The following day, the team returned to Narukami. In Yougou, Collei was back to her usual downhill routines after completing a delivery. She drove as fast as she could, her newfound mastery of making the Eight Six handle like a four-wheel-drive car on tight hairpins shaving seconds off her times.
As she raced down the mountain, Collei approached one of the many hairpins, her focus razor-sharp. With precision, she initiated a drift using her new technique. The Eight Six slid gracefully, exiting mere centimeters from the guardrail—a calculated move to maintain speed through the turn. Without missing a beat, she approached a left-hand hairpin, slamming on the brakes and rapidly downshifting from fourth to third, then second. She executed a flawless no-countersteer four-wheel drift, flying through the hairpin at breakneck speed.
Her foot slammed back onto the accelerator as the engine roared to life, pushing past 10,000 RPM and inching into the redline at 11,000 RPM. The Eight Six screamed down the mountain, its high-revving engine echoing through the stillness of the early morning. Eventually, Collei's run came to an end, the thrill of the drive still coursing through her veins.
That night, Collei dropped by the gas station where Beidou and March were sweeping the floors in preparation to close up for the day.
"I heard the team's taking a break from expeditions this week. Maybe next week too?" March said, glancing up from her broom.
Collei took a sip of her coffee and nodded. "That's right. Repairing Clorinde's Lancia is going to take some time. We need to check the chassis, alignment, suspension—basically everything. There could be hidden damage we haven't spotted yet. We figured a little downtime was necessary after Kannazuka and Seirai."
Beidou leaned her head against the broom's handle with a tired smile. "No kidding. Especially Kannazuka. That place must've drained all of you."
"Tell me about it," Collei replied, shaking her head. "Seirai started off with a nightmare. Some jerks spilled oil on the road and nearly totaled a legendary Group B rally car worth at least 1.3 million. But for Clorinde, it's more than just a car—it's her father's legacy. That hit her hard."
March grimaced. "Yeah, I saw the photos you sent in the group chat. It's heartbreaking seeing the Lancia in that state."
"It is," Beidou added with a nod. "The impact must've been brutal. Enough to rip the entire rear-left suspension assembly off the chassis? That's insane."
Collei sighed. "No kidding. The Lancia 037 isn't exactly built like a tank. The body panels are fiberglass, and even the windows aren't real glass—they're Lexan. It's designed for agility, not durability."
Beidou exhaled sharply. "Figures. With a place as big as Inazuma, you're bound to run into some pricks in the racing scene."
"Agreed," March said. "Still, your team did an incredible job fixing the Lancia in just a day."
Collei chuckled, the memory bringing a smirk to her lips. "No kidding. I thought Clorinde would have to borrow someone else's car, but she proved everyone wrong. She showed that jerk in the Lan Evo that a bruised Lancia isn't out of the fight. Clorinde's the type to never give up—doesn't matter if her car's banged up or not."
Beidou grinned. "And with both of you still undefeated, I bet the pressure is mounting on the Speed Stars."
The following morning, Keqing stopped by Clorinde's house by the lake. Her RX-7 FD pulled up in front of the garage where Clorinde was busy installing a spare rear trunk. Keqing stepped out, brushing her hair behind her ear, and walked inside.
"Hey, Clorinde. How's it hanging?" she called out.
Clorinde glanced up from her work and smiled. "Oh, hey, Keqing! What brings you here?"
Keqing smiled back. "Nothing much—just checking in."
She stepped closer, taking a look at the spare trunk. "Whoa. Looks like the replacement arrived, huh?"
Clorinde chuckled, wiping her hands on a rag. "Not quite. This is a spare we had lying around. That's why it's already painted. The actual replacement is still being shipped. Once it gets here, we'll paint it to match the rest of the Martini scheme."
Keqing nodded, studying the Lancia. "Got it. Makes sense."
After a moment, she tilted her head, curiosity sparking. "By the way, Clorinde… Have you thought about upping the power output? Maybe taking it from 325 to something a bit higher?"
Clorinde shrugged, setting down her wrench. "I mean, we had the ECU remapped before the expedition, so it's already pushing around 350."
