Chapter 1778

"This beast's power is beyond imagination!" Nodin gasped, his already grim expression turning deathly pale. That previous devastating impact had felt like an unstoppable tidal wave, carrying an unparalleled force that crashed mercilessly into him. The sheer power of the blow shattered his defenses instantly, sending shockwaves through his body as if he had been struck by a massive hammer. His internal organs felt displaced, and his strength drained away in an instant. He collapsed to the ground with weak limbs, and his eyes filled with terror and helplessness. He had completely lost the ability to fight. "Snowfall!" Alexandra's clear and commanding voice rang out, and her beautiful eyes flashed with unwavering determination. She raised her sword high, its tip pointed toward the sky. In that instant, a mysterious and formidable energy erupted from the blade. Suddenly, the raging Southern Netherfire, which had burned with an overwhelming heat within the vast canyon, was inexplicably suppressed by a flurry of descending snowflakes. The snowfall intensified, growing denser and heavier, until the entire canyon was blanketed in pristine white. The once chaotic battlefield fell into an eerie silence. An icy chill creeped into every corner, as if time itself had momentarily stopped. Merle let out a furious, guttural roar, her fiery red form now appearing somewhat battered beneath the cascading snow. Clearly, Alexandra's powerful strike had inflicted considerable damage upon her. Coupled with the relentless attacks from the others, the once invincible Merle was now beginning to falter, facing a genuine crisis for the first time. "Hmph! My body was forged in fire, tempered through countless infernos. You think mere snow and ice can freeze me? Utter foolishness!" Though disadvantaged, Merle remained defiant. She struggled violently against the freezing grasp of Alexandra's attack. With a fierce burst of energy, the flames around her surged once more, burning brighter and hotter in an attempt to overpower the snowfall. Then, in a sudden eruption, Merle's entire body blazed with an infernal glow, like a scorching sun igniting in midair. With a powerful sweep of her massive wings, she unleashed a torrent of Southern Netherfire, an overwhelming inferno that turned the entire sky and land into a sea of raging flames. "Hmph! Before the might of my Southern Netherfire, you are nothing but insects! Consider it an honor to perish under my flames!" Her sharp, contemptuous voice echoed through the heavens. It was filled with absolute arrogance. Alexandra's body trembled as she attempted to resist the scorching flames, but the sheer intensity of the attack overwhelmed her. She was blasted backward, blood spurting from her mouth as she crashed to the ground. Merle's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She turned toward the rest of the group and snarled, "Hand over the Dragon Essence, or today will be your last!" Jos trembled as he pointed at Sebastian and stammered, "Merle... It's in that kid's hands." Sebastian stood with his arms crossed, his expression cold and indifferent, showing not the slightest concern for Merle's threats. "Insignificant human, hand over the Dragon Essence obediently, and I might consider sparing your life!" Merle's burning eyes locked onto Sebastian, the flames around her body growing even more intense. Sebastian tilted his head slightly. His gaze was icy as he replied, "I happen to be in need of a mount. If you swear allegiance to me, I might just consider giving you the Dragon Essence." "Hahaha!" Merle erupted into laughter, as if she had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. Her massive frame trembled with amusement. "You, a mere mortal, dare to think I would serve as your mount? What utter delusion!" Sebastian remained unfazed, and his voice was unwavering. "Why not? In my eyes, you're not invincible." Merle's amusement vanished instantly, replaced by a raging fury. "Audacious fool! Today, I'll burn you to ashes and erase this insult!" With that, Merle unleashed another surge of Southern Netherfire. It was an even more powerful inferno than before, roaring toward Sebastian like an unstoppable tidal wave. Nodin's face paled as he shouted, "Sebastian, dodge now!" Jovi muttered under his breath, "It's over. It's all over..." Meanwhile, Mosiah sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "He's always overestimating himself… If he dies, so be it." However, just as the Southern Netherfire was about to consume Sebastian, an explosion of dazzling Passive Flame Power erupted around him. It formed an impenetrable barrier that forcibly pushed back Merle's fire. "How is this possible?" Jos gasped in shock, his eyes widening in disbelief. Merle's expression twisted in astonishment. "That's… the Passive Flame Power?" Nodin was both stunned and relieved. "This kid… he has such a trump card?" "Sebastian, stop being reckless! Fall back!" Nodin urged desperately. But Sebastian's expression remained resolute as he calmly replied, "No need to worry. I know what I'm doing."