The Lancia Rally 037 and the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth roared into the base of the mountain, the echo of their engines fading into the crisp night air. Gravel crunched beneath their tires as they came to a stop, steam rising faintly from their hoods under the glow of the base lights. The two drivers stepped out, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and respect.
Yoimiya let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through her hair as she approached Clorinde. "I don't know how you've done it," she admitted, her tone tinged with both frustration and admiration. "But you won. Congratulations." She extended a hand, the gesture firm but not without humility.
Clorinde grasped Yoimiya's hand, her grip steady and confident. "Well," she said with a slight shrug, "I just drove how I usually drive. But thanks."
Yoimiya chuckled dryly, her gaze shifting to the two cars. The battle scars of their race were evident—scuffed paint, heated brakes, and the faint smell of burnt rubber. "I spun out when we hit that right hairpin," she confessed. "Lost all grip at the rear. But hey… it happens in racing."
Clorinde's eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she processed Yoimiya's words. Inwardly, she was skeptical. Bullshit, she thought. You didn't lose grip. You lost focus.
Outwardly, however, Clorinde kept her tone even. "Well," she said aloud, "it's racing. The unpredictable happens."
Yoimiya nodded, her expression softening. "You bet."
The tension between them eased as they exchanged nods of mutual respect before parting ways. The mountain may have decided the winner, but the spirit of competition was alive and well.
Back at the base, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. The second race was about to begin, and the energy in the air was palpable.
Collei and Chiori approached each other, their steps measured, their eyes locked in a silent acknowledgment of the challenge ahead. The din of mechanics working on cars and the murmur of onlookers faded into the background.
Collei was the first to speak, her voice steady. "I'm Collei of Team Speed Stars." She extended a hand, her expression a mix of professionalism and determination.
Chiori inclined her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Chiori," she replied. "Pleasure's all mine."
They shook hands, the grip brief but meaningful, before turning and heading to their respective machines.
Collei climbed into her iconic AE86, the car's black-and-white livery gleaming under the lights. She strapped herself into the five-point harness with practiced precision. As she finished securing it, a knock at her window made her glance up.
Keqing stood outside, her expression calm but purposeful. Collei rolled the window down.
"By the way, Collei," Keqing said, her tone low but encouraging. "You're leading."
Collei gave a firm nod, her green eyes glinting with determination. "Understood."
The starting line buzzed with anticipation. Collei's AE86 sat poised at the front, its distinctive design a testament to its legendary status. Behind it, Chiori's white-and-gold Rocket Bunny S13 idled, its aggressive stance and wide body kit exuding raw power.
Chiori leaned forward slightly in her seat, her eyes fixed on the AE86 ahead. A smirk tugged at her lips as she muttered to herself, "What's so special about this Eight-Six? Looks like the kind of car anyone would start drifting in. Doesn't seem like much to me..."
Inside the AE86, Collei gave a thumbs-up to Keqing, signaling that she was ready.
Keqing raised a hand, preparing to drop it for the start. The crowd fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Engines revved, the roar of power rising like a battle cry.
The stage was set. Two cars. Two drivers. One mountain road. The race was about to begin.
She raised her hand high, her voice ringing out above the gathered crowd and the hum of idling engines. "Let's start the countdown!"
The spectators, now on edge, joined in unison.
"FIVE!"
"FOUR!"
"THREE!"
"TWO!"
"ONE!"
"GO!"
Keqing's hand sliced through the air, signaling the start. The AE86 and the Rocket Bunny S13 lunged off the line, their tires screeching as they gripped the tarmac. Engines screamed in protest as both drivers pushed their machines to their limits, diving into the fast-paced left-hand curve with razor-sharp precision.
The cars maintained their balance as they carved through the turn, the AE86 and S13 appearing like synchronized dancers on the edge of control. Then, in a smooth motion, they exited the curve and barreled into the first straightaway, the calm before the storm.
