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Chapter 71 - Rewards Explode! A Peerless Pillar of the Nation! The Immortality Elixir!!

The SS-rank chest Adrian Vale and Raven Shaw received instantly became the center of the world.

As always, Dragonia's livestream was packed—so crowded it felt like the whole planet had squeezed into one room.

Under countless breathless stares, the chest in front of Adrian began to dissolve into countless points of light, drifting into his body.

"Ding! Ding! Ding!"

Crisp chimes rang out in rapid succession.

To longtime viewers, that scene triggered an instinctive reaction—hearts jumping, palms sweating.

"No way…!!"

"Hold on—when it's an item, the light condenses into a shape… but this—"

"THIS IS ATTRIBUTES, ISN'T IT?!"

"SS chest attributes?! He's about to rocket into the heavens!"

"Three years with no attributes… just to drop the biggest nuke imaginable!"

"Foodie Adrian wasn't unlucky—he was charging his ult!"

The moment "attribute reward" hit the chat, shock rippled across the world.

And if anyone reacted the hardest—

it was the God-Nation Alliance.

God-Nation Alliance — panic behind closed doors

Watching the SS chest dissolve and pour into Adrian, the bald chairman slammed the table so hard the room shook.

"DAMN IT!!"

He bared his teeth and snarled, "How can this be happening?!"

No one argued.

No one laughed.

Because no one could even imagine what Adrian would become…

if someone already "unreasonable" stacked SS-level attributes on top of everything else.

A silent pressure strangled the room.

Finally, the chubby, Mediterranean-faced man spoke, forcing calm into his voice.

"Everyone—steady yourselves. Settlement strengthens all contestants. If we unite… even Adrian can't withstand a coordinated purge."

Hatred saturated every word.

His country had already been punished—resources stripped in half by Will of Blue Star.

They were teetering toward collapse.

So how could he not hate Dragonia?

How could he not hate Adrian?

His words reminded the room of something.

Yes—everyone was opening settlement chests right now.

They immediately turned to their own streams.

Then someone shouted—

"Oh my God!! Chairman! Your country's contestants—both got attribute rewards!!"

"What?! Really?!"

All eyes swung to Miracle Nation's livestream.

Miracle Nation — C+ chest… and "All Attributes +30"

Back in the Divine Domain, Miracle Nation's two contestants opened their C+ chest.

Light poured into them, and Will of Blue Star announced:

[Congratulations! Miracle Nation contestants opened a C+ chest! Reward: All Attributes +30.]

Before opening it, Noah Drake and Marcus Kane had been terrified.

A C+ chest was the highest rank they'd ever touched.

Sure, they were nowhere near Dragonia's duo—

but that didn't stop their hands from shaking.

When the announcement landed, the stream froze for half a beat.

Then it exploded.

"PRAISE GOD!!"

"All Attributes +30—what could possibly be better?!"

"This is heaven's gift to Miracle Nation!!"

"Look at Noah—LOOK AT HIS FACE!"

Noah and Marcus froze for a heartbeat.

Then they erupted.

"All Attributes +30?! Did you hear that?!"

"We BOTH got it—this is perfect!!"

They tested their bodies immediately.

The result was terrifying.

If before they could brute-lift a small car—

now it felt like they could shove a bus.

And if they ran into that E-rank Greenback Croc again?

They'd tear it apart.

Marcus decided to prove it.

He stared at a massive tree nearby—over ten meters tall, a trunk so thick several men couldn't wrap their arms around it.

He lowered his stance, drove power from his legs through his waist—

and slammed a punch into the trunk.

BOOM!!

A shockwave burst outward.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the bark—

and under everyone's stunned eyes, the giant tree started to topple.

But it was falling toward Marcus.

Miracle Nation's chat screamed.

Marcus just laughed, thrilled.

"COME ON!! Hahaha!!"

The trunk crashed down like a wrecking ball—

and a black blur flashed in.

Noah Drake.

He snapped out a kick.

BANG—!!

The entire falling trunk was kicked sideways.

Marcus shouted, annoyed and delighted at the same time.

"Hey! If you want to show off, find your own prey!"

Noah laughed. "Sorry, sorry—I couldn't hold back!"

They looked half-crazed.

Because they could feel it.

This wasn't just "strong."

This was… inflated.

Like their bodies were turning into iron.

And Miracle Nation's chat roared.

"This is what +30 looks like?! Insane!!"

"If a C+ chest is already this crazy… then Dragonia's SS chest…"

"No. I refuse to imagine it."

"I'm going to Dragonia's stream—NOW!"

And just like that, even more viewers flooded into Dragonia's feed.

Because Adrian's SS chest was still finishing its absorption.

Back to Adrian — the "attribute reward"… wasn't what people thought

The last of the light sank into Adrian's body.

Even Adrian assumed it was an attribute reward.

But unlike the world…

he wasn't that excited.

To him, attributes mattered less than Acting Sync.

