Everyone stood still in silence before spring in action. The once helpless ten something years old kid seems to turned into someone else entirely. He struck without hesitation at Oak and flung her away. The rest of his men closed their gap and almost out into open before he tapped into their mind and told them to calmly come closer. He himself barely kept his cool as wrath flooded his mind as he jump at the kid as he drew a stick from his sleeve and unfolded it into short sword.

He slashed at the kid before being blocked barehanded by the kid with nonchalant attitude.

"What is wrong with you?! We're trying to help!" The kid had a gal to snorted at him as he jumped back and create a distance. "Help? Really? Did you really think I would be easily fooled by you?"

Liam stared incredulously at the kid before him. He could only saw blue eyes staring at him derisively as his mouth was covered in medical mask. Even if there's a mask obstructing the face, he could know the sneering smile plastered behind it.

"Aura is great thing but it always gave yourself away you know?" the kid stated as he shook his hand that was used to blocked Liam's blade. "It felt like you're a third rate villain with this act."

"Oh yeah? An act? How would YOU know that we're not trying to help you? You're not making any sense kid." Liam was sure that their target got a mental semblance like he did. It's not their rodeo dealing with people with semblance like this but they knew how to hide their intention with his semblance. But it seems that this time their target are the one catching them in surprise instead of vice versa.

Liam gaze at the dazed Oak that was kneeling as she clutched her head in pain. He bide his time seeing Oak didn't immediately get up and felt his men got closer through his semblance.

"Really?" the kid asked in amusement. Liam squinted his eyes as the kid relaxed his stance. "Then why would you two approached me in silence before flooding the air with joy and cheerfulness at the same time? It's sus."

Before he replied or any of his men could strike, they're caught unawares when all of them literally felt currents of negative emotions swept them. It was a flicker at first before it turned stronger as if it was amplified and suffused the air and affect them.

Fear, anger, disgust, sadness, loneliness, annoyance, and many more was felt by them. The source of those emotions in contradictory laughed without a hint of those emotions in his voice.

"It's not a party if there's only two group on it. Don't you think so?" the emotions was suddenly gone as the kid dashed to the left before they could react. Heading towards one of Liam's men.

'Ito get him! He is heading toward you!' Liam command was not only directed at the now identified Ito, but toward all his men. 'This kid is baiting all Grimm toward here! Stopped him before he did it again!'

Those emotion was felt in such a short moment but through its intensity, Liam sure its already did the job to become beacon for Grimm. That is without counting his men emotions. He could masked them sure, but not in ongoing battle. He didn't have the concentration for it.

Stephen remembers roughly where each of his assailants located. As he bide his time, he was sure that at least they're closer than when he detected them the first time. He could have use En but he wanted to save his Nen for later. Not all of his Nen beasts are cheap in cost.

One of the cheapest in cost tends to worked in simple but unique in their way. The example of it was a dragonfly that is currently flew in the sky above. It looked strange unlike any other dragonfly it has blueish translucent body, an antenna on it's head, and thin straight pincers almost as long as it tail that moved individually.

Mood Festival. One of several conjured creatures that his ability made independently without his input. It worked as a transmitter and amplifier of emotions. The conditions for it to be activated was simple. As long as the target stay within ten meters and didn't looked directly at it, it will stockpile every emotions it can got by draining it from the target and then be transmitted to him or other people. If the target was himself, he can amplified emotions he projected through Ren and En so long it was still within activation distances.

The cost was cheap as it can be maintained indefinitely so long it received Nen on one hour basis.

Right now, it transmitted small amount of emotions it stockpiled directly toward his assailants in burst. Giving the illusion of mental semblance that Stephen used to bait Grimm. This time Stephen is not the mood to be dumb and reckless enough to invite Grimm over.

There is also a chance that they will saw him as commodity with high praise if sold to right people. If they're not angered enough to kill Stephen that is.

Stephen dashed toward left into the hiding place of one of his enemies. A moment later he clashed with them. Stood almost more than twice his height and width was a man that wield a double headed spear with bland design. Stephen didn't paid more attention at Ito's clothing beside knowing he wears something akin to tribal armor. Eliminating the possibility of hidden weaponry.

