Aegata the Manhunter

On Tagunban's eighteenth rain, when the monsoon finally stopped and the raging waterways soothed. Tagunban would pack his supplies in a large water buffalo hide that he would then roll up and tie at the ends before throwing the bundle over his shoulder. There at the doorway of the hut would stand his mother with his late father's axe in her hands. “I don't blame you for what you did son, we all still love you…” Mayumi’s words faltered as she began to tear up. Tagunban would simply walk up, take the axe and hug her deeply. “I'll come back alive, I promise mom. I understand that better now, I swear on my father's honor.” Tagunban comforted his mother before breaking the hug and then walking out the door all while his mother smiled and struggled to hold back tears. Outside stood Katsu, Bongao, the chieftain, and Yawanu, Tagunban would first step up to Katsu. “You take care of my mother while I'm gone, you understand?” Tagunban ordered with a grin. “I promised I would, didn't I? What kind of fool wouldn't keep his word? Also Ta Da couldn't be here today so he wanted you to have this.” Katsu answered in kind before handing Tagunban a new waterskin, which Tagunban tied to his belt before stepping up to Bongao. “You better have a wife and kids when I get back, I fulfilled my promise to our father; now it's your turn.” Tagunban again ordered with a grin as he slugged Bongao on the shoulder. “Of course, though I'll try not to make a fool of myself like you did little brother.” Bongao responded with a slug to Tagunban’s shoulder before Tagunban walked up the chieftain. “Take care while I'm gone old man, I want to see the village bigger and better than ever when I get back.” Tagunban declared as he bowed to the chieftain. “Don't you worry about us boy, just focus on not doing anything stupid while you're out.” the chieftain answered as he placed a hand on Tagunban's shoulder with a grin, before Tagunban stepped up to Yawanu. “If you hear any knowledge about the leopard Twa don't hesitate to send a messenger, no doubt some sort of spirit my way.” Tagunban declared as he took a rolled up pig hide Yawanu handed him. Unrolling the hide revealed a tattoo on each side, one a crude map of the island and the other a mana-gram the same Yawanu had tattooed on his chest. “Of course my dear student, keep your mind’s eye open for any spiritual messengers I may send your way. Now that symbol should get you some leeway with other shamans in different tribes, show them that symbol and they'll know you're on a quest for knowledge.” Yawanu stated as he bowed to Tagunban. Soon Tagunban would turn and begin to walk down the trail that led out of the village. “And don't even think of going near the Sword Clan again until you're strong enough to beat Bongao and I in a two on one match!” Katsu shouted in encouragement as they all waved Tagunban off. Tagunban would turn and nod before waving in turn and leaving the village.

