Above Your Head

A minimum of 4 hours and a maximum of 9 hours.

"... What?"

I was speechless by such drastic shortening. How could the stage suddenly be cleared within 10 hours when Goblin had taken a minimum of 54 hours and a maximum of 77 hours, and Hunter, who drastically reduced the clear time, had taken a minimum of 36 and a maximum of 44 hours. 

Surprised?

Ares' teasing remarks bewildered me and had me spitting out my words in response.

"It doesn't make sense though? No, how does Avatar-1761 target to clear the stage within 10 hours? Isn't this almost like running around the stage? Don't tell me they really run around?"

I asked in bewilderment, but it was actually ridiculous. What was the background context of the Level 10 stage? It was the Lake Stacy of 'Silence'.

The term silence was not affixed to the name of the stage for no reason. Silence was a concept that permeated through the entire Level 10 stage. 

'Because the Metal Aliens have very good hearing.'

They would come running from afar while screaming even if the player's footsteps were a little loud. The Metal Aliens did not care about each other's scream (Perhaps because they yell at each other every time they're bored), so there wasn't a situation where they gathered at one location at the same time as the scream was heard. However, if the battle grew longer and it got noisy, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the situation might turn into a 1 against 5 battle. 

But didn't you take less than half an hour, Captain-nim?

"No, I'm a different case."

At the Level 10 stage, I did not farm for main equipment or secondary equipment. Because there wasn't a need to do so. Metal Aliens were literally pushovers to me. For that reason, the stage would end if I just catch and kill these bastards that were screaming loudly and doing needless actions. It was still Level 10 Intermediate-difficulty and not High-difficulty, so that stage was of a bearable standard. 

However, it was a completely different situation for Avatar-1761, who had neither metal elemental affinity nor Brilliant Heaven Seven Lights. It was a surprising matter that it possessed a Level 9 performance, but unfortunately, the Metal Alien was a Level 10 monster, which was a higher level than Avatar-1761.

Level 10 was regarded as the most noteworthy wall that separated the realm of the Compléter. A single level was not the only difference between Level 9 and Level 10. In a head-to-head confrontation, five to 10 units of Avatar-1761 had to rush forth together to deal with a single Metal Alien.  

Just in time, the stage this time is over. Genie announced.

"Hmm?" I operated Udjat which I was wearing and looked into the stage. It was a connection that used my body in the stage as a repeater. I could see the figure of the last Metal Alien lying down on the floor.

-Do you want to start the next battle? If you knock down the enemies in quick succession, your number of clears will cancel the corresponding number of Death Procession. At the end of the stage, the Death Procession that isn't retracted will be confirmed and cannot be reversed. 

A guidance announcement appeared in front of my eyes, and then...

Start. The speaker in my hand, which turned into an iron statue, replied. Even if the stage was fully cleared by Avatar-1761, I was the one taking the test, so the reply should come from where my body was. 

Shiiiiiing!

The background changed in an instant. This time again, the starting point was on the bed. 

Wiiiiiiing!

In an instant, the Factory Manager's Seat that I was sitting on sucked in my soup power. At the same time, Avatar-1761, which was standing in front of me, disappeared.

Shiiiiiing!

Appearing before me in an iron statue state, Avatar-1761 swiftly got off the bed without making any sounds. Then, he paused for a while. 

"What is it doing?"

It's sucking in the air. It's thoroughly refining it to prevent any foreign substances. 

The moment the question 'Air? Why?', popped up in my mind, there was a word that I recalled. Come to think of it, Avatar-1761 had a completely different body shape from the two preceding machines. 

"...Pneumatic-style? Did you perhaps build a pneumatic-style artificial muscle?"

That's right. It's true that the stage is dry, but... At least there's air present here.

"I wondered why it was built so big, so that's why. But why? Doesn't it have the special characteristic, Steel Muscles?"

Usually, the motor ability of a Gigas came from its artificial muscles that were hydraulically driven. When the oil-resistant tube, that boasted ultra-high-strength knitted fiber, was expanded with hydraulic pressure, it would result in an artificial muscle with a sheath tube that contracted length-wise. 

The artificial muscle could delicately control forces that were at least a few kilograms, and up to tens or hundreds of tons. Combined with linking instruments, the artificial muscle could operate like joints. Hence, it was naturally taken into account in the manufacturing of a Gigas because it did not need many resources like putting on armor, but it was a necessary technology to allow the Gigas to move on its own.  

However, I gave up on the artificial muscles in the end because the materials I could use were only wood, stone, and iron.  Of course, tubes and knitted fibers were not available, but above all, there was no oil.   

'Oil? There isn't even water.'

The liquids sold in the gacha machine were elixirs or potions that must be used immediately because they couldn't be brought to reality. So, Genie and Ares were probably made of pneumatic-style artificial muscles and not hydraulic-style artificial muscles. 

The pneumatic-style muscles occupied a larger volume as compared to the hydraulic-style, but at least it could work. 

