Chapter 213: Chapter 211: Between Sand and Sea
The massacre of the small Vortex Turtles continued.
As the number of small Vortex Turtles swelled, the Hunters’ actions grew increasingly frenzied.
For the small Vortex Turtles, this was a perilous journey, one that could very well cost them their lives.
But for the feasting Hunters, this was an undeniable, all-you-can-eat feast.
The waves of sand were like a ceaseless conveyor belt, delivering one fragile, plump turtle after another from the distance. All the Hunters had to do was wait, and the turtles would be served right to their mouths.
Before long, the Hunters abandoned their hiding spots. They swarmed out, pressing close to the surface, tumbling and fighting over the prey.
At this moment, all sorts of Hunters cast aside their usual rivalries. Many different species mingled, and with food so abundant, they seemed to have no issue sharing their territory.
The small Vortex Turtles employed various escape tactics, the most effective being to bury themselves in the waves of sand. This allowed them to evade the majority of the Hunters.
However, some Hunters saw right through their disguise and pinpointed the hidden turtles with precision.
Still, most Hunters either failed to notice the hidden turtles or simply couldn’t be bothered to hunt for these deeply buried "treasures." There was plenty of more conspicuous, readily available prey on the surface.
It was a truly brutal carnival.
Blood streamed into the sea, attracting schools of smaller fish. They swarmed toward the falling debris, devouring the scraps and leftovers disdained by the larger Hunters.
It was only a sip of the "broth," but it was a thick, nutritious broth, full of meaty scraps.
The schools of small fish darted back and forth. The scent of blood would draw them from one feeding spot to the next. Clearly, they too would feast well tonight.
Li Luo leaned against the porthole in her room, calmly observing the scene unfold.
Save for a hint of curiosity, her face was completely expressionless.
This was merely the law of nature. The same thing was likely happening at the boundaries between the other third and second layers.
Death and life are two sides of the same coin. The deaths of the Vortex Turtles were inextricably linked to the vibrant life of this marine region.
Fortunately, the humans were safely tucked away inside the sturdy sand ship, unaffected by the banquet outside.
They were merely bystanders, catching a glimpse of the abyss’s cruelty.
Captain He’s voice rang out once more:
"We’re about to enter the deep-water zone. Large creatures may appear, but everyone please remain calm."
’Large creatures?’
’Those ichthyosaurs were already big enough.’
Just as Mo Ling was thinking this, a white shadow flashed at the edge of his vision.
Immediately after, a strange jellyfish appeared. It was covered in white, ribbon-like tendrils, making it look like a floating plastic bag.
The strange jellyfish drifted silently through the water. Its enormous body floated quietly beneath the sand waves, blanketing the entire area.
Its target didn’t seem to be the small Vortex Turtles, but rather the Hunters that had just feasted.
Even the most lavish feast comes to an end. A few ichthyosaurs, their mouths dripping with blood, began to drag their heavy, sated bodies toward the deep sea.
By now, the jellyfish had finished blanketing the area from below.
But the ichthyosaurs seemed oblivious to the jellyfish. They swam straight into the white ribbons and were immediately entangled.
The ribbons enveloped their entire bodies, pulling them in toward the main body of the jellyfish.
And yet, despite being completely bound by the ribbons, the ichthyosaurs showed no signs of struggle. They continued to move their bodies normally, completely unaware that they were being drawn inside the jellyfish.
Like fish-shaped mummies, they swayed their bodies as the jellyfish slowly engulfed them. The process was eerily calm.
The jellyfish simply drifted in the water, lying in wait for its prey.
More and more Hunters, having just eaten their fill, became the jellyfish’s next meal.
None of them seemed to perceive the white ribbons as they were silently slaughtered.
Li Luo, still at the porthole, also noticed the peculiar creature. Her face filled with curiosity, she took out her datapad and started a search.
Soon, the creature’s data appeared on the screen:
"Mummy Jellyfish."
A jellyfish-like creature covered in white, flowing ribbons. It is carnivorous and has a massive appetite.
However, their mobility is limited.
They have only one method of hunting: lying in wait.
This is because, to other creatures, the Mummy Jellyfish is effectively invisible.
Mummy Jellyfish possess a bizarre sensory organ. Once this organ locks onto a target, the prey loses all ability to perceive the jellyfish.
Simply put: if a Mummy Jellyfish sees you, you can no longer see it.
Once targeted by a Mummy Jellyfish, the prey will completely ignore its presence.
This is a very strange phenomenon of sensory failure.
They can’t see it, hear it, or smell it. They don’t even feel it upon contact... All senses fail.
Researchers once conducted an experiment:
They had a volunteer observe a Mummy Jellyfish through a glass panel while holding an infrared camera.
The moment the volunteer approached the glass, the Mummy Jellyfish locked onto him, and he lost all perception of it.
"Do you see the creature in front of you?" the researcher asked.
"What creature?" The volunteer was baffled.
The researchers quickly prompted him, "Look at the infrared camera in your hand. That highlighted silhouette is the creature."
The volunteer looked down at the camera in his hands, his face a mask of confusion.
"What highlighted silhouette? There’s nothing here."
And yet, on the camera’s screen, the Mummy Jellyfish’s silhouette was perfectly clear.
The volunteer had lost even his most basic powers of judgment.
The researchers, undeterred, continued, "Take the camera and back up. Go behind that wall to your rear left and break the Mummy Jellyfish’s lock."
It was a very simple instruction, but the volunteer just stared blankly. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his eyes glazed over. "What’s a Mummy Jellyfish?"
Hearing the volunteer’s words, the researchers could no longer remain seated.
"Get him out of there, now!"
Several security guards rushed forward and pulled the volunteer back.
Once he was clear of the Mummy Jellyfish’s range, a researcher asked with a grave expression, "Why didn’t you follow our instructions to break the lock?"
The volunteer scratched his head, seeming just as confused as to why he had asked such a foolish question.
"I just... suddenly forgot what a Mummy Jellyfish was."
Hearing this, the researchers’ interest was instantly piqued. "You forgot? We’re in the middle of the experiment, and we thoroughly briefed you on it beforehand. You’re telling me you just forgot?"
The volunteer thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, I forgot."
At this, the volunteer suddenly held up a hand to stop the researchers from interrupting. He fell deep into thought.
His expression shifted from confusion to shock, then slowly hardened into a grave look. He then said something truly astonishing:
"Just now... the very concept of ’Mummy Jellyfish’ vanished from my mind."
