NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: Chapter:18
Gotham World
Hiriito's new identity was officially established: Robert Stein.
His backstory was meticulously crafted: a Gotham native, 25 years old, who had lost his parents young. Thanks to excellent academic performance, he received charitable sponsorship from the Cobblepot family to attend university.
At 18, "Robert Stein" moved to Midtown to pursue higher education, earning both bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering. His academic records were verifiable, with a key detail that tied him to a plausible story—his mentor, Dr. Harrison Wells, had tragically passed away two months prior.
"Harrison Wells?" Hiriito frowned, typing the name into his computer to confirm the details.
Dr. Wells was a celebrated high-energy physicist, founder of STAR Labs, and creator of a groundbreaking particle accelerator. A year ago, a catastrophic accident had left him paralyzed, and two months ago, another incident claimed his life.
Hiriito froze. Harrison Wells... Isn't he Reverse-Flash?
He exhaled slowly. "Fortunately, he's dead. Whatever timeline disturbances he left behind, they're more likely to haunt the Flash than me."
With that thought out of the way, Hiriito refocused on his immediate task: crafting a new puppet.
After weeks of studying Gotham's engineering techniques and merging them with his puppetry knowledge, Hiriito was finally ready to begin. He had the tools, materials, designs, and skills—all he needed was to execute.
The urgency to complete the puppet wasn't just ambition. The area Hiriito lived in was far from safe. Gunfire between gangs had broken out just a street over the night before, with a stray bullet shattering his window.
The first stage was crafting the puppet's frame. Tungsten alloy sheets, purchased from the black market, were cut into precise shapes and bent using a press brake. Aluminum alloy plates, chosen for their lightweight properties, formed the secondary structure.
Using a milling machine and drilling tools, Hiriito ensured every joint and connection point was finely tuned for precision. Gold and copper wires, known for their excellent conductivity, were integrated to create chakra-compatible pathways. Miniature cameras, radar sensors, and microcontrollers were carefully placed according to his design layout.
Though the electronic components were auxiliary to the puppet's core functionality, they provided an added advantage. If enemy interference rendered them unusable, Hiriito could still manipulate the puppet entirely with chakra threads.
The outer shell was crafted from ceramic composite armor, layered with high-strength stainless steel for durability. Argon arc welding secured the final structure, ensuring no weak points.
Hiriito's most innovative addition was a pneumatic system powered by chakra. By using chakra threads to compress air into sealed chambers, the puppet's arms could deliver devastating punches. This design added a layer of flexibility and raw power to the puppet's close-combat capabilities.
Finally, he moved on to the weapon systems.
The right arm housed a modified Beretta PMX submachine gun, equipped with a belt-fed system capable of holding 150 rounds. The left shoulder mounted a Harding revolver, modified to function like a small Gatling gun with increased ammunition capacity.
After a grueling week of work, Hiriito's masterpiece was complete.
"Black Secret Technique: One-Machine Maneuver."
Ten chakra threads shot out from Hiriito's hands, connecting to the puppet's joints and systems. The workshop filled with the sound of metal clanging and sliding as the parts assembled into a towering figure.
The finished puppet stood two meters tall, its sleek black armor gleaming under the workshop lights. The metallic frame exuded an aura of raw power, with every joint and curve optimized for performance.
Hiriito clenched his fists, feeling the puppet respond effortlessly to his commands.
[Puppet Name]: Unnamed
[Comprehensive Parameters]:
Height: 2.01 meters
Weight: 188 kg
Material: Tungsten alloy, aluminum alloy, ceramic composites, copper, gold
Energy Source: None
Operation Method: Chakra threads
[Puppet Rating]: B- (potential for B with upgrades)
[Overall Evaluation]: A combat puppet blending puppetry with modern engineering. It boasts exceptional durability, formidable melee strength, and limited long-range capabilities. When paired with the puppeteer, its effectiveness increases significantly.
Hiriito ran a few tests, watching the puppet move with precision around the workshop.
"The pneumatic punch system is solid, but the smell of engine oil is a bit strong," he muttered, making mental notes. "I should also add a dual-layer face shield—one for bulletproof glass, another for rear-view projection."
Satisfied with the results, he disassembled the puppet into transportable parts and stored them neatly in the workshop.
For now, he was ready to face Gotham.
End of the Chapter.