Chapter 62: The Horde of Jellyfish Beasts

After Autumn Chill had walked more than a dozen steps, the surface of a nearby pool suddenly churned. With a loud splash, water sprayed in all directions, and in the next instant, an Ice Arrow Spell shot toward him, so swift it was nearly imperceptible to the naked eye.

Caught unawares by this sudden assault, Autumn Chill had no time to evade. The ice arrow struck him instantly; however, he only staggered back a single step, completely unharmed. Even the defensive shield surrounding him remained intact, not a single layer breached.

“That was close. I’ve tread carefully all along, constantly probing my surroundings with spirit sense, yet I still underestimated the unknown dangers lurking in this Misty Marsh. Beneath these seemingly tranquil pools, there must be no small number of hidden fiendish beasts. Had that creature been stronger—if it were a second-tier beast—I might have been gravely wounded, if not killed outright.”

“The Misty Marsh truly deserves its reputation as a place of peril. I must remain absolutely vigilant at all times.”

With a flick of his right hand, several ice needles shot out toward the opposite bank. He then lowered his head in thought, rubbed his temples, and pressed on. Yet just as he continued forward, all the pools nearby—large and small—seemed to come alive at once, as if guided by an unseen hand. Suddenly, jets of water erupted skyward from every pool, and in moments, the fountains merged into a shimmering curtain, veiling the sky above Autumn Chill.

The ground beneath him gave way before he could react, and he plunged straight into the water as the earth collapsed. As he hit the water, several ice arrows streaked toward him from all directions.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The relentless barrage slowed his movement drastically as he tried to use Water Escape underwater. Bombarded by successive spells, the outermost layer of his protective shield began to waver, showing signs of imminent collapse.

As he moved, Autumn Chill sent out his spirit sense to probe for the beasts attacking him. After a moment, he finally discerned nearly ten spherical beasts about the size of a common conical hat encircling him. Their bodies gleamed aquamarine, and four tentacles dangled below each one.

With each lash of their tentacles, they edged closer, and a fissure running through the middle of each ball-shaped body seemed to serve as a mouth. Whenever they opened these mouths, an ice arrow would shoot forth.

“Jellyfish Beasts! These creatures dwell within the Misty Marsh, aquatic fiends that live in groups. Individually, they’re not strong, but they attack in packs when threatened. From birth, they possess an innate magical ability—Ice Arrow Spell!”

With a single glance, Autumn Chill recognized the beasts and recalled their origins.

Rumor had it that Jellyfish Beasts were always accompanied by symbiotic fiends. Now that a whole group of them had appeared here, why hadn’t those companion beasts surfaced?

Pushing aside his doubts, Autumn Chill raised his right hand and hurled more ice needles, dispatching several Jellyfish Beasts that ventured too close. Only then did he realize the unicorn had vanished.

At that very moment, he noticed something odd. Under his ever-watchful spirit sense, the Jellyfish Beasts that had been swimming toward him from all directions were now retreating, turning as one toward a single point, as if summoned by some silent command.

“What’s going on? Should I follow and see?”

After a moment’s thought, Autumn Chill glanced into the distance. With a swift movement, he melded into the water, silently tailing the Jellyfish Beasts to uncover their purpose.

After the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, Autumn Chill followed the swarm to a broad expanse. Ahead, within a hundred yards, hundreds of Jellyfish Beasts swarmed densely together.

Yet as he observed, it became clear the beasts were in utter disarray, shrieking in panic as if beset by a mighty foe.

Focusing his spirit sense, Autumn Chill finally pierced through the chaos to the heart of the swarm. What he saw there left him both astonished and amused.

At the center of the throng was a creature shaped much like a horse, yet no larger than a wild dog, with a single silver horn on its nose and a coat of snowy white fur. With its mischievous and endearing appearance, it was none other than the unicorn that had mysteriously vanished earlier.

The unicorn was bounding and leaping with exuberant glee amid the horde, each time spearing a Jellyfish Beast with its horn. The targeted beasts would immediately shrivel, their ballooned bodies deflating like punctured balls until they lay lifeless.

The Jellyfish Beasts dared not attack, fleeing in all directions as though confronted by their nemesis. Satisfied that the unicorn was in no danger, Autumn Chill made no move to interfere. Instead, he stood quietly in the distance, surveying the surroundings with caution, ready to face any sudden threat.

So half an hour passed. Most of the Jellyfish Beasts fell to the unicorn’s relentless assault, while the unicorn itself only grew more excited, showing no sign of fatigue.

With time, Autumn Chill gradually realized that the Jellyfish Beasts contained something the unicorn craved—a vital essence it absorbed from within their bodies. The more it consumed, the greater the benefit to itself.

Just then, a series of thunderous crashes rumbled from afar, followed by surging waves roiling toward them. Autumn Chill’s heart tightened; he spread his spirit sense, his gaze becoming grave.

“So it’s come at last?”

A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he summoned the Ice Feather Ring and sped forward, intent on intercepting the approaching foe.

The unicorn, hearing the commotion, abruptly ceased its jubilant antics. Through their bond, it had sensed Autumn Chill’s presence when he first arrived, but since he hadn’t summoned it, it continued its feast. Now, sensing danger approaching and understanding that its master was buying it time, the unicorn’s bright eyes blinked with intelligence. It redoubled its efforts, pouncing anew upon the remaining Jellyfish Beasts.

Autumn Chill had not gone far when, several dozen yards ahead, he saw six fiendish beasts—each larger than himself—standing shoulder to shoulder, fixing their gaze upon him as he blocked their path.