Evangeline’s lips parted slightly, but before she could speak, Stellan flashed forward, placing himself between her and Montague. It was as if he were trying to prevent some dangerous bewitchment from tainting his kinsman.

Montague froze, shooting Stellan a confused look.

He offered no explanation, his gaze only hardening as he looked at the hostile members of the Megalodon Tribe.

They bared their stark-white, serrated teeth, their eyes filled with menace.

Stellan’s voice was grave. "What does the Megalodon Tribe really want, coming here this time?"

Montague’s gaze darkened, and his expression grew grim. The scales behind his ears flared slightly with anger.

He took a deep look at Evangeline before turning back to Stellan. "It’s Rhea. They’re after Rhea."

"They’re spouting nonsense about the Deep Sea Sandwurm coming, claiming the Mer Clan has no strong warriors and needs protection. They want to form an alliance with us, but Rhea just came of age! Those disgusting, ugly, despicable dogfish!"

The last few words were practically ground out from the depths of his throat. He swiped his tail violently, shattering a nearby piece of coral. A flash of anger crossed his brow, along with a desolate sorrow he couldn’t hide.

Stellan’s face was also contorted with fury, his pupils narrowing to thin slits. "Rhea is about to succeed as Clan Leader. If the Megalodon Tribe is after her, isn’t that the same as wanting our entire Mer Clan? An alliance? What a joke!"

His voice was as sharp as an icy blade, and the muscles all over his body tensed. He was clearly ready to kill.

"Calm down! The Megalodon Tribe brought an Eight-Marked warrior this time. We’re no match for them!" Montague grabbed Stellan’s violently trembling shoulders, but the sudden movement caused the wound on his own waist to tear open.

Stellan caught the scent of blood and his expression changed. He whipped his head down to see the bloodstain spreading across Montague’s waist.

Montague quickly turned to the side, hiding the wound from view. He waved a hand dismissively and forced a careless smile. "It’s nothing. Just a graze from a blade. It’s just a scratch, no big deal."

Evangeline’s eyes swept over them. ’Looks like the Mer Clan and the Megalodon Tribe already clashed before we arrived.’

As Stellan and Montague were locked in their tense standoff, a slender, pale hand suddenly reached out from the side. "Here."

Montague started, realizing the word was directed at him.

He instinctively turned his head toward this unfamiliar, scarlet-tailed female. In her palm rested a delicate little bottle, from which a fluorescent glow swirled like water and mist, casting a shimmering light on the surrounding currents. It looked very precious.

Stellan’s brow furrowed, and he watched Evangeline warily. "What is that?"

Evangeline tilted her head slightly, her red lips curving into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. She looked utterly harmless. "Just some medicine. As you know, I am a Witch."

"A Witch?!" Montague’s pupils contracted sharply, and his voice cracked as he stared at Evangeline in disbelief.

This Mer Clan female before him was actually a witch, blessed with power by the Beast God?

Stellan’s frown deepened. He was about to speak, but he saw Evangeline’s fingertips deftly uncork the bottle.

"This might sting a little," she said, glancing up at Montague. Her voice was as soft as a sea breeze.

After Montague nodded, she tilted the bottle slightly. A stream of fluorescent powder flowed from the opening. Instead of scattering in the current, it seemed to have a life of its own, slowly adhering to the gruesome wound on Montague’s waist.

In a moment, the powder seeped into flesh and blood, and the fresh wound on Montague’s waist healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"This..." Montague was utterly astounded, his gaze fixed on Evangeline, flickering with disbelief and awe.

Even though he already knew Evangeline was a Witch—and a powerful one at that—Stellan’s pupils still trembled in shock.

The scene before him was beyond his comprehension. But on second thought, Evangeline was someone who had survived a bone knife piercing her heart. ’Perhaps this level of skill was to be expected.’

