I Just Subscribed and It’s the Best Hunter of All Time - Chapter 122

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#Chapter 122.
It went without saying, but Jung Han-sung wasn’t advancing mindlessly either.
Ever since entering the facility, he’d been fully utilizing the Shadowless Divine Thief’s senses, and his mind held the information Herman had provided as well.
Though the data didn’t include the facility’s blueprints, it contained several crucial details about the Erosion Spiral.
―But given all that, isn’t it strange how empty everything is?
So when Onyx raised the point, Jung Han-sung answered without hesitation.
“That’s actually proof we’re on the right track. If there was a massive explosion, there’s no way intact facilities would remain in the surrounding area.”
―Hmm. That does sound plausible.
Onyx nodded his head up and down in agreement with Jung Han-sung’s words.
Currently, Jung Han-sung was descending along the passage from which the androids had emerged.
However, this passage didn’t maintain the intact form of the one above.
Whether from the explosion’s aftermath, it had collapsed in places, some sections had their floors completely exposed, and other sections still bore the traces of walls that had melted and flowed.
Crack―.
At that moment, a foothold beneath Jung Han-sung’s feet crumbled entirely, producing a sharp cracking sound.
Jung Han-sung paused momentarily and examined what lay below.
‘An explosion of this magnitude—it’s almost miraculous the entire facility didn’t collapse.’
Well, even if it didn’t collapse, the facility as a whole was actually sinking downward.
That’s precisely why this place bore the name “Erosion Spiral.”
This wasn’t something that could happen from just detonating a few bombs.
Jung Han-sung recalled the contents written in the data.
‘It definitely stated that a critical energy device at the facility’s core had gone haywire.’
Had it exploded after that runaway state?
―There’s another trace here.
At that moment, Onyx drew Jung Han-sung’s attention.
Jung Han-sung looked where Onyx was pointing and soon discovered traces left on a wall section that appeared relatively intact.
―It looks like something tore through here violently?
“It does appear that way.”
Long, metallic scratch marks remained on the wall surface. Jung Han-sung traced them with his hand.
The marks were spaced at regular intervals, as if something sharp and heavy had scraped across the wall in a long line.
Quite deeply, at that.
‘This is a separate trace from the explosion.’
It wasn’t difficult to guess what had caused it. Since descending here, he’d encountered only one thing constantly.
‘Another android, perhaps.’
The probability of some strange monster suddenly appearing here seemed rather low.
Besides, there was no particular information about that sort of thing.
But in truth, what mattered more than the enemy’s identity was something else.
‘There’s definitely something dangerous waiting ahead.’
Reflecting on his experiences so far, the probability of obtaining the blueprints and leaving without any conflict whatsoever approached zero.
The androids he’d encountered on the way here had certainly been threatening, but whether they’d been sufficiently lethal for the Hidden Floor was another matter entirely.
Considering the Hidden Floor’s average difficulty, it was right to assume there was still one more mountain to overcome.
Thud, thud—.
I continued down the corridor with that consideration in mind.
* * *
The corridor was quite long.
With the atmosphere suggesting enemies could emerge at any moment, I maintained my vigilance as I moved, yet surprisingly, I encountered none.
‘I feel like I’m almost there.’
But as time passed, an increasingly ominous sensation crept over me.
I gazed ahead with eyes that had grown sharp and focused.
Soon, I would likely reach the central zone of the lower levels mentioned in Herman’s documents.
Boom…. Boom….
It was around that moment when I began hearing sounds echoing from far ahead.
I walked steadily toward the source of the noise, my eyes narrowed to slits.
Thus I soon arrived at a considerably spacious area.
In the center stood a half-destroyed cylindrical pillar, and scattered around it were devices so thoroughly demolished that their original forms were nearly unrecognizable.
At a glance, I recognized this as the central zone.
Boom—. Boom—!
And within this zone stood an enormous mass of metal.
Whirr—.
Unfocused eyes
More precisely, electronic sensors resembling eyes turned to regard where I stood.
Its two arms were far thicker and longer than those of a standard android, and a high-voltage cable lay tangled messily across one shoulder.
The upper torso appeared constructed by haphazardly affixing metal plates, and the abdomen was half-charred, its internal components exposed raw and bare.
‘Is it larger than Golem?’
I compared the Golem standing behind me with the android before me.
The conclusion was that the android was roughly half a head taller.
But then.
『Command reconfirmed: eliminate intruder.』
With crackling sounds, a voice rang out, and the android kicked off the ground and charged toward me.
Boom, boom—!
And at that precise moment, the Golem waiting behind me sprang forward.
There was no need to issue separate commands. I had already committed all response strategies for such situations to memory.
When a massive enemy approached, the Golem would step forward and seize its ankles.
Slash—!
Akasha and I target its flanks.
Of course, the android was aware that Akasha and I were circling around to approach it.
But awareness changed nothing for it.
Boom!
The Golem charging from the front delivered a direct body tackle.
The android was driven backward, barely managing to regain its footing and straighten itself.
But the Golem did not relent, charging again with both arms extended.