In the cockpit of the AE86, Collei's gaze flicked momentarily to the rearview mirror, where the S13 loomed like a predator sizing up its prey.
"She's got the power advantage..." Collei muttered under her breath, her hands steady on the wheel. "There's no denying it. But what I lack in power, I can compensate for with cornering speed."
The needle on the tachometer climbed relentlessly—8500 RPM, then 9500, before hitting the redline at 11,000 RPM. The AE86's engine screamed like a banshee as Collei shifted from third to fourth gear. The little hatchback surged forward, eking out a slight increase in the gap between her and Chiori's S13.
Inside the Rocket Bunny S13, Chiori's thoughts raced as fast as her car. Her eyes locked on the AE86 ahead, the glowing taillights flickering as it bobbed over the uneven road.
"I still can't figure it out," she muttered, her grip on the steering wheel tightening. "What makes this Eight-Six so special? It's a beginner's drift car, right? Lightweight, underpowered... standard stuff. So why the hell is it pulling away?"
She narrowed her eyes, pushing the S13 harder to keep up. Her turbocharged engine roared to life, closing the gap slightly on the straight. "Doesn't matter," she said with a shake of her head, dismissing her doubt. "On the straights, I can keep up. That's what counts."
Back at the base, Keqing and Ningguang stood by a monitor displaying a live feed of the race. The mountain road glowed faintly under the starlight, with the two cars' headlights streaking through the dark like twin comets.
Keqing broke the silence. "About our conversation earlier..."
"What about it?" Ningguang asked, not taking her eyes off the screen.
Keqing tilted her head slightly, curiosity etched on her face. "What's so special about Collei's phenomenon?"
Ningguang crossed her arms, her gaze distant as she considered the question. "It's similar to Clorinde's 'Rapperia Zone,' but there are key differences." She gestured toward the screen. "Clorinde's phenomenon appeared early with Team Speed Stars. That's during her race with Heizou. But Collei's 'Cuilein Zone' emerged much later—during her last race, with Diluc."
Keqing nodded, urging her to continue.
"Like Clorinde, Collei's phenomenon is about merging with her car—becoming one with it," Ningguang explained. "But while Clorinde's Rapperia Zone is sporadic, giving her sudden bursts of speed by half a car length, Collei's 'Cuilein Zone' is more consistent... and more dramatic."
Keqing raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by 'dramatic'?"
Ningguang sighed, her expression grave. "Collei's Cuilein Zone can propel her forward by one car length... sometimes even two."
Keqing's eyes widened in disbelief. "Two car lengths?! That's insane!"
Ningguang nodded, her gaze steady. "Exactly. And while I can't fully explain how it works, it's clear that it stems from her bond with the AE86. Unlike Clorinde, who's only been driving her Lancia 037 for a year or two, Collei has been with her AE86 for at least five, maybe slightly more. She's felt the car evolve—she knows how it handles, how it reacts to every bump, curve, hairpin, and elevation change on any course. It's as if the car's entire history is stored in her mind. That kind of synergy can't be replicated easily."
She turned her eyes toward the silhouette of Mt. Kanna, illuminated faintly under the moonlight. "Whatever it is, Collei is special. She has a future ahead of her—an opportunity to be more than just a great driver. One day, she'll be a racing star."
The two stood in silence for a moment, the sounds of the race echoing faintly in the distance, as if the mountain itself was whispering its approval.
Ningguang, as it turned out, was absolutely right.
Back in the race, Collei's AE86 and Chiori's S13 were tearing through the second section of the course, a slower and tighter segment that demanded precision and control. The tension between the two cars was palpable as they approached the first set of turns—an S-curve followed by a left-hand hairpin.
Collei entered the first right-hander of the S-curve, her AE86 moving with surgical precision. Suddenly, the car seemed to defy logic, shooting forward by an entire car length as if propelled by an unseen force.
Chiori's eyes went wide with disbelief. "What in the hell!?" she exclaimed, her grip tightening on the wheel.
