The woman, a strange creature, had begun to step towards the center of the platform. At this juncture, he could tell that she had some type of chi manipulation. Throughout all his travels he has seen nothing of the sort. Matching her purpse, he too began to walk towards the center of the arena. 

[b]"You see, mi'lady, I am on a certain quest and for me to complete it I must hone myself,"[/b] he started to explain. "[b]To do that I have been Christened in Chi, as some in our world would call it. I can sense that you are not famaliar with the term."[/b] The distance had closed more now. 

[b]"Chi, here, is most often referred to the life force that inhabits all. I sense that your brand may be similar. Those Christened in Chi may manipulate it to aid in combat or a variety of things."[/b] He stopped talking, he was a full meter away from the center, leaving a meter and a half between the two. With his quick reflexes, he could parry or block any incoming physical attack from this distance.

Maybe. 

He nodded towards the strange weapon at her side. [b]"May I ask the nature of your weapon?"[/b] The object was as strange to him as the lobby of the dreaded tournament, and to that of that tiny musical device the Beast King, Kei'taro was ever seeking to return. It seemed technological, far more than anything he had ever owned. The way she fingered it gave him the notion that it was a weapon. 

Perhaps it was.

A light blue sheen began to form along the edge of his weapon, as the Chi he controlled was being channeled into it.° With enough Chi, perhaps, he could push this woman to her limits. 

[b]"Again, I implore you - Ladies first. Or shall I do the honors?" [/b]After all, they had come for a fight