Ito pounced at him with a stab at his chest that Stephen narrowly evade by slightly turning his body. Stephen then ducked as he already expected a the stab turned into swept. With a burst of Aura Stephen stepped closer and smacked his right hand to Ito's head. Fulfilling one condition for his Nen ability.

'Jockey Spider.' Stephen left behind a Nen that took a shape of white spider with humongous squirming stomach. ' Download.'

With mental command from Stephen, the stomach started to change and took the shape of Ito's head with its spinneret weaving web that looks like his hairstyle. The minute details of Ito's face started to appears slowly as the spider changed it place and went to his shoulder. All of this happened without Ito's knowledge as the spider was hidden through In. Doing it job at the expense of Stephen inability to use above 50% efficiency.

As soon as the ability took effect Ito could felt dizziness creeped over him. Turning his next attacks sluggish and off the mark to the point Stephen could easily dodge. Not wanting to waste a chance, Stephen struck out by kicking Ito on the crotch. Ito's aura couldn't negate all the force as he doubled down in pain. Something he shouldn't have done as Stephen punched his neck and palmed his left ear in quick succession. Ito's eardrum was ruptured as Stephen palmed with not only a physical force but also by bursting his aura, sending extra air into Ito's ear.

Stephen seize Ito's spear as he was kneeling in pain and discombobulated with hearing problem. He didn't add a flair like spinning the spear for testing it as he immediately stabbed down at Ito's kneeling form with Shu covering the spear head, right at the back of his neck. There's a resistance from Ito's aura before it gave up under Stephen Nen. Causing the blade to pierce the skin and sink into Ito's neck.

His eyes widened at the sight of Ito releasing a gurgle as he was choking on his blood. Jockey Spider then leaped from Ito's rapidly cooling body into Stephen left shoulder. The abdomen of Jockey Spider already finished it's transformation to mimic Ito's head. Before he could think of his act of killing a person, someone shot him on the back.

Stephen threw any thought of killing a person to the back of his head as he swiftly pulled the spear and rolled to the side. His aura luckily blocked it as the projectile dropped to the ground instead of piercing him. He then spun the spear around his back before stabbing it straight to the ground and positioned his body sideways, aligned to the spear. Few of the incoming bullets and projectile hit the spear while others were missed.

He saw the shooter few meters from him. Two lanky guy in green that use a repeating crossbow and exquisite lever action rifle.

Stephen pulled the spear from the ground to block incoming attack from his left made by small man only a head taller from him. The man dual wielded a machete with chains attached to it's pommel. The man was not the only person closing to engage him in melee as Liam and one other guy approached with their weapons brandished.

Knowing he was outnumbered in plain sight, Stephen decided to run between the trees despite knowing spear would give him disadvantages on such terrain. Not only that, he was not trained in spear. The militias and hunters on the village only gave him a lesson in hand to hand combat and way to use knife in it while refusing teaching him other thing. Fortunately, his lack of skill can be resolved through Jockey Spider.

'Play and upload, Jockey Spider.' With a thought, the spider with Ito' head as stomach burrowed it's leg into Stephen shoulder. The pain was excruciating but Stephen endured as it was one of it's condition for it to be fully activated. The ability lose it's In property as it body and head then laid flat as the stomach raised to the air and gave Stephen the looks of two-headed man.

Knowledge and experience to wield the spear in his hand flowed into him. Through it, his posture changed as he ran. Changing and mimicking the way of Ito's spear wielding. He then placed both of his hands to the middle of spear shaft, pressing two buttons on it and twisting the shaft at opposite directions before he pulled it apart. Changing the spear into two short spears with chains that link it.

From the memory, he learned that the spears can be turned into two short spears or a nunchuck. Ridding it of many disadvantages it held when fighting between trees. Unfortunately before Stephen could basked in newfound experience, Liam managed to get closer and jumped from behind the tree in his left. Almost slashing at Stephen's neck if he didn't deflect it in time, something Stephen reciprocate by.

"What the hell is that thing?!" Liam asked as they exchange blows. "Oh my god, that looks like Ito's head!" Liam got stabbed in the chest when he could finally saw Ito's face clearly, unhindered by the long hair it mimicked from Ito.

