The race was about to begin. Turbo versus turbo. Front engine, rear-wheel drive, versus rear engine, rear-wheel drive.
Silverwolf raised her functioning hand, signaling the start. "Alright! We're gonna start the countdown!"
The two cars revved their engines, eager to launch into the race.
-5!
-4!
-3!
-2!
-1!
"GO!"
Silverwolf dropped her hand, and the two cars shot off the starting line, launching forward with incredible speed. But Yelan quickly seized the lead, pulling ahead of Keqing thanks to the weight and power advantage of the Blackbird's newly tuned 400-horsepower flat-six engine.
"Look at them go! That's one hell of a start from Yelan!" a spectator exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
In her mind, Ganyu cheered on her friend: "I know you're going to win this, Keqing. Don't let your emotions get the better of you!"
"Don't lose this one, Yelan… You detuned your Blackbird for a reason. And that's to win." Silverwolf muttered to herself, her voice a quiet blend of support and caution.
The two cars raced into the first corner, and Yelan kept her lead. Keqing, though trailing behind, matched the Blackbird's pace with astonishing precision.
At Ningguang's home in Araumi, Ningguang peered out the window, her gaze focused on the race unfolding below.
"Rain… The Blackbird's worst enemy. And Keqing's best friend," she murmured, noting the weather's impending influence on the outcome.
Back at the rest area, Amber struck up a conversation with Collei, watching the race from a distance.
"So, Collei? What do you think of Jinren Pass?" Amber asked, her eyes still on the track.
"It's pretty similar to Yougou Pass, if you ask me," Collei replied thoughtfully. "Fast corners with a mix of sharp but wide hairpins. But the closest match to Yougou is probably Amakane Pass, in my opinion."
Amber chuckled, shaking her head. "Amakane Pass? Seriously? That's a rally stage! It's nothing like Yougou Pass!"
The two laughed, awaiting the next lap as the race carried on.
Back in the race, the drivers had already navigated a few hairpins and corners. The positions remained unchanged—Yelan led in the Blackbird, Keqing's RX7 followed closely.
"With the Blackbird's detuned engine, the car refuses to slide when I'm on the gas. It's practically the traction master now," Yelan muttered, glancing in her rearview mirror at Keqing's sleek RX7. "But Keqing's FD is faster on the hairpins. Very impressive. She's been able to stick this close to me for this long on my home turf."
The race intensified as they neared the halfway mark. They approached a particularly sharp hairpin, and Keqing's speed into the corner was nothing short of impressive. Yelan, however, managed to block the apex to prevent Keqing from sliding under her and overtaking.
One of Ningguang's spotters, watching from the sidelines, reported to her. "They just passed the halfway mark. The FD is right on the Blackbird's bumper."
"And the Blackbird?" Ningguang asked, her tone sharp.
"Very tight in the hairpins, and wide on the exits. It's almost like circuit-style racing," the spotter replied.
"Interesting tactic. Thank you for the update," Ningguang said before hanging up, her mind already analyzing the strategies at play.
Back at base, Silverwolf's radio crackled with an update. "The Blackbird's ahead, but the FD's tailing real close! It's like one car is practically passing me. They're that close, but Yelan's struggling to hold onto the lead in the hairpins."
A smirk spread across Silverwolf's face. "Everyone knows Yelan's my enemy. That's no secret. But now… Seeing how hard she's trained… I'm proud of her. That change had to come after her loss to the Eight-Six at Yougou."
As the rain began to fall in Beidou's group, Collei stuck her hand out, feeling the first drops hit her skin.
"Looks like it's about to rain," Collei said, looking up at the cloudy sky.
Amber rushed toward her Sileighty. "Let me grab some umbrellas!"
Just as Amber took off toward her car, the rain intensified, pouring down in sheets.
Beidou, watching the sky with a smirk, said, "Looks like this race is about to get interesting."
The rain began to coat the asphalt. A spectator shouted, "With the rain picking up, the road's gonna get slick—like grease. Oils and dirt will wash away, making the track even trickier."
March crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing on the action. "Looks like things are about to get even more intense."
In the Blackbird, Yelan cursed under her breath as rain splattered against her windshield.
"Just great… Rain," Yelan muttered, frustration in her voice.
She flicked the switch for her windshield wipers. Meanwhile, Keqing, in the RX7, kept hers off.
"No need for wipers. They're just a distraction in a race like this," Keqing remarked, keeping her focus sharp.
The race was nearing its final stages. As they approached the final corners, Collei noticed something peculiar about the track.
"Hey, guys, look at this," Collei said, pointing toward the horizon.
Seele, Beidou, Pela, Amber, and March turned to her.
"What is it?" Pela asked.
"That," Collei pointed, "is the finishing line. But down there is a downhill slope. We're at the highest point of Jinren."
Right on cue, the two cars sped past the second-to-last hairpin, entering the final stretch. The crowd roared as they saw the two cars side by side.
"They're here!" a spectator yelled.
As the Blackbird and RX7 entered the final straight, Keqing's RX7 pulled alongside Yelan's Blackbird in the outside lane.
"What's she doing!? At this speed, if she hits that corner, she'll slam into the outside wall!" Yelan yelled, her voice a mix of disbelief and concern.