'But despite so, it won't be able to keep up with the power output of the steel muscles...'

Genie agreed as if she had guessed my inner thoughts, Steel muscles are comfortable.

The effect of Steel Muscles was simple. All it did was granting metal contracting and relaxing properties.

However, the effects of such a simple property were so significant that if a metal with this property was used as a material, it could easily produce a Gigas with motor ability. In particular, the stronger the soul power granted, the stronger the output. Hence, as my level increased, I could give it more and more powerful superhuman strength. However, Ares' huge head shook in disagreement. 

We just wanted to use that special property... Ultimately, we have to give up what's comfortable in order to increase performance to the extreme.

"Instead of steel muscles... You wanted to reinforce other properties?"

That's right. 

The total amount of properties I could give was proportional to the total amount of metal given. If I could give 1 property to 1 kilogram of iron, then I could only give 2 properties to 2 kilograms of iron. In other words, the more types of properties granted, the weaker each property became.

"So then, what property did you want to add?"

I couldn't add new properties because I was at a standstill.

The property cartridges I added to the Barracks were Concentric Circle, Reinforcement, Restoration, and the Attribute Resistance of Flame, Frost, and Thunder. In addition to that, there was the Steel Muscles that I had invested the longest time in, which came to a total of only seven. 

You'll figure it out if you keep looking.

"My God, just tell me."

I grumbled and looked at Avatar-1761 in the eye. It grabbed a towel near the bed and covered its feet thickly with it. It was to mask his footsteps. 

"It's near the archives room huh. Then I can hide my body in the cabinet." 

That's exactly what it is.

As we talked, Avatar-1761 lifted my body up, took it to a cabinet on one side of the archives room, and closed the door. After that, it went as planned; as per the playstyle that was done while targeting the stage countless times. 

Avatar-1761 searched each lodging and farmed bullets as well as secondary weapons. All the personal lockers in the lodging were locked, so it had to search personal diaries or identity cards to find the password. Someone's daughter's birthday, a lover's birthday, their own name, or their resident registration number[1], and so on.

"…This is normal though?"

It was slowly and calmly clearing the stage. I checked the time and it had already spent 3 hours on this task alone. You're trying to tell me that it was possible to clear the stage in a minimum of 4 hours when Avatar-1761 had already spent this much time on the initial farming step?

However, as soon as the farming was finished to some extent, the atmosphere changed rapidly. 

Swhhooook.

Avatar-1761, which had been moving with a low posture, straightened itself. That was not all. It even took off the towel that was wrapped around its feet.

"... What is it? Really now?"

I gaped at its behavior. I couldn't believe it, I didn't expect it to do this, but it really did. 

Thump! Tadadadak!!

Like a track and field athlete, Avatar-1761 started running without hesitation. The noise generated by Avatar-1761's steel boots trampling on Lake Stacy's floor was definitely not soft. The sound of ringing in the hallway was loud even for me hearing it through the speakers. 

"No, wait, that crazy guy is really running!?"

'Was there perhaps some other step to do?', I thought, but that wasn't it. As soon as Avatar-1761 ran, a Metal Alien appeared from beyond the hallway along with a roar. That was not all.

"Kieeeeehkkkkkk---!!"

A newly heard roar was resonating from the floor below. At the same time, Avatar-1761 attracted the aggro of two Metal Aliens!

"Hide for now!"

I screamed, but instead of avoiding where the Metal Aliens were standing, Avatar-1761 pulled out a gun hanging on its back.

-Finished loading the Annihilation Bullet.

Along with the sound of a machine, a gun that looked like a bazooka was ablaze on fire. 

Destiny, the Gun of Fate. It was the main weapon that had to be used to progress through the Level 10 stage, just like the pistol or rifles found on Level 1 to 6. A Stage IV Civilization weapon that possessed a mighty power!

It was the last bastion created by Lake Stacy's researchers after some were slaughtered by the Metal Aliens who were experimental subjects.  A weapon that was made with their tenacity to survive and to exterminate the Metal Aliens no matter the cost! Destiny had the power to kill a Metal Alien in a single shot, as it was made by researchers who experimented with the Metal Aliens.

However...

"No, we're short of bullets, aren't we!"

Destiny's bullet, the Annihilation Bullet, only appeared two or three times even after scouring the entire Lake Stacy. If it wanted to defeat all the Metal Aliens with Destiny, then the Energy of Luck would probably have to be equipped. Furthermore, Avatar-1761 currently only had one bullet, but he picked up Destiny and fired without hesitation.

"Kyaaaaaaaaak!"

In an instant, the body of the Metal Alien, who was rushing towards Avatar-1761 from ahead, was inflated. Feeling threatened by Destiny which was aiming at it, the Metal Alien abandoned a part of its body to create a defense barrier! 

However, it was not the first Metal Alien on the very front that Avatar-1761 was after. 

"Keuckkk?!"

