No one objected.

  The energy in the hall shifted from debate to anticipation.

  Angelo looked up.

  "Mr. Keller. As agreed earlier… an additional five hundred thousand dollars for this battle. Correct?"

  "Of course."

  Murmurs followed.

  Angelo slipped a silver flash drive from his pocket.

  Minimalistic. Engraved:

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  Live Without End.

  "Bring the virtual Visor."

  "My people will prepare it."

  Angelo narrowed his eyes.

  "They say you're a madman. Spending such sums so easily. Tell me… is there a chance I'm your adopted son?"

  A faint chuckle.

  "Who knows?" Keller replied.

  Minutes later, two silent men carried in the virtual Visor system.

  This was no longer an interview.

  It was a duel.

  Angelo lay down.

  Put on the Visor.

  "Activation."

  The world of Life Without End trembled.

  Golden symbols ignited above Pelegon.

  Rank 1 — Angelo Fool.

  The system recalculated everything.

  PvP statistics. Victories. Territories. Hidden achievements.

  His nickname surged to first place across every global ranking.

  Online players froze.

  The new generation did not understand.

  The veterans did.

  The Emperor had returned.

  Across servers and streams, one sentence spread:

  "The most legendary battle in fifteen years is about to begin."

  The Bloody Emperor

  versus

  the Violet Crystal Goddess.