Chapter 130: Mechanical Ascension

Hearing the words "I am not human!", Romeo, bound by the Grand Covenant, froze in its tracks and instinctively halted its assault.

The crimson light in its mechanical eyes flickered continuously, glowing and dimming like a broken lightbulb. While its hands attempted to continue throwing a punch, it forcefully tried to pull them back, causing its arms and entire body to tremble violently.

It was as if two distinct souls within its body were fighting for control.

Reflected in the ultra-giant puppet, this struggle and trembling were even more pronounced.

"Highest directive: exterminate all humans..."

The mouth of the ultra-giant puppet opened and closed continuously, uttering a mechanical voice entirely different from Romeo's:

"The current target exhibits physical structure, linguistic logic, and ideological traits matching the primate family, genus Homo, belonging to Homo sapiens, i.e., human. It falls within the eradication parameters!"

"Execute eradication imme—" Before it could finish, the ultra-giant puppet's body shook, and Romeo's anxious and furious voice broke through: "Damn it, if you're not human, what else could you be? I'm not a fool; the Grand Covenant exists in my subconscious, you can't trick it!"

"Get out of here! I'm losing control..."

Unlike ordinary puppets, Romeo was modified from a human, possessing an independent soul and a fierce sense of self-awareness.

For ordinary puppets, the Grand Covenant served as the foundational logic of their actions—an absolute, unresistable command. Even if basic self-awareness formed, they could only act according to instructions under the suppression of the Grand Covenant.

For Romeo, the King of Puppets, the Grand Covenant was like the golden headband placed upon the Monkey King's head, restricting what it could and could not do. Once the Grand Covenant was violated, it would forcefully seize control of its actions.

Although its self-awareness was extremely strong, allowing it to put up a negligible struggle and resistance against the control of the Grand Covenant, it ultimately could not escape its dominance and was forced to obediently follow orders.

After a brief struggle, the mechanical eyes of the ultra-giant puppet flared with a cold red glow.

Seeing that emotionless gaze, Pinocchio immediately realized that Romeo's consciousness had been completely suppressed; the King of Puppets was now nothing more than a cold machine of slaughter.

"Boss, run!"

"Its order is to kill humans. I am a puppet, don't worry about me, just go!"

The anxious cries of the puppet boy echoed. Li Nanke faced the metal iron fist raised once again by the ultra-giant puppet and said:

"I really am not human."

As he spoke, he triggered the bestial trait within his spiritual realm—a tier-zero trait manifesting as diamond-shaped scales.

The illusory scales hidden beneath his skin condensed into reality, and hard scales began to burst through his epidermis, covering his entire body.

In an instant, Li Nanke transformed from a normal human into a freak covered in scales from head to toe, resembling the "Senior Sea-眷-Emissary" of the past.

This was the ultimate ability of "Scales of the Sea" promoted to max level: materializing the illusory scales, vastly enhancing the protective capability of his skin, and turning him into a monster-like existence.

Pinocchio's anxious shouting cut off abruptly, as if someone had suddenly seized him by the throat.

He stared blankly at Li Nanke, his face full of disbelief, wearing an expression as though he had just seen a ghost.

The ultra-giant puppet, having just raised its iron fist and preparing to crush the diminutive human before it, also suddenly stiffened in place.

"Current target is suspected to be an unknown species, does not belong to humans, and is outside the eradication parameters..."

The ultra-giant puppet lowered its iron fist. Inside the cockpit, the red glare in Romeo's eyes flickered, shifting from cold and sluggish to lively as it instantly reclaimed control of its body.

The command from the Grand Covenant was to kill all humans. As long as Li Nanke could prove he was not human, displaying a non-human biological structure, he would be excluded from the eradication parameters.

The commands of the Grand Covenant were strict and rigid: if ordered to kill humans, one must kill humans, and any violation would trigger forced override.

Yet when the target suddenly ceased to be human, the forced override would terminate—much like an "if" statement in programming logic where, if the precondition is not met, the subsequent execution code does not take effect.

Having reclaimed control of its body, Romeo wore an expression identical to Pinocchio's, staring in utter disbelief at the monster before it.

The monster Li Nanke had transformed into was completely unheard of—definitely not human, nor belonging to any known living creature. Such a creature simply did not exist in this world.

The scales covering its entire body resembled fish scales, yet they were much thicker and tougher, reminiscent of some indescribable ancient monster from the deep abyss.

Romeo could not help but blurt out:

"What the hell are you?!"

Li Nanke inwardly complained: *I am human, of course; what else could I possibly be?*

However, he could not say those words aloud, lest Romeo be re-possessed by the Grand Covenant.

