At the same moment Adrian Vale encountered Nolan Mercer inside the Divine Domain: Forbidden Zone—
back in the real world, Dragon Nation hadn't stopped moving for even a second.
Earlier, Elder Long had ordered Victor Hale to issue a formal demand to the Eastern Isles—rein Nolan Mercer in immediately.
Elder Long knew the odds were slim.
But right now, aside from pressuring the Eastern Isles' top brass, Dragon Nation had no other way to reach into the Divine Domain: Forbidden Zone.
And the Eastern Isles' continued silence had pushed Dragon Nation's leadership to the edge.
"Still no response?!"
"Damn it—those people—!"
"They're playing dead on purpose…"
"Elder Long, give the order. There's nothing to talk about anymore!"
"That's right—enough. We act!"
Just as the anger in the room boiled over—
the doors burst open.
Victor Hale rushed in, breathing tight.
"They replied!"
The room snapped still.
"…What?"
"They actually replied?"
"What did they say?!"
Victor Hale's face was pale with rage. He clenched his fists, then forced the words out.
"They responded… but not the way we hoped."
He read the reply aloud.
The Eastern Isles didn't back down.
They mocked Dragon Nation—openly—on the international stage:
"To die at the hands of an Eastern Isles representative is his honor. All of it is for Blue Star's grand prosperity."
And then came the real poison.
They claimed they could stop Nolan Mercer—if Dragon Nation met their "conditions":
"Offer thirty thousand 'top-tier beauties' as tribute."
"And publicly declare the Diaoyu Islands and Taiwan Island—along with surrounding territories—belong to the Eastern Isles."
The meeting room exploded.
"What kind of garbage is this? Tribute? In this era?!"
"They're still dreaming about territory? After all these years?!"
"This isn't negotiation—this is humiliation!"
"Elder Long—this can't stand!"
Elder Long's face had gone completely dark.
And what made it worse was this—
the Eastern Isles hadn't sent that message quietly.
They'd shouted it across the world.
The moment the news hit Dragon Nation's internet, it detonated.
"Are they out of their minds?!"
"Tribute? 'Beauties'? Disgusting!"
"This is them spitting in our face!"
"But Adrian Vale is still trapped in the Divine Domain: Forbidden Zone—what do we do?!"
Across the globe, the major powers watched like spectators at a fire.
Some even fanned the flames.
In Miracle Nation, countless comments flooded in—mocking, jeering, celebrating Dragon Nation's "inevitable fall."
But Dragon Nation's online warriors had no time for them.
Every ounce of fury was aimed at the Eastern Isles.
Back in Dragon Nation's top-level war room, the nation's highest figures had gathered.
No smiles. No pleasantries.
Only a heavy, choking silence.
One after another, voices rose.
"Elder Long—the Eastern Isles are out of control!"
"Even if something happens to our representative in the Divine Domain: Forbidden Zone, we will not let them walk away unscathed!"
"If it comes to it—then we all burn together!"
Elder Long didn't answer.
He just sat there, fingers tightening slowly—so tightly the knuckles turned white.
At last, he spoke.
"General Zhao."
A tall man stepped forward immediately.
"Here!"
The moment that name landed, everyone's heartbeat stuttered.
General Zhao was one of Dragon Nation's unquestioned pillars.
Calling him now meant only one thing.
The room held its breath.
"Elder Long. Give the order."
Elder Long's jaw flexed.
He drew in a slow breath—
And then—
"Elder Long!!"
Victor Hale suddenly shouted, pointing at the wall-sized screen behind them.
"Look—Adrian Vale's stream!!"
"What—?"
Annoyance flashed. This was a critical moment.
But the instant they turned their heads…
every question died in their throats.
Because on that screen—
something was happening that would be carved into human memory forever.
Back inside the Divine Domain: Forbidden Zone
Nolan Mercer was shaking with rage.
He knew he'd stabbed Adrian Vale's thigh.
He felt the impact—hard as metal—so hard it numbed his arm.
"How…?"
His eyes snapped up, bloodshot.
"1000–7?! You're asking me?! You're asking me?!"
He spat the words like curses.
"Are you joking?! You livestock—!"
The chatrooms were in chaos, Dragon Nation and Eastern Isles screaming into the void.
But no one's words mattered here.
Only the two men standing face-to-face in the forest.
Nolan Mercer's breathing turned harsh.
Then—like a switch flipped—his expression smoothed into something cold and cruel.
He leveled the tip of his blade toward Adrian Vale's chest.
"You think that mask makes you scary?"
"If you were anyone else, you'd be fainting already."
"But me?"
He smiled, sharp and sick.
"I'm Nolan Mercer."
"I don't fear garbage like you."
In Nolan Mercer's head, everything still made sense.
A fear-inducing mask.
A defensive suit.
Divine Domain: Forbidden Zone loot.
Tricks.
That was all.
Because the "intel" his side had handed him was clear:
Adrian Vale—a bullied, ordinary student.
A nobody.
A soft target.
So Nolan Mercer's eyes narrowed, and the killing intent in his voice sharpened into steel.
"Say it again."
"Say 1000–7 one more time."
Adrian Vale didn't react.
Not even a tremor.
Crack.
He calmly snapped another finger—casually, like adjusting a glove—and repeated, flat as ice:
"1000–7 equals what?"
That voice—emotionless, impatient—made even the studio go cold.
Sienna Blake covered her mouth, eyes wide.
"Why… why is Adrian Vale still provoking him?! What is he thinking?!"
Captain Cole's brows were knotted tight.
"Maybe… Adrian Vale really does have a way out."
But Derek Vaughn scoffed from the side, venom in his tone:
"Way out? He's a student against a boosted serial killer. Better pray he dies quickly."
Captain Cole finally snapped, a soldier's edge cutting through.
"Say that again."
Derek Vaughn's face went white. He shut up instantly.
In the forest, Nolan Mercer's patience broke.
His lips peeled back.
"Fine."
"I changed my mind."
"I'm not going to 'play' with you anymore."
"I'm going to take your head—right now."
And then—
Adrian Vale moved.
He stepped forward.
Toward Nolan Mercer.
The Eastern Isles chat burst into laughter.
"He's coming to die faster!"
"Does he really think he can fight Nolan Mercer?!"
"One finger from Nolan Mercer would crush him!"
Even Nolan Mercer looked amused, lifting his chin with contempt.
"What? Realized you can't run, so you're delivering yourself—"
His sentence collapsed.
His mouth opened.
His pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Because right in front of him—
a scene unfolded—
a scene so violent, so impossible, so terrifyingly beautiful—
that it would become something the entire world could never forget.
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