Crack!
Their arms grasped each other.
The size difference between them was not great. Neither was the difference in strength.
As a result, the android was aware of Jung Han-sung and Akasha’s presence but could not respond.
Screech!
In consequence, it allowed attacks from the two who had closed in.
Jung Han-sung’s blade burrowed straight beneath the core, while Akasha’s edge relentlessly targeted the leg joints, forcing the opponent to its knees.
Thud!
“Damage accumulating… Lower power systems compromised…”
The android spoke in a voice more faint than before, yet still attempted to rise.
But seizing that moment, the Golem raised both fists high and brought them crashing down.
Boom—!!
The ground fractured, and dust billowed up.
In the center lay the android, its body crushed and warped.
Though its frame twitched slightly, to any observer it was clear that further combat was impossible.
Yet Jung Han-sung remained vigilant and issued orders to the Golem.
The Golem then approached the android, seized the exposed core, and tore it out with raw force.
Crack!
The core, the size of a human head, was ripped free along with its wiring.
Only then did the android cease its twitching and go limp.
Jung Han-sung retrieved the core from the Golem’s grasp into his inventory. Yet his expression was not bright.
—There’s still something left, Master.
At Onyx’s words, Jung Han-sung nodded.
“Yeah, I feel it too.”
That android just now?
It was quite powerful, but not enough to trigger my keen senses.
The unease I felt was not of such a trivial level.
So I remained vigilant, blade in hand, scanning my surroundings.
Then, at that moment.
I sensed something and snapped my head up.
“Both of you, fall back!”
I issued the command swiftly.
Akasha and the Golem retreated without hesitation, scrambling backward.
Crash—!!
Something burst from the ceiling immediately after.
It plummeted to the ground and crashed down upon the fallen android.
Crack!
I saw what had attached itself to the android’s massive frame.
At first, darkness obscured its exact form.
But focusing intently, I discerned an irregular, gleaming metallic skeleton with bones interlocked into a skeletal framework.
‘A robot?’
At first, I thought it was some grotesque creature, but upon closer inspection, it too was composed of metal.
However, its structure was entirely different from any android I’d encountered before.
It anchored itself to the android’s body using hook-like tentacles while forcing its own torso into the space where the core had been.
As if it were trying to take that place for itself.
―Grrk, th―, thgrrk, thththgrrk, ah, gagrgag!
Simultaneously, an unpleasant sound erupted from the android’s slightly parted mouth.
It bore no resemblance to the coherent voice from before.
Just meaningless noises bursting out in irregular intervals.
―Why not attack immediately?
To Onyx’s question, I answered with narrowed eyes.
“That thing has already settled into that body.”
At first glance, it seemed to be slowly taking root in the android’s form, but I recognized it as a deception.
It had already completed its parasitism long ago.
―Then why is it doing that?
“To lower our guard before attacking. Or to provoke us into attacking.”
―Hardly mechanical cunning.
I nodded at Onyx’s words and contemplated.
‘So “going berserk” wasn’t just an explosion or something like that.’
The data indicated a high probability that the Erosion Spiral was a place for military weapons research and development.
This entire massive facility wasn’t destroyed because of this one creature, but it likely had some impact.
Whoosh―.
As I refrained from attacking and merely observed, the enemy that had been writhing continuously stopped moving.
Whirrrr―.
Then a red light flickered from where its main body was located. And the next moment.
Boom―!
It kicked off the ground with astonishing speed and rushed toward the Golem that had been standing off to the side.
Crash!
The Golem belatedly raised both arms to block, but couldn’t prevent its body from being sent flying backward.
‘Did it choose the weakest-looking opponent?’
I thought this as I rushed toward it.
Appearance-wise, the Golem seemed most threatening, but in terms of actual combat power, it ranked lowest.
That’s because Akasha is an undead that has undergone enhancement twice—once through puppet mastery and once through a Demon’s horns.
As for me, there was no need to mention it.
Bang, bang, bang―!
The creature was literally overwhelming the Golem.
In truth, its raw strength hadn’t changed much from before. But its movements were distinctly different.
Unlike the original android’s frustratingly rigid movements, this one now wielded its metal arms like whips, shattering the Golem’s body.
Snap!
But as I closed in, it withdrew without hesitation and extended one leg.
Crash!
I swiftly swung my blade to deflect the attack.
Normally, I would have dodged it effortlessly, but at the last moment, its joints twisted in an unnatural direction, and I couldn’t respond in time.
‘I mustn’t be deceived by appearances.’
I narrowed my eyes in thought.
I had to erase the conventional movement patterns of androids from my mind.
That last movement was one that would inevitably damage the attacker itself.
Yet it didn’t care.
‘After all, it’s just a disposable tool.’
And there was one more weapon it possessed that hadn’t existed before.
A thick tail protruding from its rear. It wasn’t part of an android but rather a piece of the parasitic robot’s body, moving ceaselessly and probing for openings in my defense.
And in the next instant.
Crash―!
Without hesitation, we both kicked off the ground and rushed toward each other.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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