Chapter 9: Attack under thick fog

The Chief of the Guard who had been dragged into the cave was horrified. He tried to shout for help, but he found his mouth completely sealed by the vines. Not a sound could escape.
Confused, he thought he had been ambushed by a Beast. When he finally managed to force his eyes open, he was met with a pair of blood-red eyes brimming with murderous intent.
"Ugh..." He attempted to summon his Illusionary Beast for defense, but before he could act, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.
A blade pierced his body!
"Hiss!" Iwao's killing intent was palpable. The familiar face before him was contorted in agony. Revenge fueled him.
"Ensio, it's because of you that I'm on this path."
"Gurgle, gurgle..." The blade formed by the vines ruthlessly absorbed the Chief of the Guard's Spiritual Energy and life essence. In moments, his life ebbed away, without so much as a whimper.
Iwao had chosen to leap off the cliff because he knew that the dense fog and miasma in the depths of Purple Chain Mountain would affect the Brocade-furred White Rat's sense of smell, increasing his chances of success in hiding and counterattacking.
Transitioning from prey to predator was seamless and natural.
Unlike other prodigies, Iwao had emerged from countless life-and-death battles. This had forged his unwavering resolve. Even in dire situations, he would not falter. As long as he lived, there was hope.
Iwao spread his awareness, held his breath, and stealthily emerged from the cave like a ghost.
The hunt had begun!
"Can't find him?"
Diata frowned, growing frustrated.
The Chief of the Guard ahead was sweating profusely, continuously infusing Spiritual Energy into his Brocade-furred White Rat, hoping to sense Iwao's presence faster. However, no matter how he urged it, the Rat only squeaked anxiously, trembling as if sensing a lurking danger in the thick fog.
"Young... Young Master, this kid is too cunning. He's using the thick fog and miasma here to evade the Brocade-furred White Rat's tracking!"
The Chief of the Guard wiped the sweat from his forehead, murmuring.
Even for the Beast Tamers, visibility was less than ten meters in the dense fog. Pursuing him was incredibly difficult.
"Useless!" Diata's eyes blazed with anger. "He can't have gone far. Search the area!"
Although Iwao had only restored his strength to the Third Level of the Earth Spirit Realm, they had eight Chief of the Guards at the same level, plus himself at the Fourth Level of the Earth Spirit Realm. Capturing Iwao should have been a piece of cake.
Wait...
Diata's expression suddenly changed. He scanned the surroundings again. No matter how he counted, there were only seven of them.
He remembered vividly bringing eight Chiefs of the Guard with him!
"Where's Zolio?" Diata's question thundered.
The remaining Chief of the Guard looked at each other, realizing Zolio was indeed missing.
"We jumped off the cliff together just now," one of them said, his face turning pale. "Could it be Iwao?"
"Don't give me nonsense," someone interrupted. "Even if that kid's Illusionary Beast has been killed, how strong could he be with his combat power restored?"
"We have so many people here, why should we be afraid of him? In front of Young Master Diata, he's just..." Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp vine suddenly flew up from below.
"Quick, dodge!" Diata reacted swiftly, covering his arm in flames and grabbing the vine.
"Swish!" Diata exerted force in his palm, instantly burning the vine to ashes.
"Pfft!" Another vine silently flew in and pierced through the chest of one of the Chief of the Guards, concealed by the thick fog.
The previous attack was just a feint!
"It's Iwao!" Diata erupted in anger.
Flame Bird screeched and spewed out flames, dispersing the surrounding fog.
They could see a figure darting through the trees like lightning.
"Coward, come out!" Diata summoned a flaming sword and slashed through the air.
The flames exploded continuously, forming waves of smoke and dust expanding outward. The forest ahead was cut in half by the flaming sword!
Iwao rolled narrowly, barely avoiding the strike.
Before he could steady himself, Diata and his Illusionary Beast, the Flame Bird, charged at him.
The other Chief of the Guard also summoned their Illusionary Beasts, surrounding him.
Iwao sneered. His perception was much stronger than theirs, and the fog was his natural cover.
With a swift movement, he disappeared into the fog again.
Diata missed, his eyes filled with fury. "Little Flame Bird, find him for me!"
Flame Bird continuously spewed flames, illuminating the surroundings.
The miasma crackled under the intense heat.
The other Chief of the Guard dispersed, each vigilant.
"Squeak, squeak!" One of the Chief of the Guard held the Brocade-furred White Rat, probing for Iwao's presence.
He felt a glimmer of hope. After the flames dispersed the fog, the Brocade-furred White Rat's sense of smell returned.
As long as they could lock onto Iwao's scent, he wouldn't escape!
"Swish!" At that moment, a fist emerged from the fog.
Covered in a faint green aura, it seemed light but was as heavy as a mountain!
"Bang!"
The Chief of the Guard had no way to evade and was punched squarely in the face.
"Crack!"
That was the sound of his nasal bone shattering!
He screamed in agony, staggering back, his vision darkening.
Iwao's hand moved like lightning, seizing the Chief of the Guard's neck and twisting it, snapping it cleanly.
After killing the man, he silently vanished into the fog.
Iwao had shown promise since he was in his teens, having experienced countless battles and danced on the edge of life and death numerous times, accumulating rich combat experience.
Concealed by the thick fog, every time Iwao struck, he took a life!
Diata, infuriated, wanted to capture Iwao, but couldn't find a trace of him anywhere.
His heart sank deeper, growing cold to the core.
At this rate, he feared he might not escape death either!
"Swish!"
Iwao's figure moved like a ghost, once again thrusting the blade formed by the vine in his hand into the abdomen of another Chief of the Guard.
Diata had been gathering his strength, waiting for the moment to strike.
"Blood Spirit Sword!"
Seeing this, a blood-red sword light surged in his palm, and he roared suddenly.
Flame Bird, attuned to his mind, spewed flames in sync with Diata's sword strike, illuminating the surroundings.
In the blaze, Iwao's figure appeared like a grim reaper, his face twisted in a grimace.
A chill ran down Diata's spine. Was there some sort of scheme behind Iwao's arrogance?
But at this moment, there was no turning back.
Diata gritted his teeth, and the aura of the Fourth Level of Earth Spirit Realm erupted from him completely.
Spiritual Energy condensed, making the Blood Spirit Sword in his hand gleam even sharper!