The crowd finally snapped out of their shock.
Right—
for a monster like Medusa, what Joker had just done was nothing more than tearing off a single strand of her "hair."
No matter how many serpent heads he severed, it would only provoke her further.
"Joker! What the hell did you just do?! You've completely pissed her off!"
For the first time, Eddie Brock and Venom were perfectly in sync—though this was hardly the moment to celebrate it.
"It's over… she won't even leave us with intact bodies now!"
"Are we really going to die here?!"
Some still clung to hope.
"No—Joker wouldn't act like that without a backup plan!"
But the next second—
ROOOAR!!!
Medusa completely lost control.
Her massive form slammed Joker straight into the cavern floor—
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Again and again, she crushed him into the ground, each impact echoing like thunder through the underground chamber.
Even Eddie couldn't help but flinch.
"…He's getting turned into paste…"
"Venom! Do something! We're on the same team now!"
At this point, Venom was the only one left with the mobility to intervene. If he still didn't act, Miracle Nation might lose everything right here.
"Yeah, yeah, I heard you—shut up already!"
Even now, Venom and Eddie were still arguing.
But then—
something strange happened.
Everyone realized at once—
The figure being smashed into the ground…
was still there.
A voice echoed from the darkness.
"You really are a rough woman, aren't you?"
Silence.
Then—
the livestream exploded.
"WHAT?! He's still alive?!"
"No way… how is he still alive?!"
Even Medusa froze for a split second.
She hadn't expected this either.
In the pitch-black cavern, Joker slowly rose to his feet.
His posture was relaxed.
There was no panic in him.
No fear either.
He even began walking toward her.
Step by step.
"You…" Medusa's voice turned colder. "You're asking for death!"
Her attacks came again—
faster, sharper, more violent.
But this time—
something changed.
"Zzzzt!"
With his eyes still closed—
Joker moved.
He dodged.
Perfectly.
Each strike from the giant serpents missed him by mere inches, as though he could sense every movement in the darkness.
Then—
he counterattacked.
Snatching one of the lunging serpents out of the air—
he yanked it toward him—
and sank his teeth into it.
"AAAAAAAH!!!"
A shriek tore through the cavern.
The entire audience froze.
"Wait—what is he doing?!"
"Did he just… bite through it?!"
"That's not the throat—he went straight for the weak point! The seven-inch spot!"
"So THAT'S what he meant earlier?!"
Blood splattered.
Joker twisted midair, kicked off the serpent's body, and leapt backward, instantly widening the distance.
Medusa screamed in fury.
"WHERE ARE YOU?! I WILL KILL YOU!"
Only now did everyone understand.
Joker wasn't reckless.
He was calculating.
His body—
was toxic.
Highly toxic.
The venom within Medusa's serpents had almost no effect on him.
Which meant—
her hidden killing method had failed.
And while others would have been weakened—
he was adapting.
Learning.
Locking onto the exact location of her weakness—
and striking it directly.
The mood of the livestream shifted instantly.
"I knew it! He's not simple!"
"No way someone like him survives this long by luck!"
"Miracle Nation actually has someone who can turn the tide?!"
"He's insane—but he's effective!"
Even the atmosphere inside Miracle Nation's high command shifted.
"Hmph… now that is real strength."
"Even a madman like him can stand on the same battlefield as Adrian Vale…"
Meanwhile—
on Dragon Nation's side—
everyone watched the battle unfold.
A faint smile appeared on Raven Shaw's lips.
"Looks like things are getting interesting over there."
Adrian Vale didn't respond.
But his eyes—
glowed faintly red.
That familiar hunger surfaced once more.
The viewers instantly caught on.
"I KNOW THAT LOOK!"
"He found something to eat!"
"Every single time!"
"Don't ask whether he can eat it—ask how good he thinks it'll taste!"
"This guy sees a boss monster and immediately thinks, 'Dinner.'"
Raven rolled her eyes at the comments, which only made the viewers even more excited.
But Adrian—
was already focused.
Locked onto something.
Something worth devouring.
And far away, in the darkness of Medusa's Palace—
the real battle had only just begun.
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