The Slayer was traversing the 2nd Layer of the Abyss—the "Obsidian Maze."

  The environment here was starkly different from the Scorched Earth.

  Countless massive, hexagonal black stone pillars towered around him. These pillars were not only incredibly hard but were also covered in a layer of "Void Crystals" capable of absorbing energy.

  The air had turned viscous and heavy, as if filled with liquid metal dust.

  Blocking the Slayer's path was an Elite Monster unique to this layer—the "Obsidian Golem."

  Standing six meters tall, this thing was constructed entirely of high-density, demon-enchanted obsidian. Its surface flowed with a purple Void Shield. It possessed extreme physical defense and the ability to absorb energy attacks.

  The Slayer raised his Super Shotgun. Two point-blank shots.

  BANG! BANG!

  The rune-enchanted pellets, which usually reduced Hell Knights to confetti, hit the Golem like raindrops hitting a steel plate.

  Ping, ping, clang.

  The pellets ricocheted, sparks flying. The purple light on the Golem’s surface merely flickered; not even a crack appeared.

  Immediately, the Slayer switched to the Ballista. A red energy beam roared out.

  Hum—Zzzzt.

  The energy beam was instantly absorbed by the crystals on the Golem’s surface, only making its purple glow brighter.

  The Golem let out a mocking low roar, raised its massive, charging stone fist, and smashed it down.

  The Slayer slid sideways to dodge.

  BOOM!

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  A crater was smashed into the ground, the shockwave shaking the surrounding stone pillars.

  The Slayer back-dashed to create distance.

  He looked down at the shotgun in his hand.

  The gun wasn't broken. The ammo was full.

  But the environment had changed.

  As he ventured deeper into the Abyss, the "Planar Suppression" became stronger. The material density here was ten times that of the Netherworld, and energy inertia was a hundred times higher.

  The Netherworld's "Anti-Demon Runes" were being diluted by the environmental laws of the Abyss.

  The Slayer frowned (under his helmet).

  He disliked this feeling of "powerlessness." Not that he couldn't kill it (he could still dismantle it with his bare fists), but this low-efficiency killing (like "scraping" or chipping away health) annoyed him.

  He needed heavier firepower.

  He needed a weapon capable of tearing through the laws of this plane.

  Just then, Daoist Singularity caught up, piloting a modified hovering engineering vehicle, gasping for breath.

  "Great Warrior! Watch out! The physical constants here are wrong!"

  Singularity looked at the readings on his tablet, his face pale.

  "The material structure here is reinforced by the Will of the Abyss! Ordinary steel here is as brittle as a biscuit, while their stone is harder than our diamonds!"

  The Slayer dodged a sweeping attack from the Golem and leaped onto the roof of Singularity's vehicle.

  He tossed the shotgun directly into Singularity's arms.

  Then, he pointed at the absurdly hard Golem, then pointed at the gun.

  Finally, he pulled out the chunk of glowing purple "Abyss Ore" (Demon Steel) he had mined earlier from his dimensional pocket and slammed it onto the roof of the car.

  The message was clear:

  Use this. Modify it.

  Make it punch through that.

  Singularity hugged the scorching hot gun, looked at the heavy Demon Steel, and instantly understood the Slayer's intent.

  "Attack the shield with its own spear?"

  Singularity's eyes lit up.

  "Use Abyss materials to make Abyss weapons... Only magic can defeat magic!"

  "Great Warrior! Give me two minutes!"

  Singularity immediately transformed the vehicle into a temporary mobile workbench.

  "You hold it off with your fists for a bit! I'll give this old buddy a 'Localization Upgrade'!"

  The Slayer nodded.

  He jumped off the vehicle and charged bare-handed at the roaring Obsidian Golem.

  Since the gun doesn't work, I'll loosen the soil with my fists first.

  [Blood Punch] Charged.

  THUD!

  The Slayer punched the Golem's knee. Although it didn't shatter, the immense force made the multi-ton monster stumble.

  Behind him.

  Singularity had already started the laser cutter, working on the Demon Steel ore.

  Insufficient Attack Power vs. Equipment Iteration.

  It wasn't that the Slayer got weaker.

  It was that the dungeon got harder.

  So, it was time for a gear update.

  "Next Chapter: Demon Steel Forging. Singularity reforges the barrel with Abyssal Demon Steel and engraves armor-piercing runes. The new gun is ready: specialized in treating all kinds of disobedience."