Chapter 36

Chapter 36
## Armor Stripped Bare

The resonance echoed across the Siberian wilderness, sounding like heavy sledges striking white-hot metal in a celestial smithy.

With every rhythmic impact, a sequence of blows battered the mechanical suit Nikolai operated. Naturally, the internal systems remained largely unaffected; the machine had been engineered for extreme resilience, after all.

“Not feeling the heat yet? That’s to be expected.”

The forward plating of his exoskeleton was currently engulfed in dark, obsidian fire that was hungrily eroding its structural integrity.

I was carefully modulating the Paradox Flame to ensure the rear sections remained untouched. Once the pilot was neutralized, I intended to dismantle those parts, deliver them to Choi Seung-gi to be repurposed into protective gear plating, and then liquidate the remnants for profit.

Admittedly, the front-facing armor was far more robust for defensive purposes, but terminating Nikolai was a higher priority than salvaging every scrap of metal.

“You seem awfully composed. You’re even letting your eyes wander.”

Crash! My thrusting spear collided with the transparent shield protecting his face. With a sharp snapping sound, a network of fractures bloomed across the reinforced surface.

“How underwhelming.”

I had anticipated the weapon would have pierced through by this point. I suppose I would simply have to be patient.

— Hold on, why is the glass shattering?!

Nikolai’s composure fractured along with his visor; the reinforced pane that had effortlessly deflected my previous assaults was now clearly failing.

“That’s the inevitable result of persistence.”

That was merely the opening act. My focused spear thrusts finally began to leave visible gouges in the frontal plating, one after another. It was the definitive sign that he was being overwhelmed.

“It feels like I’ve spent a solid twenty minutes on this.”

This wasn’t the same application of the Paradox Flame I had utilized during the events at Gyodongdo. A conflagration of this magnitude would have dissolved the nucleus of the Erosion Core there in under a minute through total cellular degradation.

Yet, this machine had endured for twenty minutes. While not quite the legendary mithril of the ancient era, its durability was certainly on par with high-grade industrial mithril alloys.

“Nevertheless.”

The fact that my strikes were now carving into the surface meant his vaunted defense was reaching its breaking point. In a matter of moments, it would be as pliable as soft clay.

“Here, a small token of my affection.”

Following a few additional strikes, I used the point of my spear to etch a heart into the center of his chest plate.

— You unbearable wretch!

With a series of metallic thuds, the heavy plates surrounding his body uncoupled and fell into the snow. Those massive slabs had become a liability, and he was discarding them to regain his mobility.

He didn’t stop at the torso armor; he also detached and cast aside the massive cannon integrated into his arm.

With the protective shell gone, the internal power generator of the gear was now fully visible.

“Not something I can digest, unfortunately.”

The concentrated mana within was powerful, but it wasn’t a source I could absorb.

The glowing energy center, seemingly overloaded with strain, emitted an aggressive vibration while turning a deep, incandescent red.

— Haa… Hoo…

Distorted waves of heat shimmered off the core. Even looking at it felt like standing too close to an open furnace.

“It’s freezing out here—why are you stripping down? How scandalous.”

I mocked the exposed Nikolai while dropping into a combat stance and circulating my mana.

Boom! The air detonated, and Nikolai vanished, crossing the distance instantly to swing a shimmering energy blade.

He unleashed nearly ten strikes every second. At that velocity, his offensive output was comparable to the cyclic rate of an automatic weapon.

He had long since transcended human physical constraints, and I had done the same—drifting, parrying, and launching counter-maneuvers.

— You freak of nature! Perish! I will pulverize you until there isn’t a speck left!

I relied on my vision, hearing, and intuition to predict his next move while deflecting his blade and calculating my opening.

A single direct contact would settle the matter. While he had gained incredible speed by shedding weight and overdriving his systems, the compromise was that a solitary clean hit would be fatal.

— Fine, I’ll just take you with me! Self-destruct initiated!

“Wow, going for the classic kamikaze ending. Points for drama.”

However, there was no way such a function existed. This wasn’t a scripted animation.

No pilot would agree to fly a machine designed to explode with them inside. Who would volunteer for that?

Furthermore, the technology looked far too costly to throw away. Sure enough, as the systems pushed past their mechanical limits, the internals began to screech in protest.

“Do you hear that? It’s the sound of your machine dying.”

Nikolai offered no response. Thick soot billowed from the suit, and the high-pitched whine of the turbines sputtered before falling into a dead silence.

“Do you have any final words?”

As I spoke, the visor over his face hissed open, and he began to beg.

“Please, have mercy. I was forced into this.”

“That’s an interesting offer. I suppose I could.”

I drove my spear directly into his cranium. Survival was impossible.

The “mercy” I offered was simply a ruse to prevent a final, desperate act of retaliation. This was a lethal engagement, not a friendly match—in this world, losers die.

“Only five minutes remaining…”

The seal on Lee Se-eun was on the verge of collapsing. Nikolai’s subordinates, who had been so aggressive moments ago, lost all their fighting spirit the moment they saw their leader’s head destroyed.

