UNLIMITED SPEED

Noah opened his eyes in the waiting room, and a wave of surprise washed over his mind, followed by curiosity.

Sweeping his gaze on his surrounding, he found eight others just as shocked as he, but Madison was missing. Probably due to her injury.

His gaze locked with his guild-mates and he could tell from their gazes that excitement filled their minds.

He let them be for now since a big blue screen appeared and displayed a chart filled with names and numbers.

They immediately all knew what it was for, and soon disappointed expressions reached the faces of some but Noah wasn’t one of them.

His name stood at the top of the list with 310 points, and shockingly the next was Madison with 200 points. The gap was already much, and many of them couldn’t help but glance at his figure in shock.

The third on the list was neither of Noah’s guild-mates, however, their names were immediately after the third.

Noah stopped caring about their positions since they made it, and that was all that mattered.

A sigh escaped his lips at that juncture, and he went to a secluded spot to put on a new robe, before removing the one underneath. He couldn’t strip in front of them.

“What a performance that was! I congratulate you all for overcoming and becoming champions. You will be returned to your rooms, after which the prizes will be distributed.” A male voice announced with a voice radiating true excitement.

No sooner than the man ended, did magical circles expand beneath the figures of the experts, and Noah found himself in front of his room.

He immediately placed his key into the hole and pushed his door open. The time for rest had come he couldn’t tell when they would be taken all about the nation.

Honestly the fact that they would soon be going on a long trip to another nation felt surreal. Noah almost couldn’t believe it, yet that would be his reality very soon.

Immediately going for the shower, he took a long bath. His time in the last stage had felt like days, even if they were only mere hours.

He couldn’t stop himself from thinking about his battle with Madison and wonder where she had been taken to, even if he had an idea where.

Exiting the bathroom and laying on the bed, Noah found himself within his series of thoughts but this time it was the scream that appeared in his mind.

Recalling how he had felt sent shivers down his spine since it was the proudest he had felt. Something was growing within him, but he didn’t know what.

‘What exactly are speedlings,’ Noah couldn’t help but ask. The sheer amount of mystery around that subject almost made him want to pull his hair out. He needed answers, but couldn’t find any, hopefully when he reached tier 4 he would get some, but he doubted.

The darkness of sleep eventually enveloped his consciousness, and Noah slept soundly.

A bell-like ringing brought Noah out of his sleep, but he felt unsure of what it was meant for.

Nevertheless, he took another bath and put on a new attire to prepare of an announcement.

“Good morning champions, today is the day of your celebration. You will be ministered to by our people who will prepare you for your departure,” A male voice explained with a tone that dripped with life and excitement.

Noah could only wait at that point, and he only had to do so for a few minutes, before a knock sounded on his door, and he unlocked it to see who was outside.

Noah found a group of five humans; all women, standing outside the door, and in the palms four were different items, each one being carried by them on silver plates.

“May we come in,” the female at the center of the group; the only person without a plate, spoke politely, and Noah nodded before leaving the way.

All five individuals walked into his room and lined up after each other, a genuinely awkward moment for Noah.

“These are the base items rendered unto you by the guilds, and this is the badge of for first place, the badge that signifies your status as a champion allowing you full access to the ten guilds that participated in contributing to the event,” She quickly started, gesturing at two women who had small objects on their plate.

Noah walked towards the women that had stepped forward and didn’t hesitate to pick up the badge that signified his position as first place, then the badge signifying his state as a champion.

Both items looked luxurious as they were made from gold, but featured different symbols engraved into them and even a few runes, allowing them glow in his palms.

Noah stored them in his inventory after inspecting them, and focused on the lady again.

“This is the scroll of acknowledgment, issued by the council of the guilds in order to raise your rank to the peak of C. Take this to your guild hall, and the rest will be done,” she explained gesturing at another lady, who immediately stepped forward and Noah moved walked closer to pick his prized possession.

A feeling of gladness filled his mind when he stored the sealed scroll featuring many shining lines.

“This on the other hand is a special type of paper. The description of a weapon you desire and its features, even a diagram would be accepted.”

“When you’re done describing the weapon you desire, you are to pour mana into it and the rest will be taken care of.” she explained gesturing at a woman, who stepped forward to display a big piece of folded paper.

Noah took it and immediately stored it in his inventory. Seeing as he had exhausted the women carrying plates, he could only wonder what next. 𝒆𝙣𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝙚𝙩

“Now the last reward.” the lady announced suddenly falling to her knee, and so did the others.

“I have been tasked to be your caretaker. As you may know. One of the rewards for becoming top three is being taken on a long tour throughout the nations, but there was one thing that no one knows, and it is the special reward for he who comes first in the games.” The lady began to explain, and Noah couldn’t help but feel his attention hit the peak.

A special reward.