UNLIMITED SPEED

Stepping out of his door with his mask on. He had started to like that additional piece of clothing after wearing it for days.

His eyes swept the hallway and met the serious expressions of the other 24 individuals. The lady’s words had really gotten to them and a sense of nervousness couldn’t help but fill their minds.

Only a bit of waiting was required before the usual magical circle expanded beneath their feet and their surroundings changed.

Noah opened his eyes in the same room they had waited in yesterday, and it wasn’t until about a minute had passed did a blue illusory screen appear, followed by the voice of the female, whom no one knew.

“Good morning youngsters, welcome to the last day of the tournament of champions. Today is going to feature events far different than yesterday or the day before,” she started drawing everyone’s attention to her voice.

“There will be two major events, the first will be an obstacle course and the second a free for all. The obstacle course is like many of you know. You are placed before a series of obstacles and you are to cross them successfully, except that this one has a time limit and if you’re not done by the time required, you’ll be immediately disqualified.”

“The second will take place in a remote town designed for this tournament and will see you all hunting each other down until only ten individuals remain,” she paused for a second.

“Both events are targeted at eliminating participants, but for the sake of the top three there’ll be points attached to both of them.” She continued when a magical circle suddenly expanded above them and similar items numbering 25 fell from it. .𝘤𝑜𝑚

The curious cultivators didn’t hesitate to catch them after which the lady continued.

“These objects are to be worn and will take your vitals and also hold your scores.” she started/

“The first score-related issue will be on the time required to finish the obstacle course.”

“The time limit itself is an hour thirty minutes, but with every five minutes remaining till the end of the time limit; ten points are awarded to you. For example; if you finish the obstacle course twenty minutes before the end of the time limit you receive 40 points. If you finish ten minutes till the time required runs out you receive 40 points,” she explained.

“Your finish time must be in multiples of five minutes to receive an extra ten points, so for instance, if your finish time is twenty-four minutes till the countdown ended you will only gain forty points and not fifty. If you however finish exactly when the time runs out you will receive nothing.”

“The bracelets are trackers featuring the time limit. However, when you reach the finish line it stops counting and that will be your finish time.” she continued.

“Now for the second and last event. Assuming you survived the first one and get to the city where the battles will begin, you are to spread out in all directions and wait for the countdown required till its starts ends.”

“Immediately the game ends you are to eliminate each other until a buzzer sounds signifying that only ten individuals remain. The bracelets will feature a scan of your vitals and if it’s too low you will be teleported, and the last person to attack you will be rewarded a point for eliminating you,”

“Note that no spells are allowed. Even a whiff of mana will be enough to disqualify you,” She warned even if everyone knew.

“We at the council are aware of the fact that some of you are guild-mates and hold an oath to not hurt each other. Well, as long as you remain within the bounds of the town the negative effects of your oaths will be repelled allowing you to eliminate each other.”

Her words immediately brought murmurs. Noah for one understood what she meant, and he recalled his time with Augustus. Oaths could only be repelled or broken by a stronger power. In their case tier 5.

His eyes scanned the area and fell on the others. They exchanged uncertain gazes, but no one moved from their position.

“Each person you eliminate will bring you 40 points which will be added to the points gained during the obstacle course. Those with the top three highest points will be the top three.” Her explanation ended and she allowed the experts to take in all she had said.

‘Those lower than top three do not have any particular requirement, just be around when only ten individuals remain and you’re set,’ Noah concluded after a while. Of course, that rule didn’t apply to him since he aimed for the top three.

Noah inspected the bracelet more and realized that it could develop a holographic screen. His “Vital” was “Excellent” but “Points” and “Finish time” were null.

A few minutes had to pass before the lady’s voice returned from the screen.

“Are you ready? Immediately the countdown ends you’ll be teleported to the obstacle course site,” she announced when a ten seconds countdown appeared on the blank screen.

The whole room went dead silent at that point, Noah felt his nervousness skyrocket, but his mind was still in its calmness, His expression was normal, heck it radiated peace and confidence, after all those were qualities he truly had.

A silver magical circle expanded within the room and the blinding light of teleportation wrapped around the twenty-five participants then they vanished from the room. That time would be the last some would return to those walls.

Noah opened his eyes to a different environment and the first of the many details he noticed was the whiteness that filled his surrounding. And yes the incredibly strong winds that troubled the area.

A second inspection informed him of his location. A mountain. A snowy mountain at that.

The cold barely reached his mind, but he had to worry about the wind, he could swear it was out to blow him off.

The sights of transparent silver walls filled his vision, but it didn’t stop him from gazing at the area below the mountain’s peak. Then his eyes fell on some of the obstacles.

A surprised gasp escaped his mouth at the sight of destruction that unfolded in his sight. The peak of the mountains stood snowy, but the areas beneath it blazed with the light of orange flames.

Shock twisted Noah’s face when he realized that the entire mountain was on fire!