She slammed her foot on the gas, the S13 responding with a surge of power. Though she managed to close the gap exiting the S-curves, the effort left her breathless. They barreled down a short straightaway before slamming on their brakes for the sharp left-hand hairpin.
Collei entered the hairpin with perfect timing, and once again, her AE86 shot forward. This time, the gap widened dramatically—two car lengths now separated her from Chiori. The Eight-Six left a faint trail of lights behind, as if marking its path through the night.
Chiori's eyes twitched as frustration bubbled to the surface. "How's she doing that? She's defying physics!"
Even so, the straightaways worked in Chiori's favor. Her S13's raw power allowed her to catch up again, closing the gap. She was relentless, pressing her car harder and harder to stay in the fight.
Collei glanced in her rearview mirror, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Persistent, aren't you?"
She slammed her foot back on the gas, and the AE86 jolted forward like a rocket. As they approached a tight right-hand turn, Collei initiated a flawless four-wheel drift, her car dancing effortlessly through the curve. Then, just as before, the AE86 shot forward, leaving behind another glowing trail of light.
By the time Chiori reached the hairpin, the AE86 was already two car lengths ahead. They entered a left-hand turn, and Collei's phenomenon triggered once more, widening the gap yet again. This time, when Chiori exited the turn, the AE86 had pulled ahead by four car lengths.
"That's impossible!" Chiori shouted, her voice echoing in her cockpit.
She pushed her S13 to its absolute limit, the engine howling as it clawed for every ounce of speed. Slowly, agonizingly, she managed to close the gap to two car lengths. But as they approached another left-hand hairpin, Collei's phenomenon struck again. Her AE86 shot forward, the glowing trail of lights seeming almost alive.
By the time Chiori exited the hairpin, the gap had ballooned to five and a half car lengths.
"This can't be real..." Chiori muttered, sweat dripping from her brow. "Her car... no, she's on another level."
As they raced down the longest straightaway on the course, Chiori could just make out the AE86's taillights in the distance. Her mind reeled as a cyan-green aura began to shimmer around the Eight-Six, faint at first but growing brighter. Then, like a bird taking flight, ethereal wings spread from the car's sides—a manifestation of Collei's phenomenon evolving in real time.
"That's amazing..." Chiori murmured, her frustration giving way to awe.
Ahead, Collei entered a sweeping left-hand curve, and the Eight-Six surged forward one final time, leaving a trail of glowing lights behind. By the time Chiori reached the curve, the AE86 was gone—swallowed by the shadows of the mountain road.
Chiori eased off the gas with a heavy sigh. "It's over," she said softly. "I've been outrun..."
She smiled faintly, her frustration melting into admiration. "That kid... she's got one hell of a talent. She's going to be big one day. Big."
Fifteen minutes later, the teams had regrouped at the base of the mountain. The atmosphere was electric as cheers erupted from Team Speed Stars. Collei and Clorinde stood at the center of the celebration, their hands clasped together in triumph. With their free hands, they each raised a finger in a "number one" gesture, their smiles wide and unrestrained.
Ningguang watched from a distance, her expression warm with pride. "They've evolved..." she murmured.
She turned her gaze to the sky, the stars twinkling like a thousand tiny headlights. "One more expedition," she whispered. "One more challenge, and this journey will come to an end. After that, the Ace versus Ace race will decide everything."
Her eyes shifted to her two aces, who were basking in the adoration of their team. "They've changed," Ningguang said, her voice thick with emotion. "And I'm proud to be their team leader. Very. Fucking. Proud."
She strode forward, joining the celebrations. Pulling both drivers into a heartfelt hug, she smiled and said, "I'm proud of you. Both of you!"
Collei and Clorinde grinned, their shared camaraderie shining as brightly as the mountain stars.
As the night wound down, the team's thoughts turned to the week ahead. Their final expedition awaited at Autake Pass—a fitting stage for the culmination of their journey.
For now, though, they celebrated another victory—a testament to the relentless spirit of Team Speed Stars.