Irio swallowed the pill before they went into the middle of the arena and he felt a surge of strength all over his body.
The referee gave them instructions and the rules of the duel and explained that breaking of any rule would result in an immediate execution.
Simon and Irio greeted each other as warriors should,took three steps back each and got into a fighting stance.
-Begin!
The referee shouted and left the arena.
Irio closed the distance and started his attack with a series of punches and kicks.
The human dodged or blocked all the incoming strikes but whenever he blocked he felt that something was off.
Elani was stronger and faster than he should've been.
Simon decided to use that against him and with the next attack he grabbed the alien's arm and threw him like a ragged doll.
Irio landed with a loud thud and screamed in pain,he didn't know what just happened but he didn't have the time to think this over as he saw the human foot coming down on his head.
He managed to move at the last second and avoided getting his skull crushed like an egg.
Simon overbalanced when he missed the target and Irio used this opportunity to kick his opponent in the gut.
The human groaned with pain when the kick connected and forced him to take three steps back while holding his abdomen with his hands.
Irio wanted to press his advantage but the human recovered faster than he thought and sent him flying with a kick to his ribs.
There was an audible crunch when human attack hit its mark.
Elani once again hit the floor but got up instantly,ignoring the pain.
-So we might be equal in strength and speed but his body is way more sturdy than mine.
Irio thought to himself.
In the audience everyone was shocked at how even the fight was.
-Is Admiral Black going easy on Irio?
The empress asked envoy Sato.
-I don't think so. I have trained with him and he is taking this seriously but I think that Irio is way faster and stronger than he anticipated.
Midori answered,she also thought that there was something wrong with this duel but she didn't know what.
-This really is odd.
Irio can fight with Inia on the same level but he can't fight and win against me since Simon taught me some of his techniques.
So why does it look like he is having an equal fight with Simon who is way stronger and faster than me?
Alesia asked,and then It hit her like a ton of bricks.
-This is impossible unless Irio is cheating.
The empress and Midori Sato looked at her in amazement.
They both knew that something was wrong but they couldn't figure it out.
-Do you think we should stop the duel?
The empress asked her daughter.
-No,mother lets let it continue,even if Irio is using something to boost his speed and strength,there is no way for him to enhance his body to be as sturdy as a human body and he will have to pay the price for overexerting himself.
Alesia said full of confidence.
In the arena both fighters were exchanging blows.
Simon also figured out that there was something wrong and his opponent probably had eaten some stimulant.
However there was usually a price to pay for this kind of power boost and in the Elani case it was his life.
No matter how much Irio tried he couldn't get any advantage over the human and for now they were fighting as equals but he remembered his grandfather warning that he couldn't fight for long under the effect of the stimulant or his body won't be able to take the stress.
After another exchange of blows Irio started to lose strength and speed,not because the stimulant was losing its effectiveness but because his body was too injured to continue at this intensity.
Most of his bones and muscles started ripping apart and the injuries that the human inflicted weren't helping either.
Irio had to admit that the Admiral was a superior warrior to himself and that he probably will die here as he couldn't take much more of this.
Simon decided to end this fight as he didnt want to suffer more pain than he had to so he switched to purly offensive stance and showered his opponent with attacks,most of which hit its mark.
Elani couldn't even block the human attacks anymore and each of them caused an audible crack sound from his bones.
The last attack was a knee kick to his face which sent him to the floor and massacred his face.
Irio was ready to meet his death as even when cheating he was no match for a death worlder.
He also understood that even if he won this fight,Alesia would never love him back and most likely despise him for killing her liver.
It was as if the beating made him think clearly for once and he understood his mistakes but it was already too late as he was about to be killed.
Simon approached his opponent who didn't get up after the last blow to the head but was stil breathing.
He wanted to end this as soon as possible and end the suffering of the young Elani nobleman.
The admiral stood next to his opponent .
-You fought well but it's time to end this.
Saying that he lifted his opponent and got ready to break his neck.
As the duel was about to end the ground shook and a distant thunder of explosions was heard.
Simon lost his footing and dropped his now unconscious opponent before he could finish the job.
He ran for his communicator and contacted Thanatos.
-Status rapport!
He shouted as soon as it connected.
-We have a fleet of unidentified ships that just jumped in using the wormhole technology and opened fire on the planet and the Elani fleet.
The enemy fleet consists of over a thousand ships but their weapons read as a class five at most,what are your orders?
Athena reported and asked for instructions.
-Engage the enemy and assist the Elani fleet.
I'm going straight to the shuttle and coming back ASAP.
Simon said, already putting his armor on.