[Cyclone: Didn't think you knew how to cheat like that!]
[Quickstep: Are you that keen on winning?]
[Balm: Really unexpected!]
Liam didn't answer his joking friends. They would soon realize why he acted like that. The timing was great. Liam tilted his body and barely made it through the fourth ring, but Heyna missed it and had to fly an extra turn.
Silver Blade followed right behind those two. She had a grin on her face. With her helmet taken off she enjoyed the feeling of the wind blowing her hair away as she advanced at miraculous speeds. She showed a natural talent, or maybe it was experience. Although everyone had the same eagle there were still differences in flight speed caused by the skills of the rider. High above the ground chaotic winds came from all sides. The eagles could offset them to a certain degree, but a brilliant rider could decrease the effect and perhaps even make us of the winds to increase their own speed.
Cyclone, Balm and the rest only understood hints of that after flying for a while. They watched as Liam and Silver Blade gained more distance and found it difficult to keep up. But at least Heyna, who was now behind them, was no threat anymore. The friends were already confident that victory was in the bag when their eagles suddenly slowed down.
"Eh, what's happening?"
"Our mounts are out of stance! [Dash] got cancelled!"
"Oh! Well, it's not that bad as long as it's the same for all of us…"
Just as the friends were saying this, they heard the sound of something rapidly coming closer behind their backs. They glanced over their shoulders, and their eyes grew wide.
"It's Heyna! She can still use [Dash]!"
"Forget Mirage, she's the real cheater! I thought all our eagles were the same."
"Damn it! We've been tricked!"
This was indeed the case. The friends were helpless as they watched Heyna overtaking them right after crossing the fifth ring. Silver Blade tried to outmanoeuvre her for a bit but eventually she also had to admit defeat. But when Heyna reached Liam, she was met with difficulties. Liam flew as if he had eyes behind his back, always blocking the NPC's path. Heyna cursed loudly but it was useless.
Soon, after passing through the eight ring, there was a particularly long straight path towards the ninth ring. Both Liam and Heyna knew that this was the NPC's chance. She flew a generous curve around Liam, first place already in her eyes. However, at this point Liam's mount had already recovered a few points of stance. It was enough for a burst of [Dash]. Liam used it strategically right when he and Heyna were about to reach the ninth ring and once again pushed the Flying Queen away, causing her to miss the ring.
"Ahh! You… you stupid nephilim! I hate you!"
Heyna's curses rang through the air, even reaching the island below. Further behind, the rest of friends snickered. As Heyna and Liam were entangled they slowed each other down, providing the others with a chance to catch up. Especially Silver Blade felt like taking first place might not be impossible.
Like this, the race continued. The competitors flew around the town, diving below islands, and circling tall towers. The earlier scene repeated itself twice more. Liam was determined not to let Heyna take first place. Soon, the competitors passed the twenty ninth ring.
"We're almost there!"
"Where is the thirtieth ring?"
"Over there, at the start!"
"Heyna is trying to overtake Silver!"
"We can't let the NPC win against Silver! Fortune, I have an idea!"
The others grew curious as Cyclone and Fortune communicated in a private chat. A moment later they both took out their weapons.
"Wait, wait! What are you doing? The rules clearly stated that we can't use spells!"
"So what? We aren't winning anyways. I'm not afraid of being disqualified!"
Fortune and Cyclone both laughed as they began to use their weapons. Massive amounts of mana gathered towards them. Crana the referee bellowed a warning which was directly ignored. A few seconds later both mages were ready. They focused their eyes on the front where Heyna and Silver Blade were still struggling while Liam was about to reach the finish line in about two seconds.
"Do it!"
Instantly both mages unleashed their spells. Around Heyna a cage made from crackling lightning formed. The NPC let out a startled cry as she crashed right into it. Sparks ran along the body of her mount. It stiffened and uncontrollably fell to the ground.
"Noooooo!"
