The Speed Of The Stars

The following morning, at a cozy café nestled in the heart of Musouji, one of the team's support vans sat parked in the lot. Inside, Keqing, Albedo, and Navia were seated at a corner table, enjoying a hearty breakfast.

Keqing slumped in her seat, grimacing as she massaged her lower back. "Ugh, sleeping in the van is a nightmare. How Ningguang manages to do it regularly beats me…"

Navia leaned back, sighing. "I know exactly what you mean. And it's not just her—I can't fathom how Clorinde or Collei can tolerate sleeping in their cars."

Albedo chuckled, setting down his coffee. "For Collei, it's easy—she has the back seat to herself. But Clorinde? Spending an entire night in a rally car's bucket seat? That's bound to wreak havoc on her back."

Keqing nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Last night's practice runs really made me appreciate Ningguang's presence even more. She's not just the brains of the team; she's the heart and soul."

The trio continued their meal as the hours slipped by. The sun, once high in the sky, had already begun its descent. Over at Musouji Pass, a sleek blue Sileighty casually made its way up the mountain roads. Inside, Amber and Seele were heading to their chosen vantage point, eager to witness the much-anticipated race between Team Speed Stars and Feiyun.

Amber scanned the roadside, her eyes darting between potential spots. "Where can we park? It'd be perfect if we could find a spot by a hairpin."

Seele leaned closer to the window, taking in the picturesque view. "It's beautiful out here… peaceful."

Amber smiled, nodding. "It really is."

The car approached the Snake Hairpins, a notoriously tight section of the pass with four consecutive switchbacks. As they rounded the first hairpin, they spotted a gray Lancer Evo IX parked neatly behind the guardrail in a small rest area. Amber carefully pulled in beside it, expertly parking the Sileighty.

The two stepped out of the car, the crisp mountain wind greeting them with a rush. Amber's ponytail whipped in the breeze as she laughed, pulling her jacket tighter. "Ooh, it's windy!"

Seele, fumbling with her hood, groaned in agreement. "Yeah, way too windy!"

As night descended, back at the parking area near the starting line, Albedo approached Ningguang, who stood poised, waiting for Feiyun's convoy to arrive.

Albedo gestured toward the cars. "The Eight Six is finalized. Setup's perfect and ready to roll."

Ningguang nodded approvingly. "Good work. Now, we just wait for Feiyun."

Almost on cue, the rumble of engines echoed through the lot as the Feiyun Racing School convoy arrived. Leading the pack were Thoma's Celica GT-Four, Heizou's blue Subaru Impreza, and their centerpiece—a Group A Subaru Legacy RS Rally Car. The vehicles pulled into formation, parking opposite Team Speed Stars.

Xingqiu stepped out, his commanding presence immediately drawing attention. "All right, team! Let's get the lights up and perform one final check on the car."

Clorinde, leaning casually against a guardrail, smirked. "Looks like the rally boss himself decided to show up. And I've got a pretty good idea who'll be racing against you, Collei."

Collei mirrored her smirk. "Same here."

Ningguang's voice cut through the chatter as she turned to Collei. "Collei, you're riding shotgun. Let's have a heart-to-heart in the FC."

Moments later, Ningguang and Collei eased into the FC and glided onto the course. The car moved with precision as Ningguang expertly drifted through each corner, effortlessly taming the mountain's challenges. Inside, the two spoke in hushed tones, their conversation punctuated by the screech of tires and the roar of the engine.

Meanwhile, back at Feiyun's lineup, Shinobu approached Xingqiu. "Is everything set with the car?"

Xingqiu nodded firmly. "Locked and loaded. You know what's at stake tonight, right?"

Shinobu met his gaze. "I do. Don't worry, though. With the Subaru's four-wheel drive, I'll catch up to that Lancia easily."

Right on cue, the FC returned to the parking lot, its presence commanding as it rolled to a stop in front of the Lancia. Ningguang and Collei stepped out, the former striding confidently toward Albedo.

"Is everything ready?" Ningguang asked.

Albedo nodded. "Engine's warmed up and good to go."

Ningguang's lips curled into a smile. "That's music to my ears." She turned to Collei, her tone sharp and focused. "Collei, you're up."

Collei gave a resolute nod as Keqing made her way to Feiyun's side. She stopped directly in front of Kuki Shinobu, her posture assertive yet composed.

