Hyper-Dimensional Player

Chapter 367 - 9: Mechanical Soul

Whirr.

Accompanied by the flow of Holy Oil and rising steam, the unclad Duncan slowly emerged.

The originally slender form of Human Form No. 3 now displayed prominent chest and abdominal muscles as he stepped out, with long arms and firm thighs. A slight exertion would reveal muscles as solid as rock, and even his height seemed to have increased by about a centimeter.

"Looks like the fusion went well."

Master Qiao gazed at Duncan with satisfaction, as if admiring a work of art, and said slowly, "Your skeleton has been strengthened by the Machine Spirit. If you have specific requirements regarding height,"

"You can consult the Technology Priest in the Logistics Department; they will help you adjust skeletal development to reach your desired height."

"But I don’t advise adjusting your height too high."

"It would affect overall agility."

Duncan was somewhat surprised; could height actually be adjusted?

However, monks of the Mechanical Divine Sect are indeed all over 1.89 meters tall, and even women like Tassia were as tall as steeds.

The Master Qiao before him appeared lean but was nearly 1.9 meters, close to 2 meters in height. A few Mechanical Priests who pursue strength could grow over 2 meters, but such size would be less convenient for movement.

This Mechanical Monk sat down cross-legged again, and with a flick of his wrist, silver-gray chains coiled around the Energy Pillar, arcs of electricity once again surrounding him.

Addressing the Attendant beside him, he said: "Ian, take him to the Logistics and Technical Department."

At this point, someone had brought new clothing for Duncan, a gray priest robe that could be worn over the torso, engraved with a mechanical skull emblem on the chest, and Blade’s Feather motifs on the cuffs symbolizing the Blade’s Feather of the Steel Angels, with gears and mechanical wings on the back.

Duncan clasped his hands in gratitude: "Thank you, Master Qiao."

The Mechanical Monk didn’t spare him another glance, re-entering a state of meditation.

As they left, the young church Attendant whispered: "If you plan to advance down the path of the Mechanical Electric Monk, you might consider applying to the Archbishop to apprentice under Master Qiao."

"I’ve served the Master for many years, and seldom have I seen him regard anyone this highly."

His expression even showed a hint of envy at this point.

Master Qiao belongs to the Ascetic Monk branch of the Steel Cast Sect, as the introduction of current to the body causes immense pain, requiring great willpower to control it. This branch, in its later stages, transforms into a physical ’Vajra’ sage; however, unlike other Steel Cast branches, Master Qiao’s branch places more emphasis on meditation.

It’s somewhat akin to internal and external cultivation in martial arts.

After Duncan left the Ascetic Chamber, everything before him suddenly brightened, although F46 isn’t considered a major zone, with only a few hundred permanent members of the Mechanical Sect.

He is currently located in the training area.

Directly in front of Duncan, fifty meters away, a man with an exceedingly wide back and muscles like steel rebar was working out. He was bench pressing, with a weight of approximately one ton. This man, nearing two meters in height and of massive build, possessed highly developed pectorals and biceps; just by looking at him, you knew his strength was formidable.

"Ian?"

"Is this the newcomer who passed today’s evaluation?"

The man, as robust as an iron giant, put down the weight and scrutinized Duncan from top to bottom, frowning as he said, "Too thin."

"Have the Logistics Department prepare more nutritional meals for him."

This man’s build was about three times that of Duncan’s, and as he walked over, he was like a moving mountain, likely instilling fear in ordinary people just upon sight.

— Steel Cast Giant (Three-Star Silver Gray).

Although marked as three stars, his strength far surpasses the three-star units of the Middle Ages. The people of this world are highly enhanced by Supernatural Power, and coupled with technological modification, even his skin exhibited a faint metallic silver-gray hue.

The church Attendant named Ian nodded, "Yes, Master Lei."

After passing through the training area, the church Attendant whispered, "Master Lei was once a disciple of Master Qiao."

"But he later followed another Mechanical Tutor."

By now, Duncan had entered the Logistics Department.

With the aerial perspective rising, he marked other locations in the Divine Hall area, illuminating the dark map.

The whole F46 area actually doesn’t have many Mechanical Priests, with the vast majority being ordinary church personnel. Daily management includes Attendants, Deacons, High-tier Deacons, and typically, an area has only one Bishop, a dozen official Mechanical Priests, plus a number of church apprentices.

This area belongs to an expanding underground colony, thus more permanent church monks reside here.

The smell of machine oil grew increasingly stronger.

After Duncan passed through a heavy gate, sparking electric currents flickered ahead, and a woman shrouded in a black robe looked up. She had only half a face remaining, her cold mechanical eyes scanning Duncan, then the mechanical arm behind her retracted, her auxiliary fingers removing the welding tool and replacing it with another steel-plated engraving tool.

— Technology Priest (Insight Sect) (Three-Star Silver Gray).

This female Technology Priest seemed to have already removed her thoracic cavity, breasts, and uterus; under her black robe one could see the traces of internal mechanical operation, her entire being was highly mechanized, with only her head and a small part of her body remaining in their original flesh structure.

"Is this the new apprentice?"

The Technology Priest extended a second mechanical arm from her side, scrutinizing Duncan while continuing her engraving work, sparks flying as she frowned, "Why so thin?"