A shimmer of golden light washed over the Nightmare's massive, chitinous body at the exact moment all those combined attacks struck. What should have been a fatal onslaught of blades, flames, and Qi blasts instead melted into the creature's exoskeleton like water soaking into sand. The spider's wounds, which had looked severe moments before, vanished as though they'd never existed. Its eight legs, now gleaming a burnished gold at the joints, lashed out with renewed strength.
A handful of cultivators who'd rushed in for a close-range kill were impaled in a single, sweeping motion. Sharp, glistening limbs punctured their torsos, and screams filled the cavern. Within seconds, they lay limp on the ground, dark blood pooling beneath them. Most of these unfortunates were still in the Spirit King stage—no match for a creature wielding such a bizarre, impenetrable defense.
"Fall back!" Scarface shouted, face gone ashen. "That barrier's more than we can handle!"