"I get that," Keqing said, crossing her arms. "But with the kind of opponents you've got coming up, they might be pushing even more."
A smirk tugged at Clorinde's lips. "Actually… there's something special that might help with that."
Keqing raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What's that?"
Clorinde tightened the final bolt on the trunk, then lowered the hood prop, locking it in place with a click. "Trust me. You're going to love this. We'll need to head to Navia's place—it's stored in a lot on her property."
Keqing's intrigue deepened. "Alright, let's go."
The two exited the garage and climbed into Keqing's Midnight Purple RX-7 FD. With the rotary engine humming smoothly, they set off, heading back to town and toward Navia's place. The excitement in the air was palpable as the sleek sports car sped through the winding roads under the moonlight.
Hours passed, and the trio now stood before a large storage building tucked behind Navia's house. Navia stepped forward, gripping the handle of the storage doors.
"Trust me," Navia said with a smirk, pushing the doors upward, "the engine in this car will blow you away."
The doors rolled open, revealing a hidden treasure—a legendary Group B rally car gleaming under the soft light of the storage.
Keqing's jaw dropped as her eyes widened in awe. "No way…" she breathed.
Clorinde crossed her arms, her expression smug. "What do you think?"
Keqing took a hesitant step forward, still processing what she was seeing. "It's surreal. How did you even get your hands on it?"
Clorinde's smirk deepened. "My father."
Keqing spun to face her. "Your father had a Lancia Delta S4!?"
"Yes and no," Clorinde replied. She walked over to the car, her fingers trailing lightly along its sleek lines. "This Lancia was totaled during a rally in Greece back in '86. It hit an unseen rock that tore the suspension apart. After the accident, the car was sold off, and my father bought it directly from Lancia at the end of the season. He never got the chance to fully restore it, but the one thing he kept in pristine condition…"
Clorinde gestured for Navia to join her. The two walked to a covered object near the back of the storage unit. Navia reached out and carefully removed the cloth, revealing a perfectly preserved engine.
Keqing's eyes widened even further. "Holy moly… It's a marvel! Twin-charged, too!?"
Clorinde grinned. "Yep. The Delta S4 was twin-charged for a reason. You get instant boost from the supercharger at low RPMs, and then sheer torque and power from the turbocharger at higher RPMs. At mid-range, the turbocharger takes over and disengages the supercharger. It's the perfect balance of responsiveness and power."
Keqing could barely contain her excitement. "That's incredible! So, you're planning to drop this engine into your Lancia 037, right?"
Navia shook her head, her expression turning serious. "We can't."
Keqing blinked in confusion. "Why not?"
Clorinde sighed, running a hand through her hair. "The engine hasn't been run since it was taken out after the rally. It's been sitting here untouched for decades. Starting it up without proper preparation could cause irreversible damage."
Navia stepped forward, a sly grin spreading across her face. "But there's another option."
Keqing tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "What's that?"
Clorinde tapped her chin thoughtfully. "We could transfer the induction system from the Delta S4's engine into the 037's engine. That way, we'd keep the twin-charged setup without risking the original engine."
Navia nodded confidently. "Exactly. The system's been well-preserved, and it's compatible with the 037. If it works, we'll have one hell of a machine. And if it doesn't? Well, we'll consult the FISA homologation papers, track down the necessary parts, and order replacements."
Keqing looked back and forth between them, her curiosity piqued. "So… what's the verdict?"
Navia straightened, her smirk returning. "Looks like Phase Two of the Lancia Rally 037 project is officially underway. I'll get the Delta S4's induction system dismantled later today. By tomorrow, we can start experimenting."
Keqing raised a finger, a thought crossing her mind. "But what if the engine blows up during testing?"
Clorinde chuckled, waving off the concern. "Don't worry about that. We've got a spare engine on standby. Navia's been running it on an engine dyno for two hours every month to keep it in shape. It's over in her garage, ready to go if we need it."
Keqing clapped her hands together, a determined grin spreading across her face. "Alright, ladies, let's get to work!"
