Back in Dragon Nation's livestream, the mood was naturally jubilant.
With danger temporarily gone on their side, the focus of the broadcast shifted once more to the studio.
Bingbing turned toward the guest panel and asked, "Professor Luo, how do you view the Divine Domain creature Miracle Nation ran into? Isn't it a little too overwhelming?"
Since they were now discussing another country's predicament, everyone's nerves had eased somewhat.
Professor Luo adjusted his expression, then said slowly, "I know the figure of Medusa. In Miracle Nation's mythology, she's one of the most iconic characters."
"It's a story people have discussed for years—a beautiful, innocent girl who was ultimately twisted by human cruelty into a monster with snakes for hair."
Captain Ryan Cole nodded and added, "I know that story too. It's very different from the myths passed down in Dragon Nation."
"Miracle Nation's cultural inheritance leans heavily toward dark fairy tales. Again and again, those stories frame the destruction, persecution, and torment of those who are different."
"They take a being that originally embodied innocence, kindness, or beauty—and reshape it into some terrifying villain."
"That kind of inversion is one of the defining traits of their mythology."
Hearing the two of them break it down, many Dragon Nation viewers began recalling similar stories they had seen before.
"That's true. Now that they mention it, it really is like that."
"Our stories usually emphasize righteousness, sacrifice, and the goodness within people."
"Theirs always push individualism to an extreme. Once you go far enough down that path, even heroes and villains start getting blurred together."
"They call it 'human nature,' but most of the time it just turns into glamorizing darkness."
"And those are stories told to children. What parent would want their child growing up soaked in that kind of worldview?"
"That explains a lot, honestly. People always say their kids grow up early and become independent fast."
"From one angle, that sounds impressive. But if you look deeper, maybe that's also one reason their education problems and crime rate never really go away."
"Exactly. When villains are constantly written as charismatic, stylish, and irresistible, of course kids start copying them."
"Just look at the way some people reacted to Joker. After that creepy battle, there were already comments saying they wanted to marry him."
"They don't even know what kind of person he really is, and they're already obsessed. That's not attraction—that's being poisoned by that mindset."
Dragon Nation's audience latched onto the topic immediately.
"I have to admit, our side really does think more clearly."
"In big situations like this, most Dragon Nation viewers still keep their judgment."
"That makes me genuinely proud."
Professor Luo gave a faint, approving smile.
"That's exactly what makes me happy as well."
"As people, we should think for ourselves. But that doesn't mean blindly accepting every flashy thing we see."
"We have to ask whether something is right, whether it makes sense, whether it should be admired at all."
Bingbing nodded with emotion in her eyes.
"As a host, seeing Dragon Nation's audience grow more thoughtful like this is genuinely moving."
"We're not just watching events unfold anymore. We're learning how to judge them."
"Our people are growing too."
That heartfelt moment softened the entire studio atmosphere.
But over in the Divine Domain, there was no time for anyone to keep reflecting.
Because Adrian Vale's group was still moving.
With Adrian leading through scent alone, Raven Shaw, Wuxian, Zhang Zhiwei, and Fahai followed close behind.
They could all tell by now that Adrian's instincts in the Divine Domain were terrifyingly sharp.
If he stopped, danger was nearby.
If he accelerated, there was prey ahead.
And the higher the rank of the Divine Domain creature, the more visibly energized he became.
Raven had long since figured it out.
The stronger the target, the more excited Adrian got.
To him, high-level Divine Domain creatures were less like enemies…
and more like an all-you-can-eat feast he had been waiting years to sit down to.
That understanding, somehow, had made everyone both more reassured and more uneasy at the same time.
After all, it meant that as long as Adrian was interested—
the enemy was probably doomed.
But it also meant that anyone standing too close to him while bleeding might be in mortal danger.
Raven stayed especially alert because of that.
She knew better than anyone how difficult it had been for Adrian to suppress his predatory instincts this long.
The only reason she could still stand beside him safely was because the two of them had already gone through too much together.
Trust, danger, bloodshed, survival.
They had accumulated enough of it that Adrian no longer looked at her as food.
But Wuxian, Zhang Zhiwei, and Fahai?
That was a different matter.
If Adrian's instincts flared at the wrong moment, even they might become "fresh meat" in his eyes.
So while the others were watching the road ahead, Raven was also quietly watching Adrian.
She absolutely refused to let him suddenly lose control and bite one of his own allies.
After all—
that would be far too ridiculous.
