Chapter 5-Rally
"VROOOOOM!"
The rally is still holding strong, neither contestant Maintaining a strong lead.
They haven't even past the first lap yet, and despite that the competition is at peak ferocity!
"Why can't I hold a lead, It's like we're stuck together by a metal chain!" Takeshi says narrowly hiding his frustration.
"I promise you Takeshi, I will come out on top of this rally. You will face your first defeat…". Ash stays extra confidently.
Both cars continue, until the second turn is in clear view. Takeshi notices and one thought echos through his mind.
"It's obvious what I need to do, I'm going to overdrive right after this turn."
"He's going to try something, either during this turn or after. I need to stay on guard…" Ash says caution replacing confidence.
They both ZOOM towards the second turn, and Ash makes the first tap, allowing him to take the drift.
Takeshi drifts behind him, and grins within the possibility's of his strategy.
Ash passes the Second Turn, and now it seems like he's going faster then ever.
He looks into his rear view mirror. He grunts as he looks back down. "He may pass me, that overdrive move is a real pain in the ass."
Takeshi's tires spin, and he locks in building a massive focus ready for his new lead.
Smoke sprouts from his wheels, as they spin like a windmill.
Until…
"VRROOOOOOOOOM!!!"
Takeshi soars down the track, passing meters towards ash.
Ash looks back to see Takeshi's new speed.
The man grunts-"I should've had a game plan to counter this move!"
Ash soars through the third turn, while Takeshi passes the second half of the second.
Ash can see the gate of the second lap, so he slams down onto the pedal, and is flung forward.
Takeshi maintains his Overdrive, carrying it all the way to the third turn.
To maintain his gradually slowing momentum he drifts down the turn, before finally reaching the end.
Just as Takeshi passes the third turn, Ash passes into the second final lap.
Takeshi-120 MPH
Ash-115 MPH
Ash may have the lead, but that doesn't always matter. Takeshi has the higher number therefore he should catch up.
Takeshi swoops down the track, and begins to catch up with ash.
He nears the line, and swooshes past the first lap, conquering the second. Now Takeshi has an easy comeback opportunity, and he's going to use it all.
He speeds up slightly already near his max, he's trying to push his car to the maximum.
With the speed advantage it's only a matter of time until he takes the lead.
"He's ahead but even so, victory is in my grasp! It's only a matter of time" Takeshi states with supreme confidence.
Pedal to Metal, Takeshi continues pace, and makes great progress. However so does Ash.
Ash is half to the second turn. He's halfway done, and Takeshi's about to change positions.
Takeshi notices that he's but a few feet away from the first turn. He breaks slightly to transfer some weight to the front of his car, then he jerks his wheel setting a powerful position, and finally he begins his fastest drift yet.
The crowd roars like lions, and the two bleachers begin to rumble with stomps. People are excited from this record pace drift maintaining, and it fuels their adrenaline.
"TAKESHI!" A voice calls out, and many follow suit. The roaring becomes louder, until there's not an understandable word for miles.
Both stands are filled with Takeshi's name, he has won the crowd. "EEECH, VROOM!" Takeshi exits the turn, setting a new personal record.
Ash looks back down from his rearview mirror, sweat now drools down his face. "He's a lot better than I thought, Mabey I should full throttle…"
Ash breaks his pace, and enters into a Full throttle just as Takeshi is right behind.
"I caught up, and now it's time! For my attack!" Takeshi yells promising an exiting new move.
Takeshi begins to sway back and forth, with Ash copying the motion to ensure Takeshi won't gain a lead.
"Where did he go?" Ash wonders aloud, noting Takeshi's disappearance from the rear view mirror.
"I'm here Dumbass!" Takeshi screams, as he barely avoids a collision. Takeshi was using the swaying motion as a faint, and once Ash was distracted Takeshi took the attack placing them both side by side.
The Rally begins once more…
They both take the lead just to lose it instantly, not one of them can maintain this.
They are both side by side, this rally will be determined by who can get their full car ahead first. If they only get half of their car ahead, the other person could easily swoop back up, and reclaim the position.
"This hasn't happened to me before, especially in the same race!" He complains. "How does he keep on reclaiming the lead!" Ash cries.
The rally won't end, and neither contestant is yeilding. This is fierce, far more fierce than anything Takeshi has experienced before.
One wrong move could end up with him losing the tournament. "There's still 3 matches after this one, I have too much on the line to lose…"-Takeshi
"Especially this early"
The next turn is coming up-the second one. Both men are tense, and dressed in sweat.
