Captain Kirubi, the commander of Mirov's forces, was watching the combats, but he glanced sideways at the pharaoh's wife. Kyra was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman he had ever met. After he had seen her, he hadn't been able to get her out of his head, and his human form, a handsome, strong man with Asian features, had caught her attention, too. The beautiful queen couldn't look away from him, while the pharaoh was fully absorbed in the games.

Ready to conquer her, Kirubi penetrated her thoughts in telepathy.

"How can a woman be the most beautiful on the Earth and live next to a weak man like pharaoh Kaenematon? You should live like a goddess, dominating the world and the universe. Let me take you with me to the stars."

The beautiful woman looked at him and realized with surprise that they could talk without opening their mouths.

"Somehow, this god can enter my mind and I must undoubtedly believe in everything he says," thought the queen, seduced by the unknown. "I'm listening to your voice. Is my husband hearing it too?" She continued.

"No! Only you can hear me. Go to your chambers in the palace and wait for me tomorrow, real early. Everyone will be involved with the games and no one will notice our absence."

She cunningly turned to the pharaoh:

"Honey, I'm not feeling well. All this blood has left me with malaise and I must rest in the chambers given to us. I'll recover quickly, if I rest. I'll ask the servants to prepare a good hot bath and a healing herbal tea."

"I'll take you."

"There's no need, my love. I'll ask the guards to escort me. It'll be safe and you can watch the games you love. I don't know if I'll be okay tomorrow, but I'll try to show up to stay by your side."

"All right," Kaenematon ordered two guards to take the queen to her quarters.

Meanwhile, the battle between the women was about to begin, and everyone was looking forward to what promised to be the best part of the games. It wasn't common in Sumerian and Egyptian societies for women to fight, especially extraterrestrial goddesses. Those would be interesting combats.

The officer of Star Hunter spacecraft, Andreva, introduced herself. With the look of a warrior, she stared at the audience, who was afraid of the way she glared at them, as if she were calling each one for the fight. Her adversary would be Jara, an officer from Mirov's forces. They both received the bow and arrow. Andreva took an arrow from her quiver and, calmly, positioned it in her bow, directing it down. She looked at her target and, suddenly, turned her weapon to the spectators, who turned away scared. She pointed the deadly arrow at Mirov.

Immediately, Mirov's guards took out their pistols and rifles and pointed them at Andreva. The ship Star Hunter's soldiers also prepared to react. The military men on both sides were ready for any unexpected problems that might arise. No one would be caught unprepared during the games.

Merko quickly spoke to her, telepathically:

"Don't do that, Lieutenant. It's not the time or the right place. Many pointless deaths would occur here. Calm down and focus on the game."

"Is it difficult, Captain, to control your officers? Maybe we should start the battle right here and kill some Terrans. What do you think? Or can you control your subordinates?" Mirov invaded Merko's head.

She looked at Merko, who denied with his head, begging her to keep her focus on the competition. For a moment, Andreva almost listened to her conscience, which demanded her to end Mirov's life there, at that instant. But Merko was right. She should follow her captain's orders.

The officer continued to aim at Mirov's chest, who didn't move and stared back at her as if he knew she was only bluffing. She turned her arrow slowly toward the target's direction. Even vexed, she sent her arrow to hit its goal with perfection.

"This crazy lieutenant shoots well. I prefer that she aims at the right target," thought Mirov, realizing that she was a real threat.

The crowd rose and cheered the lieutenant. Perhaps the shock they felt made the competition even more exciting. The soldier Jara also calmly picked up her arrow and aimed at the target. She shot with her weapon, which arrow cut through the air until it reached the center of the target. Andreva fired again and once more she hit the center.

Jara also hit the middle of the circle in sequence, and in the fifth chance, after another precise shot from Andreva, the officer couldn't miss. The people stood up, waiting for her reaction, but the burden of responsibility was too great and the arrow flew toward the second circle, in the last attempt of her clash. She looked at the floor, disappointed, and Mirov looked at her with contempt. He was very angry and could disintegrate her right there, in front of everyone, if it were possible.

Andreva raised her bow with her right arm in a winning shout and all the people cheered her. The pharaoh stood up and the Sumerian king opened his beard, smiling at the spectacle, both applauding the fearless warrior goddess who had won the fight.

The score was 3 x 2 and Merko was proud of his team. Mirov squirmed with hatred, but he knew he could turn the tables. He just needed to wait for the right time for this.

Second day

The alien games were getting more and more exciting. During the intervals, everyone commented on the fights and the courage of the warriors. The audience had never seen anything like it, and the spectators eagerly awaited the resumption of the combats that would take place in the afternoon.

From Genesis spacecraft, the battle cruiser Star Hunter and the Science spaceship, the crews followed the disputes that, besides being a great entertainment, could also seal the fate of mankind as they knew it. Zara, at that moment, was talking to Drako inside the ship, immersed deep in the sea, while Little Wolf stared at the holographic screen as if it also wanted to intervene in the outcome of the games.

"Nicholas competed very nicely with the bow and arrow! Tibor trained him well."

"Merko must also have taught something to his son during the time they lived on Earth. I think our friends fought well, and the best part is that we are ahead in the leaderboard," Drako said hopefully.

