Following Singularity’s guidance, the Slayer arrived at a canyon bristling with black crystal clusters.

  There were no demons here, only suffocating heat. The canyon walls were lined with a type of ore that glowed with a faint, ghostly purple light. The crystals seemed alive, pulsating in rhythm with the flow of magma beneath the rock.

  "Great Warrior, this is the spot!" Singularity’s voice crackled through the earpiece. "Energy readings here are off the charts! Watch your six, it might be a trap!"

  The Slayer ignored the warning.

  He walked up to the canyon wall, extended a gauntleted hand, and attempted to break off a piece of the glowing ore.

  Creak—

  He applied 30% force. It didn't budge.

  The servo motors in the Slayer's hand armor whined in protest, pushing past their operational limits.

  He increased the force. 70%.

  Creak—SNAP!

  Only a tiny fragment, the size of a fingernail, chipped off.

  The Slayer looked at the pathetic result in his palm and paused for a moment.

  He stepped back and drew his Super Shotgun.

  BANG!

  A rune-enchanted slug slammed into the ore face.

  Sparks flew.

  When the dust settled, the surface of the ore only showed a shallow white scratch. There wasn't even a crack.

  "Holy crap!" Singularity let out a gasp of uncultured shock on the other end. "What kind of material is that? Even your enchanted rounds couldn't penetrate it?!"

  The Slayer holstered the gun.

  He picked up the tiny chip he had broken off and held it up to his visor.

  He tried to crush it in his fist.

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  Under grip strength capable of pulverizing a demon skull into dust, the fragment didn't even deform. Instead, it dug into his glove, making the metal groan.

  Moreover, when the ore touched his Praetor Suit, the Shield bar on his HUD flickered slightly.

  [Energy Absorption Detected.]

  The Slayer seemed pleased with this property.

  He looked around at the canyon full of this ore.

  He stashed the fragment into his dimensional pocket.

  Then, he activated [Blood Punch].

  Crimson energy enveloped his fist, crackling with raw power.

  The Slayer wound up and punched the largest cluster of ore right in front of him.

  THOOOM—!!!

  The entire canyon shook. The shockwave rippled through the rock face, knocking loose countless smaller debris.

  Crack! Crash!

  Finally unable to withstand the internal structural collapse caused by the shockwave, a massive chunk of raw Demon Steel ore—standing half as tall as a man—broke loose and fell.

  The Slayer caught the multi-ton rock with one hand.

  He hefted it.

  Heavy. Solid. Perfect.

  He didn't continue mining. He turned and walked to a relatively flat patch of ground.

  He pointed at the rock in his hand, then pointed at the micro-communication drone (Singularity's eye) hovering beside him.

  Singularity’s voice came through, confused: "Uhh... you want to send that back?"

  The Slayer nodded.

  "That... that's a cross-dimensional teleportation! The energy consumption required to transport mass that dense..."

  The Slayer didn't listen to the excuses. He simply lifted the multi-ton rock high above his head and positioned it directly over the palm-sized teleportation node on the drone.

  His stance sent a clear message: If you don't open the portal wider, I'm going to jam this rock down your throat.

  "Wait, wait, wait! I'm opening it! I'm opening it right now!"

  Singularity panicked, sounds of frantic typing echoing through the link.

  Seconds later, an unstable vortex materialized in front of the Slayer.

  Without hesitation, the Slayer hurled the massive chunk of Demon Steel into the swirl.

  Meanwhile, in the Netherworld Control Center.

  CRASH!!!

  A deafening noise shook the room.

  The massive black rock fell out of thin air, smashing Singularity's expensive Black Jade office desk into splinters and punching a hole straight through the floor.

  Singularity crawled out from the dust cloud. He stared at the ore, which was emitting a purple glow, and his eyes instantly went straight.

  "Demon Steel... It's real Abyssal Demon Steel!"

  Singularity pounced on the rock, stroking its cold surface obsessively. "With this... I can craft that legendary set of gear..."

  On the screen.

  Seeing the successful delivery, the Slayer wasted no more time.

  He dusted off his hands and turned to leave the canyon.

  But he didn't immediately draw his weapon.

  His hand lingered for a second on the Super Shotgun at his waist. He gave the barrel a gentle pat.

  The gesture was subtle, yet it carried a silent, heavy demand.

  Singularity, watching the screen, understood immediately.

  "Got it, got it!" Singularity shouted, hugging the rock. "I'll upgrade it for you! I guarantee it'll be hard! It'll be fierce!"

  Obstacle vs. Resource.

  For others, this was an unbreakable rock blocking the path.

  For the Slayer and Singularity, this was the admission ticket to superior firepower.

  "Next Chapter: Mobile Supply Station. The Slayer is running low on ammo. Singularity transforms into a courier service: 'Precision Airdrop' incoming."