UNLIMITED SPEED

Watching Sirius get carried away through a door he didn't know led to, Noah eventually focused his gaze on the glass screen in the distance before turning his focus to the two men that walked towards the stage.

Knowing what they wanted to do, he got off the stage and followed their lead, bringing him to another of the six doors that filled that place. They led him down a tunnel and to his shock he found the 49 individuals that had won the previous battles, and before them a massive screen that now displayed whiteness.

He didn't need to guess what their gazes meant since he understood that they had watched his battle and surely they had seen his dangerousness.

Noah caught sight of his guild-mates and he managed to exchange gazes with Williams. The expert shook his head with a light smile.

'Why did I think they had all been teleported out of the place,' Noah sighed inwardly, knowing that the powerful experts in the place had taken note of him. There would probably be strategies for fighting him, after all his main quality was speed.

'Let's see how that goes,' he gave a light chuckle, finding a cool spot in the relatively small room to stay.

The two men left at that point and a voice soon exited the screen.

"Good performance today young experts. It seems this year's competition will be tougher than we expected. That's a lot considering that no one mediocre has ever participated in these games." The lady started.

"You will all be taken to your rooms to allow you rest and assimilate all you've seen. Tomorrow will be another elimination game, your numbers will be halved and only the bests will move on to the last stage," she explained immediately ending.

A magical circle lit up the entire room and Noah watched the key now in his grip begin to glow, then a blinding light washed over them.

An instant later, Noah found himself before his door and didn't hesitate to place the key into its hole and enter.

He proceeded to take a shower and rest, after which a knock on his door brought him out of his habit of re-visiting his memories. They were still as good as ever. He opened his door and to his pleasant surprise found his guild-mates waiting outside.

"What do I owe this visit," he smiled having removed his mask. He watched their eyes shine, even more, not even Illiana managing to hide her reaction.

"You have it all," Williams chuckled walking into the room as Noah had already accepted their presence.

"Didn't you see me on the screen?" An eyebrow rose on Noah's face amazed by the man's flattering words.

"We did. We all did. But it's still shocking in person. I see why you had a mask on. I'd want you to wear one before my woman," Williams replied with another chuckle even if Noah understood that he meant those words.

"But really, what's the occasion for coming?" Noah asked sitting on the ground as they did before sweeping his gaze on all three of them.

The three exchanged glances at that point and a sigh abruptly escaped Illiana's lips.

"Seeing as you have been outstanding in the battle, and you'll probably remain outstanding, we've come here to more or less celebrate our win since we might not move on to the next stage," She explained in a slow quiet tone. Her voice really was sweet to the ears.

'This is the second time she's spoken this long.' Noah mused realizing that their worries were valid, at least to some point.

"Ah, I see." He muttered unable to produce any words that spoke hope. The individuals that entered the second stage were great. They were too, but there had to be room for the possibility of losing.

They weren't implying that they wouldn't move on to the next stage, only that if they didn't there wouldn't be the chance to meet like that.

A long silence fell on the group at that point, and Noah felt forced to talk after it dragged on for a long time.

"If by some chance we do not move on to the third stage let's go on a guild mission as a group," his words managed to intrigue them, and soon smiles shone on their slightly worried faces.

"By the way, when did you join the guild? Someone with your looks and power should be pretty popular amongst our ranks," Liam pointed out.

"Ah I joined only recently, about four or three months ago," Noah replied truthfully. His words however brought shocked silence.

"You mean you're part of the new members?!" Williams stood at the sheer incredulousness of those words.

"That's what I'm implying. Weren't my words clear," Noah replied getting rid of an itch on his head.

"Fuck," Liam muttered. "What have I been doing during my almost twenty years of being here." His tone suggested he meant those words, and even his downcast expression emphasized the sincerity of his feelings.

Illiana kept quiet but Noah understood that she felt as shocked as they were.

"What rank are you?" Illiana eventually asked as Liam and Williams had really fallen into deep thought.

A wry smile appeared on Noah's face at that point, "I'm only rank F," he replied. "That's why this competition is significant to me," he explained.

Ignoring the burning gazes of Liam and Williams Noah kept his eyes on Illiana and even she shook her head before lowering them for a while.

"What rank are you guys?" Noah asked.

"C rank." They replied in unison.

This time it was Noah's turn to be shocked, but his didn't last long, since winning the tournament would mean being promoted to the top of C rank, where he would be unable to progress due to his low cultivation level. Unless he was given a pass like elder Sarah.

"Well no worries," Noah eventually remarked. "Then I guess you didn't join the competition for the rank reward, then for the weapons, and the tour of the other nations," he commented.

"But from the looks of things, it'll be impossible," Liam gave a wistful laugh.

"For one, you'll most likely be part of the top three, there's no room for us," Williams said his words producing nods.

"I'm not that spectacular. If you had seen me months ago you'd understand." Noah said, waving his hand dismissively.

He thought back to how weak he had been. If he had not undergone the dungeon dive he would be unfit for the tournament.

They would have been wiped out during the magical beast pack since he wouldn't have been capable of hurting higher-stage beasts not to talk of killing one.

"Well we can only see what tomorrow brings," Noah shrugged, and the others could only nod in agreement.