"Lieutenant Andreva should have shot that arrow at Mirov, that's the truth!" Zara was exultant.

"It wouldn't be wise to put innocent lives at risk in the gaming arena. I think she acted right in continuing the competition."

"I'm curious to see the other matches. The medical team has already confirmed that Nicholas is fine, as well as Tibor and Crom."

"How nice!" Drako sighed, finally relieved.

At night, everyone took advantage of the rest to recover from the tensions they experienced. Meanwhile, the wounded were carefully attended by their teams in order to prepare for what was to come. Nicholas, for example, looked at the arrow attached to his arm and felt pain only by thinking about what they would do to remove it.

"This is going to hurt a lot... I'm already feeling it before the treatment starts."

"Don't worry, son. The doctors who will take care of you are the best on our planet. I chose them for this trip myself."

"You say that because it's not in your arm that this piece is stuck." He stared at the injured member, making an ugly face.

Merko just looked at the doctor who approached, and he talked to her telepathically, not caring if the boy would hear:

"Put the boy to sleep, it'll be better."

"Yes, Captain."

When Nicholas thought of complaining about the suffering once more, a nurse came from behind him and put a metal-pistol-like object on his neck. In a few seconds, there was no more distress. He passed out, to only wake up on the other day, safe and sound.

In the extraterrestrial challenge, the crews of the other ships also shared Zara's feeling of curiosity, and couldn't take their eyes off the holograms of the arena. By then, the first step of the games had ended with the first five fights. The second stage would be between two female pairs. The four fighters on either side were tense, preparing for the fights before the final showdown.

The first pair to fight would be formed by Jaiza and Suva, who were drawn with swords, against the rivals Pectra and Sinova, excellent warriors from Captain Kirubi's team, who would also use these weapons.

Jaiza was a specialist in laser spear fights and, since the technique was like the use of the sword, she telepathically instructed her companion duo, Suva, while they awaited the start of the match.

"I'll protect your right flank and position myself by your side. Keep your concentration. Position your feet open to shoulder width for balance. Avoid letting your fingers exposed so they won't be cut off with the enemy blow and use the wrist firmly making sharp movements to the left and to the right. If any of them stand in front of you, push your sword on top of her. Do as I explain in the combat classes on the ship."

"Leave it to me, Sergeant Jaiza, for I will remember your instructions." Suva was anxious for the fight to begin.

"Don't forget to swing the sword to make the opponent undecided with the direction of the blows. Protect your legs by pointing the sword to the ground. To defend yourself, hold the sword in front of you."

"Calm down, Jaiza, I know how to use a sword."

Jaiza looked at Suva's countenance and felt she was nervous.

The sergeant wouldn't hesitate if she had to fight for her companion pair as well. She was brave and fearless.

The spectators, especially the men, were excited to see the resourcefulness of the beautiful warriors that were in the arena. They had high expectations due to the battle of the previous day, and even in the different outfits of the human women's clothes, they could perceive the beautiful Terran bodies that the fighters possessed.

The sound signal was given with the trumpet. The fight began. Pectra danced with her sword as if it were a simple toy, and Sinova accompanied her in her movements, dancing synchronized. It was a small display of what was to come and Jaiza felt that the fight would be difficult. Her partner didn't have the experience that their rivals possessed with this type of battle.

"I'll give my blood in this dispute and we'll win," Jaiza thought.

Pectra launched an attack on Suva and it seemed that the two of them wanted to attack only the weakest part of the pair. That was a good strategy.

Jaiza charged at them like a tigress trying to defend her cub, protecting with the blade the violent attacks on her partner. With each blow, Suva tried to move away, while Jaiza fought with Pectra, disputing each place with the one of the rivals. Sinova attacked Suva without rest. Suddenly, Sinova's sword cut off Suva's arm and she screamed in pain. She felt worse seeing the blood dripping from her hands, the red drops covering the floor.

The people got up and saw the pool of red liquid forming, as the wounded warrior sweated and squirmed. Jaiza cut Pectra's leg in a tangent blow to her thigh.

"I can't go on, Jaiza. I think I'm going to faint", Suva gasped.

"Hold on tight, we still have a chance. Distract at least one of them and keep distance from the other."

Jaiza still fought for a few moments, but in a certain blow, Sinova cut off Suva's arm, already fully wounded. Jaiza continued defending herself from the blows of the two warriors, but looking at what happened to Suva, she put a hand forward, crying out for the fight to stop. She looked at Merko in a supplication and he shook his head, approving the act. She then threw her sword to the ground, as a clear sign of her withdrawal. She had to save her friend's life.

The help team came to Suva's aid and took her to the ship to try to reimplant the severed arm. If it weren't possible, a bionic member would be the best option. That was how Mirov's pair, Pectra and Sinova, received a double score by the victory.

The score was then 4 x 3 in favor of the spaceship Genesis' team.

"I thought it would be harder to beat them. I finally turned the game around..." Thought Mirov, satisfied with his team's performance.

The spectators stood up and applauded the fights, which were increasingly electrifying. What could they expect from the next battles?

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Also read #ThePhantomMan Duology by #ChaieneSantos chaienesantoswriter