"We're all set for the race. If you're okay with it, we'd like to start side by side. The road's wide enough for two cars," Keqing suggested.

Shinobu paused before nodding. "That's fine by me."

Keqing turned back to her team, shouting, "All right! We're set! Line them up!"

The hum of anticipation filled the air as Shinobu climbed into the Subaru, securing her harness. The engine roared to life, the car rolling into position beside Collei's Eight Six. As the vehicles lined up at the starting point, Shinobu's eyes widened in disbelief.

"No way…" she murmured.

Thoma, equally stunned, exclaimed, "They didn't seriously pick the Eight Six to go against Shinobu, did they?"

Heizou turned to Xingqiu, his concern evident. "Boss, is this something to worry about?"

Xingqiu's expression darkened. "Yes. Very much so."

The engines snarled as Clorinde stepped onto the road, raising her hand. "All right, here comes the countdown!"

"FIVE!"

"FOUR!"

"THREE!"

"TWO!"

"ONE!"

"GO!"

Clorinde's hand dropped, and the two cars surged forward. Shinobu stumbled with a poor start, allowing Collei's Eight Six to seize the lead as they barreled toward the first turn.

Clorinde leapt over the guardrail, rejoining her team as the race kicked into high gear. Back at Feiyun's side, the atmosphere grew tense.

Thoma turned to Xingqiu. "Boss, what happened there?"

Xingqiu scoffed. "She didn't rev high enough. The engine didn't generate enough power or boost for the launch. Meanwhile, that Eight Six took off like a bat out of hell."

Up at the Snake Hairpins, Yukong, finishing a call, approached Feixiao. "You're not going to believe this, but they said Team Speed Stars went with the Eight Six."

Feixiao, unimpressed, scoffed. "Seriously? I expected Ningguang to pick the Lancia—it's leagues ahead on a technical course like this…"

On the race course, Collei maintained her lead as she and Shinobu sped through a series of hairpins and tight corners. The Subaru Legacy followed closely, its four-wheel-drive grip and Shinobu's precision keeping it firmly in the chase. The cars approached a fast-paced left-hand turn, and in near-perfect synchronicity, both drivers initiated four-wheel drifts, their machines gliding through the curve with unerring control.

Back at the starting area, Ningguang stood with her arms crossed, addressing Clorinde, Albedo, and Keqing. Her voice was calm but sharp, cutting through the sounds of the distant engines.

"When the race began, Collei inadvertently revealed critical information about the Eight Six," Ningguang said. "Taking the lead immediately was impressive, but showing the car's power output and rev limit at the starting line gives a professional racer like Shinobu valuable data. Beating someone like that with strategy alone is nearly impossible."

Keqing's eyes widened in realization. "If we can't beat them strategically… how can we win?"

Ningguang nodded knowingly. "Tactics. That's where Collei comes in. I chose her for this race because of her ability to adapt under pressure. This isn't just a competition; it's a test to see how quickly she can adjust to a challenge like this."

On the winding mountain roads, the race intensified. Shinobu kept her eyes on the Eight Six, carefully analyzing its movements.

"We're past the hardest section and heading into an area where the road widens and visibility improves," she muttered to herself. "The scenery's nice, but the road quality is garbage. With my suspension setup, I have to be cautious. Too much bouncing will disrupt the car's flow. That Eight Six has a solid engine, but can its suspension handle this kind of terrain?"

The two cars barreled toward another hairpin. Both drivers slammed on their brakes, expertly drifting through the turn. Shinobu's Subaru gripped the tarmac firmly, its AWD system giving it an edge in stability.

Her eyes narrowed. "Damn… her car control is insane. Even on a road like this, she's handling that Eight Six like a pro. And the car—it's tuned far better than I expected."

The race continued through a fast-paced right-hand corner, opening into the longest straightaway on Musouji Pass. Shinobu smirked, feeling a surge of confidence.

"After this section, it's all a steep downhill incline. Once I overtake her, this race will be mine when we loop back."

At the Snake Hairpins, Amber and Seele waited, huddled against the cool night air. Amber rubbed her arms, shivering slightly. "I should've brought a sweater…"

Seele nodded, pulling her hood tighter. "No kidding. Even with summer around the corner, nights like this can be freezing."

Their conversation was interrupted by the roar of engines echoing through the mountains. The sound grew louder, and moments later, the two cars appeared from a bend, their headlights slicing through the darkness.

