NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Last Shadows
That morning, Lana received a mysterious invitation. The letter had no sender, only an address leading to an abandoned building on the outskirts of the city. Its contents were a single line:
"If you want to know who your true enemies are, come alone."
Despite her doubts, Lana felt this was an opportunity to uncover more secrets about the mafia and her adversaries. With determination, she left without informing anyone.
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The Meeting at the Abandoned Building
The old building was eerily quiet, with only the sound of wind whispering through broken windows. As Lana stepped inside, her footsteps echoed against the empty walls.
"Hello?" she called out.
Suddenly, a spotlight flickered on, illuminating a woman standing in the center of the room. She wore a sleek black racing suit with a futuristic design, her silver helmet reflecting the cold light.
"So, we finally meet, Lana," the woman said, removing her helmet slowly.
Lana froze in shock. The woman's face resembled her mother's, but younger and exuding a commanding presence.
"Who are you?" Lana asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
"My name is Aurora," the woman replied. "I'm your mother's sister—the aunt you never knew existed."
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A Family Secret Unveiled
Aurora revealed that she had once been a top racer, competing alongside Lana's mother. But when the mafia began to dominate the racing world, Aurora was forced to work for them to protect her family.
"I tried to shield your mother, but they were too powerful. When she decided to stand against them, I couldn't stop her. It was a choice that cost her life."
Lana's emotions swirled with anger and confusion. "If you knew all this, why didn't you ever show yourself? Why did you leave me alone?"
Aurora lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry, Lana. But I had to stay in the shadows to gather strength and information. I knew that one day, you'd be strong enough to continue what your mother started."
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The Black Phoenix
Aurora led Lana to a hidden location—a secret underground garage filled with cutting-edge technology. In the center of the garage stood a sleek black car with a futuristic design.
"This is the Black Phoenix," Aurora said. "A car built to defeat every mafia racer. It's your family's legacy, the culmination of your mother's hard work before she died."
Lana approached the car, awe and emotion washing over her. "Mom designed this?"
Aurora nodded. "She knew you'd need it one day. This car has technology no one can rival. But only a driver with a strong heart can control it."
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A New Conflict: The Betrayer
Meanwhile, at the mafia headquarters, Viktor was speaking with an unexpected ally—Rai.
"She's meeting Aurora now, isn't she?" Viktor asked.
Rai nodded reluctantly. "Yes, but she still doesn't know the full truth. Aurora may seem like an ally, but she has her own agenda."
Viktor smirked coldly. "Good. If Aurora brings Lana to the tournament, it will be the end for both of them. I have much bigger plans in store."
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A Deadly Track and New Foes
Back at the garage, Aurora warned Lana about the next track in the world tournament:
"This track is called The Spiral Inferno. No one has ever completed it safely. It was designed not for racing but for destruction."
Aurora also introduced Lana to her most formidable opponents yet: The Shadow Trinity, a legendary trio of racers working for the mafia. They were renowned for their ability to anticipate their opponents' every move and race as if they were a single entity.
"If you want to win, you'll need more than speed," Aurora cautioned. "You'll need to outsmart them with strategies they won't see coming."
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Training and Betrayal
Training resumed, with Lana using the Black Phoenix for the first time. The car was incredibly fast but nearly impossible to control. Every time she pushed its limits, it seemed to fight back, almost leading her to crash.
Aurora urged patience. "This car is part of you, Lana. You need to listen to it, not just drive it."
Meanwhile, Vera and Alex began to suspect Rai wasn't being entirely honest. They uncovered signs that his ties to Viktor might run deeper than he admitted.
"If he's truly working for the mafia, we need to tell Lana," Alex said firmly.
Vera hesitated. "What if he's just trying to protect her? We need more proof before accusing him."
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Closing the Chapter: Rising Threats
The chapter closes with Lana finally mastering the Black Phoenix on the training track.
But when she returned to the garage, she found a mysterious note pinned to her car:
> "Aurora isn't who you think she is. Trust no one."
Lana stood frozen, her mind racing with doubt. In the distance, Aurora watched her from the shadows, her expression unreadable.
"This battle has only just begun," Aurora whispered to herself before disappearing into the darkness.
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