I had a moment to breathe. I turned my attention to the magical barrier restraining her.

“Impressive craftsmanship.”

It was intricate, precise, and remarkably durable. I had to acknowledge the skill required to weave such a spell.

However, I was capable of deciphering its flow and underlying logic.

“The source is definitely within a three-kilometer radius…”

By tracing the mana signatures, I could locate the individual responsible. I watched Lee Se-eun repeatedly detonating her massive blade inside the barrier and clicked my tongue.

“Once I find them, they’re finished.”

The person maintaining the spell was likely suffering internal injuries from her resistance right about now.

But suddenly, the magical cage dissolved into nothingness.

“What a pathetic coward.”

Realizing the danger, the caster had cut the connection and fled.

“How tedious.”

The instant the barrier vanished, Lee Se-eun surged forward with her greatsword, her strikes creating shockwaves that made the frozen ground tremble like a localized quake.

“She has quite the temper.”

The sheer volume of mana radiating from her person caused the atmosphere to shimmer. Releasing mana so visibly meant she was expending it with total disregard for efficiency.

It was as if wielding such overwhelming power required no effort at all. For her, that was likely the truth.

“Well done.”

She assisted me in finishing off the remnants of Nikolai’s broken forces. They stood no chance; the skirmish concluded in heartbeats. Then, she walked over to me.

“Good work. You exceeded my expectations. Honestly, you could secure a position as a Partner Hunter in any organization.”

She had been observing our duel even while trapped. Rather than giving a verbal response, I extended my hand, and she placed a reward candy in my palm.

“Thanks. Don’t mind if I do.”

As I unwrapped and ate it, the members of the Zanabi Hunters looked on in disbelief. What was the issue? They were the ones who gave it to me.

“You might be the only person who actually consumes those.”

Lee Se-eun’s comment left me confused.

“Why? Do people use them like building blocks?”

“They keep them. They use them as status symbols to show off their achievements.”

Like medals, I supposed. Sucking on the candy, I replied.

“Is there some kind of mental health exam for Hunters that I missed?”

It made me wonder if insanity was a prerequisite for the profession.

With the threat neutralized, the transport train resumed its journey.

However, I soon encountered a frustrating complication.

“The Korean authorities are requesting the remains of the gear I disabled?”

They were demanding the salvage from Nikolai’s suit.

“That equipment was originally created using funds from the Korean government.”

“And some petty criminal in the middle of Siberia was using it to hijack trains.”

I responded sharply, staring down the military representative.

“I am the one who neutralized him. Therefore, it is my legitimate loot.”

“Hunter Yoo Chan-seok, I’m asking you to understand. If this technology is paraded around as a mercenary’s trophy, it would be an international embarrassment for our administration.”

He compared it to the diplomatic crisis of American nuclear assets appearing in a foreign black market.

It was a logical argument on the surface. But I didn’t trust it for a second.

According to Lee Se-eun, the individual who had successfully sealed her had ties to the Dangun’s descendants.

The whole situation was suspicious.

Nikolai had acquired restricted Korean military tech and used it without interference. To operate so brazenly, he either had massive independent backing or the quiet consent of the military itself.

Nikolai and the Dangun’s descendants appeared to be working together. Furthermore, I had long suspected a secret alliance between that group and the government.

Could I trust the military personnel on this train? Not a chance.

“I’ll say it again: it’s my kill, so it’s my prize.”

“This is no longer a request. This is a formal directive from the Korean Military Security Support Command.”

He was pulling rank, shifting from a negotiation to an order. I decided to change my tactics.

“Fine, but what about my effort? I should at least get a finder’s fee. You can’t just swoop in and take everything after I did all the heavy lifting.”

I made sure to sound aggrieved, implying I might compromise for a price.

“So… how do we settle this fairly?”

He picked up on the hint and his posture relaxed slightly.

“Nothing too complicated. I want the armor segments from the suit as my portion of the spoils.”

He winced, letting out a frustrated breath.

“I can’t hand over the entire set of plates.”

“Then I’ll take the frontal armor.”

He checked his radio with his superiors, then shook his head.

“Negative. The front plates are off-limits…”

“Then what is left? This is ridiculous. Fine, I’ll take the rear plating only. That is my final offer.”

After another brief communication, he returned with a look of relief.

“The Command has authorized that.”

“I’d like to take your word for it, but I’m going to need those orders in writing.”

A formal document prevents anyone from changing their mind later. He nodded.

“Understood. I can have the paperwork ready in a couple of hours.”

I allowed myself a private grin. The frontal armor, which had been thoroughly ravaged by my Paradox Flame, was now essentially useless scrap. They could have it.

As the officer walked away, I watched him carefully.

“That basically confirms my suspicions.”

I didn’t have ironclad evidence yet. But the behavior of the officials suggested a clear link between the government and the Dangun’s descendants.

Until I was proven otherwise, I would move forward under the assumption that they were all on the same side.