Act: 1 Chapter: 5 | The Downhill Battle! RX7 VS Eight Six

The entire mountaintop stood in stunned silence.

Collei.

The Phantom of Yougou.

The young green-haired girl stood before them, the same one they'd known for years, yet tonight, she was someone entirely different. The sight of her beside the legendary Eight-Six sent a wave of disbelief through the crowd.

This wasn't a coincidence.

She wasn't just a messenger.

She was the driver.

The driver of Arlecchino's iconic AE86.

Beidou, Seele, and Pela approached cautiously, their expressions a mix of confusion, frustration, and disbelief. Beidou was the first to break the silence, her voice a sharp mixture of shock and irritation.

"Collei! What the fuck is going on?! What are you doing here? Where the hell is your dad? And why the fuck are you in this car?!"

Collei scratched the back of her head, searching for the best way to explain without making the situation worse.

"That's a lot of questions all at once, Beidou," she sighed, exhaling slowly. "But to put it simply… my dad's back at the house."

Beidou's expression twisted in panic. She took a sharp step forward, her eyes darting from the car to Collei. "Wait—hold on. Thanks for bringing the Eight-Six up here, but without your dad behind the wheel, it's useless!"

Collei felt a tight knot form in her stomach. Her eyes rolled involuntarily as she muttered under her breath.

"Thanks a lot, Dad... You really put me in a tough spot with this one."

Beidou, growing more frantic, pressed on. "Did your dad even give you any advice at all? Anything? Did he even tell you what the hell you're supposed to do?!"

Collei paused. Her father's earlier words echoed in her mind.

She lifted her gaze, her voice calm but unwavering, cutting through Beidou's mounting panic.

"All he said was to find some girl driving an FD who claims to be the fastest in Araumi… and beat the living shit out of her on the downhill."

The words hit Beidou like a freight train.

The entire crowd, already stunned by Collei's presence, stood frozen in place, trying to process what they had just heard.

Beidou blinked. "Your father told you that? That you were supposed to race Keqing? In that FD?"

Collei nodded.

Beidou's heart pounded, but she didn't back down. Her eyes bored into Collei's, searching for a clue of weakness. Then she asked the only question that mattered.

"But… can you beat her?"

Collei met her gaze unwaveringly, her expression unreadable.

"I can't say for sure," she admitted, her tone casual but tinged with quiet confidence. "But if it really matters to you..." She let the words hang in the air for a second before delivering the bombshell.

"I've already beaten her once on the downhill… a couple of nights ago."

Beidou's entire body stiffened as if she had been struck.

Seele's eyes widened. Pela, always composed, took an instinctive step back. The shock rippled through the group like an electric pulse.

"You've... you've beaten Keqing before?! Already?!" Beidou's voice was on the edge of disbelief, her gaze flickering between Collei and the car.

Collei nodded, unfazed.

The silence in the air grew so thick it felt suffocating.

Then a voice cut through the moment, sharp as a whip.

"Collei!"

March pushed her way through Beidou, Seele, and Pela, her expression a mix of shock and frustration. She glared at Collei, her voice accusatory and urgent.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!" March's voice rang out, sharp with tension. "Are you trying to interrupt the race? Mess everything up?!"

Beidou, still processing it all, turned toward March, her voice firm.

"March. Back the fuck off. Let her be."

But March wasn't having it.

She glared at Collei, eyes filled with suspicion. "Are you serious right now? You just show up, acting like you belong here? Get back in the car and move it off the starting line!"

Collei stood her ground.

March, still determined, tried to push her toward the car.

But Beidou's hand shot out, stopping her in her tracks.

"March." Her voice was sharp as a blade. "Step the fuck aside."

March hesitated, her jaw tightening. But after a brief moment, she stepped back, crossing her arms.

With the tension momentarily diffused, Beidou turned back to Collei, her mind spinning with realization.

"Collei... by any chance, do you deliver the tofu in the mornings for your father? In this car?"

Collei nodded, not missing a beat.

"Yeah. Nowadays, I'm the one doing the deliveries for him. I've been at it for the past five years."

Beidou froze.

Her mind snapped the puzzle pieces together.

"You've been driving for five years?!" she nearly shouted.

Collei shrugged, unfazed.

Beidou felt her breath hitch. Everything suddenly made sense.

The effortless control. The precise cornering. The insane speed the Eight-Six had displayed on this very mountain.

It was never just a rumor.

Collei had been training for years.

She wasn't a beginner.

She was a monster on the downhill.

Beidou let out a shaky exhale, a slow smile creeping onto her lips.

"I think I finally understand," she muttered. Then she looked Collei straight in the eyes, her voice soft but certain.

"I'm glad you came today, Collei. You just saved our asses."

Collei grinned, giving her a casual thumbs-up. The tension in the air began to dissolve, the weight of the moment settling in.

Beidou turned toward Keqing, who had been watching everything unfold with a quiet, intense gaze.

"Sorry for the delay," Beidou said, her voice regaining its usual strength. "But now, we can finally start the downhill battle."

Everyone cleared out of the starting line, the energy shifting from tension to pure adrenaline.

Collei reached for the door handle, but before she could step inside, Keqing's voice rang out.

"Hey, kid."

Collei turned, meeting Keqing's piercing gaze.

"You seem pretty young for someone with so much skill," Keqing noted, her tone carrying a hint of curiosity. "Mind telling me your name?"

Collei smiled, tilting her head slightly.

