to be able to keep up...’

Next, Wei’en had the Secret Master hurl a Fireball Technique at it.

BOOM.

With the explosion, the protective shield from the Solid Heart Rune vanished, but the Mechanical Puppet’s surface was completely unscathed.

’The defense is decent...’

A Level 2 Fireball Technique was more than ten times as powerful as a musket. For it to only just break the Solid Heart’s defense was already quite excellent.

Wei’en pondered for a moment, then looked at the Driver on top of the Mechanical Puppet and said, "Transform it."

That’s right. He had decided to use the Keystones Spell (Death God) on this particularly special Mechanical Puppet.

So far, among all the Magic he had obtained by fusing the Death God Origin Rune, there were only two spells that required 100 Survival Points to level up from Level 1.

One was the Heart of Flesh and Blood, and the second was this one—Keystones (Death God).

Hearing his command, a look of joy appeared on the Driver’s face as it recited an incantation: "Keli, si, Murphy." (Keystones.)

The orderly Rune Patterns of the Keystones (Death God) Rune appeared out of thin air, swirling around and enveloping the Mechanical Puppet, the Iron Heart Fury.

"Death, death, endless death, becomes the world..."

A low voice then echoed through the workshop, like a wind blowing up from the abyss, full of a cold, deathly stillness.

’The Death God?’

The chilling aura made Wei’en shiver involuntarily, but he couldn’t bear to tear his gaze away from the Mechanical Puppet.

As the voice grew louder, the Keystones (Death God) Rune slowly merged into the puppet’s body.

To be precise, it gradually fused with the Core Rune located in its abdomen.

"Death is also a new beginning!"

As this seemingly joyous voice faded, the Mechanical Puppet suddenly jolted.

[You have successfully used Keystones (Death God) to grant the Mechanical Puppet the power of life. Evaluation: Maybe it wasn’t a big deal before, but now I’m pretty sure the first thing It will do upon waking is to beat you to death... Special Reward: Survival Points +15, Origin +2, Spirit Level +4, Resilience Level +4.]

The gears where the Mechanical Puppet’s eyes were located spun a few times. Two red glints that looked like eyes appeared, and its body began to tremble as if it were getting used to the new sensations.

It turned its head slightly, looked around, and finally, its gaze landed on Wei’en. "Ba... Baba..."

’Well, now, it just got transformed and it’s already calling me Daddy...’

Wei’en and the Driver flanked the Mechanical Puppet, sizing it up. Wei’en replied, "Hey, son."

’How could such a moment lack a sense of ceremony?’

"Ba... Baba-ah-ba..."

"..."

’Does it just start babbling when it tries to speak quickly?’

"Take your time, no need to rush. You were just... hmm, born. You still need to learn."

Wei’en patted its body. ’This big guy...’

"Mhm," the Driver was clearly more enthusiastic than him. It landed in front of the puppet and said very seriously, "You. Must learn."

The Mechanical Puppet looked left and right, blinked its eyes, and said, "Learn. I will. Ah, Ba."

"Try taking a couple of steps."

"Step..."

CRASH!

It had barely taken one step before the puppet pitched forward and fell to the ground. The wooden floorboards shook and, ultimately unable to hold, gave way, leaving a small hole.

Before it could get up, Wei’en quickly had the Driver summon the Mechanical Box. "From now on, your name is Model Zero. For now, you’ll stay inside. I’ll let you out to learn when the time is right."

The Mechanical Puppet—oh, no, Model Zero, now—shook its head, got up, and looked at the mechanical door to the side. "Okay, Baba."

"Goodbye."

Wei’en opened the mechanical door and stuffed it inside.

’Jeez, it just came out and it’s already poked a hole in my floor... That’s some real power.’

’Still, I’d better find another place to test it out.’

"Hm?"

Peeking through the hole, Wei’en noticed that Clelia’s room was right below his workshop. He hadn’t expected it to be decorated in a pink style.

Especially those two ribbon-like strips of cloth... Uh, why was... Clelia... emerging from the shadows beside them?

Huh?

Wei’en frowned when he saw her condition. ’How did she end up like this?’

Clelia was currently covered in wounds from head to toe, and so much blood caked her body that she looked like she was made of it.

Not only that, but several of the wounds were in vital areas. There were even a few bloody holes on those two "hanging bells."

"Bastard... scumbag... giving me a mission like that. Just wait until I get back, I’m not done with you..."

Clelia panted heavily, cursing under her breath as she drank several Magic Potions. When she looked up, she saw the hole in the ceiling, and behind it... Wei’en.

"Hm? You..." Her expression went blank for a second. "If you wanted to peep on me, you didn’t have to go and make a special hole, you know? I was lying before, there’s no Soul-Devouring Array. You can just come right in..."

"..."

’Is this really the time to be joking?’

’Looks like her injuries aren’t that serious after all.’

With that thought, Wei’en said helplessly, "This was just an accident. You should hurry up and treat your injuries."

"Injuries?" Clelia’s eyes darted. "Oh, right. I’m injured. And... I’m about to pass out."

PLOP.

She turned and collapsed onto the floor, landing in a rather ungraceful position...

’Her acting is terrible!’

Wei’en rolled his eyes, turned to grab a piece of scrap metal left over from making the Mechanical Puppet, and covered the hole in the floor with a CLANG and a RATTLE.

"Can’t see anything, can’t see anything..."

"I give you an opportunity and you don’t even want it~"

Clelia emerged from the shadows by the corner of a table. The bloodstains, along with all her injuries, had vanished completely. She gave him a reproachful look.

"Don’t want it!"

Wei’en ignored her. After tidying up the scattered materials on the floor, he asked, "You’re back so late. Were you being hunted?"

"Hunted? You could say that."

Clelia’s face was pale. She sat on the workbench, fiddling with her "hanging bells" and frowning. "That old geezer was ruthless. He actually pierced me right here~"

"...Old geezer? What old geezer?"

Wei’en paid no mind to her actions, but he was very concerned about the "old geezer" she mentioned.

"It’s... hmm,"

Clelia didn’t continue. Instead, she licked her lips and gave him a seductive look. "I discovered a huge secret. Don’t you want to hear it~"