Coral Cetus excitedly grasped Evangeline’s hand, a fervent light burning in her eyes. Staring at the bottle, she said, "We Tideborn Beastmen always just have to tough it out when we’re injured, because our Witches aren’t very good at healing. The fact that you can create a Divine Medicine like this... you’re amazing!"

Evangeline raised an eyebrow, replying generously, "Is that so? If you need some, I can leave you a bit."

Coral Cetus’s eyes lit up. She wasn’t one to be coy, and immediately sealed the deal. "Then it’s settled!"

Buck was as straightforward as ever. Although he was surprised that the female before him was a Witch, his shock lasted only a moment before his attention returned completely to Coral Cetus. A truly dedicated mate.

Arion Cetus’s gaze was like boiling water, searingly hot, as it completely enveloped Evangeline’s slender yet exceptionally bewitching figure. A Witch with healing abilities was nothing less than a treasure to the entire Tideborn!

His throat bobbed, his eyes churning with a look of absolute determination.

’He had to form a Contract with this female. He had to be the male standing by her side!’

Stellan stared at Montague’s healed wound, a low note of gratitude rumbling in his throat. "Thank you."

Evangeline shook her head. Her gaze shifted as she asked, "And Rhea?"

"You know Rhea?" The surprise in Montague’s voice was unmistakable.

Though he was still puzzled by Evangeline’s identity, her familiar Mer Clan aura and the goodwill she had shown made him unconsciously trust the female before him. He had even started to think of her as one of their own.

Stellan hesitated for a moment. He wanted to reveal Evangeline’s true identity; he had never intended to hide it from his kinsmen.

After all, this female was no simple character. He didn’t want his people to be deceived.

Evangeline saw through his intentions. Her lips curved up slightly; she didn’t seem to mind at all.

Her gaze drifted, her beautiful eyes landing lightly on the Megalodon Tribe’s Beastmen. She met their greedy stares. One by one, the Beastmen grew restless, their Beast Eyes locked onto her. It was the look of predators zeroing in on precious prey; even their breathing grew heavy.

Clearly, they had seen her take out the medicine just now.

Stellan’s throat bobbed, and his voice took on a serious tone. "She’s actually..."

Before he could finish, a fierce argument erupted from the dwelling woven from a cluster of reefs. "Dream on! I will never form a Contract with you! And the Mer Clan will never become a vassal of the Megalodon Tribe!"

A moment later, a sinister roar answered, "That’s not for you to decide!"

The sudden commotion shattered the silence, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Montague’s and Stellan’s expressions darkened instantly. Evangeline’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She remembered that voice. When she had first arrived on the Beastman Continent, it was this same, almost vicious, female voice that had threatened to claw her face so she could never seduce a male again.

Danton’s sister, Rhea.

Montague and Stellan hurried toward the dwelling, but as they tried to move forward, they were blocked by the Megalodon Tribe’s Beastmen.

The burly Megalodon Beastman in the lead crossed his arms. His gnarled, muscular chest still bore unhealed claw marks.

He spoke in a gruff voice. "What are you doing? Our leader is discussing matters with your Clan Leader. Do you think a bunch of Five-star pattern trash like you has any right to interfere?"

He deliberately spat out the words "Five-star pattern trash," drawing mocking laughter from his companions behind him.

And no wonder. The Eight-Marked Beastman sent by the Megalodon Tribe was none other than this hulking brute.

Montague’s face flushed red. He gritted his teeth and raised his voice. "You..."

Just then, Evangeline slowly stepped forward, the sunlight flowing over her scarlet fishtail.

A faint smile played on her lips as she looked at the Megalodon Beastman who stood before her like a mountain. "I am the Mer Clan Leader’s older sister. If you won’t let them in, can I go in? Weren’t you just talking about an alliance?"

The lead Megalodon Beastman sized Evangeline up, then suddenly grinned, baring a mouthful of sharp teeth. He leaned in close to her ear, his foul breath washing over the side of her neck. "Of course you can."

"You are a revered witch, after all. Not like this small fry."