The second day of the Velocity World Circuit began with a far more intense atmosphere. After the sabotage-filled first race, Lana and her team knew they weren't just racing to win—they were racing to survive.
That morning, Lana sat in the paddock with Aurora, Rai, and Aiko, discussing their strategy for the next race, the Death Spiral. This track was infamous for its extreme difficulty—a mix of sharp turns, dark tunnels, and moving obstacles.
"Viktor will try something again," Rai said seriously. "We can't just rely on instincts. We need a backup plan."
Aiko added, "And don't forget, Damian is out there. He may be an ally, but he's still your strongest competitor."
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A Surprise in the Garage
As the team worked on preparing Black Phoenix, a stranger approached them. Introducing himself as Ethan, a former member of Viktor's team, he claimed he wanted to help Lana.
"I know all the dirty tricks they use," he said, showing them a diagram of the track. "They've planted a signal jammer in the third tunnel. If you enter unprepared, you'll lose control."
Aurora was skeptical. "Why should we trust you?"
Ethan replied calmly, "Because I'm tired of seeing them ruin this sport. I want someone like Lana to win."
Despite her doubts, Lana decided to accept his help. "But if you try anything suspicious, you'll regret it," she warned with a sharp glare.
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The Race Begins
As the race began, Lana stood on the starting line surrounded by the best racers in the world. Damian was next to her, with Aiko in third position.
"Ready?" Damian asked challengingly.
"More than ready," Lana replied, starting Black Phoenix's engine.
The green flag waved, and the racers surged forward. The Death Spiral quickly lived up to its name—impossible sharp turns and sudden mechanical obstacles tested everyone's skill.
On the first corner, one racer skidded out and crashed into the wall, but Lana stayed focused, relying on her training with Aiko.
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Sabotage in the Tunnel
As they entered the third tunnel, Black Phoenix's navigation system began to glitch. The dashboard flickered, and her communication with Aurora was cut off.
"Here we go," Lana muttered, recalling Ethan's warning.
She switched to manual control, relying on her memory of the track. But Viktor wasn't done. A mysterious vehicle appeared behind her, attempting to ram Black Phoenix off the course.
"You'll need more than this to stop me," Lana shouted, pulling off a sharp drift maneuver to evade the attack.
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Damian Shows His Strength
Outside the tunnel, Damian surged into first place with incredible speed, seemingly unshaken by the track's toughest challenges.
But Lana was catching up, applying everything she'd learned from Aiko. One by one, she overtook the other racers, including Aiko, who smiled and said through her headset, "Show them who you are, Lana!"
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The Final Battle
In the last lap, it was just Damian and Lana at the front, neck and neck.
"You won't win," Damian said over their communication line. "I've never lost on this track."
Lana smirked. "Then today, you'll learn something new."
Using a drift technique she'd perfected with Aiko, she cut inside Damian's line on the final corner. The crowd roared as Black Phoenix crossed the finish line just milliseconds ahead of Damian.
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Viktor Loses Control
In the VIP stands, Viktor watched Lana's victory with fury. "How did she do it?" he yelled at his subordinates.
One of his assistants approached nervously. "Sir, there's a problem. Ethan leaked information about our sabotage to the media."
Realizing his plans were unraveling, Viktor's anger turned to a sinister grin. "This isn't over. I still have my final card to play."
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A Bittersweet Victory
Though Lana had won the race, she knew this was far from over. Damian approached her in the paddock, his expression a mix of respect and challenge.
"You won this time," he said. "But don't get too confident. The real battle hasn't even started."
Lana nodded. "I know. And I'll be ready."
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The Chapter Ends with New Hope and Threats
Back in the garage, Lana and her team celebrated the victory with mixed emotions. Rai, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up. "We need to be more careful. Viktor won't stop until he destroys you."
Looking at her team, Lana felt grateful for their support. "We'll face whatever comes. Together."
But far away, Viktor was preparing his next move—a plan that would push Lana and her team to their limits.