Amber's eyes widened. "That's Collei's Eight Six in the lead!"

The cars sped past them, the drivers slamming on their brakes as they approached the first hairpin. Both cars drifted through effortlessly, followed by the second and third hairpins. At the fourth, however, Shinobu made her move.

As they entered the turn, Shinobu's eyes narrowed in focus. She slammed on the brakes, taking an outside line. Collei reacted quickly, blocking her, but Shinobu feinted, diving to the inside and flooring the gas.

Collei's eyes widened as she glanced to her right, spotting the Subaru Legacy edging ahead. Shinobu executed a flawless pass, slipping into the lead as they exited the hairpin. The maneuver was clean, calculated, and devastatingly effective.

Onlookers at the hairpins reacted with awe. Feixiao leaned over the guardrail, watching the cars disappear into the next turn. "The vanishing line…"

Yukong, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Feixiao smirked. "From here, it looks like a standard inside overtake. But from Collei's perspective, it's different. Shinobu used the Eight Six's blind spot to cut across her line. It's a technique borrowed from circuit racing—deceptively simple but incredibly hard to counter."

Back on the course, the intensity ramped up. Collei gripped the wheel tightly, her frustration mounting. "Damn it! She's fast!"

The cars raced through a straightaway, crossing a bridge and transitioning into an uphill section. Collei's frustration boiled over. "If the car can't pick up the pace, I'm done for! Come on, Eight Six! Show me what you've got!"

She floored the gas pedal, pushing it to the limit. The Eight Six jolted forward as the tachometer climbed past 9,000 RPM, then 10,000, and finally to an ear-piercing 11,000. Collei shifted into fourth, keeping the engine squarely in the power band. The car surged ahead, its high-revving engine screaming through the night.

Navigating an S-turn with precision, she began closing the gap. The Eight Six danced through a tight left hairpin, then shot toward a right-hand corner leading into a tunnel. The roar of the engine reverberated off the tunnel walls as the two cars emerged at breakneck speed.

Shinobu glanced at her rearview mirror, noticing Collei gaining ground. She muttered under her breath, "I'll be damned… She's catching up."

Her hands tightened on the wheel. "We expected to race the Lancia tonight, so we adjusted the gear ratios for its supercharged Abarth engine. That's killing my uphill acceleration now."

Approaching another tight right-hand turn, Shinobu struggled to maintain her rhythm. "These slow turns are throwing me off. If my opponent were the Lancia, this wouldn't even be an issue."

She let out a frustrated scoff. "Whoever runs Team Speed Stars really knows their stuff."

As they approached the final corner of the uphill section, Shinobu checked her mirror again. Her brow furrowed. "Something's off. The Eight Six… its driving style has changed since the Snake Turns."

Her thought was cut short as the road revealed a cone in the center. Without hesitation, Shinobu slammed on the brakes, yanked the handbrake, and spun the car 180 degrees to begin the downhill leg of the race. Collei mirrored the move with flawless precision, her car spinning in place before surging forward again.

The two cars tore through the downhill section, their speeds climbing to insane levels. Collei pushed the Eight Six to its limits, the gap between her and the Subaru narrowing with each corner.

Great job keeping up with me, kid. It's like I'm seeing my past self in the mirror," Shinobu muttered, her eyes darting between the road and her mirrors.

Collei's eyes narrowed, her grip on the steering wheel tightening. Her brows twitched in frustration. "At this rate, she'll never give me the space to pass her… What am I gonna do!?"

Then, something clicked. Her pupils contracted as a realization hit her. I have to disappear. There's no other way… I have to try this!

The two cars thundered into the tunnel, the roar of their engines echoing off its walls. Shinobu eased onto her brakes as they approached the hairpin, her brake lights flaring in the darkness.

"NOW!" Collei yelled.

In an instant, the Eight Six's headlights went dark. Its pop-up headlights retracted, plunging the car into complete darkness.

Shinobu exited the tunnel and began the hairpin turn. Her eyes widened as she glanced around, a surge of panic washing over her. "Where did she go!?" she exclaimed.

Her eyes scanned the mirrors frantically—left, right, center. All she saw was the pitch-black road. Then, cutting through the silence, came the unmistakable high-pitched scream of an engine to her right.

"That's not my engine… It doesn't sound like it at all!" Shinobu shouted, her heart racing.