He'd been hoping an SS chest would shove him past 60% and trigger another sublimation.

If it was only attributes…

it was a little disappointing.

He sighed inwardly.

Fine. 58% is already close. Two more Divine Domain creatures and I'll get there.

Then—

Will of Blue Star finally announced:

[Congratulations! Dragonia contestant Adrian Vale opened an SS chest!]

[National Fortune Reward — All Attributes +1!!]

The Dragonia livestream froze.

Then the chat detonated.

"Huh?? All Attributes +1?"

"+1?? That's it?!"

"Is this a fake SS chest??"

"National Fortune reward?? What does that even mean??"

"I was expecting +300 and instant godhood… this is robbery."

"SS chest couldn't save Foodie Adrian's luck—legendary."

Even Adrian frowned.

"National Fortune… All Attributes +1?"

He carefully felt his body.

Nothing.

No obvious change.

No breakthrough.

Nothing that matched SS-level hype.

Raven Shaw covered her mouth, shoulders shaking with laughter.

She'd expected Adrian to finally hit the jackpot.

Instead, Will of Blue Star had swerved the car sideways right at the finish line.

It was absurd.

It was hilarious.

And across the world?

People celebrated like it was a holiday.

"HAHAHA! +1! That's the big SS reward?!"

"This is Dragonia's fortune? A joke!"

"SS chest gives +1—funniest thing I've seen all year!"

"Looks like Will of Blue Star is finally on our side!"

In minutes, "+1" became a meme.

A global punchline.

Then reality hit — the power wasn't on Adrian… it was on Dragonia

While the world laughed, a mysterious force quietly descended on every citizen of Dragonia.

Not one city.

Not one province.

All of it.

An old courtyard.

Carefully arranged flowers looked dull—like life was draining out of them.

In the center, an elderly man lay half-reclined on a bamboo chair, hair snow-white.

Rich, powerful… and dying.

His eyes were empty.

Only regret.

If I had just a few more years… just a few more—

He exhaled a long, bitter sigh.

Then—

a faint, nearly invisible glow brushed across his frail body.

The old man jolted.

His eyes widened.

Something impossible stirred inside him.

A hospital in City C.

A delivery room.

A newborn's cry filled the air—

but the mother's breathing weakened, dangerously thin.

Outside, the husband heard the doctor's words and collapsed, shaking.

"How… how could this happen…"

The doctor could only shake his head.

Then a nurse ran up, whispering urgently.

The doctor's pupils shrank.

"What?! Are you sure?!"

He spun and rushed back into the room, shouting over his shoulder:

"Sir! Your wife may still have hope! We'll do everything we can—please wait!"

Scenes like that unfolded across Dragonia.

The terminally ill.

The elderly nearing their end.

People one step from death—

were suddenly given a chance to claw back.

Not everyone became instantly healthy—

but many were dragged back from the edge.

And even ordinary citizens felt it.

A strange clarity.

A lightness.

As if their bodies had been "washed clean."

The whole country erupted in confusion.

"Do you feel it?! I feel like I swapped bodies!"

"Same!! I stayed up all night and I'm STILL energetic!"

"My bedridden sister stood up today—what the hell?!"

"My stamina jumped!"

"My dad hits harder now… but it hurts less??"

"What is happening?! Why does everyone feel healthier?"

Then someone typed the thought everyone was afraid to say:

"Wait… isn't this what happens when Divine Domain contestants get attribute rewards?"

"Then… don't tell me…"

Dragonia high command — the truth confirmed

At the highest level, the Elder Long's face was tight.

He listened to the report, took a slow breath, and asked:

"It's confirmed?"

"Yes, Elder. After small-scale testing… our citizens' overall physical quality has risen across the board. If we're correct…"

The aide hesitated.

"…it's because of the National Fortune reward."

The Elder Long clenched his fist, feeling strength he hadn't felt in years.

Then he exhaled, voice trembling.

"So… 'All Attributes +1' means…"

"It means all citizens. Every one of them."

He stared forward, stunned.

"Fifteen hundred million people…"

"One point each…"

"That isn't an SS reward."

"That's… beyond what an SS chest can measure."

The aide whispered, voice unsteady with awe:

"1.5 billion attribute points… delivered in one stroke…"

The Elder Long's gaze hardened into certainty.

"Adrian Vale… is Dragonia's blessing."

"Peerless pillar of the nation—without equal."

The world reacts — and the Alliance understands the horror

As the truth spread, the global mood flipped.

Those who mocked fell silent.

Because +1 on one person was nothing.

But +1 on an entire nation—

was a force that could reshape the future.

Some civilians tried to cope with sarcasm.

"So what? It's only +1."

"Divine Domain contestants already have +10."

"+1 won't change anything."

But Alliance leadership didn't laugh.

They understood exactly what it meant.

"That's 1.5 billion points."

"This is unfair—countries with fewer people lose out massively!"

"If we had gotten it…"

Jealousy twisted every face in the room.