"It's interesting thing isn't it?!" Ito's head lookalike soundlessly laughed in tandem with Stephen. Agitating Liam further by the looks of laughing children with two heads. One of it was head of his deceased comrade. "Unfortunately it couldn't talk. Something that needed to be fixed if I could."

"You!" Liam slashed wildly at Stephen, his disciplined form was forgotten in exchange to release his anger. "Have you no shame?! You're desecrating dead man!"

"Shame? Coming from you that's rich." Stephen weave between the strikes. Sometimes he would deflect or blocked it. "Pretty hypocritical for child traffickers."

Stephen didn't bother to correct him as it only mimicked Ito's head. Nevertheless, Stephen bite back the disgust toward himself as it was eaten by Mood Festival that flew not far from him. His mind shouldn't be swayed mid-fight as it could be fatal since he is outnumbered. He couldn't see where the other melee fighter is but he could use the opportunity to focus his mind toward Liam. Giving Stephen an ample time to engage him in combat.

The ranged fighter themselves are busy trying to snipe him and fail due to trees and him moving in combat with Liam.

"I'll cut your limbs for this," heavy strike was swung and promptly blocked. "and sold you to some psycho as a pet! That will teach you!"

"Aw, no torture?" Upward slashed nicked Liam's face as Stephen also scored a stab in stomach. "You're failing in your threat as third rate villain!"

Stephen didn't knew how much dangerous Liam is if he is cold headed so he kept goading him. Anger gave you power but also blinded you to mistakes you normally won't make. Just like how Liam has disciplined form in first exchange that gradually lost it as time passed by.

"You little bas-" Liam was cut mid-off with Aura and Nen powered kick in the knee. Stephen followed up with dual stabbing him in chest that drove him to the ground. Stephen kicked Liam's sword away and proceed to repeatedly stabbed Liam shoulder until his aura broke.

"Argh!" Liam screamed in pain as his shoulders was pierced and rendered unusable. He was then silenced with a kick that robbed him of consciousness. Stephen didn't finished him as he planned to use Jockey Spider on him later as it haven't finished uploading Ito's spear art to him.

Bullet hit him in the head from the side and diverged his attention toward the two ranged fighter. The other two melee fighter was still not in sight. With such opportunity to deal with two instead of four, Stephen sprint toward the two while zigzagging to dodge the bullet.

Using his spears as a nunchuck, he lashed toward crossbowman in his right. The shaft hitting the neck before the blade nicked it. There's no telltale of Aura resistance as the blade cause a small cut on his neck. Unfortunately he couldn't finished the guy as the rifleman shot his shoulder, diverging his attention to the left.

Still using it as a nunchuck, he smashed the gun away before following up with combo that he got from Ito's memory. Downward hit at the arm, sideswipe to the throat, upward to the chin, repeating hit toward the body and face and finished with stabbing the chest with both blade. The aura broke down and his stab strike true. The rifleman then slumped to ground, dying at his feet. Leaving the crossbowman as the sole ranged fighter.

He turned his attention toward the guy in his right. The crossbowman collapse in fear while clutching his bleeding neck. The man opened his mouth but Stephen slashed his throat he could utter anything.

'Upload complete.' Jockey Spider finished it tasked and fully integrated Ito's knowledge and experience using his weapon with Stephen. "That's convenient timing." Jockey Spider then broke down and returned into Nen that fused back with him.

With this he could finally used it on unconscious Liam, copying his swordplay. Stephen turned around and was surprised seeing the machetes guy disheveled appearance standing above unconscious Liam while carrying another man in fireman carry. Stephen couldn't see the woman he hit earlier so with a quick En he checked his surrounding, wary of ambush tactic. He saw what caused the machete guy disheveled appearance. It quickly spread more than twenty five meters before he pulled it back in.

Through his En he could felt toppled trees and destroyed environment. Not only that, he could felt a mangled and gored dead body. Something he didn't caused in his battle. He was surprised that he didn't realize any of that happening as it must be loud. Something he needed to rectify.

"You fought a Grimm on the way here? You have my thanks." Stephen said offhandedly as he walked toward lever action rifle he slammed away from his dead enemy. "You know you should've left me alone right? I couldn't leave witness and must silence you and all. You picked the wrong the kid to mess."

