This guy. A yellow machine, with what appears to be some sort of hatch for storing blood on it's torso, aswell as a jackhammer for an arm. The Excavator is found in a pool of blood, presumably it's own, in 7-2, inside the room opened by activating 3 hidden golden hookpoints.

The machine has a white flag on it's back with "Vegter van die Volk" written on it, which
translates to "Warrior of the People" in Afrikaans.

Also me matey helped out with a bit of the ideas below so credit to him: https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/profiles/76561198884458537/

TYPE: SUPREME MACHINE

DATA:
Many scouts used for Hell expeditions were repurposed machines of war. However, there were some made specifically with the intent of descending into the underworld. Although most felt the urge to explore Hell and document it, some were aware of the dangers it could create, and a small group of humans created what is now known as the Excavator to eradicate all 9 layers of Hell. The designers of the Excavator used modified, always fresh blood to ensure it doesn't run out, due to it's long journey through Hell and no way of absorbing fresh blood from it's victims.

The Excavator has a hatch for storing the blood fueling it, aswell as a large jackhammer for one of it's arms, used for mobility and as a weapon. It's limbs are detachable, but it requires either significant force, or for the machine to already be damaged. The Excavator's exhaust pipes are there due to it running on not only blood, but also coal. It has highly stabilized legs in order to both support it's heavy upper body, and to not suffer damages from landing from a mild fall.

Most machines only render a basic version of their actual surroundings for faster processing speed, with Sentries and the Excavator being an exception. However, this was the Excavator's fatal flaw, due to the processing speed used for rendering being required for tracking faster targets, such as Mannequins. This is most likely why it failed.

The Excavator ultimately met it's fate in the Violence layer. It's corpse now buried deep in the battlefield, drowning in it's own blood, it serves as a reminder of how close mankind was to salvation. This is the only way it could have ended

STRATEGY:
- The Excavator determines how it attacks based on it's distance from it's opponent and whether it's midair or not, so while staying midair at medium distance is optimal, it's more unpredictable.

- Attacking the Excavator with the jackhammer will instantly enrage it.

- Though the dive attack is difficult to dodge, it can be pushed back with the Knuckleblaster, doing additional damage.

- The pump charge explosion can be avoided by dashing at a precise time.

<<EMPTY SPACE>>
<<EMPTY SPACE>>
<<EMPTY BALLS >>
<<EMPTY SPACE>>





The fight would be found in 7-2, ater digging through the corpses (walls) of the Excavator's tomb with the Knuckleblaster, which would lead to the entrance to a secret level. Walking through a long corridor of corpses, V1 enters an arena with 7-2 textures, but inside a cave-like interior and surrounded by a pool of blood. The entrance caves down behind it, and a canister hanging from the ceiling, looking similiar to a fly caught in a web, crashes down and out comes a recreation of the Excavator, immediately attacking.

PS: The Excavator can be launched midair with a slam shockwave, but it will still attack.

It would have 65 health (65 revolver shots for context) and would use the jackhammer to bounce around the arena. It would also get enraged if hit with the jackhammer. It's attacks are:

• Diving at V1, which can be avoided by either getting out of the way quickly enough, or punching it with the Knuckleblaster. If punched, it will get knocked back and be dealt 5 damage instead of the Knuckleblaster's usual 2.5. It will also do some knockback to V1. If dodged, it will fling across the arena.
  
• Charge pump charge 3 times, create an explosion. The Excavator doesn't take damage from this, but you sure do.
  
• Shoot a hitscan core at V1, which can be chargebacked.
  
• Using the jackhammer as a melee weapon if V1 gets too close (unparriable).

At 32 health, the Excavator transitions to phase 2, which is generally the same, with the exception of:

• More damage.
  
• The 1st phase has the clean version of the texture, which is in the files, while the 2nd phase has the dirty version, which is seen ingame.
  
• Dive attack is faster.
  
• The Excavator does the melee jackhammer attack twice.
  
• Pump charge explosion has larger blast radius

At 0 health, the Excavator dies (well duh). It explodes, leaving behind a book with the following text:

MOST TEXT - INCOMPREHENSIBLE
DISPLAYING FINAL PAGE:
"Hidden deep inside the tomb, through the corpses in the forgotten part of the battlefield, surrounded by blood. There It resides. My pride and joy.
THE RECREATION
IT LIVES
THE MACHINE WILL FIND IT
ONE SHALL PERSIST
ONE SHALL NOT
THE UNHOLY DUEL"

Once V1 drops the book, a part of the floor collapses into the exit, leading to 7-3. And that's the end of that.

I'm absolutely obsessed with the Excavator, and i hope reading this was as fun as writing it up.
Have an Excavator-tastic day!!!! bye!!!!!!!!