The bullet struck the broken elevator that was in the distance, and the Metal Alien which was coming up had its head erased from the face of the world. It was killed futilely perhaps because it was totally unexpected. 

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

In an instant, the Metal Alien which was close to Avatar-1761 released its defense posture. As if it had been waiting for it, the Metal Alien changed to a smooth posture and charged towards Avatar-1761. However, Avatar-1761 reacted to it as if it had been waiting for it too. 

Wiiiiiing!

Avatar-1761 pulled out the Ultra-Vibration Blade that was hung on its back. It was a sub-armament that Avatar-1761 farmed in Lake Stacy. 

Kwakkkkk!

Metal Alien's tail struck Avatar-1761 like a whip and Avatar-1761's left leg was smashed, then its body greatly twisted. Metal Alien took a step for a while and after checking that Avatar-1761's posture had collapsed, it penetrated through like a thunderbolt.

'As expected, it's only a pushover to me. But to others, it's not an easy opponent at all.'

The Metal Alien jumped two steps in place even in that brief moment. It wasn't just running mindlessly, but instead, it was looking for the perfect chance to attack by looking at the enemy's reaction. Before Avatar-1761 could realize it, the Metal Alien was holding an Ultra-Vibration Blade on its hand. Avatar-1761 aimed at the enemy with a sharp strike, but Metal Alien was faster. 

Squawwwkkk!

Metal Alien sliced Avatar-1761's right arm with the Ultra-Vibration Blade and cut its chest. Avatar-1761's attack cut at the air as its arm holding the Ultra-Vibration Blade was cut off.

Victory and defeat was decided in an instant! That was what seemed to have happened, but... That was not the case. 

Thaaaaang!

Avatar-1761's right arm, which had been cut off, spun along with a metallic sound in the air and threw the Ultra-Vibration Blade towards its left hand. Based on the structure of the arm, it seems that it was a function originally built into the right arm of Avatar-1761 from the very beginning. This meant that all of these fierce battles were being fought with a plan.  

Kwakkkkk!

After succeeding in a fatal attack, the Metal Alien's neck, which was relaxed for a moment, was hit by Avatar-1761 who was holding on to the Ultra-Vibration Blade with its left hand. The Metal Alien's Ultra-Vibration Blade was stuck in Avatar-1761's torso, causing even the Metal Alien, which had a monster-like sense, to be beaten without being able to avoid it.

Booom! Boooom!

Avatar-1761 and the Metal Alien collapsed on the floor. Lake Stacy, which had been in a commotion for a while, fell into silence. The result was that both of them died. Avatar-1761 and the Metal Alien were both out of action. 

"…Wow."

I let out an exclamation without realizing it in the face of the fierce and intense battle. Excluding the farming, wasn't it a completely different playstyle from the previous strategy guide? It was literally a 'no turning back' playstyle.

Kriekkkkk. Thuckkk.

Perhaps because of the Ultra-Vibration Blade which was still operating, the dangling waist of Avatar-1761 finally broke apart and its upper body rolled on the floor. It was a disastrous situation, but...

"I see." Rather, I realized by the way it looked.

"It's Restoration. It's giving up on the Steel Muscles and strengthening the Restoration property."

That's correct.

Avatar-1761's body, which had been amputated and destroyed, was gradually starting to recover. It was the effect of the Restoration property, but the effect it exhibited was amazing.

"At this rate... Even Reinforcement might even be discarded."

As long as the Ultra-Vibration Blade given as a sub-armament was providing extreme attack power... It doesn't need the power output and the defense ability that was more than necessary. 

"But if so, how will the performance be increased?"

The fact that all the properties were restored back to Level 9 due to the effect of Restoration was an incredible feat in itself. Without the powerful muscle strength that stemmed from the Steel Muscles, nor the incomprehensible sturdiness that Reinforcement provided, wasn't Avatar-1761 just a normal robot that recovered itself when broken?

However, Genie explained a different scenario. 

Don't look down on the mechanical engineering of the Leonhardt Empire. Though it was culled after the appearance of Iron Heart... Just five hundred years ago, it dominated the universe with Gigas that were made of pure scientific technology.

And Ares, who possessed the Iron Heart, added his opinion.

There are quite a few androids that could even beat a Compléter to death in a 1 to 1. Though, the production cost was so crazily expensive that it became a trend to incorporate magical technology. Ah, for your information, you do know that a crazy amount goes to the production cost even if magical technology is combined, right?

"Then isn't it just better to employ Compléters since the labor costs are cheaper?"

While I was dumbfounded, time continued to flow and Avatar-1761's body recovered. Avatar-1761 lightly checked its condition and started running after picking up the weapons rolling on the floor. Then, Avatar-1761 self-destructed with another Metal Alien again. Next, the other two Metal Aliens were killed with two bullets. 

It took 3 hours and 50 minutes to clear the stage. It was a new record.

1. 주민등록번호 in Korean, it is basically Korea's equivalent to a social security number.