UNLIMITED SPEED

"What the fu- You shouldn't be awake!" Dan exclaimed jumping backward. His aura almost flared, but he managed to keep it under his control.

"Why did you think I would not be awake?" Elder Sarah asked now staring at her palms. Incredible energy coursed through the very fabric of her flesh.

"Uh... according to my calculations you shouldn't. Most individuals sleep for years," Anna explained coming forward.

"I see..." Elder Sarah clenched and unclenched her palms as if to get used to them.

"How do you feel?" Anna asked after exchanging uncertain glances with Dan and Von.

"I feel... amazing," Elder Sarah replied, raising her head to gaze at her friend. "I feel like I can squash this entire city if I wanted," she added.

"Please don't," Elder Von commented, rubbing his temples.

"I'll try," Elder Sarah replied with genuine honesty, but her words put more worry in the minds of the experts.

"So this is what you've been experiencing for the past few decades. I feel-" Elder Sarah's words were cut short by Anna.

"You feel free," Anna completed her sentence and watched a wide smile appear on her friend's face.

A series of conversations occurred at that point. They were mostly questions to Elder Sarah about what she experienced. And after a lot of them, they eventually concluded that her breakthrough had been successful. More than successful, even.

Noah recalled Dan commenting that he felt like she could kill him even if she had just entered the lower stage. But her actual level was already halfway into the lower stage.

The last bolt of lightning had been the world's gift to her, granting her energy that was far purer than she had initially anticipated.

"It seems you put my money to good use," Elder Sarah commented at some point. Her words were directed at Noah.

He shrugged in response, not failing to notice the questioning gazes Dan and Anna shot toward him.

"Still, I'm surprised. How did you get to this level so quickly," she remarked, her question more of a wondering thought than a question.

"Don't answer that," She continued before Noah could speak. "I know it'll be something vague like; I have a fast cultivation speed," she waved her hand dismissively, shocking Noah at how accurate she had been.

"I knew you would return with something outrageous like you always do. But as you can see. I have advanced too," She spread her arms, beginning to float.

She allowed her mana to work, and a purple halo began to shine forth, matching her hair's color. She looked almost divine.

"Show off," Noah commented and the others were taken aback by it.

"I'm certain you returned intending to show off too. It's not bad that mine is so spectacular," she snorted, and Noah's expression flickered. She had been accurate once again.

The desire to show off had been there but now that he had been found out, he lost the drive.

Anna floated forward. Noah had begun to believe tier 4's hated walking.

"We'll still need to make you undergo a few tests. But before that; we have to officially report this to the guild," Anna explained placing her hand on Elder Sarah's shoulder. She clicked her tongue but didn't object.

"Yes," Elder Von joined in. "I believe they will be quite delighted about the turn of events. Two of their members have highly promising futures," the man commented moving his focus to a still sitting Aiden.

Shocked, Noah opened his mouth to speak. "Am I supposed to go to?" he asked unsure of his desires. Suddenly the chill of nervousness swept him and he grimaced inwardly.

"They already know about you. You're the winner of the tournament after all. You're also a student to the infamous Sarah, you might as well have met them before," the red-hared expert gave a soft chuckle.

"Oh..." Noah muttered still uncertain. That opportunity would be a great chance to meet the higher-ups of the guild, but he feared what they could find out from simply being in their presence.

He, however, gave up on that worry when he recalled how easily Riveta had seen through him. In reality, he had no way of hiding anything from them. The bracelet was his only saving grace.

"Of course. If you decide not to go I'll understand. My first time felt overwhelming too. But they aren't bad. Just..." His words trailed off and died, the entire room turned silent at that event.

Noah didn't like that. He tried to make eye contact with them, but they each avoided his gaze. Even Elder Sarah. Suddenly the little confidence Elder Von's words had instilled, vanished.

Clearing his throat in quite an awkward manner, Elder Von opened his mouth to speak again. "So do you want to go or not?" His question made their attention fall on him. Noah could almost literally feel pressure from their gazes.

"Yes..." Noah sighed in response.

Elder Von, Dan, Anna, and Elder Sarah nodded at that positive answer.

"We can get going now," Anna announced.

Noah felt his anxiety peak. Questions began to appear in his mind. Was he dressed well? Was his hair neatly done, how would he present his greetings? They were existences that he knew nothing of. He couldn't be as comfortable with them as he was with Elder Sarah and the rest.

A wave of calmness swept him, however, when he once again recalled his time with Riveta. Suddenly high-level existences didn't seem all serious and high in his mind. Even Riveta had said they were eccentric characters.

Still, he would be on guard.

"We'll have to make a quick drop by my pagoda first. But after that we can approach the headquarters," Elder Von revealed, and they all nodded.

"I'll carry you," Elder Sarah announced, but Anna objected.

"You literally just became a tier four existence, try to keep your power in control first," she snorted.

Slightly offended, Elder Sarah tried to counter her words. "But I'm already doing a good job," she said.

"No," Dan chipped in.

"He would be dead if not for the necklace. A significant bit of your aura is out. He's unable to sense it because of his level, and the necklace. He would have told you you were choking him," Dan explained, shaking his head, while his expression looked nonchalant.

Elder Sarah threw a glance at Elder Von, who nodded in agreement. Switching her gaze to Noah she saw that he shrugged in slight confusion. Truly he had not sensed anything.

She clicked her tongue with a pouting expression before her expression turned serious.

"That's better," Anna exclaimed, patting her back.

"Let's go," Elder Von announced at some point.