The following morning, Collei was back out on Yougou Pass, but this time behind the wheel of Arlecchino's iconic Bayside Blue R34 Skyline. She tore through a straightaway, the speedometer maxed out at 180 km/h as the car surged past 200 km/h. The hairpin loomed ahead, and Collei's focus sharpened. Slamming on the brakes, she downshifted with precision, and the R34 slowed just enough for her to initiate a perfect four-wheel drift.
Beidou's advice echoed in her mind: Steer into the drift and countersteer less. But by now, Collei had grown accustomed to the R34's handling quirks. It was different from her Eight Six—heavier but undeniably powerful. She exited the hairpin with ease, the tires biting into the asphalt as she rocketed forward.
But for Collei, it wasn't just a morning drive. There was a feeling gnawing at the edges of her concentration—something almost supernatural. She wasn't just driving. She was racing. But against what? Or who?
That afternoon, Arlecchino dropped by the gas station, parking her R34 in the garage. Inside Lyney's office, she leaned against his desk, her usual smirk playing on her lips.
"So, how's Collei doing? Do you think she's finally pulling herself out of this slump?" Lyney asked, leaning forward, arms crossed.
Arlecchino nodded thoughtfully. "I'd say she's already climbing out of it. The way she's been driving lately—she's heading in the right direction. Ever since her last expedition, there's been a fire in her. But something's changed. After every run, there's a different look in her eyes."
Lyney tilted his head. "A different look? How so?"
Arlecchino's smirk widened. "It's obvious. She's locked in a battle. One that plays out every morning on Yougou Pass."
Lyney raised an eyebrow. "A battle? Against who?"
Arlecchino leaned closer, her voice steady but laced with intrigue. "Against herself."
"Against herself?" Lyney repeated, leaning back in his chair.
"That's right," Arlecchino said, crossing her arms. "Every time she drives the Eight Six, she chases an imaginary R34 in front of her. When she's in my R34, she's trying to outrun an imaginary Eight Six that's always in her rearview mirror. She knows Yougou Pass like the back of her hand, so she's aware of every difference between the two cars—speed, handling, acceleration. Over time, she's been mastering both cars to the point that she's visualizing their behavior down to the smallest detail."
She leaned back in her seat, her smirk softening into something almost fond. "If she were me, she'd see that imaginary R34 in crystal clarity. Like it's always been there."
Outside the office, Beidou and March were wiping sweat from their brows as they finished cleaning up the station.
"I can't believe summer's here already," March groaned, fanning herself with her hand.
"No kidding," Beidou replied with a sigh. "It was around this time that Collei made her downhill debut. Remember her battle with Keqing's RX-7 FD?"
March nodded, a nostalgic smile tugging at her lips. "Oh yeah, that was legendary."
Beidou gazed up at the clear blue sky. "And since then, she's been undefeated in every race she's run. The Legend of Yougou's Eight Six… still going strong."
"In just one year, she's gone from a regular teenage girl fresh out of high school—someone who didn't even know what an Eight Six was—to a racing legend. She's up there with Clorinde and Ningguang now," March said, shaking her head in awe.
Back in the office, Lyney rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That's a lot. Even professionals don't train like that—not even Formula One drivers."
Arlecchino scoffed. "Imagine this, Lyney: one day, Collei discovers a new racing line that cuts her time by a fraction of a second while driving the Eight Six. But the very next day, when she's in the R34, she'll instinctively take that same line. And the next time she's in the Eight Six, she'll push even harder to catch up. It's a cycle—a relentless push for perfection."
Lyney's eyes widened. "That sounds exhausting. It must be hard, knowing she's racing an opponent she'll never catch."
Arlecchino smirked. "Don't think of it like that. One day, she will catch that imaginary R34. Until then, she's honing her skills. Everything she knows—the fundamentals—was built in the Eight Six. Now, as she learns the dynamics of an all-wheel-drive car like the R34, she's gaining a deeper understanding of how her opponents think and how their cars behave. Her style is evolving, and I like what I'm seeing. When Team Speed Stars' expeditions end and they disband, Collei will be ready to take on challenges she's never faced before."
