John quickly made an assessment of the creature, and realized why it had been such a problem. Its cultivation was at the half-step Qi Condensation Realm, and clearly it was able to see perfectly inside the fog. Half-Step cultivations meant that the person or creature was starting to advance into the next realm, but had not fully advanced yet. They were more powerful than late stage cultivators of the same rank.
'Clearly the creature was not going all out, and was trying to tire me out to find an easy opening. It must be quite wary, and tries to use the fog to its full advantage. But I've managed to eliminate that advantage, for now at least.'
John looked around at the parted fog and noticed it was moving in slowly.
'I probably have a minute or so before the fog goes back to normal. I need to end this quickly.'
Supreme Battle Art!
John decided to use his strongest state right at the start. Although he didn't want to touch his blood reserves, it was best to finish the fight as soon as possible instead of drag it out. Also, John was sure that he was unable to outrun the creature. Although he was most likely faster than the creature, the swamp bogged him down, making his movements slower than usual. The creature however, was a creature of the swamp, and was most likely not hindered at all by it.
Myriad Annihilation Scythe: First Attack!
John sent out the first attack of the Myriad Annihilation Scythe, and the sharp Qi beam cut straight towards the creature.
Peng!
The creature sent out its many arms to block the attack, and successfully parried it. However, a second, more powerful Qi attack followed directly after, startling the beast. It raised its arms to block again, but this time, some of its claws shattered while it was knocked back slightly.
Myriad Annihilation Scythe: Third Attack!
John sent out the third attack of the Myriad Annihilation Scythe, and the power of it was even stronger than the first two attacks combined. He had advanced to late Mist Creation in essence cultivation before he entered the pocket realm, and made sure to learn the third attack. This was his first time using it in combat, and its power surprised him.
Boom!
The creature was unprepared for such a barrage of attacks, and the third attack landed on its chest, opening a large wound and knocking it back quite some distance. The creature was a stealth based creature, and used its advantages in the fog to attack. It was not used to direct confrontation, and John's quick and successive attacks caught it off guard.
'Now!'
John prepared to take advantage of the opening he just created to dash forward and end the first with a full powered attack of his scythe. However, just as he started to dash forward, he paused.
"Really? After all that effort, you're just going to flee? At least give me your blood essence!" John shouted as he watched the creature flee back into the depths of the swamp.
"Although my third attack wounded the creature, it wasn't fatal at all. I wanted to see how my strength stacks up against a half-step Qi Condensation beast. Clearly this creature avoids direct confrontations as much as possible."
John was quite disappointed that he wasn't able to add the creature's blood essence to his reserves, but at least he was no longer under attack within the fog.
'Now I have a problem though. I have no idea which direction I was pushed in, and I have no idea which direction Miko went in. Should I wait out the fog, or should I try to get out myself?'
John thought about it for a moment before he decided to wait with his guard raised. However, two days passed and the fog still hadn't dissipated.
'At this rate, the pocket realm will close before the fog leaves. Although its risky, I need to try to make my way out myself. Miko is stronger than me, so he'll be safe anyways.'
John made up his mind and ventured forward. Wasting time in this one of a lifetime opportunity was something John was unable to deal with. He would prefer to wait for Miko, like Miko waited for him in the cave, but this situation was different. The fog could last many months for all he knew, and that would be a problem.
John chose a random direction and started walking forward.
...
Splash!
A creature suddenly erupted out of the water next to him, its attack aiming straight for John's back.
Boom!
A punch sent the creature flying, and its half dead corpse skipped over the murky water for some time before falling beneath its surface.
'I keep getting attacked by these annoying creatures. Just how long until I leave this damn fog?'
John had been walking for another two days, trying to get out of the fog, but he was still trapped within. Many creatures had attacked him during this time, although John was relieved that nothing as powerful as the ten-armed creature attacked him again.
Just when he thought he was never going to be able to leave the fog, John's eyes brightened as he noticed the thickness of the fog start to lessen. After running forward for several minutes, John took a deep breath of fresh air with a large smile on his face.
"Finally, I'm out of the fog."
After leaving the fog, the swamp John was in ended and an expansive forest in front of him was revealed. Towering trees dominated the land, and lush vegetation made it feel vibrant and alive, a stark contrast to the dead swamp behind.
John quickly climbed on one of the first trees he could find and once at the top, looked all around the swamp in the distance to spot Miko. However, even after a few hours of searching, John was unable to spot anything but swamp creatures roaming around within.
"Either he left already, or he's still within for some reason. Either way, I have no idea where he is, so the only thing I can do is keep moving forward."
John hopped off the tree and after checking his surroundings, started venturing into the forest. Ancient trees towered over him as John proceeded forward.
…
At another part of the pocket realm, the group of red robed boys were seen walking together. The boy in the front held an item and was inspecting it periodically.
"How far is he?" asked Dylan.
"It seems he's about fifty miles ahead of us. It should only take us a few days to catch up as long as he doesn't run," responded Jason as he kept checking the item.
"Good. I can't wait to look down on his pleading face as I end him!" Dylan responded as a large smile appeared on his face. He held a new sword in his hand, and stroked it repeatedly, clearly a powerful item he had obtained within the pocket realm.