Ocean Pouch Nation's nightmare sent a wave of panic across the globe.
For a moment, the entire world fell silent.
…
"This is too terrifying… can humans really stand against something like that?!"
"So this is what Divine Domain: Forbidden Zone creatures are like… how are we supposed to defeat monsters like these?!"
"It's over… mankind can't win against that kind of existence…"
"What about our country…"
After witnessing the centipede's brutality, confidence collapsed everywhere. With that overwhelming gap in power—and the psychological impact of a sadist putting on a show—despair spread like a slow infection.
And it wasn't just regular viewers.
By now, every nation had been quietly monitoring the Divine Domain: Forbidden Zone streams. That torture scene traveled faster than any official announcement, and with it came a suffocating fog of grief that blanketed the planet.
But right then—
as the world teetered on the edge of collective breakdown—
the Eastern Isles leadership stepped forward.
They announced that humanity must unite.
All countries must form a single front—advance and retreat together.
Only by combining competitors' strength could mankind earn even a sliver of breathing room inside the Divine Domain: Forbidden Zone.
The proposal immediately drew international support. After the terror of an A-rank beast, plenty of nations were rattled to the core—and many latched onto the idea like it was a life raft.
Soon, under their lead, a set of "cooperation rules" was drafted and broadcast worldwide, including (but not limited to):
Any discovered resource must be shared among all member nations.
If a competitor encounters a beast, any nearby allies who are able must provide support.
If a nation's competitors are eliminated, alliance members must ensure that nation retains minimum survival resources…
One clause after another.
In the aftermath, more and more small nations rushed to join.
Before long, an alliance took shape under the Eastern Isles' banner:
the Divine Kingdom Alliance.
The major powers, however, remained cautious—watching and waiting to see what kind of "unity" this alliance would demand.
…
…
Back in the Divine Domain: Forbidden Zone—
the forbidden forest, the global politics, the Divine Kingdom Alliance—
none of it mattered to Adrian Vale and Raven Shaw.
Adrian Vale's right hand still rested on the D-rank Chest.
A burst of golden light flared from within, dazzling the livestream.
The chat instantly stirred back to life.
…
"Here we go—D-rank chest opening!"
"Come on, drop attribute points!"
"Go, Adrian Vale—prove them wrong!"
"After last time, he's definitely holding a grudge. Watch him pop off."
…
As the light intensified, everyone held their breath, waiting for the Will of Blue Star to announce the reward.
Adrian Vale, though, stayed expressionless—calm to the point of unsettling, like the glow was nothing more than sunlight on stone.
Then the light faded.
The Will of Blue Star spoke.
[Congratulations! Dragon Nation'scompetitorAdrian Vale has opened a D-rank Chest and obtained—]
[D-rank Item: Ghoul-Eye Oni Mask]
[Effect: When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back. The Ghoul-Eye Oni Mask inspires fear. Any living being that sees it will feel the terror of the abyss!]
The description was short—almost too short.
The livestream froze for half a second…
then burst into laughter.
…
"Of course. Still no attribute points."
"I'm finished. He's gotta be fuming."
"This feels… kind of useless? Fear? What does that even do?"
"Other people get stats every couple chests—our guy stays consistently unlucky."
"Alright, alright—now it's Raven Shaw's turn. Raven, show them how it's done!"
…
Raven Shaw didn't keep them waiting.
She stepped forward and opened her own chest.
Golden light flashed again.
[Congratulations! Dragon Nation'scompetitorRaven Shaw has opened a D-rank Chest and obtained—]
[All Attributes +30!!]
The chat blanked out.
Then—detonated.
…
"No way… I was joking and she actually hit +30 ALL STATS?!"
"That luck is criminal."
"Stop acting suspicious."
"What? I'm just absorbing luck energy. Definitely not absorbing Raven Shaw."
…
Raven Shaw glanced at the reward with mild amusement—attribute points were considered top-tier at this stage, after all.
Then she looked at Adrian Vale with that unmistakable teasing glint.
"Your luck is pretty awful, huh? How about this—call me 'big sis' and next time I'll open your chest for you."
Adrian Vale didn't bother to banter back.
He kept staring at the mask in his hand—familiar, yet distant—barely sparing her a glance as he replied flatly:
"Who said this reward is bad?"
Others might not recognize it.
But Adrian Vale knew the instant he saw it.
This wasn't "some mask."
It was a black face covering like a half-mask, hiding everything below the nose.
A black eyepatch covered the right eye.
Only the left eye was exposed.
And across the mouth area—etched in vicious detail—was a snarling set of gums and teeth: a crimson gumline, sharp white fangs, so realistic it looked alive.
At first glance, someone might even think it was a torn, half-eaten jawbone.
But Adrian Vale knew what it meant.
The Ghoul-Eye Oni Mask—
the mask of Kaneki Ken.
To him, that wasn't comparable to "All Attributes +30."
Even +300 wouldn't weigh the same.
Because this wasn't just power.
It was identity.
It was the sound of something inside him clicking into place.
Two chest rewards—
and he'd already gathered the two things he needed most.
That meant one thing:
His Portrayal Sync was about to jump again.
Adrian Vale's lips lifted—just barely. A thin curve, sharp at the edges.
Then, without hesitation, he removed his eyepatch and put on the Ghoul-Eye Oni Mask, turning away as he started walking.
He didn't realize how lethal that brief smile was.
The livestream did.
…
"Wait—did he just smile? I swear that's the first time."
"That smile… it's like he's born with gentle warmth, but his aura is cold and lonely—and now the mask makes him look… beautifully horrifying."
"Bro… that was poetry. This is the gap between me and educated people."
"I'm stunned. That smile actually knocked me out."
"Adrian Vale is my husband. Marry me."
"Hold on—he looks insane right now, but where is he taking Raven Shaw?"
…
Even Raven Shaw blanked for a beat after seeing that expression.
"This… little—"
But Adrian Vale wasn't paying attention anymore.
Because the Portrayal System prompt in his mind had already seized him.
He'd gained +1% Portrayal Sync from devouring the D-rank beast earlier.
And now, the moment he wore the Ghoul-Eye Oni Mask, he gained another +4%.
His Portrayal Sync had climbed to—
35%.
Only 5% away from the next major breakthrough.
Adrian Vale's heartbeat quickened—just slightly.
Five percent.
One more step.
And then…
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