UNLIMITED SPEED

Within the well-lit room, all ten of the experts gathered around the table, their expressions not so much calm anymore. Death was at that door. Almost literally.

"Can they be that blatant?" Noah's voice rang out, pulling them out of their thoughts and letting their eyes fall on the spread-out piece of paper on the red table.

The city had received a message from the elves, and it was still concerning their decision to attack them. But to their shock, they had told them the time they would be arriving.

Essentially telling them to prepare in response to that revelation.

"This is usually how they do it. It's just how powerful they are and how much they can bring to the table," Nora explained.

"We're fucked," she exhaled sharply. She wasn't one to fear death. She had seen it up close too many times in her long life. Her only issue remained with the people of the city.

The population of that place was already close to four hundred thousand. Most of whom knew her. She had been privileged to govern and protect that city even from the starting times of the war.

That city had become hers. Even the former governor had defected to the elves But had been merciful enough to leave the whole city.

Placing her hand on her head, she rubbed in mental frustration. Merely hours had passed since the announcement, and the battle itself would occur three hours past daybreak.

The announcement of that time although helpful had put a whole new weight on them.

"We can try calling upon the help of the royals," One of them suggested and the others nodded to it even if they knew the issue they befell that idea.

"How quickly will they respond? Daybreak is only about two hours away. Five hours wouldn't be enough. And we've cut teleportation because people of the Cusk are on the side of the enemy," Nora explained.

"I wish we could resort to that, but the most they will find would be rubble," She heaved another sigh.

The room fell silent again. Not even Noah spoke, but he did so simply because he decided not to.

"No use worrying about it all. The best we can do is put in our best for the battle to come. We'll have to put our lives on the line for these people, or I'll never forgive myself."

Nora spoke that way to counter any suggestion that saw them running away from the battle. Funnily it was okay to do that, but that would be putting hundreds of thousands to death. Not to talk of the shame they would have to bear.

Soon they began to leave to get prepared. Apparently, about four years had passed since they had to fight that way, and although they trained regularly; knowing a battle that would most likely lead to your death was approaching brought a different feel.

Especially when the chances of survival were next to nothing.

Potential death was better than certain death. Their situation revealed only certain death.

"I want you to take the fall for this, Noah," Nora revealed at some point rubbing her temples.

Noah remained silent, understanding her.

"But if you really are able to fulfill what you said then I'll forever owe you my life and help you to find your guild to the best I can," Her tone turned serious and her expression held great worry, but also honesty.

At that point in her life, she would not fight a miracle. Only one could save them after all.

Noah nodded, instantly deciding that he would reveal as much as he could to do as he had said. Even if he would transform.

Nora sighed and left the room. They would meet back there in a few hours. Noah could even stand all through that period, but he didn't. He explored the place.

The building was nine stories in height and featured many rooms. Noah walked past a few ones before leaving the place altogether.

He found himself within the enclosed region meant for the leader so the city. It reminded him of estates on Earth.

Speaking of that planet, Noah now knew he could find it and return there. The only issue being the fact that the finding part could take thousands of years.

The universe was obviously vast and immense. Cregar existed in an unknown galaxy in an unexplored region of the universe. Finding earth could be a life mission. But power was more important for now.

He exited the estate to walk down the streets of the city itself. The humans were tense and frantic, Actions were being made and defenses were being placed for the big event.

Even if it was nighttime, the city was still awake as ever.

If only Noah could feel pity, he would have been choked with it.

He returned to the estate after almost an hour of exploring. The various experts were still busy. He could only enter the white nature of his cultivation room to cultivate a bit.

Noah returned after about two hours. He appeared down a certain hallway and made his way to the gathering room. The experts were now gathered. Julio was part.

His appearance brought a wave of tension and also calm. At least the calm part was for Nora.

"I thought you had run away or something," She revealed glad that he was present. No one in the room understood why she considered him that important. Was it because of the words he had spouted and had beaten Julio?

Sure that was already a mighty feat on its own, but against the forces of the elves. They would need far more than a powerful lower-stage cultivator to deal with those forces.

"Let's go over what we're going to do," Nora announced gesturing at Noah to come close. Which he did.

They spent the next half an hour going over the plan. They would first plead with the elves and inquire if there was a way to put an end to the conflict before it started.

Knowing the elves, they believed it wouldn't work, at that point each one of them would fall into a formation that highlighted their various strengths.

A battle of wit and stamina would unfold at that point. They would try their best even if it could and most likely would lead to death.

The daybreak had already arrived an hour prior. Two hours of pure waiting passed before the news was brought to them by the scouts at the city gate. The elves were approaching, but the experts already knew thanks to the grand aura those individuals released even from that distance.