"What was that just now?!"
Venom's instincts reacted first.
Even in a place where their abilities were being suppressed, his senses remained far sharper than anyone else's.
Then the voice of the Will of Blue Star echoed through the darkness.
[Warning: Miracle Nation contestants have entered Medusa's Palace.][Threat Rating: A++][Traits: Possesses overwhelming defensive power. Her serpentine body grants terrifying mobility. But her most dangerous trait is this: the instant you truly see her face—death follows.]
The warning had barely finished—
when a colossal tail, layered with thick, overlapping scales, swept through the darkness like a moving city wall.
Boom!!
The entire corridor shook violently.
The viewers outside nearly lost their minds.
"What the hell?! She's that huge?!"
"Wasn't Medusa supposed to be human-sized with a snake tail?! Why is every Divine Domain creature a maxed-out version?!"
"This is over! She's already a no-look kill type, and now she's this fast too?!"
"They can't even use their powers properly in here—how are they supposed to survive?!"
"Forget resources—they're lucky if they don't become resources!"
Back in Miracle Nation's executive office, Li Dapu shot to his feet.
"What exactly is the Will of Blue Star trying to do?! Why are our contestants the ones running into monsters like this?!"
A subordinate cautiously spoke up, "But other countries are also encountering powerful Divine Domain creatures—"
"Get out!!"
Li Dapu roared before he could finish.
"If I see you again, I'll strip you of your nationality on the spot!"
At a time like this, anyone who spoke risked becoming the outlet for his rage.
Inside the Divine Domain—
the palace from before had completely vanished.
In its place was a cavern-like space, dark and suffocating.
The ground and walls were slick and black, glistening faintly under dim light.
And everywhere—
snakes.
Countless dark serpents writhed across the surfaces, hissing softly.
"So we walked straight into a snake nest," Joker said.
His tone was… almost cheerful.
A small black snake slithered onto his sleeve.
Joker plucked it off casually—
then flicked his fingers.
Sizzle.
A tiny flame burst to life in his palm, instantly incinerating the snake.
The livestream exploded.
"Okay… I'll admit it—his nerves are insane."
"At a time like this, he's still playing with fire?!"
"Did that psycho seriously just create a light source here?! Is he trying to get everyone killed?!"
"Maybe he has a reason—"
"A reason? He's a lunatic!"
"No matter how crazy he is, he shouldn't drag the whole country down with him!"
"Stop provoking him! He might actually turn on Miracle Nation!"
But the moment the flame lit up—
Venom's eyes narrowed.
"Eddie," he said in a low voice, "this is where you admit you need me."
"That Medusa means nothing to me. I'm not a normal lifeform."
He wasn't entirely wrong.
This illusion interfered with Eddie and Magneto—
but Venom, as a symbiotic organism, wasn't bound by the same rules.
Still—
neither Eddie nor Magneto dared act rashly.
Not without understanding Medusa first.
"Joker! Put the fire out!" Eddie shouted.
He could already feel something massive closing in through the darkness.
If Eddie made eye contact—
Venom would lose his host.
And with that, most of his combat capability.
But Joker didn't move.
Instead, he tilted his head and chuckled.
"Hahaha… a snake queen?"
"Let's see if she really has a snake's weakness."
The comments instantly split.
"He's serious?! He's targeting the snake's seven-inch weak point?!"
"That logic… kinda makes sense… but why does it still feel completely unreliable?!"
"She's the size of a fortress! Even if he finds it, what's he going to do?!"
Before anyone could say more—
she appeared.
Medusa descended like a collapsing mountain.
Her body was enormous.
Her lower half was a massive serpent, coiled layer upon layer, each scale gleaming with a dark green sheen.
Her upper body resembled a woman—
but only barely.
Her beauty was twisted.
Her eyes glowed an eerie emerald green.
And when her lips parted—
a long, forked serpent tongue slid out, wet and twitching.
The entire world recoiled.
"Oh God—that's disgusting!"
"That's not beauty—that's nightmare fuel!"
"She's half-human, half-monster!"
"I'm going to have nightmares tonight!"
"So much for 'Serpent Beauty'—even horror movies don't go this far!"
Then—
Medusa spoke.
Her voice was hoarse, shrill, and dripping with venom.
"Foolish men…"
"All of you deserve to die."
"To become stone in my palace—"
"—is the only fate worthy of you."
Venom snorted.
"If you can talk, you should've stayed quiet."
"That voice is unbearable."
Before anyone could react—
he attacked.
Black fluid surged from Eddie's body, forming a spear-like mass that shot straight toward Medusa.
"Venom!" Eddie shouted. "Can you warn me before you do that?! This is still my body!"
But Venom ignored him.
He moved at blinding speed—
so fast even the livestream struggled to follow.
Then—
Medusa's "hair" moved.
The snakes atop her head exploded outward.
What had looked like writhing strands of hair—
revealed their true form.
Dozens—
no—
hundreds of serpents lashed outward, each thick enough to crush a person.
They shot through the air like living chains.
The audience screamed.
"Those are her hair snakes?!"
"They can extend?!"
"She can attack from every direction!"
"There's nowhere to dodge!"
The serpents wrapped toward Venom from all angles.
He twisted violently midair, his body liquefying and reforming to evade—
but there were too many.
Every escape route was sealed.
"Damn it—!"
Then—
Medusa lowered her head.
Closer.
Closer.
Her emerald eyes burned in the darkness.
And in that instant—
it felt as if the entire world had become nothing but her gaze.
Venom's body shuddered.
Even he—
felt danger.
Real danger.
From below, Magneto moved at last.
"Don't look at her directly!" he barked.
"Watch the reflections—NOT her face!"
For once—
there was no hesitation.
No conflict.
At a moment like this—
they had no choice but to cooperate.
Joker's smile disappeared.
The madness drained from his face.
What remained—
was cold, focused intent.
In the flickering firelight—
Medusa loomed like the queen of a dead world.
Her serpent body coiled.
Her emerald eyes blazing.
Her living hair hissing in every direction.
And then—
one of those snakes shot forward—
straight for Eddie's throat.
Venom roared.
The battle had truly begun.
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