Ash gets slightly ahead in the rally entering the drift first, and carrying his weight dead ahead as he slides down the track. Takeshi is right behind, but… But wait…
Takeshi isn't drifting? Takeshi soars, and he has a fabulous plan in mind. "Once I get through this turn, it's all over!" Takeshi states his heart racing faster than dehydration.
Ash looks through his rear view mirror, and he's chained to the floor in confusion. "How is he maintaining speed without a drift?" Ash wonders aloud despite no-one being able to hear.
"He's a strong competitor, that's for sure…"-Ash
Takeshi darts along the left side, centimeters away from the guard rail. "This kid is something else!" Vulcan says to himself.
Takeshi calms himself down, as Ash is nearing the exit of the second turn. There's a small place open, and Takeshi is going to squeeze.
He dashes for the gap, as if he was a caver. He needs this gap, this gap may be his last chance at victory.
"I'm not going to-"
Takeshi's bumper passes Ash's rear, and he begins to inch. "LOSE!" Takeshi finishes.
"Crap! He's making some progress!" Ash screams. Ash is angry, but who could blame him. Takeshi is essentially placing a brick onto his finger.
Takeshi grins, and he passes Ash's left door, before finally taking the lead. Ash grunts out of anger, and full throttles disregarding any technique.
The rally came to a close, and this time Takeshi came out on top. He has won the crowd, and now the rally.
Things are looking good for the man. So he uses this, as motivation!
Takeshi flys forward like a EAGLE and expands his lead. Ash is being pushed back, his technique was what he relied on, and now that's sealed off-completely.
Halfway throught the second turn, and coming up on the third and final. The stakes are high, and one man has the higher odds.
Takeshi begins to make even greater progress, not slowing down by a hair. While Ash isn't giving up at all either.
He comes up on the third final turn, and is ready to rock and roll. This time he enters the drift first, and soars not even losing a single ounce of momentum.
He exits the turn, just as Ash enters. The finish line is now in clear view, and he sprints down the track.
He's getting closer and closer, but Ash just now passed the turn, and is making rapid progress.
Takeshi is petrified, and starts to full throttle but so does Ash. Takeshi rolls, while Ash follows behind.
It's as if Ash can't move forward. Since Takeshi and Ash are both going top speed, there's not much room for improvement.
Ash can't inch forward, while Takeshi is inches away. The finish line is touched…
Takeshi has won his second race, and moves onto the quarter finals. As he exits his car, he notices Ash exit his car with tears dripping down his face.
"This was never a race… It was War"
The calm exterior of Ash is now replaced by a sad man. He's depressed, as his win streak of 5 is over.
"I don't blame him, I would be depressed as well." Takeshi states. "However, if you see a tear drip down my face you must be seeing things cause I never cry!" He laughs.
Takeshi has quickly risen in ranks from being a starter racer to now #128 in the country.
That night he sits on the side of his bed relaying his match from the past day. "Let's see what could I have improved?" He wonders aloud ready to partake in some research.
He begins to analyze the footage and finds a weakness in his attacking, his next opponent is what they call a specialist, very similar to Poodle Fulton.
However instead of overtake specialty, he prioritizes his straight speed. His short-stroke engine allows him to swiftly advance through straights and avoid attacks, by swerving in front and being able to advance his defense with maximum ease.
His opponent is none other than the undefeated Eagle Electro, whom will prove a challenge towards Takeshi and even push him to the limit.
"This is the first race I'm extremely nervous about, If I lose without even making it to 3rd I'll be pissed the rest of my career!" He groans, before attempting to regain focus on the tape.
Takeshi has a massive streak of sweat slowly trickle down his face, then more, until his entire face is covered. "I CANT DO THIS ANYMORE, I HAVE TO SEE HOW HE RACES!" Takeshi exclaims impatiently.
He jerks the tape out, and replaces it with Eagle Electros previous race. "The crowd goes wild, this is record speed!" The announcer screams noting down Eagles speed leaving his opponent in the dust.
Eagle soars down the track, staying ahead of his opponent with a 2 turn lead. He just reached the second to final turn while his opponent narrowly made it to the 2 turn of the first lap in time.
His opponent Lako is struggling hard, and his face shows it despite his car blocking any sight.
Lako has struggled to make any sort of advance due to his only chance, to gain some ground is during turns. (Eagle slows down by 50% during them.)
At the end Lako passes the first turn of the final lap, while Eagle leaves with the win. He exits his car the crowd filled with a multitude of girls cheering for him.
"That bastard… I'm not letting him advance to the semi-finals with all those girls."-
"I'm going to take the victory straight from his hands, and show the girls who he really is!" Takeshi smirks!
And with that volume 1 comes to a close leaving 1/5 volumes in the first book left to be written. Thanks for reading, and prepare for the writing to increase by a ton in quality.