Chapter 506 - 503: Can’t Breathe

Chapter 506: Chapter 503: Can’t Breathe

With their current strength, three Red Rank Males were more than enough to deal with this rabble of Eagle Beasts.

"Yin Ze, descend! We’re going down!" Bai Wanwan said, patting the Phoenix’s neck.

"SCREECH!" Yin Ze let out an ear-splitting cry, as if announcing the arrival of judgment.

The massive Phoenix folded its wings and, like a burning meteor, dove straight for the chaotic battlefield below.

The Eagle Beasts were launching a new wave of attacks. Several adult Merfolk were already covered in blood, their flesh gruesomely torn by sharp talons and beaks. It was clear they couldn’t hold on much longer before being snatched into the sky...

Just then, the Phoenix’s cry, imbued with the oppressive aura of a Red Rank, boomed like a thunderclap. It instantly scared many of the Low Rank Eagle Beasts out of their wits. They shrieked and retreated by instinct, giving the endangered Merfolk a precious moment of respite.

The flock of Eagle Beasts quickly recovered. Spotting the new intruders, a large portion of them immediately broke away, letting out sharp, piercing shrieks. They swarmed toward Bai Wanwan’s group, who had just landed, like a black tide.

"Protect Wanwan and Aunt Shuang!" Zhu Xiu roared.

The words had barely left his mouth when Zhu Xiu, Jin Yi, Xin Feng, Yan Lie, and Hua Han completed their beast transformations the very instant they landed!

The moment Zhu Xiu transformed into a King Snake, a single sweep of his thick Snake Tail sent a swath of Eagle Beasts flying like swatted flies.

The Golden Lion’s roar shook the heavens as its claws unleashed streaks of golden light.

The giant silver wolf moved with deft agility, its attacks precise and ruthless.

With a single bite, Yan Lie tore a massive gash in an Eagle Beast’s belly.

Hua Han moved nimbly along the edge of the battlefield, picking off any stragglers that tried to launch a sneak attack.

Meanwhile, Yin Ze was completely surrounded in the air, but as a Red Rank Powerhouse, his defense was astonishingly high.

The Eagle Beasts’ sharp talons and beaks pecked and tore at his magnificent, flame-wreathed feathers but failed to penetrate. Instead, the attackers were scorched by the intense heat radiating from his Talent Power.

Every flap of his enormous wings whipped up a fiery gale, incinerating countless Eagle Beasts or sending them plummeting from the sky.

His beak, sharp and fast as lightning, precisely pierced an Eagle Beast’s skull with every strike!

A crushing counterattack against the Eagle Beasts raged across the isolated island.

Watching these sudden, powerful reinforcements, the once-despairing Merfolk felt the light of hope rekindle in their eyes.

Yan Lie and Hua Han stood like two insurmountable peaks, securely protecting Bai Wanwan, Shuang Hua, the injured Merfolk, and the terrified Merfolk cubs.

In front of them, Yin Ze, Zhu Xiu, Jin Yi, and Xin Feng were like four unsheathed blades, meeting the swarm of Eagle Beasts head-on and carving a path of destruction.

The Eagle Beast flock soon realized they were no match for the terrifying power of these intruders. After suffering heavy casualties and losing nearly half their number, they let out a final, resentful shriek and fled like a routed army, vanishing over the horizon.

With the crisis averted, a temporary calm fell over the beach, leaving behind only the carcasses of Eagle Beasts and the heavy stench of blood.

"Thank you, mighty Warriors." A few of the battle-scarred Merfolk males approached cautiously, supporting an equally injured female and several terrified, trembling cubs.

Their bodies were covered in wounds, and their blue blood stained the sand a strange hue. Their faces showed both profound gratitude and the sheer relief of having survived the ordeal.

Zhu Xiu shifted back to his human form and scrutinized them, asking directly, "What are you doing on this isolated island, so far from the Merfolk settlements?"

This part of the sea wasn’t a region the Merfolk usually frequented.

The lead Merfolk male glanced at his mate’s pale, pained face and the grisly wounds on her body, his heart burning with anxiety. He quickly answered, "There was a rebellion among our people not long ago. A group of traitors colluded with outsiders, seizing control and imprisoning the royal family. They began a cruel purge of all who remained loyal."

His voice was filled with pain and anger. "We wanted to fight to the death, but the King sent word, ordering his loyal subjects to fall back and preserve their strength. Only recently did we receive a secret message: our King, Jiao Yin, has escaped! He suppressed the traitors with decisive force and has reclaimed the entire sea! We were on our way back home..."

"Jiao Yin won?" Hua Han couldn’t help but ask, a trace of delighted surprise in his voice.

The two of them had once lived together while looking after Wanwan, so he was happy that Jiao Yin had reclaimed his power.

"Yes, that is the news we received," the Merfolk male confirmed with a nod. He then looked at Hua Han in surprise. "You know our King?"

Bai Wanwan stepped forward with a gentle smile. "Yes, we know Jiao Yin. He’s been a great help to us. What a coincidence—our route home takes us right through your waters. Since we’re heading the same way, why don’t we travel together? We can watch each other’s backs."

Hearing this, immense gratitude and relief washed over the faces of the Merfolk males.

All of them were seriously injured, their fighting strength drastically reduced. If they were to face another attack like the last one, or any other danger from the sea, they couldn’t be certain they could protect their vulnerable female and precious cubs.

Traveling with such a powerful group was a true godsend.

Jin Yi glanced at the sky. "It’s getting late, and Yin Ze has used up a lot of his Talent Power. We should rest on the island tonight and set off first thing in the morning."

No one disagreed.

And so, the males immediately divided up the tasks.

Hua Han and Yan Lie were tasked with diving into the nearby waters to catch fresh fish for their meal.

Zhu Xiu and the nearly-depleted Yin Ze stayed by Bai Wanwan’s side, standing guard against any lingering threats.

Xin Feng and Jin Yi quickly gathered dry sticks and branches that had washed ashore, preparing to start a fire.

Shuang Hua carefully gathered the frightened little cubs around her, comforting them in a soft voice.

Bai Wanwan, meanwhile, retrieved some highly effective golden sore medicine from her System Space and handed it to the injured Merfolk.

"Squeeze the ointment out like this and apply a layer to your wounds. It will help you heal faster."

After demonstrating for one of the Merfolk males, she let them apply the medicine themselves.

Bai Wanwan returned to her own cubs and rested alongside Shuang Hua, cuddling them close.

But the sea is a fickle thing.

As evening approached, the once-clear sky suddenly grew overcast. Heavy, dark clouds spread like spilled ink, staining the heavens and creating an oppressive atmosphere that made it hard to breathe.

A fierce wind began to howl, whipping up sand and leaves. The calm sea surface gave way to towering, white-capped waves that crashed with a deafening roar.