Hoffman, a high-level Overlord Tier existence
"Reconnaissance of enemy and friendly forces is underway... Reconnaissance results have been obtained..."
[Target Found: Alchemical Type S Puppet (Descent Status: Near Death Trigger)]
[Level: Lv71]
[Health Points: 10412/190313 (Regenerating rapidly)]
[Stamina: 2232/48981 (Recovering rapidly)]
[Attributes: Strength 71, Stamina 71, Intelligence 71, Agility 71]
[Skill: Alchemical Mechanical Frenzy (S-rank) LV71: Continuously releases self-destructing alchemical mini-robots, causing area-of-effect explosion damage of 10613~15382 points, and can stun enemies. (Restriction removed)]
Alchemical Mechanical Bestowal (S-Rank) LV71: Alchemical Mechanical Bestowal with new spirituality, increasing their health and stamina by 71% for a certain period, and also increasing the damage dealt by all alchemy machines by 71%. (Restriction removed)
Alchemical Puppet Bestowal (S-Rank) LV71:... (Restriction Removed)
Radiance of Alchemical Life (Passive, No Grade) LV71: Greatly increases the base level and attributes of alchemical lifeforms after creation.
Manipulation Descent (Passive, No Rank) LV71: Can withstand LV71 level energy. (Reached the limit for descent!)
[Overall Rating: S]
This is troublesome!
A powerful aura swept over us, a sense of oppression rose, the surrounding air began to solidify, and breathing became difficult.
This was the first time Lister had faced the Overlord Tier alone.
In the past, he always used his Overlord Tier aura to intimidate others, but now the situation has reversed, and he is indeed breathtakingly powerful.
However, he was not afraid, as he had a chance to revive, which was his true trump card for daring to explore high-level maps.
He hurriedly pulled out a fourth-tier rare quality longsword from his Inventory.
It serves as his backup longsword. Although it is of a higher quality than the already shattered Merrick Long Saber, its actual damage will be significantly reduced.
Merrick Long Saber is part of the Merrick Set, which provides a 10% bonus to Merrick Saber Technique attack. Combined with its powerful passive abilities, the actual benefit is astonishing.
It far exceeds the few points of attack power boost from a Tier 4 rare quality blade, which is why Lister has never changed his equipment.
In fact, he didn't have the option to change the maps in the earlier scenes.
The truly good equipment starts from Act IV. Not only do Class Holder undergo a qualitative change after their second job advancement, but equipment of Tier 6 and above also undergoes a qualitative change, acquiring some special attributes.
The alchemical puppet looked at Lister and Wang Yue, who was in a fighting stance beside it, with a look of satisfaction.
Unfortunately, although Wang Yue's level has increased, his combat power is still at B-level, barely comparable to the alchemical puppet from before.
As for the one before them, only Lister had a slim chance of fighting him.
"Thump!"
The alchemical puppet took a step forward.
Seeing this, Lister dared not observe any longer. As the opponent's health was about to surge back to 20,000, he quickly drew his knife and charged forward.
Another Iai Slash, the sharp silver light carrying an unstoppable force, slashed forward.
Faced with the oncoming blade of light, the alchemical puppet did not raise its arms to block it with its strange black arm armor.
Instead, he took another step forward, adopting no defensive stance, and faced his slash head-on.
A flash of silver light sparked violently against his breastplate, leaving another mark on it.
"Attack: Deals 4091 damage, ignoring 16981 defense points; Executed: True damage has been transferred to the target."
"New target detected, dealing 28301 points of true damage."
In Lister's view, the alchemical doll's health points rapidly dropped to 0.
[HP: 0/190313 (Special Status)]
Even though no experience points were given, he was certain that he had completely killed the alchemical puppet this time.
At the same time, the true damage he inflicted could not be attributed to the alchemical puppet, but was instead transferred to the target behind the puppet.
"New target detected, reconnaissance of enemy and friendly forces in progress... Reconnaissance results available..."
[Target discovered: Unknown]
[Level: Lv???]
[Occupation: Alchemist Puppeteer (Mechanical)]
[Health Points:???]
[Physical strength:???]
[Property:???]
[Skill:???]
[Overall Rating: S]
A series of question marks appeared; Lister hadn't experienced this situation since he met Kavin Diehl.
The fact that such a situation occurs, where no information can be gleaned at all, indicates that the other party's level is at least thirty levels higher than one's own, and their overall assessment is consistent with one's own.
To maintain S-rank combat power at such a high level is definitely the mark of a truly mature high-level Hegemon.
Lister held his knife and observed for a moment, finding the puppet's state rather strange.
Even though he had clearly killed it, the aura of Overlord Tier remained. This unknown Overlord Tier being who was controlling the puppet still descended upon the puppet.
He wasn't sure if the alchemical puppet in this special state would attack him.
Seeing that the other party still didn't make a move, Lister finally charged forward again with his knife. When you can't touch them, drawing your knife is always the best option.
Just as the blade was about to strike it, the alchemical puppet suddenly spoke.
"Don't... hurry."
As if it hadn't spoken in a long time, the doll's voice was hoarse, as if something was stuck in its vocal cords.
Lister was already unable to stop his sword at this point, and of course, he never intended to stop it.
Another nearly 30,000 units of true damage were dealt to the Overlord Tier being behind it.
"... I can only stay... for a short time."
After enduring a blow from Lister, he finally managed to finish speaking.