Unbeknownst to her, Collei had crept up right beside her in the darkness. As the Eight Six surged forward, its pop-up headlights flicked on, the halogen beams piercing through the night. The sudden flash caught Shinobu off guard.

"What in the—?!" she cursed, instinctively glancing over.

With precision timing, Collei dove into the right-hand hairpin, hooking her right wheels into the gutter. The maneuver slingshotted her past Shinobu, reclaiming the lead in spectacular fashion.

Back at the starting area, Feixiao leaned over the guardrail, her jaw dropping as the two cars approached. "No way… The Eight Six is ahead!?"

The cars powered up the Snake Hairpins, Collei maintaining her lead through every twist and turn. As they passed Amber and Seele at the final hairpin, Amber jumped up, raising her fist in the air.

"GO GET THAT WIN, COLLEI!" she cheered, her voice echoing through the mountains.

The next corner loomed, and Shinobu seized the moment. She nudged Collei's rear bumper with a light tap, causing the Eight Six to wobble momentarily. Sliding into the inside line, Shinobu regained the lead.

Collei quickly recovered, giving chase as Shinobu chuckled. "That was just a little tap. Not strong enough to spin you out, but enough to disrupt your flow. Don't take it personally, kid!"

As the race reached its climax, Keqing approached Ningguang at the starting area, curiosity burning in her eyes. "Ningguang, I have to ask… What advice did you give Collei when you drove the course with her in the FC?"

Ningguang smirked knowingly. "Advice? I didn't give her any."

Keqing stepped back, startled. "What!?"

"I showed her the course, sure. We discussed strategies, comparing how I drove it to how she might approach it. But most importantly, I wanted to understand how her instincts differed from mine—what she would do on a course like this." Ningguang's eyes glinted with pride. "This is her race, her creation."

Back on the course, the finish line was drawing near. Collei's hands clenched the wheel tightly, her face twitching with determination. "I have to pull it off again… One more time!"

Her fingers flicked the headlight switch, and the Eight Six's lights went dark once more. The pop-up headlights retracted, leaving Shinobu in the dark.

"Oh, come on! Not this move again!" Shinobu groaned, her frustration mounting.

As the cars sped toward the corner's exit, three spectators stood by the guardrail, watching in awe. The Subaru roared past, its headlights slicing through the night. Moments later, the Eight Six followed closely, its lights still off.

One spectator stumbled backward, falling to the ground. "Holy shit! Did you see that!? The Eight Six is driving with its headlights off! She's gone insane!"

At the starting area, Keqing's eyes widened in shock. "What!? Her headlights are off!?"

The entire team gasped in disbelief. Clorinde turned to Ningguang, stunned. "What in the world is she doing?"

Ningguang's gaze remained calm, but her pupils narrowed slightly. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She's created something all her own… Outstanding.

In the final corners, Shinobu felt the strain on her Subaru's front tires. The car understeered slightly, leaving an opening. Collei didn't hesitate. She slammed the gas pedal to the floor, the Eight Six surging forward and pulling alongside the Legacy.

As they approached the last turn, Collei switched her headlights back on. The halogen beams flashed brilliantly as the Eight Six's pop-up lights snapped open. The two cars raced side by side, their engines screaming in unison.

Shinobu shifted at 8,000 RPM, but the Subaru bogged down slightly. The Eight Six, revving high at 11,000 RPM, inched ahead. Collei shifted gears, and the car jolted forward once more.

The two cars crossed the finish line side by side, but it was clear—Collei had won by half a car length.

Moments later, the cars were parked side by side. Collei stepped out, her face flushed and heart pounding. Shinobu approached her with a smile.

"I gotta hand it to you, kid," Shinobu said, extending a hand. "You're one hell of a driver."

Collei blushed. "Th-thanks…"

Shinobu chuckled. "Don't stutter. You've got talent, and that's something to be proud of. Don't let anyone underestimate you." She glanced up at the night sky. "If there's a goddess of victory, she's definitely got her eye on you."

Shinobu turned and walked toward Xingqiu, leaving Collei to admire her Eight Six. Ningguang approached her, a rare smile gracing her lips.

"One hell of a job, Collei," she said softly, pulling her into a hug. "I couldn't be prouder."

Collei hugged her back tightly, her voice trembling with emotion. "Thank you, Ningguang."