「One month later.」

「Zone F, Workshop No. 37.」

Allen steadily set down the Micro-Engraving Light Pen in his hand.

On the workbench before him, a metal sphere the size of a basketball floated in mid-air, emitting a faint glow of Magic Power.

This was the brain of the "Pacifist," and also its soul—the custom-made Control Core integrated with Xiong Da’s soul.

Four cylinders extended symmetrically from the sphere.

The two shorter ones ended in lenses crafted from composite crystal. They integrated some of the functions of the "Observer" glasses, providing visual analysis capabilities.

The two slightly longer ones were highly sensitive vibration-sensing units, capable of capturing the faintest sound waves to act as "ears."

On the core’s outer shell, a dense network of Rune Arrays crisscrossed and overlapped. Aside from the traces left by setting up a "firewall," the most important feature was the solidified model of the [Cluster Link Formula].

With this, PX-0 was no longer an isolated combat unit, but a command node for the future Golem Legion.

For the past month, Allen had spent nearly all his time here, aside from eating and sleeping.

He hadn’t rushed to shove Xiong Da into this iron shell. Instead, he had subjected it to a high-intensity knowledge "infusion."

From simple movements and aiming to complex tactical coordination and battlefield decisions, Allen had practically taken all his experience from strategy games in his past life, broken it down, mashed it up, and created a series of protocols that he forcefully crammed into it.

Under Allen’s almost draconian calibration, Xiong Da’s beastly combat instincts were preserved and honed to be even sharper, but its behavioral logic was completely reshaped.

It learned to calculate, to make trade-offs, and to achieve the greatest results for the smallest cost.

While it still couldn’t be called highly intelligent, it had transformed from a simple-minded brute into an absolutely obedient killing machine.

A perfect fusion of spirit and programming.

Allen picked up the warm Control Core and walked toward the Steel Giant standing silently in the center of the workshop.

PX-0 stood four meters tall with a broad, wide-shouldered frame and thick limbs. The washbasin-sized muzzle of the "Divine Punishment" main cannon on its chest was bursting with deterrent power. During his spare time, Allen had already applied some white paint to its heavy composite armor.

Its head casing was open, revealing an empty cranial cavity and the Rune connection ports inside.

Allen stepped onto a levitating platform and rose to the same height as the Golem’s head, then carefully placed the Control Core into the cranial cavity.

The core fit perfectly with the body’s internal interfaces, and the exposed eye and ear components were secured tightly in place.

He picked up a nearby runic tool and began to seal the final seams, covering and closing it up with one armor plate after another.

When the last metal seam was fused shut, the entire Golem became a single, seamless entity, without a single gap to be seen.

Allen jumped down from the levitating platform, retreated about ten meters, and stood still.

The "Pacifist"—officially complete!

He channeled his Spiritual Power and issued the first command.

"PX-0, activate."

VMMMM—

A low resonant hum emanated from within the Golem.

The indicator light on the Energy Core in its chest went from dim to bright, and an ethereal blue light instantly flowed through the Magic Power circuits spread throughout its body to its every extremity.

Its once-dull electronic eyes lit up.

"’Pacifist’ prototype, PX-0, activated."

"Control Core ’Xiong Da,’ self-diagnostic complete."

"System status optimal. Energy reserves at 100%."

"Awaiting command."

The cold, synthesized voice echoed through the empty workshop.

Allen suppressed his excitement and gave the second command.

"Commence adaptive walking in Area A."

"Command acknowledged."

PX-0’s massive metal body moved.

It lifted its right leg and took a heavy step forward.

THUD!

The entire workshop floor trembled with the impact.

Then came the left leg.

THUD!

One step, then another.

Its steps were steady and its rhythm precise, retaining the natural sense of balance of the original Violent Ape.

Allen nodded in satisfaction and activated the Cluster Link Formula.

’Switching control to the first subroutine.’

Allen’s consciousness instantly linked with PX-0.

The scene before his eyes suddenly opened up.

He "saw" a whole new world.

His vision was partitioned by grid lines and data streams, with a clear target-locking reticle in the center. The status of the weapons and body systems were clear at a glance—a UI interface Allen had designed himself.

He could see every minute texture on the metal floor beneath his feet and "hear" the faint whirring of the Alchemy Servants’ mechanisms in the distance.

This all-encompassing sensory experience was a hundred times clearer than when he had linked with Ah Fu.

A thought crossed his mind.

’Raise left arm. Simulate close-quarters firing stance.’

In reality, PX-0’s left arm rose steadily, the beam emitter in its palm aiming at a distant test target.

’Hm, not bad,’ Allen praised inwardly.

After experiencing the subroutine’s perfect control, Allen felt an itch to try it himself.

’Main consciousness, take over.’

A massive stream of information instantly flooded Allen’s consciousness.

The workshop ceiling seemed to lower, and everything around him shrank. He could clearly feel the surging energy of the High-Tier Magic Stone in his chest.

’Let’s try walking a couple of steps.’

And then...

PX-0’s left leg shot forward in a huge stride, with so much force that its entire upper body pitched forward!

’Holy shit!’

Allen’s vision spun wildly. He subconsciously tried to use "his" right hand to steady himself against the wall, but PX-0’s right arm slammed into a nearby materials rack with a loud CRASH, sending a pile of metal parts clattering to the floor.

’Steady! Steady!’

He scrambled to regain his balance, but the more he panicked, the more chaotic it became.

Like a drunk strongman, PX-0 staggered two lurching steps inside the workshop, nearly tripping over itself.

Allen quickly severed the main consciousness link and pulled out.

He looked at the trashed workshop and the awkwardly posed PX-0, his expression darkening.

’Dammit, how embarrassing.’

’Guess becoming a qualified pilot isn’t so easy after all.’

Just now, his brain had been desperately trying to translate human muscle memory into cold, precise mechanical commands, but the conversion was sluggish and uncoordinated.

He tried to raise an arm but felt the steel limb was impossibly heavy. He tried to turn but found his entire sense of balance was completely out of whack.

He walked to the foot of PX-0 and reached out to touch its cold armor.

Four meters tall.

To the ordinary people of this world, this was already an unimaginable monster of steel.

But in Allen’s eyes, it was far from enough.

In his mind, images surfaced from his past life—of towering figures on screens that touched the heavens.

Giant figures that were dozens of meters tall, capable of cleaving battleships in two.

This PX-0 was just the beginning.

An insignificant starting point.

He grinned as his mind began to race with possibilities.

"A hundred meters... no, at least a hundred and twenty meters tall. And it has to be able to fly, with Floating Cannons..."

"Now *that’s* what you call a Golem!"

He looked at the PX-0 before him, and the bit of satisfaction he’d felt from completing his work was instantly replaced by a grander, more distant ambition.

’There’s still a long way to go.’

’But you have to eat a meal one bite at a time, and a Golem has to be built one step at a time.’

Allen turned and walked back to his office area. He needed to plan his next move.

’Now that I have the body, it’s time to run a live combat test.’

’That Ancient Golem Factory Master Mercer mentioned seems like a good place to start.’