At that moment, Raven couldn't help but snap, "Hey. Adrian. Can you rein in that nose of yours a little?"
"Do you have to stare at every 'meal' like that?"
Wuxian, who had been silent the whole way, finally spoke.
"What do you mean?"
The moment he asked, the livestream exploded.
"Did Wuxian just take the initiative to talk to Adrian?!"
"Hahaha, he's curious too!"
"No, he's definitely wondering whether Adrian might eat him!"
"I'm dead. I actually kind of want to know who'd win if those two fought."
"Shut up. Stop fantasizing about inner-team fights!"
"Exactly. If anyone's getting eaten, it should be the enemy!"
But inside the team, the tension was very real.
Raven exhaled and said bluntly, "He means Adrian's sense of smell is too strong."
"He can smell blood from ridiculous distances."
"And when he smells something good enough…"
She gave Adrian a long look.
"…his appetite spikes."
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Fahai's brows twitched.
Zhang Zhiwei narrowed his eyes.
Even Wuxian's gaze shifted slightly.
They had all seen Adrian fight. They knew what kind of monster he was on the battlefield.
But hearing it stated so openly—that he might genuinely view living people as food—
still made the implications hit differently.
The livestream, on the other hand, was having the time of its life.
"Raven said it so calmly I'm crying."
"She really said: yes, this man may eat you, please stay aware."
"So this is the real danger of teaming up with Adrian."
"Not the monsters. Adrian's appetite."
Raven rubbed her temple.
She was starting to regret saying anything at all.
But she still needed them to understand.
"Don't provoke him casually," she said. "And don't let your guard down just because he's on our side."
"He's stable right now. But if his instinct gets triggered too hard…"
She did not finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
Everyone present understood.
Adrian, meanwhile, seemed entirely unconcerned.
He kept walking forward, expression indifferent, as if the whole conversation had nothing to do with him.
Then, all at once—
he stopped.
Raven's eyes sharpened instantly.
"What is it?"
Adrian didn't answer right away.
He lifted his head slightly, nostrils flaring almost imperceptibly.
Then his left eye faintly glowed red.
"There are people here."
Wuxian's calm expression shifted a fraction.
"Not one," Adrian said. "Several."
Fahai folded his hands together and immediately warned, "Everyone, be careful."
Only then did the others properly notice it.
They had unconsciously followed Adrian through a winding stretch of terrain until they arrived before a cavern entrance.
The rocky opening was deep, narrow, and dark.
A strange chill drifted out from within.
The viewers were the first to connect the dots.
And when they did, the entire livestream erupted.
"WAIT—THAT CAVE!"
"Oh no way—no way!"
"That's where Miracle Nation's team got trapped!"
"Adrian just led them straight to Miracle Nation's battlefield!"
"My god—if Boss Raven and the others go in now, this is going to explode!"
"Don't go in! Medusa is in there!"
"If they go inside now, they're going to run right into Miracle Nation's team!"
"This is bad. This is really bad!"
Inside the group, Raven's face changed immediately.
"Adrian," she said sharply, "something's wrong."
"There are people inside, and not just one or two. The atmosphere in there is a mess."
Then, after a beat, she added in a lower voice, "This might be Miracle Nation's position."
Zhang Zhiwei's gaze sank.
"So this is where they ran into trouble."
Fahai also became serious.
"If that is the case, charging in recklessly may not be wise."
But Adrian?
Adrian did not hesitate at all.
At the mention of other people and strange scent trails overlapping in one place, something in his expression sharpened instead of softening.
To him, this cave didn't look like a danger zone.
It looked like a table full of dishes waiting to be uncovered.
The comments outside were already going wild.
"Adrian, don't go in!"
"Please, my king, Medusa's still in there!"
"If Miracle Nation's team is still alive, this is going to become a complete mess!"
"Boss Raven, stop him!"
"Someone hold him back!"
Raven, of course, had the same thought.
She stepped forward at once.
"Adrian—wait."
But Adrian had already started moving.
Without the slightest pause.
Without the slightest concern.
He walked straight toward the cave mouth as if he owned the place.
The viewers collectively lost their minds.
"HE WENT IN!"
"Oh my god, Adrian just doesn't know fear!"
"Forget fear. He probably smells food!"
"Raven's expression says everything."
"It's over. The moment Adrian enters that cave, someone is getting eaten."
And just like that—
with Dragon Nation's audience screaming, Miracle Nation's audience panicking, and the entire world staring at the screen—
Adrian Vale stepped into the darkness of the cave.
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