The tribe Danton had been so excited about was truly extraordinary. Seeing it in person, Evangeline realized words could not do it justice. It was an intoxicating, dreamlike realm that could only be described as breathtaking.

The Coral Grove in The Deep Sea was like a vibrant sea of flowers. Being amidst it made one forget all their troubles.

A brilliant radiance spread out like a magnificent dream, dyeing the waters into a world of colored glass.

Evangeline reached out, gently touching a swaying coral branch. A pulse of life thrummed at her fingertips. Schools of multicolored fish darted among the coral, weaving the scene into a fantastical underwater palace.

Coral reefs were fashioned into clusters of well-arranged houses that stood on the seabed, each with a unique shape.

Some resembled mighty, towering trees. Others looked like eagles with wings spread for flight, or great leaping fish. The surfaces of the dwellings were inlaid with pearls and Sea Conches, and adorned all over with glowing sea anemones.

Evangeline tilted her head slightly, her dark hair drifting with the current.

She gazed at the magnificent scene, her lips curling into a smile. ’This is no mere tribe. It’s an intricate and fantastical city-state, slumbering in The Deep Sea.’

"Evangeline? Evangeline!"

Cherie leaped down from Buck’s back, the coral sand swirling around her feet in a fine, crystalline shimmer.

She grabbed Evangeline’s wrist, her voice tinged with anxiety. "Stop gawking! Something’s wrong. We might be too late; we have to get inside, now! Once this is all over, you can look around as much as you want!"

As she spoke, Cherie’s expression grew heavy, her eyes filled with worry.

She had visited the Mer Clan’s territory before. Usually, members of the graceful and beautiful race would be weaving through the houses and the Coral Grove. The shimmering light that glinted off their colorful fintans as they moved was an exquisite sight.

But upon their arrival today, the entire Mer Clan territory was frighteningly, deathly still.

There were no beautiful Merfolk songs, no rush of water displaced by scaly tails gliding past. Even the vibrant Coral Grove seemed to have dimmed. This eerie silence was anything but normal.

Cherie’s heart sank.

Evangeline glanced sideways at Stellan. His body was tense, his jawline taut and sharp.

His expression was cold and grim, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. He turned to Buck and said, "Protect Cherie!"

The moment he finished speaking, he shot through the current like an arrow, leading the way toward the heart of the clan’s territory.

Buck and Arion Cetus had already shifted back to their humanoid forms, but their shoulders were tense, and their brows were furrowed in vigilant alertness.

Arion Cetus gripped a dark steel fork, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding currents like a blade. He then turned to Evangeline and said in a low voice, "The Megalodon Tribe is never friendly. Be careful and stay close to me."

Cherie’s fingertips trembled as she squeezed Evangeline’s hand tighter. "Let’s go!"

Her voice was quiet. After taking a deep breath, she quickly swam after Stellan.

The deeper they went into the tribe’s territory, the more magnificent the surrounding scenery became, like a grand, unfolding spectacle.

Soon, the group arrived at the deepest part of the Mer Clan’s territory.

It was an area of crystal-clear coral reefs. Pearl curtains and coral domes defined the space, with glowing anemones and seaweed drifting all around. And between the reefs, Evangeline saw the Mer Clan warriors.

Their fintans were taut, their scales practically bristling. Their faces were a mask of shock, anger, and anxiety.

Facing them was a group of Beastmen from a Foreign Race. They rode the dark currents, holding weapons. Each was burly and imposing, and their smug expressions were somehow horrifying to behold.

And why horrifying?

Because these Beastmen had ferocious shark heads, and their deathly pale skin was covered in a fine, scaly pattern.

Within their cavernous mouths were three neat rows of serrated fangs. Even more terrifying, these ghastly shark heads were attached to humanoid bodies with bulging, well-defined muscles and sprawling veins.

Without a doubt, these were the infamous Beastmen of the Megalodon Tribe from The Deep Sea.

They grinned, baring their massive jaws as their Beast Eyes stared down the Mer Clan warriors. It was the look of a Hunter sizing up its prey.

A flicker of analytical interest showed in Evangeline’s eyes, but Cherie frowned in disgust. She let out a snort and whispered, "What’s there to look at? They’re utterly hideous!"

"Just curious." Evangeline’s red lips curved slightly, her tone tinged with a strange, mischievous lilt. "Do the members of the Megalodon Tribe always maintain this... ’humanoid’ form?"

Cherie gave her a suspicious look. ’What’s so curious about that? Does it matter?’

Evangeline tilted her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over the shark heads before a playful smirk touched her lips. "If one were to form a Contract with them, wouldn’t you wake up every morning staring into a cavernous mouth?"

She deliberately drew out the last word and clicked her tongue. ’Just thinking about it is an eyesore.’

Cherie shook her head, frowning at the Megalodon Beastmen. She lowered her voice and said, "They can actually transform into fully humanoid forms. They just think the Megalodon head looks fierce and powerful."

As Cherie spoke, the corner of her mouth twisted into a mocking sneer. In any case, she couldn’t stand anyone from that tribe.

Evangeline nodded thoughtfully. ’So, a terminal case of eighth-grade syndrome.’

Just as she said that, the current suddenly surged. The lead Megalodon Beastman in the distance seemed to sense something and whipped his head around. His bulging Beast Eyes swiveled in their sockets, locking onto their group.

The Megalodon Beastman’s reaction immediately drew the attention of the Mer Clan warriors.

"Stellan!"

A streak of light suddenly tore through the stagnant water, and a male Merfolk appeared before Stellan.

His fintan swished as he practically slammed into Stellan, his expression wrought with emotion. He pounded a fist on Stellan’s shoulder with a dull THUD. "You’re finally back!"

Stellan’s stern brow softened. Looking at the male Merfolk before him, he said in a low voice, "Montague."

Montague possessed a beautiful green fintan, its scales layered like brilliant, eye-catching jade.

He suddenly noticed the group behind Stellan. Cherie’s familiar face came into view, but before he could greet her, a dazzling flash of crimson burst into his line of sight.

The moment he saw Evangeline’s figure clearly, Montague’s pupils constricted in shock. "You..."

His voice caught in his throat, and he even stopped breathing.

The next instant, with a powerful flick of his green fintan, he shot in front of Evangeline. The water churned violently from his movement as his fintan thrashed unconsciously, its fin stirring up small whirlpools.

Montague’s gaze flickered as he carefully studied Evangeline. A hint of hesitation surfaced in his eyes, his tone tentative. "You... You’re not one of the Mer Clan from The Norfell Sea, are you? Did you come from another domain?"

The Mer Clan had always been close-knit; it was unheard of for them not to recognize one of their own. Yet he truly didn’t know this crimson-tailed female. What concerned him even more was that she was not yet an adult, but was already with child.

Montague’s scales flared uncontrollably, catching the light in a fine shimmer.

His chest tightened with sorrow. The females of the Mer Clan were always treated as precious treasures, protected in the safest part of their domain. But this little maiden before him... she seemed to have been harmed.