While the real world was still reeling from the Eastern Isles' actions, Dragon Nation's livestream stayed locked onto one thing—
Adrian Vale and Raven Shaw.
The two of them moved steadily toward their destination, unhurried and calm, as if nothing outside the Divine Domain: Forbidden Zone mattered.
But the farther they went, the more confused the livestream became.
"So… where is Eat-Stream Adrian Vale even heading?"
"No clue. I asked earlier… nobody answered."
"Don't tell me he sniffed out another 'delicacy'…"
"Delicacy… yeah. I think I get what you mean…"
Inside I Watch the Divine Domain, the studio guests were just as curious.
Sienna Blake chuckled lightly. "Adrian Vale has led us to two ranked resources already. I wonder what he's bringing us to this time."
Captain Cole grinned. "Not gonna lie—our Adrian Vale really is a lucky charm."
Dr. Hart nodded. "I'm more curious about where exactly he's going…"
Derek Vaughn scoffed. "Wherever it is, it's not the forbidden forest. No way those two have the guts."
"…"
"…"
Technically, Derek Vaughn hadn't said anything wrong… but something about it still felt like a jinx.
So, as usual, everyone pretended he didn't exist and kept watching.
Truthfully, even Raven Shaw was starting to feel it.
She'd followed Adrian Vale for a long time without asking, but the direction they were heading toward was… wrong.
Too direct.
Too familiar in the way nightmares were familiar.
In the end, curiosity won.
She caught up to him and asked, "Hey. Why are we heading this way?"
Adrian Vale fell silent for a beat.
Then, flatly: "To eat."
"…?"
Raven Shaw froze.
The livestream froze.
Even the studio froze.
Sienna Blake blinked. "E-Eat? Eat what? Where?"
Dr. Hart's mouth twitched. "I… think I know what Eat-Stream Adrian Vale means by that…"
Captain Cole exhaled slowly. "You mean… Divine Domain: Forbidden Zone beasts?"
Derek Vaughn snorted. "With them? Not a chance."
Raven Shaw stared at Adrian Vale like she hadn't heard him correctly.
"Eat… where?" she pressed.
Adrian Vale paused again, then answered with a single word:
"Forest."
"…Forest?"
Raven Shaw's brain stalled.
But the livestream?
It detonated.
"???"
"Wait—what did he just say?!"
"Forest… as in… that forest?!"
"The forbidden forest?! You can't be serious!"
"No, no, no—he's joking. He has to be joking!"
"Hahaha… yeah… totally a joke… ha… ha…"
Inside the studio, panic set in just as fast.
"The forest?! Adrian Vale is going into the forest?!" Sienna Blake's voice jumped. "T-The forbidden forest?!"
"It… it shouldn't be…" Captain Cole said, but even he didn't sound convinced.
Dr. Hart's expression sank. "I have a really bad feeling the 'forest' he means is exactly that one."
"…!"
They immediately began flooding the livestream barrage—begging Adrian Vale not to go anywhere near the forbidden forest.
Derek Vaughn, watching them scramble, went quiet for once.
He'd lost count of how many times Adrian Vale had slapped his predictions in the face.
And honestly?
He was happy to stay invisible this time.
The chat was in full meltdown.
"No way, man. No WAY. Are you really heading for the forbidden forest?!"
"What—are you going to eat that A-rank monster next?!"
"Don't joke! That's an A-rank creature! So many competitors died to it!"
"You're not eating it—it's eating you!"
"Also… it's a centipede… who the hell can even eat that?!"
"I get it now. That one time Adrian Vale opened the barrage earlier—he probably did it to confirm the forest had an A-rank monster!"
"We're done. This is suicide. Walking straight into the forbidden forest is just—"
But neither Adrian Vale nor Raven Shaw paid the barrage any attention.
They weren't even looking at it.
Under Adrian Vale's lead, the two figures—one black, one white—kept moving forward at the same steady pace…
Step by step…
Straight toward the forbidden forest.
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