The Speed Of The Stars

As the night deepens, the air buzzes with tension. The Subaru and the Lancia 037 line up at the summit's starting line, their engines rumbling like beasts ready to pounce. Clorinde steps out of the Lancia, her boots clicking against the asphalt, while Heizou emerges with an air of calm confidence. The two drivers stride towards each other, the weight of the impending battle palpable in the chill mountain breeze.

Clorinde extends a hand. "I'm Clorinde. Nice to meet you," she says, her tone firm and unwavering.

Heizou meets her gaze, smiling slightly as he shakes her hand. "Shikanoin Heizou. The pleasure's mine."

Their handshake is brief but charged with mutual respect. Without another word, they turn and head back to their respective machines. Clorinde's sharp smirk flashes in the moonlight as she reaches for the door handle of the Lancia.

"I'm not going easy on you. I'm ending this in the first round..." she mutters to herself, determination hardening her voice.

Sliding into the driver's seat, she pulls the door shut with a definitive slam. The echo reverberates across the summit, a prelude to the chaos about to unfold. She fastens her five-point harness, ensuring the straps are tight against her chest. Every movement is deliberate, her focus razor-sharp.

As Clorinde gazes at the twisting road ahead, a knock on the polycarbonate window jolts her from her thoughts. Turning her head, she sees Ningguang leaning in. Clorinde slides the small window open.

"Remember, Clorinde," Ningguang says softly but firmly, her golden eyes gleaming with concern, "don't do anything reckless."

Clorinde nods, her expression resolute. "I know. I'll finish this battle in the first round."

Ningguang places a reassuring hand on the roof of the Lancia. "Good luck."

Sliding the window shut, Clorinde inhales deeply and presses the ignition. The Lancia roars to life, its engine snarling as she revs it aggressively. Across the line, Heizou responds in kind, the Subaru's turbocharged flat-four barking back like a challenge.

Inside the Subaru, Heizou grips the wheel, his knuckles whitening. Exhaling, he narrows his eyes at the road ahead. "Let's go," he whispers.

The race begins in an explosion of sound and motion. Heizou dumps the clutch, and the Subaru rockets off the starting line, its tires biting into the pavement with precision. Clorinde is right behind him. She launches the Lancia, its engine screaming to the redline as the tires screech and fight for traction before gripping the road.

Quickly, Clorinde shifts through the gears—first, second, third, and fourth. The short ratios of her rally gearbox, paired with the raw power of the supercharged twin-cam four-cylinder engine, propel her forward with relentless speed. The gap between her and Heizou narrows as they tear through the first sharp hairpin. Heizou executes a controlled four-wheel drift, the Subaru's tail swinging wide yet gracefully. Clorinde mirrors his move, her Lancia glued to the Subaru's line.

For now, the positions remain unchanged, but the battle is far from over.

Up ahead, at a particularly tight hairpin, Feixiao and her longtime friend Yukong lean against the guardrail, waiting for the racers to appear. The distant roar of engines grows louder with every passing second.

Yukong smirks, her eyes glinting mischievously. "You seem... distracted today, Feixiao."

Feixiao gasps, her cheeks coloring. "What? Since when!?"

Yukong chuckles, shrugging playfully. "Just a feeling. Or is Ningguang getting under your skin again?"

Feixiao sighs, crossing her arms. "It's not just that. I can't shake the feeling that something's different tonight. Remember when Collei's Eight-Six beat Feiyun's downhill ace? Ningguang's team is relentless."

Yukong raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "You think this race is part of something bigger?"

Feixiao hesitates before nodding. "It's more than that. I recognize the Celica that raced earlier—it belonged to one of Feiyun's top drivers. And that Eight-Six… Collei's driving has evolved. It's like she's a completely different racer now. She's... refined."

Yukong whistles low. "Seems like the competition's heating up."

Back on the course, the intensity ramps up. The Subaru and Lancia approach another sharp hairpin. Both cars push to the limit, tires screaming as they take the corner wide, the rear bumpers barely missing the guardrail. The crowd, gathered sporadically along the route, gasps in unison as the drivers maintain control. The next turn is a fast-paced left-hander, and Clorinde seizes the opportunity to close the gap further.

Inside Heizou's Subaru, his mind flashes back to a conversation with Xingqiu two days prior. The two had been standing beside the car, its hood propped open as Xingqiu inspected the engine.

"Are you sure about this, kid?" Xingqiu asked, gesturing towards the turbo. "An anti-lag system would keep your boost up when you lift off the throttle. It could make all the difference."

Heizou shook his head, smiling faintly. "It's not that I don't want it. It's just... bad for the turbo and the engine long-term. This car's my daily driver too, you know. I can't afford to replace the engine every other month."

Xingqiu nodded, understanding. "Fair enough. A car that's a racer by night and a commuter by day—quite the balancing act."

"Exactly," Heizou said, leaning against the fender. "But that's how I like it. It's gotta stay true to both sides of me."