Stephen picked the rifle and checked it remaining bullet without looking at the machete guy at all. He looked up and saw the machete guy place the one he carry to the ground beside Liam.

"You're bluffing," The man confidently stated. "I don't know who you're but I know you are at your limit. You're breathing heavily and bleeding on your shoulder so I know you don't have any aura left. Otherwise why would you pick up that gun?"

In actuality, he still has Aura and Nen left. The blood was caused by Jockey Spider and was already healed. He just couldn't see it as the healed wound was covered in blood. Stephen didn't bother to correct his mistake either as it was advantageous to him.

"So you don't want to leave me alone?"

"No, you will fetch a high price for your skill."

Stephen smiled under his mask and aimed the gun at the guy's head. "Then let's see if I'm bluffing or not."

The man scoffed before he disappeared completely, causing Stephen to flared his En. The moment Stephen saw that the man was actually being invisible and creeped closer in silence, he fired all of the bullet remaining. In total, three shots were fired and hit the invisible guy and causing his invisibility to fail.

"Like I said, you're picking the wrong kid to mess with." Stephen closed in to engage the guy in melee as the guy turned invisible once again. "You know it won't work right?"

Stephen waited until the guy attack almost hit him before evading and lashed out with upward slash using his spear. It didn't break his aura but the guy was thrown to the grown with his aura can be seen flaring and almost breaking down.

"Your friend gave me more challenge," Stephen walked dispassionately as if he was doing a chore toward the guy. "You should've tried more harder if you're that confident in the beginning."

The guy didn't offer anymore fight as he turned tail to run by using the last bit of his aura to become invisible and run away from Stephen. He sighs out loud and attached small amount Nen on his back.

"Jinmenken." Stephen decide to test the Jinmenken for battle. He was sure the machete guy without a doubt will fight it the moment he saw it coming toward him. Unfortunately with his amount of Nen right now, he could only summon three instead of five of it.

From Stephen shadow came out three horrifying creatures. Unlike the popular version of Jinmenken with body that is more similar to dog, this ones looks like a naked humans with who was bent forward to the point of using their hands as a second pair of feet. Their torso's and legs appear to have gotten devolved and became shorter. The skin on their faces has pulled back, giving them all a gruesome smile. Two was balding and one has cow lick hairstyle. Overall something you would run away from if you encounter it at night or day.

Maybe those people are right and he should go to doctor if this was automatically made by subconscious without his input.

"Kill him." The Jinmenken started to pursue and pounced at the machete guy. Stephen didn't bother to watch as he will knew if it failed the task. He chose to walked toward unconscious Liam.

Stephen proceed to place his hand on Liam's head and mustered his remaining aura to place Jockey Spider on it. It took a moment for it to copy a skill unless someone has massive and long experience on it like old veteran of war or certain immortal. He can begin integration of experience if his enemy was beaten.

Seeing Liam was already beaten, Jockey Spider didn't took a long time before it jumped back toward Stephen shoulder and begin it's main function. Stephen closed his eyes as he basked in Liam's experience in swordplay as he was doing kata while ignoring the screams of terror and pain not far away from him.

Unlike Ito's exquisite technique, Liam's swordplay was simple and geared toward subjugating opponent. Honestly if Liam didn't lose his cool and was caught by surprises. Stephen could've been taken and be sold as slave by tomorrow.

After the integration was completed, Stephen opened his eyes and was greeted with mangled human body that seems to have been eaten by wild animals. Animals with human teeth that is. Seeing it on screen or feeling through En pales in comparison with seeing something that was conjured by himself.

"Yeah I probably need to see that doctor." Stephen said to no one but himself.

"pRaaIseE us.. " the Jinmenken moaned or was it whimpered? At Stephen. Causing him to looked at their bloodied appearance. 'Yeah I need that doctor.'

"Yeah.. good job. Good job.. "

--To be continued.

--

AN: How good did I handle this fight scene? Honestly this stumped me as I think this is not good enough. Leave your thoughts or memes. Whichever one is fine.

As for the appearance of Jinmenken itself I was inspired by The Nimble Things. F-virus infected victim from Apocalypse no Toride, and yes, Stephen has some screw loose after being stuck in the Void. He just didn't realized it yet and it will be shown why later in the future.