In a gigantic arena suspended between the clouds, the final of the Hyper Dash World Championship was in full swing.
The Vorpal, the favorite team, were in the lead. Their leader, Xian, an incredibly fast Dasher, seemed untouchable. His exoskeleton gleamed, modified to allow him lightning acceleration, his body moving with supernatural fluidity through the shifting arena. Nexus crystals, floating in the air like shooting stars, disappeared and reappeared in unexpected places, forcing Dashers to fight for each fragment of energy. The tension was palpable.
With each passing second, spectators held their breath, not knowing who would be the first to gain the upper hand. The Phantom Strikes team was in ambush. One of Their "Collectors", a lithe young woman named Jessy, was ready to charge into the fray. She dashed at full speed, leaping from one platform to another, avoiding the Vorpal attacks, her exoskeleton shining in the blinding light of the arena.
The score was now 3 points everywhere and the last nexus crystal, the one that could decide the outcome of the match, appeared at the top of a dizzying structure, just above the void.
Vorpal Xian launched into a frenzied run, spinning over the opposing goalkeeper before rising high into the sky, but Jessy was one step ahead. She used all the remaining energy in her exoskeleton to launch a "Dash" propelling her at breakneck speed, drifting down a ramp and making one final titanic jump, reaching the top before Xian. In a last ditch effort, she grabbed the crystal and plunged it into her team's area.
The arena erupted in applause as the Phantom Strikes were victorious.
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[ During this time ]
In a dark alley, far from the brilliance of the stadiums and arenas, Ren, a young Parisian programmer, was staring at the screen of his terminal. He had seen the final live. Every movement, every jump seemed unreal. His eyes shone with envy. Ren was just a simple technician, working in an exoskeleton garage.
His dream? Become a Dasher. He did not possess the speed of champions, nor the flamboyant equipment of these famous athletes. But he knew that technology, engineering, and an iron will could take him to the top. In his hands, he had a prototype exoskeleton that he had designed alone, in secret with parts found here and there.
Ren ( thought) : " Today
I was just a spectator. But tomorrow... maybe tomorrow, i would be a Dasher. "
He closed his eyes, imagining the arena, the floating crystals, the deafening noise of the crowd. He could already feel the wind of speed, the adrenaline coursing through his veins, and the call of victory.
Ren's story had only just begun...