But Will of Blue Star didn't care.

Raven opens her SS chest — and the Immortality Elixir appears

Just as the world was still reeling, someone shouted:

"Look!! Dragonia's other contestant is opening her SS chest!"

The stream shifted.

Raven Shaw placed her slender hand on the chest.

A brilliant white light erupted.

She was genuinely curious.

SS-rank rewards weren't common.

And even if Adrian got a "weird" result…

she didn't believe her luck could be that ridiculous.

She smiled faintly.

Then the light condensed into something tiny.

The chat gasped.

"Item reward?!"

"No way—Raven didn't get attributes either?!"

"Is her luck infected now?!"

Raven didn't care.

But the moment she stared at the forming reward—

her heart twitched.

A deep, instinctive tremor.

Then the light faded.

And the reward revealed itself.

A single drop.

A small floating droplet wrapped in pale-blue mist.

Will of Blue Star announced:

[Congratulations! Dragonia contestant Raven Shaw opened an SS chest! Reward obtained!]

[SS-Rank Item: Immortal Sage Nectar]

[Legend says the Eastern Sea holds Penglai. On Penglai lives an immortal. In the immortal's hand is nectar that grants eternal existence.]

[Traits: Grants inexhaustible vitality. The consumer's cells will never wither. Regarded as a true immortality elixir!!]

Raven's body went still.

"This… is…"

It looked like ordinary dew.

But she could feel it—

a bottomless life force.

Not pressure.

Not killing intent.

Just life.

Flooding.

Overwhelming.

And the reason she wanted it was simple:

her greatest hidden danger—

cellular exhaustion.

Every time she fought, she burned her lifespan.

Her power had a cost.

Adrian's strength demanded feeding.

Raven's strength demanded life.

And she was old.

Far older than she looked.

She'd been walking toward the end for a long time.

But with this—

she could be reborn.

True longevity.

Maybe even true immortality.

To Raven, this drop was worth more than any weapon.

More than any chest.

More than anything.

The livestream erupted.

"IMMORTALITY ELIXIR?! Is this real?!"

"This is insane… on the same level as the national +1!"

"People said Raven's luck fell off—WHERE ARE YOU NOW?!"

"Penglai?! Why is that name even in the Divine Domain…?"

"Bro… this is terrifying if you think about it."

Raven didn't hesitate.

The droplet drifted toward her.

As it neared, her cells almost seemed to cheer.

Then it "evaporated" into pale-blue mist—

and flowed into her with a single breath.

Raven closed her eyes.

In the next instant—

a torrent surged through her body.

A river of life.

Washing her limbs, her bones, her organs—

and most importantly—

reviving exhausted, damaged cells that had been failing for years.

No pain.

Only ease.

Only renewal.

The torrent gradually calmed, becoming a quiet stream that continued circulating through her.

Raven opened her eyes.

A sharp light flashed from her gaze.

Even through the screen, people could feel it—

Raven had changed.

Not just healthier.

Stronger.

Sharper.

More terrifying.

The chat screamed again.

"She looks like a different person!"

"Why does she feel stronger too??"

"Does the elixir also strengthen the body?!"

"If Adrian had a drop too, Dragonia would instantly ascend!"

Far away, even old masters in Dragonia's mountains stood up in shock.

Some stared with trembling eyes.

Some choked up—like a knot in their chest finally loosened.

Because they understood what Raven had escaped.

Adrian watches… and the hunger becomes dangerous

Adrian could feel it too.

Before, Raven's cells were old—dry—burning out.

Now?

In his perception, she went from a "true old woman"…

to a body that felt like an eighteen-year-old.

(Only in terms of cellular vitality.)

Raven caught his gaze and smirked, back to her usual teasing.

"What's wrong, little guy?"

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"…Boring."

He looked away.

Because he had to admit—

after the Immortal Sage Nectar, Raven smelled even more dangerous.

More tempting.

If not for the forced calm of Reaper's Clear Mirror—

Adrian suspected he might actually pounce.

Not out of lust.

Out of hunger.

Then the world shifts — the Nation Gate rises

Before Raven could tease again, the earth roared.

"BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!!"

A massive shadow rose behind them.

The camera swung—and everyone finally saw it.

A colossal pale stone gate, ancient and solemn, rising from the ground like a monument.

Two towering pillars.

A heavy crossbeam.

The pillars were carved with countless dragons—coiling, soaring, ascending upward.

So vivid they looked alive.

And at the very top, etched into the crossbeam, were two characters:

[Dragonia]

A deep hum vibrated.

Cold blue light bloomed inside the frame.

It filled the doorway completely…

then began rotating slowly clockwise.

The same phenomenon appeared in every country's stream.

Each nation's gate bore its own name.

Each gate's pillars displayed symbols tied to that country.

Then Will of Blue Star announced:

[Notice!! Doomsday Nation Gate event begins countdown NOW!!]

[23:59]

[23:58]

[23:57]

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