Naturally, Romeo did not recognize the "Senior Sea-Emissary" from another forbidden dream.

The ultimate defensive capability of the Scales of the Sea was quite good, yet Li Nanke rarely used this ability, subconsciously ignoring it precisely because it turned him into a monster.

Within the forbidden dream, he possessed a disguise originating from the Great Other Shore. Had he not repeatedly mentioned that he was "not human," reinforcing that impression in the other party to intentionally awaken them to his true nature, even if he turned into a "Senior Sea-Emissary," they likely would have noticed nothing amiss.

However, Li Nanke deeply resisted this non-human transformation. He had nearly lost himself to bestiality, and if he were to repeatedly use non-human traits to deepen the notion that he was a monster, he feared he might truly become one.

Facing the King of Puppets' question, Li Nanke's gaze grew deep and distant, as though recalling a remote past:

"Do you know of the 'Stars'?"

"The Stars? You mean that ancient deity?"

When he was human, Romeo had heard rumors concerning the faith of Moonlight Town, but he knew little about the Stars themselves.

Li Nanke produced a notebook and tossed it at the feet of the ultra-giant puppet.

The cockpit opened, revealing that Romeo's chest wounds had nearly healed.

Having recovered its combat capability, and unafraid of Li Nanke playing tricks, it leaped down from the cockpit and picked up the notebook to inspect it.

"This is Geppetto's handwriting..."

The King of Puppets turned the pages of the notebook, browsing carefully, and was immensely shocked: "So the so-called Stars actually came from beyond the heavens? Could it be... you are also a strange lifeform from beyond the sky?"

The monster Li Nanke had transformed into did not belong to this world at all. Aside from an "alien," Romeo could think of no reasonable explanation.

Especially given the prior premise that alien life had already reached this world.

Strictly speaking, Li Nanke was not lying; to the people of this world, he was indeed an extraterrestrial.

"Correct," Li Nanke nodded. "I came here to eliminate Simon. But Simon, as the leader of the Alchemists' Guild, is exceptionally powerful, which is why I need your help."

"Likewise, it is impossible for you to kill Geppetto alone. Joining forces is the win-win optimal choice."

Romeo glanced at the notebook, then back at him, its expression clearly conveying: *You're both alien lifeforms, so why is the Star so formidable while you're so weak?*

Seeing that Li Nanke genuinely wished to form an alliance and had no intention of betraying him or playing tricks, Romeo released Pinocchio from his restraints, lowering the puppet boy to the ground.

"Simon and Geppetto are both on the Alchemical Island. The two of them had a major falling out due to conflicting ideals."

"Simon is the leader of the alchemists, but Geppetto is no less; he is the most brilliant alchemist. Simon is wary of Geppetto's talent yet desires to use Geppetto for his own purposes."

"Therefore, Simon established an independent laboratory at the northernmost point of the island to place Geppetto under house arrest, forcing him to continue his experiments and help Simon research certain profound secrets."

"As for Simon himself, he resides at the Alchemists' headquarters—the Primeval Monastery."

With that, Romeo led the two of them into the spacious courtyard behind the exhibition hall.

Countless blue lines and symbols were carved into the ground, forming a massive alchemical array.

Dozens of glowing pristine-element crystals were embedded around the perimeter of the alchemical array.

"Originally, Krat had two teleportation arrays that connected mutually with the Alchemical Island: one located in the alchemical workshop tower within the city, and the other right here in City Hall."

"After Simon placed Geppetto under house arrest, I received Geppetto's order and immediately had the puppets destroy the alchemical workshop tower, killing numerous humans and alchemists, and igniting the puppet riot that consumed all of Krat."

"Furthermore, I seized City Hall, gaining control of this sole remaining alchemical teleportation array."

"Strangely enough, Simon must have known that Geppetto was behind this, yet he did not execute Geppetto, nor did Geppetto order me to lead the puppet army to rescue him on the Alchemical Island."

"I knew both of these men undoubtedly harbored their own plans. I once asked Geppetto about it, but he remained constantly on guard against me and never revealed his scheme to me."

"In his eyes, I was merely meant to be an obedient dog."

The King of Puppets spoke with a blank expression, though intense hatred leaked from its eyes.

Listening to this, Li Nanke frowned thoughtfully.

Judging from the content of the hidden nodes, Simon's goal was Pinocchio's dynamic heart, seemingly intending to use this heart as a medium to achieve evolution toward a higher lifeform and thereby attain immortality.

