The Speed Of The Stars

At the start line, the engines of the Lancer Evo and the FC roar to life, their snarls cutting through the cold night air. The anticipation is electric as Feixiao and Ningguang prepare for their much-anticipated rematch. Spectators crowd around, their faces illuminated by the glow of headlights and neon signs, murmuring with excitement.

Keqing steps confidently between the two cars, her presence commanding everyone's attention. She positions herself just ahead of the front bumpers, raising her hands high above her head. The engines respond, revving louder, their ferocity echoing in the mountain valley.

She shouts, "Alright! Here comes the countdown!" Her voice is clear and sharp, cutting through the symphony of engines.

The air thickens with the smell of burning fuel as Feixiao adjusts her launch control. The Evo's exhaust pops and crackles, flames licking out with every rev, while the FC's turbo whines in anticipation. The crowd leans in, the tension palpable.

"FIVE!"

The Evo roars louder, its aggressive growl a promise of violence. Feixiao's grip on the wheel tightens.

"FOUR!"

Ningguang's eyes focus on the road ahead, her calm demeanor masking the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

"THREE!"

Feixiao's fingers dance over the steering wheel, her car growling like a caged beast about to be unleashed.

"TWO!"

The FC snarls, its turbo spooling louder. The engines are now a deafening crescendo.

"ONE!"

Keqing's hands drop like the guillotine blade. "GO!"

The Lancer Evolution launches off the line, its all-wheel-drive system clawing at the asphalt with ruthless efficiency. Feixiao surges forward, immediately taking the lead. Behind her, Ningguang's FC struggles with a slower start, its rear wheels spinning momentarily before finding grip. She's already chasing, the intensity in her eyes burning like a flame.

Keqing watches as the taillights fade into the darkness of the mountain pass. A smirk forms on her lips. "Go get them, Ning. I know you can take that Lan Evo."

Down the first straightaway, Ningguang's FC picks up speed with astonishing pace, the rotary engine screaming as it hits high revs. The distance between the two cars evaporates quickly. The spectators gasp as Ningguang draws even with Feixiao, the two cars now side by side.

The first hairpin looms ahead, the curve snaking sharply into the mountainside. Feixiao slams on the brakes early, her Evo's anti-lag system firing loud, rapid bursts of flame. Ningguang waits a split second longer before braking, her technique razor-sharp. She dives into the corner first, taking the lead as both cars drift through the curve, tires squealing in protest.

On the sidelines, a girl in a school uniform jumps up and cheers. "Go get them, Ningguang!"

Nearby, a familiar voice chimes in. "Ayaka! Fancy seeing you here!"

The cheering girl turns, her eyes widening. "Oh! Yoimiya! Great to see you too!"

Yoimiya grins, playfully bumping Ayaka's shoulder. "What brings you to this race? Pretty sure you had a long drive from Kannazuka!"

Ayaka sighs, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah… I drove all the way here after my after-school program. I couldn't miss this."

Meanwhile, back on the mountain pass, the race intensifies. Despite Ningguang's bold overtake, the gap between her and Feixiao remains perilously tight. Feixiao's narrowed eyes reflect her calculated focus.

"I've got you in my sights, Ningguang," Feixiao mutters, her voice steely. "With me right behind you, I'll dissect your every move. This isn't just a race. It's a chess game at 140 kilometers per hour."

They barrel into a high-speed right-hand turn. The Evo backfires violently, the sound echoing off the mountainside. Feixiao smirks grimly, a memory clawing its way to the surface.

A flashback from a year ago invades her mind. The scene unfolds at Araumi, where she and Ningguang had just finished their first battle. Feixiao had lost, her face twisted in fury as the realization of defeat settled in.

"Don't let this race go to your head, Ningguang," Feixiao had snarled, her voice trembling with anger. "Street racers like you are the lowest of the low in racing! There's no way a street racer's technique can compare to a professional's. No way! Our techniques are tested, trained, and perfected to push the limits of speed and precision. Everyone knows it!"