A heart-wrenching cry came from Heyna. It was as if the most precious thing in her life had been taken away. And this was indeed the case. Influenced by this devilish realm everyone would strive to become a champion, falling to despair should their title be taken away.
At the same time, Liam also felt movement in the mana around him. Two massive arms materialized, about to clap him like a fly.
"F*ck!"
Liam couldn't help but curse. He used the little bit of stance he had left to activate [Dash], diving towards the ground. With a bang the arms missed but Liam had lost a precious second as well as the stance he saved for the final sprint.
A bit behind Liam, Silver Blade was shocked when the two spells appeared. Suddenly she got a message from Cyclone.
[Cyclone: What are you waiting for? Dash! Win! Go!]
Only now did Silver Blade understand. She chuckled and, not one to miss an opportunity like that, activated [Dash]. With the last few points of stance she had left, Silver Blade shot through the air and passed the thirtieth ring. She glanced over her shoulder, grinning at Liam who arrived half a second later.
"Congratulations…", grumbled Liam. Although he was somewhat annoyed considering the way he lost, but he couldn't deny that Silver Blade indeed had proven her own skills. If she hadn't fallen behind right at the start Silver Blade could have definitely vied for first place fair and square.
The friends landed their eagles under the cheers of the spectators. There was even an ordinary human woman with a crown on top of her head cheering the loudest, earning admiring glances from those around her. She was the cheer champion…
However, while the crowd cheered for the winner, Heyna was nowhere to be seen. Only Crana approached the group of friends, his face anything but friendly.
"Per the rules of the competition we have a new champion. Please congratulate Silver Blade!"
There was no enthusiasm in Crana's voice, which also dampened the mood of the crowd somewhat. But the friends didn't take it to heart, hyping up Silver Blade as an illusionary crown appeared in the sky and descended on her head. As soon as the crown stopped moving, Silver Blade's body began to dissolve.
"Is she leaving already?"
"Yes! Silver, see you outside! You can take the painting and bring it to Grandpa Troo!"
"Got it! Byeee!"
Silver Blade waved at her friends and completely disappeared from this realm. The friends were about to leave when a grumpy voice stopped them:
"Where do you think you are going?!"
Looking back, the friends met Crana's eyes which sent a chill down their spines.
"Cyclone, Fortune. For breaking the rules of the competition, you will be sent to Strive Town's jail for 100 years! I hope that's enough time to think about your grave crime!"
"Wait, what?!"
"Jail?!"
The two mages stared at Crana like deer caught in a headlight. Before they could struggle, dark chains suddenly appeared out of nowhere. They wrapped the two young women up. Next, a terrifying, dark door appeared and opened. The chains tightened and pulled Cyclone and Fortune towards the door. No amount of struggling or attacks were able to overcome the power of the chains. Within seconds the two mages disappeared into the darkness and the door closed again.
"Cy! Fortune!"
"We need to do something!"
"Hey, goblin, give our friends back!"
"Mirage, where is that jail? We need to free them!"
The friends panicked, their voices chaotic. Eventually they turned towards Liam, urging him to lead the way. But Liam didn't move. He only grinned lightly.
"Perhaps that's what they deserve."
The others looked at him in shock.
"Wow, I didn't expect that from you!"
"Are you fed up just because you didn't win the race?"
"You are joking, right?"
Liam felt somewhat intimidated by the fierce glares he received from all sides.
"Ok ok, calm down. The one hundred years mention by that goblin are in reality only one day."
"So what?! One day is already bad enough. Who wants to sit in jail for a day?!", huffed Quickstep.
"Don't worry. They don't need to sit in jail for a day. When we bring the painting to Grandpa Troo, everyone still stuck will be freed. I'm sure Silver Blade is already on the way. I guess it won't even take an hour."
Finally, the friends calmed down. However, even an hour stuck in jail was definitely not pleasant. They kept discussing if there was any way to free their friends. Liam definitely had a way but he didn't reveal it immediately. An hour in jail was indeed too much but five minutes should be alright. Just consider it a slap on the wrist...