In the rear lines, Singularity's engineering rover had transformed into a compact, automated forge.

  The "Abyssal Steel Ore" brought back from the first layer was currently suspended within a pale blue, high-temperature plasma flame.

  This wasn't ordinary fire. It was "Bipolar Fusion Flame," a concoction Singularity had brewed by mixing the Netherworld's "Nine Underworlds Yin Fire" with the Abyss's "Hellfire." Only this extreme thermal environment could soften the Demon Steel, a material with a hardness comparable to neutron star matter.

  Hiss...

  The Demon Steel began to melt, turning into a glob of purple-black, viscous liquid resembling mercury.

  Sweat poured down Singularity's face. His multi-function stylus (now acting as a Spirit Chisel) danced furiously in the air.

  "Structural restructuring! Molecular lattice optimization!"

  He guided the liquid Demon Steel onto the barrels of the Slayer's Super Shotgun.

  Ordinary steel barrels would have vaporized instantly under this heat. But that was exactly what Singularity wanted.

  "Out with the old, in with the new! Solidify!"

  The liquid Demon Steel rapidly filled the space of the original barrels, cooling and taking shape according to Singularity's new blueprints.

  The new barrels took form.

  They were no longer the plain gunmetal color of before. They now bore a deep, abyssal purple hue. The surface was veined with red lines that pulsed like blood vessels.

  But hardness wasn't enough.

  "It needs penetration!"

  Singularity pulled out his secret stash—several "Armor-Piercing Rune Chips" he had secretly prototyped in the Netherworld's "Armory" (Stone Press Hell).

  "Channeling the Sharp Metal Qi of Heaven and Earth! Inject!"

  He embedded the chips into the gun body.

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  HUMMM—!

  The weapon vibrated violently, emitting a low growl like a waking beast.

  The red veins instantly lit up, converging at the muzzle to form an incredibly complex, rotating golden magic circle.

  [Weapon Upgrade Complete.]

  [Name: Super Shotgun - Abyss Mod.]

  [Traits: Ignore Armor, Energy Absorption, Abyssal Resonance.]

  "Done!"

  Singularity grabbed the fresh weapon, which was still steaming, and shouted at the Slayer, who was currently wrestling the Golem in the distance:

  "Great Warrior! Catch! Fresh out of the oven!"

  At that moment, the Slayer was riding on the Obsidian Golem's neck, smashing its skull plate fist by fist. Although the Golem was being beaten senseless, its regeneration was too strong; cracks healed as fast as they were made.

  Hearing the shout, the Slayer performed a backflip off the Golem.

  In mid-air, he caught the incoming shotgun.

  The moment it hit his hands, the Slayer felt the difference.

  ci.

  Heavy.

  It was more than twice as heavy as before.

  Furthermore, a violent power seemed to flow inside the gun, surging into his Praetor Suit through his palms, making his very bones resonate.

  This was the power of Demon Steel.

  The Slayer landed.

  Opposite him, the Golem, battered but unbroken, stood up again. Its purple void shield flared to life once more.

  "ROAR—!" (You cannot hurt me!)

  The Slayer didn't rush to fire.

  He slowly raised the muzzle, aiming directly at the brightest energy core in the Golem's chest.

  He wanted to test the feel of this new toy.

  KA-CHUNK.

  He racked the action.

  The sound was deeper, heavier. Like two massive boulders colliding.

  The Slayer pulled the trigger.

  BOOM!!!

  This time, it wasn't the crisp crack of a gunshot.

  It was a roar like a thunderclap exploding right next to your ear.

  The golden magic circle at the muzzle expanded instantly. What spewed forth wasn't a scatter of pellets, but a focused cluster of energy rounds, spiraling with a purple-red light trail.

  Thwip!

  The purple shield that claimed to absorb all energy was punctured like a sheet of wet paper.

  Immediately after, the Demon Steel slugs drilled into the Golem's impossibly hard obsidian body without any resistance.

  There was no surface explosion.

  Because the rounds went straight through.

  Behind the Golem, a massive cloud of stone debris erupted. Its back had been blown out, leaving a hole a meter in diameter.

  Through and through.

  The Golem looked down at the massive, see-through hole in its chest. The red light in its eyes flickered twice, as if it couldn't process what had just happened.

  Then.

  Rumble!

  Its massive body collapsed, crumbling into a pile of waste rock.

  One-shot kill.

  The Slayer looked at the smoking barrels.

  He blew a gentle breath toward them (even though he couldn't actually blow through the helmet).

  He shouldered the gun and gave a thumbs-up to Singularity in the distance.

  This gun... kicked like a mule. He liked it.

  Mortal Iron vs. Spirit Material.

  In this Abyss governed by strict laws, only the bones of the Abyss could crush the shell of the Abyss.

  Singularity wiped his sweat, looking at that massive hole in the Golem, and muttered to himself:

  "That's not a shotgun anymore... that's a handheld anti-tank cannon."

  "Next Chapter: Samadhi True Fire Enchantment. Physical penetration is sorted, but what about magic damage? Like... the kind of fire that burns souls dry?"