Both cars braked at the same time. They slid in tandem, gracefully drifting around the corner side by side. Collei and her group watched in awe, their eyes wide.
The two cars exited the corner almost simultaneously, their wheels inches apart. As they reached the finish line, the FD surged forward slightly, crossing the line mere tenths of a second ahead of the Blackbird.
"Keqing wins!" March screamed, jumping in excitement.
"Unbelievable… A photo finish!" Beidou shouted.
"That was one hell of a race," Seele said, her arms crossed, a smirk on her face.
At the summit's parking lot, Keqing and Yelan exchanged handshakes, both grinning from ear to ear.
"That was some mighty fine driving, Keqing," Yelan said with a smile, clearly impressed.
"You too, Yelan," Keqing replied, her grin matching Yelan's.
"I didn't expect the rain to affect this race, though," Keqing added, glancing up at the sky.
"Yeah, but that move you pulled into the corner—side by side—was incredible, huh?" Yelan joked, bumping Keqing's shoulder.
"You bet!" Keqing laughed, bumping her back.
The two women shared a moment of camaraderie after an intense battle—one that had transformed a fierce rivalry into mutual respect.
Beidou's group watched from a distance.
"Seems Keqing's attitude has changed since you beat her, Collei," March observed, her gaze on the pair.
"Yeah, it sure seems that way," Collei smiled, nodding.
As the crowd began to disperse, Ganyu's S2000 pulled into the parking lot. She stepped out, walking toward Keqing.
"Nice job, Keqing!" Ganyu said with a smile.
The race coordinator looked up at the sky. "Should we still do a downhill race with this rain?"
Yelan shook her head, looking grim. "We can't with this rain. It's only going to get worse."
Keqing nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's just going to make things more dangerous."
But then, Ganyu tapped Keqing's shoulder, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Keqing, before you call it off, why don't you let me race the Eight-Six?"
Keqing's eyes widened. "What? You want to race that car?"
"This isn't Araumi, Keqing. As far as this goes, we've already done a practice run, and we're in a better position!" Ganyu's voice was filled with confidence.
Collei, observing the situation, raised an eyebrow. "Who's that girl Keqing's talking to?" Beidou asked.
"No idea," Collei muttered.
Ganyu glanced behind her and met Collei's eyes. "That's Ganyu," she said coolly.
Ganyu then walked toward Collei. "And I bet you're Collei, right?"
Collei nodded silently, her eyes cautious.
"What do you say to a downhill battle in this rain?" Ganyu smirked, her challenge clear.
Keqing grabbed Ganyu's shoulder, pulling her aside. "We should run this by Ningguang first, Ganyu."
Ganyu looked back at Keqing, her expression confident. "How about we ask the crowd?"
"What do you say, guys?!" Ganyu yelled to the cheering crowd.
The crowd erupted, their cheers growing louder in support of the challenge.
Beidou facepalmed, clearly not thrilled about being pulled into yet another race. "Well, so much for spectating."
Seele groaned, rubbing her temples. "Tell me about it."
Amber shook her head. "We can't say no to a cheering crowd, can we?"
"But she's racing Ningguang in three days!" March muttered, feeling the weight of the situation.
Ganyu's voice was sharp. "I'm here now, aren't I? If you can't defeat me, then I won't let you race Ningguang and waste her time!"
March quickly stepped in for Collei. "No thanks! She's fine," she said firmly.
But Collei barged in with a grin. "Sure, why not?"
The crowd's cheers grew even louder, and Beidou, Seele, March, Pela, and Amber exchanged stunned glances.
"No way…" Seele murmured, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Keqing stepped forward. "Wait a second!"
But Yelan placed a hand on Keqing's arm. "It's too late. With this crowd behind them, there's no turning back."
Ganyu smirked, putting her hands on her hips. "This race will be about pure skill. Let's see who comes out on top, hotshot."
Collei's expression hardened as she turned toward the parking lot. "Let's go, March. Let's grab the Eight-Six."
"Wait, what?!" March said, running to catch up with Collei.
Collei glanced over her shoulder. "I'm not leaving you here, and after the race, we can go straight home."
Later, Collei pulled the Eight-Six into position next to Ganyu's S2000. As March climbed in, Collei stopped her.
"Mind sitting in the back seat for this one, March?" Collei asked, pointing to the rear.
March's eyes widened in surprise. "The back seat? Uhh, sure…"
"Is this some kind of tactic, Collei?" March asked, sitting up straighter.
"No. It's just to keep me free from distractions," Collei answered calmly.
March glanced around for something to hold on to. "How am I supposed to hang on from here?"
"Well, that's something for you to figure out," Collei replied with a smirk.
March's face twisted into a look of annoyance. "Thanks for the vote of confidence…"
As the Eight-Six parked next to Ganyu's S2K, Keqing approached Ganyu's window.
"I don't know what you're thinking, representing Ningguang like you know her, but just so you know, she's going to race Collei no matter what," Keqing warned.
Ganyu smirked confidently. "You don't have to worry about me, Keqing. I've got this in the bag. Besides, the rain is in my favor today."
Keqing sighed and walked away. "Famous last words…"
And with that, an impromptu battle in the rain was about to begin—an unfamiliar course, a crowd eager for action, and two fierce competitors ready to push themselves to the limit.