As if dissatisfied with the current state of its voice, the puppet finally made a move, raising its right hand and grabbing its own throat.
"Snap!"
The squeeze was so violent that to an outsider it would be an exaggeration to say the other person committed suicide; the system even actually processed the damage.
Attack: 7021 points of damage taken.
The doll's health bar had long since reached zero, so the damage was naturally borne by the Overlord Tier entity behind it; it was truly a case of self-inflicted harm.
"I never expected to find another Overlord Tier seed on this barren planet, it's just a pity he uses a knife."
"An attack that strikes right at the soul, interesting!"
The voice instantly became fluent, and the green-haired man's eyes were full of appreciation, showing no intention of attacking.
Seeing this, Lister tightened his grip on the blade and temporarily halted his attack.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Hoffman, the creator of this Alchemy Ruined City. Welcome, you two from a later civilization."
"Is the Hoffman you're referring to this alchemical puppet, or yourself?"
Lister's face remained calm, but he harbored some suspicions, knowing that the genius mechanic Hoffman was a figure from three thousand years ago.
Logically speaking, second-job Class Holder shouldn't have such a long lifespan; only Third Advancement- Class Holder should.
Or perhaps the other party is a special race whose lifespan is not limited by ordinary rules.
"It's all me. The doll in front of you is one I created using my own human body."
"You gave yourself...?"
"And what about these puppets? Are they all made from real people?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yue couldn't help but speak up, pointing incredulously to the long string of alchemical puppets behind her and asking about their existence.
In fact, she had already noticed some clues before the battle even began.
Whether it's a mechanical life form or an alchemical puppet, she has a keen ability to distinguish the differences.
"Indeed, they were all made by my own hands. They're thousands of years old; it's truly something to reminisce about!"
Although she had a vague suspicion that these dolls might be made from real people, hearing Hoffman admit it in person still sent chills down her spine.
Even though Wang Yue herself had killed countless people and indirectly slaughtered entire villages, she knew she couldn't bring herself to turn living humans into dolls.
Not to mention the entity behind the puppet in front of me, who has even turned me into a puppet.
Although Lister was equally surprised, he suppressed his emotions and tried to ask for the information he needed.
He had a feeling that he could find the answer to his second job advancement quest from the other person.
Are you currently in the Galactic Federation?
I'm still in the Galactic Federation for now.
"That..."
Just as Lister was about to press further, the puppet opposite him immediately interrupted him.
"Young man who plays with knives, it seems you have a lot of problems."
"However, you have damaged my doll too badly; it won't last much longer."
"There's another mechanic inside who arrived before you; he must be your friend, right?"
He's been waiting for you for over a year, saying he made a promise with you.
"If there are any other problems, let him fix this doll first..."
Having said that, the doll's eyes closed, its head drooping backward, on the verge of being decapitated.
The Overlord Tier pressure vanished instantly, and the surrounding air felt much lighter.
At the same time, a mechanical sound came from inside the hall.
"Congratulations, residents No. 002 and No. 003. You have passed the assessment and obtained Level A access, allowing you to enter Zone 1."
"Boom~ Boom~ Boom~!"
The sound of huge mechanical gears turning filled the air, and the area outside the space where the two people stood shifted.
The original entrance corridor has disappeared, and a new road has appeared on the other side.
Lister did not hesitate and continued to explore.
He was in a good mood at the moment; he finally had a lead on the matter of the Galactic Federation.
Hoffman, who survived from Alchemy Civilization, lives in the Galactic Federation.
Meanwhile, Kavin Deer was also waiting for him ahead, presumably in District One.
Once this puppet is repaired, we can reconnect with Hoffman.
At that time, we'll finally have a clear direction for focusing on the registered civilization of the Galactic Federation!
After walking for a long time in the shadows, they finally came to a new hall.
Lister realized that the first three districts were completely connected by a huge building.
Permission scan: Level A permission, permission granted.
"The second area is now open to you."
"Welcome, both of you. This is the home of Hoffman, the owner of the house."
"My name is Tia, and I am Master Hoffman's butler."
A sudden, mechanical sound rang out in the hall.
Before me was a humanoid alchemical machine, its exterior lacking any biological skin tissue.
Lister looked at the alchemical machine before him and instinctively felt something was off.
I always felt that the other party was much more rigid than the other mechanical lifeforms in the Alchemy Ruined City.
After saying this, he stood quietly in front of the two of them, like an old-fashioned machine stuck in a rut.
Lister only became alert when a red light flashed from the energy crystal on its forehead.
It's actually a red energy crystal?
Why is this alchemical machine not offensive?
Start scanning with the system right away.
[Target Found: Old-fashioned Alchemy Type C Mechanism (Humanoid)]
[Level: LV43]
Is it because it's an old-fashioned alchemical machine?
Therefore, the uncontaminated energy crystals appear red on its body?
Lister didn't bother to pay any more attention to the mere fifth-order alchemical machinery and instead looked around.
The hall was quite spacious, but not much stuff: a sofa, a dining table, and various alchemical machines piled up around it.
Apart from these things, the hall was spotless and quite clean, so this must be Hoffman's living room?
There was a door directly in front of them. After briefly glancing around the living room, Lister pushed the door open and went inside.
The room contains a bedroom, which is not large, about 20 square meters.
There wasn't much stuff: a mechanical telescopic bed about one meter wide and a mechanical table, nothing else.
Wang Yue had already picked up an information crystal from the table and was looking at it on the wall.
"Journal"