While Nouma is having fun in the Game Street, Rita is working hard in Obsidion Restaurant. It is the biggest restaurant in Ceprad City and is capable of serving 300 odd customers simultaneously. It has four dining areas out of which one is air conditioned. Despite the popularity of the restaurant, the prices are reasonable and hence, the buzz surrounding it lasts throughout the day.

After a long day, Rita earns 2,500 Jollers for working relentlessly, taking minimal breaks. By the time she reaches the Crew Building, it is already 7:30 pm. Nouma hasn't arrived yet. About an hour later, Nouma returns carrying a sack on his back.

"I had so much fun today! I wanted to play some more but no one allowed me to enter their games! Everyone was just being mean to me!"

Rita questions, "What's in the sack?"

"Oh! This? These are my earnings."

"EARNINGS?! A sack full of earnings? How much is it?"

"I lost track of the number towards the end, but it is about 35,000-40,000 Jollers."

Meni exclamates, "35 k! That's my monthly salary! I surely wasn't expecting you to earn this much in a single day! You might need to have a bank account to keep that money safe."

"Bank account?"

"People who are members of Group 1-11 can safeguard their money in banks. You are given a book where your transactions are updated. Every time you add or withdraw money, the remainder of your amount is written in the notebook."

"Oh! But can't this be manipulated easily?"

"The updates in the book are followed by stamps of melted Norcium and the signature of the bank manager. Anything else written in the book is considered to be illegal and the result is death. Of course there are some people who find a way to cheat the system. Anyways, it's time for dinner."

"Yep! Let's head inside. Rita, com-"

Rita makes a weird face as she is completely spaced out. She is overwhelmed as countless thoughts are rushing in her mind at once.

35 k? In one day? Through just games? Did he win all of them? He was having fun? I'm pretty sure that's what he said! He earned that amount for fun? I worked my hardest and all I managed was 2.5 k! And he said he was enjoying himself! My life is a lie! The gap in abilities is too high! This is very unfair! The world is unfair!

"Rita? RITA?"

She is acting weird again!

The competition is on the next day. The participants were informed to reach the venue at 7 AM at the time of registration. The viewers were told that they will be allowed to enter only after 2 PM.

The next morning, Nouma and Rita start to travel towards the venue. Nouma leaves behind the money earned in Meni's locker, who agreed to safeguard the money for the time being.

On the way, Nouma speaks to Rita regarding the competition, "About the plan on winning, we have to win the first two rounds. We don't know what the first round will be, but you will have to win that somehow. Then, I'll have to win the second one."

"I know that. We can't afford to lose the first two rounds otherwise it might get tough."

"Good to know that we are on the same page."

The venue is extremely crowded. This time, there are approximately 900 participants, which is the highest number of participants in the history of the competition. A big banner reads - "The first round will not take place in the elevated arena." 

There are pulley-like lifts to transport people to the arena. Below the elevated arena, a stage is set up right besides the lifts. Two knights appear on the stage from behind the curtains. They signal everyone to gather around.

Shortly, the Group Leader makes an appearance on the stage.

"Welcome each and every participant! Thank you for taking part in this competition! As most of you already know, there will be five rounds this year. Every round will have one winner. The difficulty level will increase as the rounds progress. As for Round one, it will be a marathon!"

Suddenly, there is chaos all around the crowd.

"Not what I expected it to be!"

"A marathon? You gotta be kidding me!"

"Looks like this is going to be easier than expected."

"There is no way I'm going to lose in a race."

"Is this a joke or something?"

The knights signal everyone to calm down.

The Leader continues, "Now, now! Settle down everyone. It will be a 25 km long race. You will have to run along the Group Wall. There are staff members stationed within 50 meters of one another. If they find anyone not running along the walls, the person will be disqualified. There will only be one winner and that person will no longer compete in the next rounds. Tokens will be provided to everyone. Attach them given to you on your left chest. Do not lose the token at any cost, you will automatically be disqualified!"

The tokens are handed out shortly. Nouma is #281 and Rita is #282.

"These tokens will help us to identify the participants. The race will begin in 10 minutes, at 7:30 am. Those who reach the finish line after 8:40 am will be disqualified. You are not allowed to kill another participant and if someone is found doing that, he/she will be disqualified."

"This is perfect Rita. I can carry you on my back and run. I'll have to maintain my top speed throughout, but one of us will win for sure."

Rita questions, "Will you be fine? 25 km is a long distance."

"Yeah, it will be alright. My body feels fresh. There shouldn't be any issues."

At the start line, the participants are lined up according to their token numbers. There are 20 participants in one line, and there are 46 lines in all, with thirteen participants in the last line. Nouma lifts up Rita on his back as he gears up for the task at hand. A gun is fired and it is followed by loud footsteps of the participants charging forward. 

Since Nouma is carrying Rita along with him, he cannot reach his top speed. But during the past few days, his physical limit has been increased. He is running at 45 km/hr even after carrying Rita. He is zooming past the contestants ahead like a thread passing through a needle. Within 15 minutes, he is already in the first position.

30 minutes into the race, Nouma's speed has dropped to about 40 km/hr. His breaths are shallow and he is maintaining his calm to bring out his maximum efficiency. He can already see the finish line.

"Once we get close enough, I'm going to toss you to the finish line."

"What? Don't do that! Just stop running and then I'll cross the line."

"I can't waste time. I can't risk it."

"But no one is even near us. It would take at least 2-3 minutes for others to catch up even if we stop."

"I have already made up my mind and I'm not going to change my decision."

As Nouma gets within 100 meters of the finish line, he readies himself to toss Rita. At the same moment, he hears a sound resembling a strong blowing wind to his right. He glances to his right to find another person wearing a hoodie, full sleeved clothing and a mask on the face overtake him in a flash.

How? There was no one in our vicinity! This is impossible! Where did this person even come from?

TO BE CONTINUED