Vincent walked a few miles away from the cave. He doubled back and climbed a tree. He climbed high enough that he blended in with leaves. He waited for a while and was about to climb down when someone from the group appeared.
It was the 'drunk' guy. He smacked his lips and went back. 'I knew it. They are up to no good.' Vincent didn't move and waited another 20 minutes. "Everyone, come on out. The brat isn't here; he must've covered his tracks." The man and the rest of his group came out. The woman who was the leader cursed.
"Damnit, he would have fetched an excellent price. A kid like that is definitely from a wealthy family." The others grumbled in agreement and headed back to the cave.
Vincent was fuming with rage but didn't move. 'I will remember this. You all hunted me this time, but a month from now, I will visit you.'
Vincent quietly lowered himself down and made his way downriver. His stomach grumbled, and this made him more angry. He swung his arms at the water in frustration.
The river made a wave that went to the other side.
He calmed himself. 'Focus. You just lost your shelter for the night and your food source.' He sat against a tree and sighed. He looked up and saw fruit hanging from the limbs and smiled. 'My luck is finally changing.' He climbed the tree and picked a few ripe fruits.
The fruit looked strange. It was brown and orange. They were called twister fruits.
Vincent bit into the fruit and tapped his throat from its sourness. He ate three more. He removed the tarp from his camping gear and made it into a hammock in the tree. He set up a net made from solid vines to catch him if he fell or was attacked.
He had a clear view of the night sky as he drifted asleep. He kept his tonfas inside of his clothes just in case. Vincent fell asleep listening to the sounds of the jungle.
A group of people were watching Vincent as he went to bed. "Good call, Carl. He lowered his guard just like you said he would. Mika ready the barrier. I don't want this catch to slip from us."
The woman smiled at the thought of earning so many crystals.
Vincent was sound asleep and didn't know he was still being hunted. He was startled awake and rolled out of the way just in time to miss a dart aimed at his neck. He landed on the net below and jumped out of the net.
He took off towards the river.
An arrow was shot aimed at his leg, but he stopped and moved out of the way. He kept rushing in the direction of the river. He had almost reached it when the woman who led the group stopped before him. He became vigilant and watched his surroundings.
The guy who the arrow at him arrived first. "Damn, you are agile. That arrow type would have hit most people, and your reaction time is amazing." The others showed up. "Give up, kid, just surrender, and nothing will happen to you," Vincent showed his answer by bringing out his staff.
The woman who was in charge licked her lips. "I like your style, kid. I am Gina. Before we start, tell me what set you off?" Vincent was watching the others and responded to her. "The sounds of the jungle disappeared." Gina laughed at his response.
She took out two daggers and rushed him. Vincent used the flow-staff martial art with the final dance and kept Gina between himself and the archer. The other three joined in the fight. Vincent was already having trouble with just Gina alone. The magician boosted Gina and the two men who joined to seige him.
Vincent was struggling and had cuts on his face and arms. Vincent fell into a cycle of avoiding and leading the others into each other. His footwork got more solid, and his strikes more precise. He felt he was on the edge of something that could change the battle's outcome.
'What am I missing? It's right in front of me! I can almost see where my strikes and their strikes will cross. Why am I defending?'
Vincent let himself get kicked away. He used the space to change his stance and unleashed his baleful aura.
"I am done defending. If you want me, then be prepared to bury your friends in this jungle in an unmarked grave." A system notification went off, but he ignored it for now. The staff in his hand felt like it was an extension of his body, and everything was in his control.
Gina grew severe as she felt his aura change. "Mika, boost us as much as you can. Luke use the armor-piercing arrows." Vincent didn't give them a chance to get ready and charged at the woman called Mika.