As the memory fades, Heizou's focus snaps back to the present. He grips the wheel tighter, the Subaru roaring as he pushes it to its limits. Behind him, Clorinde's Lancia looms larger, her relentless pursuit a testament to her skill.

Heizou's mind flickers back to the present, the roar of the engines snapping him into focus. Behind him, Clorinde's eyes narrow, her gaze like a hawk zeroing in on prey.

"He's fast," Clorinde murmurs under her breath. "That Subaru has power on the straights, but it falls short on cornering speed."

Up ahead, Heizou wears a confident smirk. His hands tighten on the wheel as adrenaline courses through his veins. "This is the perfect machine. A rally legend. A car that dominated the world alongside Colin McRae. The agility, the raw power... This is everything I need!"

He slams on the brakes as another hairpin approaches, skillfully guiding the Subaru through the curve. The tires squeal, fighting for grip, but the car holds its line. Clorinde stays close, mirroring his movements with precise timing, her Lancia glued to his tail.

Neither gives an inch. The battle rages on.

Heizou's grip tightens further as a determined fire burns in his eyes. "I will avenge you, Thoma. I will do this for Feiyun!"

With a fierce resolve, he pushes the accelerator to the floor. The Subaru lunges forward, the turbocharger screaming. Yet, the Lancia refuses to back down. Clorinde expertly shifts gears, the supercharger on her engine whining as she closes the gap again. The two cars barrel toward another hairpin, their engines roaring in harmony, as the crowd on the sidelines erupts in excitement.

"Look at them go! That Lancia's entry speed is insane!"

"Heizou can't shake her! It's like her car is connected to his!"

Clorinde's eyes suddenly widen with realization. "I get it! I understand your pace now!"

As they approach the next hairpin, Heizou taps the brakes—a sudden, calculated move. Clorinde's eyes narrow in surprise.

"You sneaky bastard," she hisses, slamming her brakes in response. Her front left wheel locks up, the Lancia skidding momentarily, but her deft hands keep the car under control.

Clorinde's grip on the wheel tightens, her knuckles turning white. "You fuck! I won't let you get away with that! I WILL catch up!"

Her foot slams down on the accelerator, and the Lancia jolts forward with a guttural roar. The supercharger whines louder, the engine screaming as it reaches the redline.

Inside the Subaru, Heizou giggles. "Hope you liked that little parting gift. I call it... the braking feint!"

But his smirk falters as he glances in the rearview mirror. The Lancia is closing in, its headlights growing brighter by the second.

"What the hell?!" Heizou exclaims, his voice rising in disbelief.

Clorinde's Lancia is now practically glued to the Subaru's bumper, refusing to give him even an inch of breathing room.

Meanwhile, Feixiao and Yukong stand at the next hairpin, the unmistakable growl of the Subaru's flat-four engine and the Lancia's screaming supercharger filling the air.

Feixiao smirks. "They're coming, and they're not holding back."

The cars rocket into view, mere inches apart. The crowd gasps as Heizou slams on the brakes again. This time, Clorinde seizes the moment.

"What the hell is she doing?!" Heizou yells, watching as the Lancia overtakes him on the outside.

Clorinde jerks the Lancia closer to the guardrail, sparks flying as the car's corner kisses the barrier. Then, with a masterful flick of the wheel, she cuts to the inside of the hairpin without losing pace. The Lancia drifts sideways, tires screeching, as it exits the turn with breathtaking speed.

Feixiao ducks instinctively, shielding herself. "She's crazy!"

Yukong stands up, pointing wildly. "Holy shit! Did you see that?! She's nuts!"

Feixiao shakes her head. "No, that's her style. Something happened out there—something's awakened in her. She's driving like she's on fire."

The Lancia rockets forward, a faint blue-and-red aura shimmering around it as if the car itself is alive. Its speed and precision are almost otherworldly, leaving the spectators in awe.

Heizou grips the wheel tighter, his breaths coming in sharp bursts. "How is that possible?!"

Still, he refuses to give up. "I can catch her on the sharp hairpins! I still have a chance!"

But as they approach the next corner, his hopes are dashed. Clorinde's Lancia drifts effortlessly through the hairpin, maintaining full speed before shooting forward again like a missile. Its taillights leave a streak of light behind, a haunting reminder of her dominance.

"She's defying physics!" Heizou shouts, his voice tinged with frustration and awe.

By the time he exits the hairpin, the Lancia is already several car lengths ahead. Clorinde disappears into the next corner, leaving nothing but darkness in her wake.

The realization sinks in. The race is over.

Clorinde has run away with the lead, her victory sealed in breathtaking fashion. Another win for Team Speed Stars, their reputation as unstoppable solidified. Clorinde, their ace, has once again proven her prowess on the mountain roads.

As the night settles, the echoes of roaring engines fade into the cool air. Another chapter in the saga of mountain racing closes, with Clorinde standing victorious at its peak.