Lantis knew that despite not being able to travel to the Sky Island. He still had to wait the Three days for his log pose to adjust and head to the next island. He wanted to stay safe, and among the infested pirate-filled island, the closest he could come would be something he was very familiar with. The Wilderness.
Despite his age, the instincts of the Wild were ingrained into his body. Gathering wood, finding a nice clearing surrounded by giant canopy trees. Lantis was smart, he made sure that the fire he made was vented beneath the dirt so that no smoke would be noticeable a distance, from both Pirates and the wild animals of the Crani Jungle. Despite his earlier encounter with the Pirates, he felt so at home amongst the wild.
He pushed his bi-folces up and rubbed at the indents from the glasses. The one thing on his mind was the fact that he couldn't stand up for himself. He used to wrestle beast for fun, he'd get so close to dens of animals just to jot down notes that the inhabitants of the islands thought he was crazy. And crazier still, he sometimes did it with nothing but a walking stick.
But now. Here he was, escaping into the wild just as he did after Priscilla had Died. So long out of the action, so long without a goal, he could feel that it'd taken a toll on his body. Skin that hung wrinkled, hair grayed, the laugh lines and crow's feet at the edges of his mouth and eyes respectively. How far he'd fallen from the Great 'Theodore Lantis'.
Rustling in the foliage, a faint light could be seen. The Orange and amber red glow of a flame flickering through the Green. Lantis' Eyes shot up. 'Who could be out here? I walked at least a kilometer out into this jungle…There'd be no reason to come out here at this time of night unless…'
The only thing the man could think of was either Pirates looking to party, Hunters or someone who was after him. None of them were things he wanted.
Lantis Reached into his Sachel and pulled out his pistol. It was a long intricate Flintlock pistol. His Initials along the Metal engrave, made of fine dark oak wood. It was something that he had custom-made, he always figured if he got in a pinch. All he'd need was one bullet. He'd gone to a specific gunsmith. And Had the Pistol go under a process known as 'Fining' to create an 'Eccellente Acciaio'. Despite its frame, despite the material. It undergoes a process to allow even a normal round to become extraordinarily powerful than when it was originally. Bounty Hunters all around the World had them so that even as their bodies and prowess grew, their prey strengthened. Their Firearms could keep up. Sure it needed to be finely tuned every so often to keep up if the Hunter was known to outgrow his equipment quickly.
But Lantis, he knew where he stood. He used to be mighty. But he knew just what he'd need. He remembered what the gunsmith had said. 'It's about two dozen times stronger than it was before!' At the time, he enjoyed the quaintness of such a thing. Only had to rely on it only a few times in his long memory. To think now would be one of those days…
His old geriatric hands shook as he readied the pistol. Getting the Powder into the Pan, making sure the flint was right. And then Cocked it back and kept it hidden behind his thigh.
"Who's out there!" He muscled up the bravado from decades past to question who was out there.
Moments later a group of men came out of the bushes. Four adorned in Linen shirts, Cutlasses on their hips, pistols drawn, one man in the front held a large wooden torch in hand, the flames licking at the low hanging leaves from above.
"Woah there Old Timer! That's no way to greet a friend!" The Man wore a ragged and torn shirt that exposed a lean but muscular build beneath. Skin a bit on the fatter side, surely from excess of partying on the mans part. Around his neck was a tooth necklace. Large Fang like teeth strapped around a hemp rope. Around his waist was a noose that was nightened to keep his pants up. The Baggy and torn denim had strands of fabric connecting the torn sections together.
"You…" Lantis said scowling before pulling the pistol from behind his back and aiming it at the man. The Man in front of him was the same from the bar who humiliated and threw him out.
"Aww, you do remember me!" He spoke with a condescending grin. "I'd certainly hope so! Especially with such a high bounty on my head!" Brizman. With a bounty of 100,000,000 had become notorious throughout his Home blue in the South. Gaining the Epithet of 'The Freak'
"What do you want with me…Haven't you done enough?" Questioned Lantis. Pistol steady in his hand for the first time in decades.
"So- You really thought we were just going to Let you go?" Spoke Brizman with the tilt of his head. "You were far too fun to play with. You were supposed to leave the island Like I told you too- And yet here you are."
"Leave how?! Log post still has a few hours before being fully reset! I came out here for a reason!" Lantis' voice was confused. Trying to plead his own case with the notorious pirate in front of him