*The Gathering at Hellfire Tuning Shop*
At the Hellfire Tuning Shop, Dominic, Brian, and the rest of the crew were gathered at the bar. In the workshop, high-powered cars, equipped with nitrous boosters and atomic engines, sat silently in their spots. The Speeding Party members were fully armed, some with serious expressions, others with eager anticipation.
Mia leaned worriedly against her brother, Dominic, as they all waited tensely.
Suddenly, Dominic and Brian's phones buzzed with a new notification. They glanced at each other and quickly checked the message.
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*[Player Racing Mission]*
- *Gathering Location:* Garden Building
- *Game Start Time:* 8:00 p.m.
- *Destination:* Santa Monica Beach
- *Reward:* Top 60 players receive armor upgrades
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"Let's go!" Dominic said, immediately standing up. "What time is it?"
"7:30," someone replied, glancing at a watch. "We have half an hour left!"
Dominic nodded. "We have to leave right now! Those who aren't players should stay back and protect Mia and the others." With that, he headed to his car, a sleek Turaldo, and prepared to go.
Brian grabbed a rifle and climbed into his vigilante vehicle, revving the engine, while Letty, holding a bullpup rifle, activated the car's supercharger. Out of the group, only Dominic, Brian, and Letty had the luck to become players.
"Be safe!" Mia said, kissing Brian with a worried expression.
Just as Dominic was about to pull out, Vince stepped in front of his car, calling out, "Boss, take me with you! I'm going too!"
Dominic frowned, looking at Vince. "What are you trying to do?"
"This is my chance to become a player. I don't want to miss it!" Vince replied determinedly. Only a few in the city had the rare opportunity to become players, so missions like this were valuable for those seeking entry into this elite group. Even with the risks, Vince was willing to take the chance.
After a pause, Dominic tilted his head. "Get in."
Vince's face lit up, and he quickly climbed into the passenger seat. Before shutting the door, he cast a quick look back at Mia and Brian, a hint of bitterness in his gaze. Ever since Dominic, Brian, and Letty became players, Vince had felt somewhat excluded. He'd always harbored feelings for Mia, who was now with Brian. Vince thought that luck, or lack thereof, had kept him from becoming a player and, in his mind, separated him from Mia.
Now, he had a chance to change everything.Under Mia's worried gaze, Dominic, Brian, and Letty's cars disappeared one by one down the quiet street. After her younger brother reminded her, Mia snapped out of her daze and retreated into the basement for safety.
---
When Dominic's team arrived at the Garden Building, they saw a starting line painted across the cross street. Cars were lined up, tightly packed across three streets, and the deep rumbling of engines filled the quiet night.
"Woah, woah, woah!" Sirens mounted on special vehicles blared as they joined the lineup. Illuminated by searchlights from helicopters overhead, the streets were filled with drivers and spectators.
A reporter, broadcasting live from a hovering helicopter, narrated the scene with excitement. "With just five minutes until the speed race begins, hundreds of players have already gathered. The three streets are packed, all vying for one of the sixty coveted spots."
"Judging by the scene, once the race begins, congestion will be inevitable. Only a handful of vehicles might make it to the track towards Nika Beach. Who will break through and stand out?"
The entire world was watching; this event had captured everyone's attention. Inside their cars, Dominic, Brian, Letty, and Vince wore serious expressions as they waited in line.
Dominic glanced at the never-ending queue of vehicles on the street and sighed. "It's a good thing the time and vehicle limits were enforced; otherwise, drivers from other districts would be swarming here, and the gridlock would be unimaginable."
As they neared the end of the line, more vehicles arrived, creating an impressive display of engine roars and unique car designs.
---
At 7:59, every player's phone chimed, a unique tune echoing through the crowded streets. Then, a cold, electronic voice announced from a large screen nearby:
"The game is about to begin. Players, please fasten your seat belts."
"Irregular driving makes loved ones cry."
The countdown began.
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
"Start!"
With the final word, the quiet streets erupted into a symphony of engine roars and burning rubber, filling the night with a thunderous sound. The first row of cars shot forward like arrows, leaving phantom trails as they sped down the empty streets.
The initial wave of vehicles began to spread out, but as they reached intersections, chaos ensued.
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*"Bang! Bang! Bang!"* Screeching tires and bumpers collided in all directions.
One frustrated driver shouted, "If you don't know how to drive, go back to your mother's belly!"
Another one yelled, "Come on, man! Let me cut in line!"
Vehicles blocked on both sides quickly collided with those in the middle, forming an instant bottleneck. Since the three lanes converged into the central street, players from both sides fought for the middle lane, unwilling to give up the potential rewards. The intersection became a cacophony of collisions, insults, and blaring sirens. Only a few lucky drivers managed to squeeze out through gaps, racing forward at top speed.
"Damn it!" Dominic cursed, watching the gridlock from the back. Frustrated, he slammed his hands on the steering wheel. Forget winning the race—he wasn't even sure they'd make it through this jam.
"Boss! Doesn't your car have missiles? Just blast them out of the way!" Vince shouted with wide eyes.
"Do you have a death wish? At this range, we'd be caught in the blast and vaporized!" Boss Tang snapped back, giving Vince an incredulous look.
Brian, stuck in his vigilante car, anxiously revved his engine, but there was little he could do with lanes completely blocked.
Suddenly, a *"Boom!!!"* shook the street as a violent explosion erupted at the intersection, sending flames skyward. Some players, desperate to clear the way, had begun firing missiles!
Just as Dominic stared at the fireball in shock, his car trembled, and a sudden feeling of weightlessness took over as his vehicle—and everyone inside—was thrown into the air.
In midair, he glanced down to see a sloped, wedge-like device speeding past, lifting every car in its path like waves crashing on a shore.
*"Bang! Bang! Bang!"*
With the addition of angled magical vehicles and cone-shaped projectile cars, the blocked lanes were forcefully cleared. Cars flew into the air like scattered toys, creating a scene of utter chaos.
Seeing his car tilted upward, Boss Tang seized the moment and hit the rocket-boost button.
*"Boom!"* His car, a Turaldo model, ignited and rocketed forward, soaring quickly.
Beside him, Brian maneuvered his vehicle into the newly cleared path, merging with the line of angled vehicles and accelerating to catch up.
Letty, wielding a supercharged rocket engine, launched herself over the chaotic lane, speeding across the jam with a fierce, fiery thrust.
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In this frenzy of flying vehicles and high-octane moves, the race to break free from the gridlock had only just begun.
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