[Snowy]

The servant who brought Neo hear pretended not to hear this last remark. Instead, he redirected the coversation, "Shall we adjourn to the armory, where you can change your weapons if you like?"

[Pureblade]

"Aye. Lead on servant of Frionia. We shall see in time just what this land holds in store for one such as I."

Neo follows the servant to the armory.

[Snowy]

OOC: Feel free to change, get ready for the next Challenge. It may not need the same equipment

[Darkness]

The dark cloaked man followed the servant down into the dungeons. The castle's dungeons had been for the most part unused for many decades before this, which the dark cloaked man knew from prior knowledge, but he could tell by the dust that covered much of the exposed surfaces, except for where feet had created quite visible footprints. Save for the cage in the middle of the room, which seemed to have been used recently. Champions stood around the cage, as if spectating. The King, however, was not. Good.

The cloaked man waited for further instruction. Having just arrived, he was not sure what exactly the challenge was about. Though by the setting alone he was able to venture a guess that he was sure was rather sound.

[Snowy]

Ther servant did his best to look the man in the eye, but was unable. "Sir, you may enter the cage when ready. As soon as the door closes, you are stuck in there until you defeat the other occupant of the cage. Then the doors will open, and you will be free to go on to the second challenge. Good luck, sir. Oh and uh," he continued on in a whisper, "you might want to watch your back. The last guy got a lycan girl who turned into a huge spider."

[Darkness]

The cage was empty. So surely, his opponent would enter the cage after he was sealed inside. Which meant that he would have no chance to study his enemy before the battle ensued. Thus was his preference. Much could be told of an enemy before seeing them fight at all. But while it was preferred, it was far from necessary. He entered the cage warily, and as it was sealed behind him, he drew a long sword from beneath the cloak.

A lycan girl who turned into a spider. While it did not sound particularly menacing, the dark cloaked man assumed it was probably worse than it sounded. Probably a giant spider. And it was strange, that the lycan girl had turned into a spider at all. Most who were inflicted with lycanthropy turned into a wolf of some kind. Those who were not wolves were usually some sort of other canine, or feline. Only in very rare cases were they completely different creatures, and in those cases there was almost always some sort of other magic involved. But anything was possible. And it was not wise to dwell on such trivial things seconds before battle.

[Snowy]

As the cage door closed, a panel slide aside in the ceiling. A shadow fell from the hole. A living shadow. It was currently in the form of a knight, a huge broadsword in it's hand and a tower shield in the other. The only thing that wasn't pitch black was it's eyes, which were the darkest shade of purple the man had ever seen in his life.

There was something peculiar about the shadow. It had no edge. It had an edge, but it wasn't clearly defined. It was fuzzy. The shadow made no move. It just stood there.

[Darkness]

A... shadow...

Peculiar indeed. The dark cloaked man wondered where the King of Frionia had found such a creature, and what train of thought had then led him to invest the creature in a tournament. It was possible he had simply had some mage create the thing, but that might have proven difficult indeed. But assuming that he had to defeat the opponent he was given to leave the cage and progress, then the shadow's placid demeanour was sure not to last. Best, then, to strike the first blow.

Raising up his weapon, the dark cloaked man's blade suddenly darted at the shadow. The stab was directed at where the shadow's chest would be, if it were a man. He did not know if on a shadow such a strike would be especially damaging as well, but it seemed a wise place to start.

[Snowy]

The shadow dissapeared as the blade neared it's chest. Looking behind him, the cloaked man realized the shadow could move freely about the cage at it's will. Apparently it could change it's shape too, because it was now a gunslinger, pitchblack, yet somehow tangible, photon-blasters in it's hands. It raised them at eye level, and began firing randomly.

[Darkness]

As the blasters appeared in the shadow's hands, the dark cloaked man dropped to the ground, attempting to avoid the fire. Technology was not something he had expected to see here. His gaze went back to the shadow's chest, which he promptly stabbed his sword at from his position on the ground.

[Snowy]

The shadow looked down, into the man's eyes. The sword seemed to glow brighter and brighter, and then the shadow was broken up into many shadows that were sent flying around the dungeon, disappearing one by one. The cage door opens.

The servant squeals excitedly, "Good job master! That was the fast time in this whole tournament! Congratulations! Will you be needing anything?"

[Darkness]

"DOOD I PWNED THAT GUY! BOW TO MEEEE! =D"


OOC: Um. Just kidding


The dark cloaked man regards the servant with a cool, hidden eye. "No. I wish to proceed in the tournament as soon as possible."


OOC: Because I'm too lazy and it's too close to midnight for me to try hard =D

[Snowy]

The servant bows and says, "Of course. Follow me sir." The servants leads the mysterious man down the sunken staircase on the right, to the treasury on the bottom floor.

[Darkness]

The dark cloaked man follows them.