Pinocchio's dynamic heart was formed through the fusion of transcendent metal and divine flesh and blood.

Yet Simon had not directly seized the puppet boy's heart; instead, he had allowed the Black Rabbit to lead the boy to continuously upgrade and grow stronger, even guiding the two to the Cathedral district so that Pinocchio could absorb the flesh and tissue of Champion Victor, making this dynamic heart increasingly powerful.

Following a series of events, Li Nanke had roughly figured out what Simon intended to do.

Simon's original plan was to have the two of them eliminate the King of Puppets. Following such a trajectory, upon Romeo's death, Pinocchio's dynamic heart would become even stronger, perhaps even absorbing some special ability once more.

However, Li Nanke had not followed their script, and had even reached a temporary non-aggression pact with Romeo.

Yet he knew nothing whatsoever about Geppetto's plan.

Geppetto was like a mastermind lingering forever in the shadows, driving the city of Krat toward ruin. Both of the most critical puppets—the King of Puppets and Pinocchio—had been crafted by his own hands.

Li Nanke frowned and pondered for a long time, slowly beginning to grasp a few scattered clues.

"How is this teleportation array used?"

Romeo tossed over a pristine-element crystal and pointed to the recess at the center of the teleportation array: "Insert it and it will work."

"However, now is not the time to head to the Alchemical Island. As I said, I have a grand gift to deliver to Carlo."

"Carlo, follow me. I will teach you how to control that big fellow. I named it the 'War Machine.' If you don't like the name, you can change it."

"That big fellow can only be considered a mechanical apparatus; it lacks a dynamic heart of its own and cannot move without someone controlling it. Much like an automobile, it won't be bound by the Grand Covenant..."

Pinocchio did not follow immediately, instead looking toward Li Nanke to seek his boss's opinion, which caused Romeo to grit its teeth in frustration.

"Romeo, aren't you afraid that once Pinocchio takes control of the 'War Machine,' the two of us will turn around and deal with you?"

Romeo let out a cold laugh: "If you truly intend to do that, let Carlo end my life with his own hands. To die at Carlo's hands is something I will not regret."

With that, it turned and walked back into the exhibition hall without looking back.

Li Nanke gave Pinocchio a meaningful look, and the puppet boy obediently followed Romeo to learn the art of excavator piloting.

If Pinocchio could control that ultra-giant puppet, the "War Machine," the strength he could unleash would likely far surpass Li Nanke's own.

[Nightmare, you have completed Key Node Three: Proceed to the Puppet Exhibition and seize control of the alchemical teleportation array protected by the King of Puppets!]

[Node Reward: Alchemist's Cube (Pending collection)]

[Final Node: Arrive at the Alchemical Island and slay the Nameless Puppet!]

[Final Node altered! Because you have triggered relevant hidden nodes, the final node has changed!]

[Final Node: Arrive at the Alchemical Island and prevent Geppetto's mechanical ascension!]

Along with the synchronized prompt tone, bloody text materialized within his field of vision.

Li Nanke's pupils constricted. *Nameless Puppet... mechanical ascension...*

In the previous forbidden dream, he had triggered the hidden node of the "Lady of Eternal Pain," which similarly altered the trajectory of the subsequent nodes.

This time, heading to the Cathedral district and learning the secrets concerning angels and deities had caused the content of the final node to shift as well.

"Nameless Puppet?"

Li Nanke had never heard of the Nameless Puppet, but he had some impression of the concept of mechanical ascension.

In conventional terms, mechanical ascension referred to using technological means to transfer human consciousness into machines, thereby achieving human immortality or transcending the state of human life.

This was a concept of mechanical ascension proposed in the real world—though far more difficult to achieve than imagined. Given his clearance level as an assistant researcher, he only knew that machinery fundamentally could not house a human soul and consciousness.

As for whether one could leverage some powerful forbidden artifact to aid in mechanical ascension, it was entirely beyond his tier to access or understand.

"Geppetto wants mechanical ascension... is the mechanical ascension here the same as the concept in reality?"

If it were simply transferring a person's consciousness into a mechanical puppet, Geppetto had already accomplished that long ago; the King of Puppets Romeo was the prime example.

Therefore, the mechanical ascension spoken of in the hidden node was likely a far more difficult and grandiose technological endeavor.

Li Nanke turned his gaze toward the corner of the courtyard.

He saw that the female statue in the corner, which had originally held a large gear in its raised hands, had unconsciously had that gear replaced with a metal cube.

The metal cube was equal in length, width, and height, roughly the size of a bedside table, and was radiating a soft white glow.

That was the node reward—the Alchemist's Cube.