Tagunban would walk for days through the Highlands, the hills rolling away under sandaled feet with ease while he hunted and foraged the land he knew so well now to preserve his supplies. As Tagunban made his way closer to Tribe of Ancients territory to the Southeast the canopy began to close in slightly as the soil became more ashy and the smell of volcanic sulfur became weak in the air. During the early evening Tagunban would set about making camp and foraging the jungle for the fruits and fungus that he knew by heart were ready this time of year. As Tagunban bent down to inspect a mushroom he would hear the whistle of an arrow rush past his head. Charging the thunderstep in an instant he rushed behind a large tree for cover. Out of the corner of his eye as he bolted forth Tagunban would see the tree the arrow struck would explode into a splintered whirlwind. “Who goes there?! I am a traveler, I mean no harm!’ Tagunban shouted hoping the arrow was a misunderstanding from the Tribe of the Ancients warrior and that he could deescalate the situation. “Yet I mean you harm Tagunban anak Katas. Aegata the Manhunter has sworn to take your traitorous head, and I shall not stop until one of us lays dead!” a voice proclaimed in pride as it rode about on the wind. With that proclamation Tagunban's heart would momentarily freeze, Aegata the Manhunter was a legend he had heard before. One of a legendary archer who never fails to take his prey. A warrior of great prowess who was often sent to hunt the greatest and most dangerous criminals of the Tribe of Highlands along with rampaging spirits and great beasts. Tagunban quickly steeled his nerves but not before an arrow ripped into the tree he hid behind and caused it to explode with such force a rain of wooden shrapnel splintered into Tagunban's side as he was blown away. In pain and bleeding heavily from his splintered side Tagunban quickly shot up to his feet with pantherine reflexes before using the Thunder Step to take cover behind another tree. Tagunban would quickly look in the direction the arrow came from yet he saw nothing but jungle. Tagunban would channel his physical mana into his sense of hearing to where it equaled that of the tiger whose essence he stole and skin he wore as a cloak. When Tagunban heard the creak of a readied arrow in a pulled back bow he shot forth in a burst of energy to the next tree, the tree he hid behind before once again exploding into wooden shrapnel. Tagunban could tell full well even with the Thunder Step he was nowhere near fast enough to outrun one of these arrows if he was caught in the open, and if an arrow hit him it would surely be an instant death sentence no matter where it struck. Tagunban had to think, yet there was no time as another arrow was readied and Tagunban would be forced to flee to another tree as his previous cover again exploded into deadly splinters. Hearing the same familiar sound of flexing wood under tension Tagunban lunged for the next tree with Thunder Step only for the tree he was running for to explode instead of the one he hid behind. Thinking fast Tagunban swung his axe with channeling the Mana from his thunder step into the axe head instead; sending out a great shockwave that electrocuted the flying splinters either burning them in an instant or sending them off course as he dove for the stump that remained of the tree he sought to take cover behind. As Tagunban couldn't see Aegata the perfect technique for this situation was the Thunder Star, yet because of the Thunder Star’s long charge time he had no hope of using it. Tagunban channeled his mana through his hands and into the stump he hid behind lighting it on fire instantly, as the fire began to smoke Tagunban with the Thunder Step waved his axe as to fan the smoke to towards the next tree in the line as if he got up and ran towards it. Yet Aegata didn't take the bait and sent another arrow into the stump causing its remains to explode outwards in another rain of splinters, though Tagunban avoided the burnt of them by guarding body his head with iron head of his axe and channeling a stream of electricity through the blade to shoot through the hail of wooden shrapnel. Lunging from all fours with the Thunder Step, Tagunban quickly hid behind another tree. Then Tagunban quickly sent forth a burst of electricity with his whole body that resembled his dash with the Thunder Step as if he had lost his nerve and kept running instead of hiding behind the tree. Aegata did buy this bait and sent an arrow into the tree, the electric silhouette was aimed at it which was followed by another familiar explosion. Tagunban then dived behind a pair of large trees growing out of each other in V shape. Tagunban then extended his arms and rapidly channeled his mana through his palms as he pressed them together. Another explosion rocked the tree that made up the front half of the V before Tagunban pressed his palms together in front of his core and charged a great Thunder Star. Tagunban then sent another slight burst of electricity shaped in his silhouette again towards another tree though Aegata wouldn't be fooled by the same trick twice and sent another arrow into the tree Tagunban took refuge behind. Though Tagunban was prepared for the tree stood before a slight decline in the terrain in which Tagunban fit his body while shielding his head with his axe. As the pressurized air and splinter rain exploded, Tagunban sent out the Thunder Star to careen into the densest patch of forest where it would start to drift its way towards the direction the arrows were coming from. To distract Aegata from the Thunder Star Tagunban rushed with his Thunder Step quickly jumping up onto a great tree branch where Aegata let loose another arrow, only for Tagunban to dodge it purely through the combined force of the Thunder Step and gravity as he shot to the jungle floor. Sending out a volley of weak electric shocks aimed around the area the arrows came from Tagunban kept up pressure before he dove behind another tree. Then Tagunban sent a multitude of electricity shocks in different directions around him burning up all the driest material in the jungle around starting various fires before he shot out multiple weak electrical silhouettes to each fire. Aegata would buy this bait and send an arrow into one of the fires creating a variable inferno of burning leaf litter scattering throughout the jungle which would light more fires in turn. Before he could let loose another arrow the Thunder Star was finally within range and sent a full force arc of lightning into the man. The electricity flowing through him Tagunban could finally see the man, for he wasn't hiding behind a bush or in a tree; he was invisible to the naked eye. As Aegata spasmed uncontrollably yet never let out a single anguished cry Tagunban would also learn that the legendary Aegata the Manhunter was no Spear Clansman like he heard in the legends. Aegata barely stood five feet tall at the most with a long bow taller than he was. Aegata was a Diwata Clansman, one of the former Ancients Tribesmen who joined forces with the Tribe of the Highlands. Still Tagunban had no time to gawk or waste as he quickly bolted off away from the battlefield with the Thunder Step and grabbed his pack from camp. Now using his physical mana to reinforce his physique instead of the Thunder Step and his Channeling Mana, Tagunban ran well into the night relying upon the exhaustion heavy electrocution imparts on its victims. For Tagunban knew there was no way the legendary Aegata the Manhunter would be killed by a single attack, and to face him alone was certain death. For now all Tagunban could do was nurse his splinter wounds and try to avoid the legendary manhunter.

Tagunban spent the next few days loping through the jungle like a panther beset by hunting dogs, he only rested in short bursts not for whole nights, he traced his steps and walked through streams to hide his scent. If even half the legends of Aegata the Manhunter were true the man was no doubt still on his tracks, yet for now Tagunban couldn't smell his scent on the air. Though his mind raced with the takes he had heard about Aegata the Manhunter as he walked; how he once slew an entire Buffalo Tribe war party by himself, how he could shoot the wings off a fly from one hundred meters away, or how he's allegedly the offspring of a human and jungle spirit. Though if the tales confused him for a Spear Clansmen instead of a Diwata Clansmen, Tagunban wondered how many of the tales were actually true. There was no doubt in Tagunban's mind that the man was a legendary warrior and yet for the legendary hunter no man could escape Tagunban was still able to flee in mostly one piece. It was then dark thought crossed Tagunban's mind that the first battle may have been Aegata testing Tagunban's abilities; seeking the breadth of his technique as to better kill him in another battle. Using the Thunder Step to accelerate his movements Tagunban burst forth unto the trail hoping to create more distance between him and the Manhunter. Tagunban would further wrack his brain as he ran, he knew he couldn't take Aegata the Manhunter alone. Maybe if Katsu and Bongao were here he'd have a chance, no doubt Katsu could think of ways to counter his attacks as they both shared the Mupepe attunement. Yet Tagunban’s mind would run blank, he couldn't out speed the arrows, he can't withstand even one arrow, his only hope if they encounter each other again is that he could somehow close the gap and turn the battle into a melee. Though that is assuming Aegata doesn't have any melee techniques and Tagunban could find and fight him while he's invisible. Tagunban's one advantage right now was that on foot he was faster, between his longer stride, his physical mana, and the Thunder Step; all Tagunban would have to do is not let Aegata catch up to him alone again.