Sjin was wandering along the road, feeling a little more vulnerable now that Ridge was nowhere to be seen, and his sword had broken beyond repair – Sjin had dumped the thing far back down the road, knowing he was just wasting his precious energy lugging it around when it was effectively useless as a weapon now. After exiting the building in which he had killed Lomadia, and had put her flint and steel to good use inside it, he was now feeling slightly more on edge. The only sound to be heard was the rustling of the leaves, grass blowing in the warm afternoon wind, and his own clopping footsteps on the stone road.
All of a sudden, Sjin felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand straight, as he heard a second, quieter pair of feet slapping the road beneath him. He whipped round, flint in one hand and block of steel in the other, hoping to at least look threatening enough to put the newcomer off long enough for Sjin to strike or run away. He dropped his arms, however, when he saw Ridge looking at him, eyebrows raised at Sjin's attempts at weaponry.
"Christ!" Sjin said, startled. "You scared the shit out of me."
"What exactly were you planning to do with those?" He asked bemusedly, eyes darting from one item to the other.
Sjin gripped them a little tighter, but ignored the question. "Where the hell have you been?"
"Saving your ass, actually." Ridge said, frowning. "Apparently you were in even bigger danger than before. Good thing I stepped in."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Your actions have consequences, Sjin. You may have killed Nilesy but Panda was baying for blood. He had an iron sword with your name on it."
"He died, though, didn't he?"
"Because of me, Sjin. I got rid of him before he had the chance to finish you."
"Why'd you do that?!" Sjin said, half relieved, half irritated. "I want to win because I'm the best, not because you're helping me!"
"Oh, in that case you won't want this piece of advice."
"What piece of advice?"
"Shame, really. But it's your choice, and if you don't want my help winning…"
"Fine, Ridge, do whatever you want." Sjin said, folding his arms.
"I do anyway." Ridge replied gleefully, a wicked glint in his eyes.
"Now, the advice?"
"Run." Ridge said, looking behind him. Sjin followed his indication, and saw two figures thundering down the road – from far away, he could see the bright white gleam of Lalna's labcoat against the grey and mossy backdrop. The other figure was obviously Honeydew, since he effectively had a bright orange siren of a beard – and what other tribute had a horned hat?
Panic suddenly overtook Sjin, since during these Games he had not been confronted by anyone he couldn't deal with – now he had no sword, and two tributes fast approaching him; and one of him had had his own partner taken away just as Minty had been from Sjin.
"Oh no! Th-they're after me!" Sjin cried, spinning round and speeding away from the dwarf and the scientist. He broke into sprint, suddenly frightened and immensely more grateful that Ridge, who flew alongside him effortlessly, was keeping an eye on him.
"Want me to kill them too?" Ridge asked.
"No!" Sjin cried, before lowering his voice. "I can do it myself."
"What about him?" Ridge pointed ahead of him. In the trees, Sjin saw leaves rustling, and then Dave Chaos – the famous treasure hunter – emerged into the clearing, sprinting along the road, apparently unaware of Sjin's presence. Sjin clutched his flint and steel threateningly.
"I'll take him." He said, striding quickly and quietly after Dave, after checking behind him and realizing that – thankfully – Lalna and Honeydew were no longer hot on his heels.
Sjin peered round a tree and saw Dave wandering through the forest, unaware he was walking closer to Sjin, closer to his death. Sjin took a deep breath, praying Ridge was watching over him and that Dave really was as unaware as he appeared to be – he wasn't concealing a diamond sword under his hat – then he struck hard and fast, slashing the steel lump across Dave Chaos' chest, then winding him with a knee to the chest. Dave was caught unaware for a moment, but after coughing and spluttering he saw Sjin preparing for another attack and he quickly darted away, stumbling through the forest towards the beach. Sjin sped after him, weaving through the trees, the thrill of the chase and the rush of adrenaline pumping through his veins, giving him newfound energy with which to pursue his next victim.
Sjin threw a punch at Dave's back and managed to clump him again a couple more times, but he saw another figure emerging from the river. It was Nipde – Dave Chaos' partner – and while Sjin felt like Dave was currently on low health, and would potentially be an easy takeout; Sjin was not equipped with adequate weaponry to take out his partner as well, at least without not getting hurt or even killed in the process.
It wasn't worth the risk.
Sjin skidded to a halt, his feet driven deep into the sand, and quickly began to retreat away, as Nipde tossed Dave a steak, which he quickly wolfed down, before turning back to confront Sjin once again. Sjin, frozen for a moment, remembering where he was, as he darted back into the forest, unharmed for now, but with two tough guys bearing down on him, with a two-steak reward promised from another competitor. Whether that reward would ever materialize didn't matter – at least the tribute with the most blood on his hands would be silenced forever.