Ningguang had met Feixiao's glare with an unflinching gaze. "Believe that all you want, Feixiao. But racing on mountain passes requires a different skill set. Some circuit techniques apply, sure, but not all. What I've mastered out here is something you won't find on a track—especially not in Gymkhana."

Feixiao had stepped closer, her fists clenched tight. "Bull. Shit."

Ningguang had sighed, her expression calm yet resolute. "If you truly believe that, punch me in the face and say it again. But if you can't… then all you have is a theory."

Back in the present, Feixiao's grip tightens on the wheel. Her brows twitch as the memory fuels her determination.

"I know you remember it too, Ningguang," she growls under her breath. "Your theory and my technique are both riding on these wheels tonight. Let's see which one crosses the finish line first."

As the race progressed, each turn seemed to blur into the next—sharp hairpin after sharp hairpin, the high-pitched hum of engines roaring into the night. Despite the intensity of the competition, the positions remained unchanged. Ningguang continued to lead, her Lan Evo slicing through the corners with precision, while Feixiao remained hot on her tail, relentless and determined.

The two cars approached the longest straightaway in Araumi—the same stretch of road where Collei's engine had blown just a short while ago. Feixiao's eyes lit up with the opportunity she'd been waiting for. She mashed her foot down on the gas pedal, the turbocharged engine of her Lancer Evo roaring to life as she pulled alongside Ningguang's Evo from the outside.

Feixiao's lips curled into a confident smirk. "This is where four-wheel drive and my Misfiring system will really shine!" she declared, her voice dripping with anticipation.

The two racers rocketed down the straight, the noise of their engines filling the air, a powerful symphony of speed. The gap between them remained thin, the rivalry intense. They reached the sharp left-hand corner ahead.

Simultaneously, both drivers slammed their feet onto the brakes, the screech of the tires echoing through the night air. Feixiao, ever the strategist, eased off the brakes and quickly planted her foot back on the accelerator. The Misfiring system clicked into action, delivering an immediate surge of power. The boost remained nearly unaffected, allowing her to surge forward with barely a drop in momentum. The system performed flawlessly, propelling her Evo with a brutal efficiency that gave her the edge in that crucial moment.

Seele and Beidou, watching intently from the sidelines, exchanged glances of disbelief.

"No way! Feixiao just passed Ningguang on that corner!" Seele exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.

Beidou sighed, her expression a mixture of awe and respect. "That really shows the true capabilities of a four-wheel drive," she murmured. "This race just became a lot more difficult for Ningguang."

Ningguang, for her part, remained composed behind the wheel, but a glint of respect flickered in her eyes. "Impressive," she muttered under her breath. "You've got a finely tuned machine there, Feixiao. Even your cornering has improved since the last time we raced. And with that Misfiring system, you're able to accelerate across any RPM range—high, mid, or low. Very clever."

They approached a fast right-hander, the tires gripping the tarmac with precision. Despite Feixiao's previous maneuver, Ningguang's position remained unchanged, her grip on the race solid. No positions had shifted since the corner, and both drivers remained locked in a fierce battle.

Ningguang narrowed her eyes, studying Feixiao's car. "Paired with the Misfiring system, your acceleration at corner exit is superior. The turbo stays spooled even when you're off the gas, allowing you to make a clean getaway. Not that I didn't notice the strategy," she added with a smirk. "I learned all about it last night—your little exhibition run with Yougou's Eight-Six was a good lesson in your Evo's capabilities."

The cars tore through another hairpin with effortless precision. The race had now officially passed the halfway mark of Araumi Pass. A spotter, keeping a sharp eye on the action, checked his stopwatch. His eyes widened in astonishment as he took in the numbers. He immediately radioed Keqing.

"They've reached the halfway point," the spotter said, his voice filled with urgency. "They're eleven seconds ahead of the previous course record. Whoever crosses the finish line first will shatter Ningguang's old record."

