During preprocessing, directives like #include<...> are processed to include the content of header files into the source code. Preprocessing handles tasks like including header files and macro expansions, which, in turn, help organizing code and making it more mantainable.

In this step, the source code written in C is translated into Assembly language, which provides a human-readable representation of the code's machine instructions. Assembly language acts as an intermediary between high-level languages (in which we can include C, believe it or not) and the binary machine code that computers understand.

The assembly code that was generated in the previous step is then assembled into binary machine code (a sequence of 1's and 0's that the computer's CPU can execute). This involves generating object files (.o files) from assembly code and then converting those objects into machine code.

Finally, the linking step involves combining different binary files, such as object files generated from multiple source files, into a single executable program. Note that this process resolves references to external functions and libraries, ensuring that all components are working together seamlessly.

Assembly is a low-level programming language that serves as a human-readable abstraction of machine code, enabling programmers to write code without delving into the binary representation of instructions. Despite the development of higher-level programming languages with increased levels of abstraction, Assembly remains relevant today for tackling low-level challenges such as optimizing performance or accessing hardware directly (in embedded systems programming or in writing device drivers, as examples), and malware analysis.

Unlike higher-level languages, Assembly does not have a single standardized version; instead, there are various Assembly languages for specific CPU architectures. This close tie to hardware makes Assembly highly dependent on the actual system's architecture. Assembly language(s) consists of a set of instructions that directly correspond to machine instructions, manipulating data stored in extremely fast memory locations known as registers (think of them as variables). These registers hold values that are manipulated by the program's instructions to perform computations and control flow. Registers are part of the CPU and are used to store data temporarily during program execution.

Remember, though, that by using these registers and by having its own working logic, the compiler doesn't really care about the original variable names of our program. So, if we reassemble our code directly without much ado, we will be greeted with 'pure' Assembly, and it might make the job of reading the code a bit harder. Fortunately, tools like GDB are able to debug our code, forcing Assembly to actually give adequate variable names to our code, making it easier to understand and debug.

When working with Assembly code, developers can use tools like GCC for compiling and debugging, along with utilities like GDB (the GNU Debugger) for analyzing code step by step, setting breakpoints, and learning how the computer really processes the instructions set in the code. Working with Assembly is not only technically challenging but also very rewarding. Programmers can unlock new levels of control and efficiency by achieving a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between code and hardware.