[@shivershiver]

[i]So you want a piece of me, eh little guy?"[/i] spoke the giant of a knight, curling the fingers of one hand into a fist and punching it into the palm of the other. A very broad smile spread upon the man's face, revealing two rows of gleaming white teeth.

A thick suit of heavy iron armor formed a protective shell around his body from top to bottom. It had to weigh a ton, because this guy's legs were the size of tree trunks, and the biceps he flexed looked like they belonged to an arm wrestling champion. There was a lot to cover.

The most revealing feature about the man, however, was the Valanthian emblem engraved onto the corner of his chestplate. It was only awarded to those who served their time in the kingdoms army honourably. He was retired military, and carried himself as such. The cape that draped itself down his back gave him a surprisingly elegant look.

Elegant, but powerful.

All eyes in the room were now focused on the two combatants, including the judges. [color=purple]Some of the other adventurers even began cheering Merek's name, impressed by his bold move to challenge the military veteran. [/color] It certainly wasn't the duel he was looking for, but at least he had earned himself some fans. Today, it seemed, the people would root for the underdog.

Feeding off the energy of the crowd, the gruff knight reached behind his back and unsheathed a devious looking mace. It wasn't in great condition, worn and chipped here and there, but that meant it had seen battle before. And judging from the knight's demeanor, he knew how to wield it.

The crowd that had assembled gasped as he did so, temporarily halting the chanting of Merek's name. [color=silver] Just moments later, however, he tossed the mace aside and readied his fists in front of his face. [/color] The judges took note of the knight's confidence, and the onlookers erupted with cheers yet again. The excitement of battle permeated through the air.

[i]"Well, let's have at it then!"[/i] the knight rumbled, still smiling behind his goatee, ready to let his fists fly as he steadily closed in on his opponent.