[center][h2][color=turquoise]The Cereal Killer[/color][/h2]
[@Lugubrious][/center]

Runch listened intently with a smile on his face, but the smile faltered as his opponent hurled insults and accusations at him. It seemed he had utterly failed to get his point across in the way he had intended to, and ended up insulting the knight. That wouldn't do any good. Not at all. [color=turquoise]"I apologize for offending your senses, sir knight,"[/color] he began. [color=turquoise]"I meant no insult. It is just curious why you would continue onward when you believe this entire tournament to be futile. But if we really must fight..."[/color] The captain breathed a heavy sigh, showing his discontent with the turn of events. Erina still held her position near the pirate, preparing herself for combat. She gripped Bend's blade tightly, preparing to unsheathe it at a moment's notice. She had already taken the ghost into herself.

[color=turquoise]"There is one thing you've said I cannot help but voice my disagreement with though, Sir Boniface."[/color] Runch took a moment to pop the joints in his neck, then kept his eyes glued to the knight's, following him as the pair circled around him. [color=turquoise]"A man chooses to be a monster. This crucible, as you called it, is merely a situation that we men have been placed in. I know my choices. I choose to sail with freedom at my back so that I may bring smiles to the faces of children across the world. You don't seem like the kind to choose to be a monster either."[/color] He placed his free hand on the grip of his pistol, already loaded with a special berry shot. Then he moved so he was back to back with Erina, allowing them each to keep a better look out of their opponents.

[color=turquoise]"The knight is a fierce berserker, but strategic and calculating. You have more to fear from the woman. She shares your power over the dead. Do not allow her to influence Bend."[/color] He gave the advice to his companion at a whisper, holding his spoonsaber in such a way that he intended to block his mouth from view. Hopefully Cyril's head screw wouldn't have been properly adjusted just yet and it would be enough to give them the early game advantage needed. Then he addressed the opponents one last time.

[color=turquoise]"Since you're already circling like sharks I doubt you'll change your mind, but I had hoped this could be an honorable duel. One on one. I don't want others to get hurt as I pursue my dreams and I hope you'll agree with such sentiment."[/color] Not even Runch believed it would have done any good. Knight or not, something told him that this knight had a stronger relationship with victory than he did with honor. After all, what was right and what actually works usually deviates. Not to mention the general attitude of the man had been quite... Nihilistic. The cap'n braced himself for an attack. The next round was now.

[hr][hr]

[center][h2][color=darkviolet]The Murder[/color][/h2]
[@Lugubrious][/center]

The freakish man was interesting. He spouted off tidbits of information that Samuel found most interesting indeed, and wanted to be expounded. The College had a splinter group? Then whatever this tournament was all about was going to get very complex. Not that Samuel knew he'd ever have any hand in it, and he doubted the man would elaborate further. He opted not to press his luck on the issue, and placed his hand in his pocket to pull out...