I let him move first, launching himself forward at speeds a short time ago he would have never been capable of. The purpose of this battle was to establish two things to the Imperators watching. First, that Antonias had dramatically, miraculously improved in drastic ways in physical might, agility, dexterity, and martial skill. We had not informed them about the Refounding pills we had purchased which had restored Antonias’s Foundation to its pristine state pre-drug abuse and indulgence in various substances. If the Imperators were led to believe my guidance could achieve impossible transformations, the better my plan would go and the more receptive they would be to the idea of an accelerated advancement program.

The second thing I wanted to establish to the watchers with this battle was the prowess and inhumanity of Bronze. They had heard stories and legends about such beings but on Sunburst Station they had never met anyone like me. The key, of course, was to balance the two. I wanted to show off my powers, but I also wanted to give Antonias time to shine. We both had to look impressive. I couldn’t just crush him in a single move, or our mission would be undercut. I also couldn’t let myself hold back too much either for two reasons. First, I needed them to buy into the mystique and glory of my being to establish myself as an authority figure, I could not have them thinking Bronze Imperator was not as impressive as the stories told. Second, I could not have them thinking I was sandbagging to pump up Antonias’s abilities. This fight had to look real, it had to look like a legendary figure of superhuman strength being challenged by a lesser, but still incredibly talented warrior.

I ducked Antonias’s opening punch and evaded the next, as sinuous and flexible as a serpent. I pushed him back with one hand and then feinted a strike. I threw a left hook. He dodged this and followed up on his attacks with a kick that broke the sound barrier. I caught his leg with my hand gently to avoid breaking any bones and embarrassing him. He yanked his leg back and threw another punch that I caught. Again, I kept my touch feathery light to avoid pulverizing the bones in his hand as I had done before. He threw a left hook and I leaned back, allowing it to rage past me with violent intensity. I punched him twice, once in the face and once in the stomach, each time pulling my hits so that the minimum amount of force was transferred. He still grunted and reeled. I saw the focus and determination in his eyes and let him touch me with his knuckles three times. I did not feign pain or injury or anything that would slow me down, but I allowed the illusion that he could attack me to present itself to the Imperators.

I vanished, moving so quickly the Imperators could not see me move, and reappeared just behind Antonias. I pushed my palm against his spine and launched him forwards. He stumbled and caught himself, the force and friction of his motion sending plumes of crushed emerald grass and rich dark dirt spraying. He turned and advanced on me. I let him. He karate chopped at me, and I raised an arm to catch the attack on my forearm. I moved my first forward into his shoulder, and he was ripped back, twisting with the force of it, rotating around the axis of his center of gravity.

He recovered and kicked me, I let it hit me and then batted aside Antonias’s next punch. I moved at superspeed and then slowed down the motion of my limbs at the last instant to appear to be hitting him much harder than I really was. Antonias punched fast enough to break the sound barrier and I twisted my torso to avoid it. I didn’t need to move away from any of his punches or kicks, but it looked better for selling this fight to the Imperators. I kicked Antonias back thirty feet. He landed in a crouch and sprinted at me.

Antonias smiled at me a subtle smile. I let a covert one flit over my lips back. We danced a furious, brutal, beautiful choreography. We went faster and faster, thundercracks in the air as we moved and sparks and smoke trailing from our fists. Our punches exploded against each other, our kicks caused shockwaves that knocked over drinks, appetizers and refreshments on the tables the Slaves had set out for the Imperator guests. We rained blows down on each other, some hitting, some missing. I held a dominant role in the dance, but even with all my Bronze superiority, Antonias truly had improved into something impressive. His Refounded Foundation was rock solid, steel hard, and his training and pain tolerance borderline inhuman.

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I wore him down and then let off three blows that caught him off balance. Antonias tried to recover but I hit him in the stomach and then the sternum and he grunted and wheezed for breath. I picked him up, raised him into the air, and then threw him to the ground. Then I lowered myself down and pinned him against the grass.

“It’s over,” I said, though that was obvious to all present.

I rose and put a hand down to help Antonias up. He took it and picked himself up.

“Before my tutelage Antonias was a drug addict with a weak Foundation and little to no combat training and no interest in martial arts. Now he is a competent warrior capable of sparring with a Bronze Imperator.” I said.

The Imperators murmured amongst themselves.

“Well then,” I said. “Can I get a volunteer to test themselves against Antonias?”

Cornelias stood. “I will face him.”

Well. That was convenient. I had Cornelias’s measure from when I fought him so I knew Antonias would beat him and it would be greatly gratifying to see the boy who drugged me against my will to be put through the wringer physically.

The two took up positions across from each. Cornelias tensed in anticipation, but Antonias moved like lightning and his strikes resounded across the whole estate like thunder. He evaded each and every one of Cornelias’s punches and smacked him so hard Cornelias’s eyes temporarily rolled back as for a moment he was knocked unconscious. Antonias beat Cornelias down like an adult against a child and it became clear to all present how advanced I had made my student. With one final punch he dropped the other Imperator.

Antonias stood victorious over the downed Cornelias. He extended a hand down to the fallen Imperator and helped him up. Cornelias dusted himself off and then hesitantly went over to me.

“Adrias.” He said.

“Yes?” I replied.

“I wanted to say,” Cornelias said, “I wanted to say that I was sorry for putting Shine in your drink.”

“It was wrong of you to do so.” I said. I didn’t like this arrogant Imperator at all, apology or no apology.

“Yes. And I really am sorry.” He said.

“I forgive you,” I lied, smiling. Let him believe I forgave this easily. I would never trust him again with something as mundane as a drink again. Once burnt, one did not lay their hand on a lit stove. Even a child could figure that out.

“I saw you, you know. In the Red Sands arena. The day you fought against Javias the Knight of Emerald and ascended to the Rank of Bronze.” Cornelias said.

“Did you now?” I replied.

He shuffled his feet anxiously. “And I was following your progress, Commodas’s progress in the games long before. I was a… fan, I guess you could say.”

“That’s nice of you.” I said, not knowing what else to say to him.

“It was a shock to see you unveil yourself in the arena after you progressed, but it was also a relief.” Cornelias said.

I cocked my head. “A relief? How so? How was my participation in secret being revealed a relief for you?”

“My pride took a dent when you beat me at the party after I drugged you. I had never gotten into fight with someone so skilled and powerful. Knowing that I hadn’t faced an ordinary Imperator was a relief because it was only logical that I had lost to a gladiator who faced accomplished warriors constantly and dangerous and vile Infernal Beasts at a regular rate.” Cornelias said.

“I’m sure a lot of people could beat you.” I said coldly. I still didn’t like him.

He bowed his head humbly. “Perhaps that is true. I hope to improve under your tutelage.”

I sighed. “I’ll be helping all of you.” I said guardedly. “So, I suppose I’ll be helping you as well, Cornelias.”

“Do you think I can reach Bronze?” He asked, staring into my eyes.

No. No, I do not. You don’t have the integrity or determination or nobility. I thought.

“All things are possible with willpower.” I said instead.

I moved my gaze from this wretched boy and spoke to the group. “Divide yourselves into pairs. I want to evaluate your abilities and weaknesses.”

The Imperators broke up.

“Go on,” I nudged Cornelias. “Get with someone on your level.

“Should I fight another one? There’s fifteen people.” Antonias said.

I shook my head. “I’ll take one of them.”

I scanned the audience for the odd man out. “Kato. Face me, if you will.”