[Snowy]

The servant led Neomin into a large, open dungeon that had an open cage in the center. Inside the dungeon several champions already awaited, but the King was nowhere to be seen.

"This is the first challenge: You must exit the cage the same way you entered, alive." The servant gave Neomin a doubtful look. "Good luck. Eranara knows you'll need it. You may enter when ready."

[Pureblade]

Neo enters the cage, focusing not on the other fighters but more on the layout and structure of the cage. He also shows particular interest in the floor.

"Any rules I should know of, good servant?" he asks.

[Snowy]

"Once you're in. You're in. Until you're finished."

The cage door locks. A panel in the ceiling moves aside, and a little girl is hurled into the cgae. She sits, crying, in a corner of the cage. The panel moves back, locking in place.

[Pureblade]

Neo pauses and sniffs the air. He can feel something isn't quite right about this situation. He advances cautiously, palms out towards the girl.

[Snowy]

The girl cries softly. You notice that there are bloodstains on what was once a cute dress, probably purchased from a loving mother.

[Pureblade]

Neo slowly knots the whip around one of the arrows, securing it tightly in place. Wrapping the modified whip around his hand, he proceeds another few feet towards the girl until he is within scimitar range. With his hand on the blade and the arrow flat against his forearm, he asks, "Girl.. what happened? What's going on here?"

[Snowy]

The little girl continued to cry softly.

[Pureblade]

Neo reaches for the girl with his whip-wrapped arm, as if to pick her up.

[Snowy]

The girl scurries quicker than a spider up and around your leg, until she is on your back. You feel her becoming heavier.

[Pureblade]

Neo rolls to his left, attempting to dislodge the girl. With his left arm he slings the whip outward until it wraps around one of the cage bars, securing itself in place.

[Snowy]

The girl rolls with Neo. She becomes heavier and heavier. You feel her arms sliding around your neck.

[Pureblade]

Muttering a stifled curse Neo reaches for his scimitar, sliding it across the floor towards the bar where the arrow is lodged. Taking one last gulping breath, Neo closes his eyes, feeling the weight bear down on him.

[Snowy]

Four, strong, spiny arms try reach around Neo's chest. They each settle on a rib, and Neo has the strong feeling that he is about to have his rib cage seperated from his body.

[Pureblade]

Focusing his mind, Neo's body begins to change. The weight grows heavier for a moment, then resides as his form shrinks more and more. Out of the empty chainmail slithers a cobra, darting to the edge of the cage and around the scimitar. Baring it's fangs at the strange girl, it settles back in striking position.

[Snowy]

Neo notices that the girl is not a girl anymore. A large black spider with what seems like an infinite amount of red eyes, crawls onto the side of the cage. It's eye have one emotion in them: hatred. It waits for Neo's next attack.

Faintly, a spectator whispers, "She's a lycan... thought they were extinct."