The roar of the Duster's engine ripped through the pits as Zoe floored the gas, sending the car hurtling onto the track.
Her knuckles whitened around the wheel, the vibrations rattling up her arms as the shard's corrupted energy hummed through the air.
The oppressive weight of the shard pressed down, making every second feel heavier than the last.
Just ahead, the boss emerged from a vortex of energy, its hulking frame illuminated by the shard's sinister glow.
Zoe's stomach churned as the monstrous version of Leroy's old dirt car roared to life.
Its grill twisted into a sneer, headlights blazing like twin eyes locked on her.
The air around it shimmered with heat and malice.
For a heartbeat, her dad's voice echoed in her mind: "Keep your focus, Zo. It's all about precision."
But the shard warped it, twisting his encouragement into a cruel taunt. "You'll never be fast enough, Zo."
