Lord of The Stars

They traversed the tree-lined path until they emerged into the square containing the gateways. There they saw some competitors gathered, with a few already opening their gates and hastening toward the finish line. Noor spotted Keno, Youssef, and Li Kang approaching one of the gates. He called out to them and ran in their direction, followed by Jean and Akira. Noor greeted them, saying:

"It's been a long time. I see you've obtained the keys."

Keno greeted him with a calm tone, his tattered clothes and appearance suggesting he had been through much:

"Hello, Noor. I see you've also acquired the keys, which is good. We've endured many hardships to obtain them, and it seems you've experienced the same—your faces look exhausted. We'll meet at the finish line. Now, let's hurry."

They bid each other farewell and headed toward the gates as numerous competitors began emerging from all directions with their keys, rushing to open the gates. They passed through and found themselves facing a steep, treacherous path. Jean exclaimed indignantly:

"How are we supposed to cross this? It's extremely steep! You'd better have a good plan or I'll throw you into the lake."

Noor laughed as he performed some warm-up exercises:

"We'll slide down."

Jean and Akira exclaimed simultaneously in astonishment:

"What?"

Akira added nervously:

"How will we do that? The path is incredibly dangerous!"

Noor extended his hand forward, saying:

"Have you forgotten that I can create whatever I imagine? I'll craft some boards, and I trust in our current abilities to reach the finish line. We'll also arrive before everyone else except that speedy scoundrel—I believe he arrived long ago. Now there's no time for talk."

Noor began crafting wooden boards expertly designed to withstand the rugged terrain. When finished, he gave them instructions about potential obstacles and how to overcome them to cross to the finish line. He added that he was a skilled slider, though he couldn't recall how he acquired this skill.

His companions felt annoyed by the sliding suggestion, but there was no time for objections now—this was the only way to cross.

They positioned their sliding boards and stood on them ready to go, while Noor created a small bike for Jean, who told him she would feel safer with it. They launched at Noor's signal and began sliding down the rugged sand, avoiding rocks and obstacles. Noor slid with great skill, performing some showy maneuvers, while Akira vanished into thin air whenever he saw an obstacle, reappearing afterward. Jean struggled to control the bike's tremendous speed, barely managing it due to the velocity and powerful vibrations caused by the poor terrain of the slope. She slowed down, falling behind them, more concerned with arriving in one piece than with overtaking them. Noor and Akira exchanged the lead position every few seconds. This continued for some time until Akira's energy began to deplete from using his power, so he stopped using it, and Noor pulled ahead by a not-too-distant margin.

The wind struck their faces with force, while the sun cast its red rays upon the path ahead. Adrenaline surged through their bodies in great doses. Amidst all this, Noor finally glimpsed the finish line and felt a joy he had never experienced before—at last, this nightmare would end. He accelerated his sliding and maneuvers to reach the end, while all the other teams drew very close to the finish line. As Noor and his companions approached closer and closer, he shouted joyfully as he crossed it:

"We've made it!"

Then he collapsed on the ground, soaked with sweat, damp-haired and panting. Akira and Jean fell nearby, catching their breath with difficulty, feeling as if in a happy dream.

They heard the voice announce:

"Noor, fourth place. Akira, fifth place. Jean, sixth place."

Noor was surprised to have placed fourth, despite his certainty of arriving before everyone else except speedy. Then he heard a familiar voice addressing him arrogantly:

"Hello, boy. I see you and your companions have crossed. I didn't expect losers as weak as you to make it here!"

Noor looked behind him to find Sairi staring at him with his customary cold gaze, and beside him Ivanov, smiling and gesturing with his hand. Noor's feelings changed to irritation at not being able to defeat them despite all he had been through. Looking to his side, he saw the fast boy sitting under a tree taking a nap, and confirmed he had taken first place.

Akira asked Sairi about the route they had chosen, and Sairi replied:

"The short path, of course. Many went to take the keys for this path since it was easier, but unfortunately, we eliminated them all and obtained the keys. It was extremely easy. Took us only a few minutes."

Everyone felt a shiver run through their bodies from what they heard. An idea flashed in Noor's mind—a terrifying idea he didn't want to confirm, but his curiosity was stronger, so he asked:

"What are your rankings?"

Ivanov responded in a cheerful tone:

"Since Sairi helped me so much, I let him have first place while I took second."

Sairi replied to him coldly and indifferently:

"Really! Is that what happened? Then don't go easy on me next time, because I won't go easy."

"Take it easy, my friend. I'm just joking."

Noor confirmed that the fast boy hadn't taken first place, and felt he was standing before two unleashed beasts who might devour him at any moment if he wasn't careful. This seemed to be Jean and Akira's feeling as well.

Keno crossed in seventh place, followed by Youssef and Li Kang. They gathered with Noor to exchange conversation, followed by Yassin, Nader, and Ares, along with some other teams they hadn't seen before.

Keno looked at Noor, greeting him:

"You arrived before me. That was surprising. You're full of surprises, I see."

Noor smiled and replied kindly:

"Well, as you know. If I hadn't used my brain, I wouldn't have made it here."

"What matters is that you arrived, and it seems we're not done with the tests yet."