The scene transitions back to Yougou Pass, where Collei is once again tearing down the mountain in the R34. The sound of its RB26DETT engine echoes through the forest. This time, her focus is sharper than ever, her lines cleaner, her drifts more precise. In her mind's eye, she sees it—the Eight Six chasing her down, refusing to let her escape. She smirks, her grip on the wheel tightening.
"Not today," she mutters under her breath.
And with that, she floors the accelerator, leaving the imaginary rival in a cloud of dust.
The following night. The calm stillness of Yougou Pass was shattered by the ferocious roar of a twin-charged, twin-cam four-cylinder engine. Clorinde's Lancia Rally 037, now sporting a brand-new rear engine bay cover and the legendary Delta S4's twin-charged induction system, thundered up the mountain. The exhaust crackled with every downshift, the sound ricocheting off the surrounding cliffs like an unrelenting war cry.
Inside the cockpit, Keqing clung to her harness, her wide eyes betraying a mix of excitement and terror. Meanwhile, Clorinde's grin stretched wider with each passing second.
"This is so fucking awesome!" Clorinde exclaimed over the engine's roar. "The raw power on these uphills is unreal! Now I'll never struggle against a modded GT-R or Lancer Evo again!"
Keqing could barely keep her head steady as the Lancia tore through another series of hairpins. The car danced like a ballet performer on steroids, each movement precise yet aggressive.
"Thanks to Navia's meticulous tuning of the suspension system, the Lancia felt like it was glued to the road, even as it skidded through corners at breakneck speeds."
Between gasps of exhilaration, Keqing glanced at Clorinde, her voice strained but filled with awe. "This is insane! Navia really outdid herself this time. The power difference is obvious, but it's the way the suspension handles… It's like it was made just for you. And your car control? Fuck, it's amazing. Your pedal control has leveled up completely!"
Clorinde didn't respond verbally; instead, she gave a quick, practiced blip of the throttle, mimicking the precision of racing legend Ayrton Senna. The Lancia responded instantly, its power delivery seamless, as if the car itself shared Clorinde's hunger for speed. Another hairpin approached, and Clorinde dove into it fearlessly, the twin-charged beast clawing its way up Yougou Pass with an unrelenting fury.
Minutes later, the Lancia screeched to a halt at the summit's rest area. Clorinde wasted no time unbuckling her harness and stepping out, stretching her back with a satisfied groan.
"Fuck, that felt amazing!" she exclaimed, pacing around the car like a proud artist admiring her masterpiece. "The sheer power on the straightaways, the grip in the corners—this thing is a fucking monster! And yet, it's just as easy to drive as it was with the single-charged setup."
Keqing stepped out more cautiously, shaking her head with a bemused smile. "Navia will love hearing that. So, what's the plan? Are you keeping this setup for good?"
Clorinde smirked, leaning back against the Lancia. "No."
Keqing raised an eyebrow. "Why not? This setup makes it unstoppable!"
Clorinde chuckled knowingly. "Because if rally enthusiasts around the world find out I've been tinkering with an Italian legend like this, they'd protest outside my house. As soon as the team finishes the final race, it's going back to its original form. No exceptions."
Keqing nodded in understanding, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Fair enough. But you have to admit, this upgrade couldn't have come at a better time. Ningguang said this next race will be our toughest yet."
Clorinde's expression shifted to one of intrigue. "Tougher than Feiyun?"
Keqing grinned slyly. "Oh, yeah. And here's the kicker—your uphill opponent is going to reignite a rivalry that's nearly 40 years old."
Clorinde frowned, her curiosity piqued. "What rivalry? Who is it?"
Keqing chuckled, refusing to spill the details. "You'll see when we get there. Trust me, you'll love it."
The night ended with the two standing beside the now-legendary Lancia, its twin-charged system humming softly as it cooled. With the Delta S4's legacy fueling its core, Clorinde's Rally 037 was no longer just a car—it was a weapon. A symbol of precision, resilience, and raw power.
Whatever awaited them in the upcoming race, one thing was certain: Clorinde and her Lancia were ready. For anything.