Chapter 1776

As the blonde lady was about to strike at Sebastian again, a piercing cry from a vermilion bird shattered the skies. The sound was like a thousand bolts of lightning exploding at once, or towering waves crashing against a coastline with unstoppable force. It carried an unparalleled power and fury, echoing across the Ridge of Mount Moo. Wherever the soundwaves traveled, the air rippled like the surface of a disturbed lake, sending visible shockwaves in every direction. "Calida, I've chased you for three days and three nights. Today, I finally have you cornered." Perched atop a blazing inferno of Southern Netherfire, Merle the vermilion bird stood proudly. Its entire body burned in fiery crimson, feathers resembling raging flames. Its piercing gaze seemed capable of seeing through everything, and the oppressive aura it exuded was enough to strike fear into the hearts of all who witnessed it. "Merle! You're a mystical beast! Why do you relentlessly pursue my Dragon Essence?" Calida Cyra instantly transformed into a majestic Five-Clawed Golden Dragon. Her massive body loomed like a towering mountain, her golden scales glimmering brilliantly, while her long whiskers swayed in the wind. She radiated an overwhelming dragon's might that shook the very air. Her voice was cold and authoritative as she shouted, "Hmph! You think you are worthy of coveting my treasure?" Merle snorted. "So what if you are a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon? Today, I will have the Dragon Essence no matter what!" "This vermilion bird is terrifying!" "I've never seen such a ferocious vermilion bird before!" At that moment, Alexandra and the others abandoned their struggle. The sheer threat posed by Merle far outweighed their previous conflict. "That's a Void Ascension Realm vermilion bird!" The realization sent chills down everyone's spine. This vermilion bird was an extraordinarily powerful being. As a mystical beast of the Void Ascension Realm, its innate talents surpassed even human cultivators of the early Void Ascension stage by a significant margin. "She's injured as well. I almost fought her to the death earlier. Though I'm gravely wounded, she isn't in much better shape. Now, her Void Ascension Realm aura is far weaker than before. Hahaha!" Calida's words caused everyone to pause. Clearly, she and Merle had already clashed in a brutal battle. The wounds Calida bore were caused by Merle, and the latter had spent three days and nights in relentless pursuit, solely for the Dragon Essence. Compared to that conflict, Alexandra and the others were insignificant. Even in its weakened state, Merle remained a terrifying force—its Void Ascension Realm strength still left them all feeling powerless. "Even so, killing you will still be effortless. Anyone who stands in my way—dies!" Merle hovered in midair, surrounded by the raging Southern Netherfire. The flames around it were so fierce and unrelenting that they seemed capable of reducing the entire world to ashes. Even Sebastian could feel the unbearable heat washing over him, a fire so powerful that it could melt anything. Compared to Merle's Southern Netherfire, Sebastian's Passive Flame Power felt insignificant. It was completely overpowered by the sheer intensity of the mystical beast's flames. "Bird, let's see just how strong you really are. At this point, the only way to seize the Dragon Essence is to fight to the death!" Mosiah spoke coldly. Though he knew the odds of victory against Merle were slim, he had no choice but to go all in. Otherwise, all their previous efforts would have been for nothing. "I agree. She's in the Void Ascension Realm, but she's injured." Jos followed up. "I'm in as well." Alexandra made her stance clear. "I will fight alongside you against this vermilion bird." Calida gritted her teeth as determination flashed in her eyes. Slaying Merle was her ultimate goal. This mystical beast was beyond powerful, and its strength was unfathomable. This battle would be one of life and death. "This is getting more and more interesting." Sebastian crossed his arms while watching coldly from the sidelines. He was more than happy to let the others wear each other down. Once they were all severely wounded, he could simply walk away with the Dragon Essence unchallenged. "A bunch of fools who don't know their place. You are all too stubborn to see reason. The Dragon Essence is mine! Once I obtain it, I will transform into the vermilion dragon—and then, the entire world will bow beneath my feet! No one will stop me!" Merle roared in fury, unleashing a raging torrent of Southern Netherfire. Alexandra and the others were forced to retreat rapidly, struggling against the overwhelming pressure. The sheer force of Merle's presence made it difficult to even breathe. "You think mere candlelight can rival the radiance of the full moon? What a joke! You are all going to die!" Merle's roar echoed like a judgment from the depths of hell, sending shivers through everyone present. Its gaze that was filled with utter disdain and cruelty only fueled Alexandra and the others' rage. "A fight to the death—victory belongs to the bold! Charge!" Sebastian sneered as he shouted, eager to see what these so-called experts could do. Against a Void Ascension Realm vermilion bird, holding back meant certain death. "Fate is on my side. This is perfect." Sebastian smirked as he leaned against the cliffside, his expression full of contempt. Everyone else was tense, but he remained completely at ease, as if Merle wasn't even worth his attention. "You've got some nerve." Jovi looked anxious. Merle was far too powerful. With his Transformative Deity Realm cultivation, he couldn't intervene at all. One wrong move and he could be wiped out in an instant. But Sebastian remained completely unfazed. "What's there to fear? At worst, we die. Besides, Mr. Lamont and the others might not lose."