Keqing, sitting in the control center, let out a small sigh. "I won't deny it," she muttered, tapping her fingers on her upper arm. "Feixiao's fast. Everyone here might not have seen it yet, but Ningguang's known about it for a while. Using all the data from previous exhibition runs and solo practice, she's learned a lot about how her Lan Evo performs. Especially after the halfway mark, where the hairpins widen and the slope becomes less severe."

Back in the race, Ningguang continued to study Feixiao's Lancer Evo. They approached a fast right-hander, the corner tightening up as they sped toward it. Ningguang's eyes flicked to the right front wheel of Feixiao's car, noting the small gap between the tire and the wall.

A smirk tugged at her lips. "Still making the same errors, Feixiao," she muttered to herself.

In Feixiao's car, doubt began to creep in. She glanced at her rearview mirror, her heart pounding in her chest. "Why aren't you making a move yet, Ningguang? What's your plan? We only have a few more hairpins before the finish line," she thought, frustration mounting.

As the two cars raced through the next left hairpin, the gap between them remained unchanged. But as they reached another fast right-hand corner, Ningguang seized the opportunity. Without hesitation, she downshifted, slamming her foot onto the gas. The tachometer in her FC shot from 6500 to 8500 RPM in an instant. The power surge was immediate, and with a quick turn of the wheel, she took the outside line.

Her FC surged forward, quickly closing the gap with Feixiao's Evo. Ningguang narrowed her eyes, a hint of satisfaction in her expression. "You really suck at right-hand turns, Feixiao..." she murmured under her breath.

Ningguang's FC surged ahead, taking the lead, but instead of increasing the gap, she chose to box Feixiao in, positioning herself to prevent Feixiao from utilizing the four-wheel drive or Misfiring systems to their fullest potential.

Feixiao's expression shifted to one of frustration. "Damn it! She's boxed me in! I can't use my four-wheel drive, and I can't activate my Misfiring system! I'm stuck!"

On the sidelines, March and Pela were watching intently. March clenched her fist and shouted, "You got this, Ningguang! Show her what you've got!"

Pela's eyes widened in admiration. "That's incredible! She's boxing the Evo in while drifting!" she exclaimed.

The two cars exited the fast-paced right-hander side by side, Ningguang's FC inching ahead by half a car length. They approached the final left-hand turn, Feixiao struggling to maintain grip. Ningguang's FC edged forward even more, fully passing Feixiao's Evo.

Pela clenched her fist, her voice filled with excitement. "ALRIGHT!!!" she cheered.

March pointed toward the cars. "SHE'S IN FRONT! GET HER!!!" she yelled, her heart racing.

They entered the final right-hand hairpin. Ningguang's lead grew to a car and a half. Both cars pushed harder, but it was clear that Ningguang had the upper hand now. As they crossed the finish line, Ningguang emerged victorious.

The crowd erupted in cheers all around Araumi Pass, the atmosphere charged with excitement. Ningguang had not only won, but she had also shattered her own course record.

In the parking lot, Ningguang slid her FC into a spot, shutting off the engine. As she stepped out of the car, she was immediately greeted by Ganyu, who raised her hand in celebration. "Alright, Ningguang! A new course record!" she exclaimed, smiling brightly.

Ningguang returned the gesture with a grin, giving Ganyu a high-five. At that moment, Feixiao parked her Lancer Evo in front of Ningguang's FC, her car's nose facing Ningguang's in a silent show of respect. Feixiao stepped out of her car and approached Ningguang, her gaze steady and unyielding.

The two women stood face-to-face, no anger, no animosity between them. Feixiao smiled, her expression open and genuine. She extended a hand toward Ningguang. "That was a great battle, Ningguang," she said, her voice warm.

Ningguang smiled in return, shaking Feixiao's hand firmly. "It was indeed a great battle," she agreed, the weight of the rivalry that had once defined them fading into the background.

Laughter echoed between them as the last remnants of their past rivalry washed away, replaced by a newfound camaraderie. What had once been fierce competition, now bloomed into a friendship.