"My name's Collei. It's nice to meet you."

Keqing smirked, studying her carefully.

"Alright, Collei. I'll try to remember that." She stepped closer, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. "But don't think I'll make the same mistake twice."

Collei's smile didn't waver.

Both drivers entered their cars.

Engines roared to life.

Headlights cut through the darkness.

The air buzzed with an overwhelming sense of anticipation.

The intensity of the moment is palpable as Beidou stands between the two machines, her arms raised high, eyes locked on both drivers. The crowd, a mass of silent anticipation, can feel the heat rising from the mountain as the race prepares to unfold.

"Alright!" Beidou calls out, her voice strong, cutting through the thick silence that hangs in the air. "Here comes the countdown!"

"Three!"

The rotary engine of the RX-7 snarls, flames spitting from the exhaust, a visceral sound that shakes the air. The AE86's engine hums at a higher pitch, its throttle blipping with a quick, sharp sound as it preps for launch.

"Two!"

Keqing's grip tightens around the steering wheel, her knuckles white, as she hovers over the gas pedal, muscles tense, coiled, ready to spring.

Collei takes a slow, measured breath, her hands relaxed on the wheel, her expression calm despite the storm of adrenaline rising inside her.

"One!"

The world narrows to a pinpoint.

"GO!!"

Beidou's hands drop like the hammer of fate.

In a heartbeat, both cars explode forward, tires screeching against the asphalt, the smell of burning rubber filling the air. The RX-7 charges ahead, its superior power throwing Keqing back into her seat, but the AE86 refuses to be left behind, staying tight on its tail as it screams through the mountain pass.

From a vantage point, Ningguang watches closely, narrowing her eyes as the race begins.

"Interesting..." she murmurs under her breath. "That AE86... it's tuned for rally-style acceleration. Perfect for the tight corners of Yougou Pass."

First Corners – RX-7 Takes the Lead

As they descend further, Keqing flicks a glance at her rearview mirror. Seeing the AE86 still firmly behind her, a small smirk tugs at her lips.

"Just a couple of corners," she mutters under her breath, shifting to third gear, "and you'll be a speck in my mirror."

The RX-7 slams into the first corner, the rear of the car breaking traction as Keqing smoothly drifts, the back end kicking out with precision.

Flawless.

Clean.

Fast.

Behind her, Collei remains unfazed. She brakes later than Keqing, her foot feathering the throttle just enough to maintain the perfect balance of control and speed. The AE86's tires scream as she whips the car into a four-wheel drift, the rear bumper of the car mere centimeters from the guardrail.

The spotters are in awe.

"She's flying!! That's a perfect four-wheel drift!"

"Her exit speed—it's insane! She was millimeters from hitting the guardrail!"

The AE86 screams out of the corner, with barely a fraction of momentum lost. It's an impressive display, and the crowd can feel the tension rise.

The Gap Narrows – Keqing's Confidence Wavers

As the race continues, Collei steadily closes the gap. The RX-7's raw power gives it an edge on the straights, but at every tight corner, the AE86 gains ground, hugging the curves with precision and speed that makes Keqing grit her teeth in frustration.

Her eyes flicker to the rearview mirror.

The AE86 is getting bigger.

"No... This is impossible!" she hisses, her grip tightening as she shifts gears again, slamming her foot onto the gas. The RX-7 spits fire from the exhaust as Keqing works to widen the gap, but Collei is still right there, locked in.

The next series of corners is coming up, and Collei doesn't hesitate. She attacks each turn with brutal precision, her car drifting inches from the apex, every exit smooth and fast, her rhythm flawless.

Keqing's confidence begins to crack.

"She's matching my lines perfectly... no, she's faster!"

The once-distant headlights of the AE86 are now right on her.

Skate Rink Straight – A Temporary Advantage

A long, straight section appears ahead—The Skate Rink Section. Keqing seizes the opportunity, shifting up, the turbocharger of the RX-7 whining in response. The car surges forward like a bullet, and for the first time in what feels like ages, she gains some breathing room.

But Collei doesn't react—she simply watches, unfazed. She knows what's coming.

As the straight section comes to an end, the mountain path curves once more, leading into the next series of hairpins.

The Five Consecutive Hairpins – The Deciding Point

Collei's focus sharpens like a razor. Her mind locks onto the coming challenge.

"This race ends here," she thinks, a sense of calm determination washing over her as her fingers grip the wheel with precision. Her foot moves with perfect control, downshifting with aggressive intent.

The Five Consecutive Hairpins.

The section that makes or breaks the race.

The RX-7's advantage, once a significant lead, is now gone.

The AE86 is closing in fast.

The final stretch of Yougou Pass unfolds like a scene from a dream. The headlights of the two machines cut through the thick mountain night, a piercing beam of light as they hurtle down the straightaway toward the five consecutive hairpins—the section that will decide it all.

Keqing's pulse races, every beat in sync with the howling engine of her RX-7, its rotary wail high and sharp. She tightens her grip on the steering wheel, her eyes locked on the dark road ahead.

"This is it," she murmurs, voice barely audible over the engine. Her foot hovers over the pedal, ready for the first move as she downshifts aggressively, preparing for the hairpins.

The first hairpin comes into view.

Keqing's hands move instinctively, braking early to set herself up for the perfect drift.

But then—

A shock that sends a jolt through her chest.

Collei doesn't slow down.

Instead, the AE86 dives into the inside line at full throttle, almost daring the mountain to challenge her. The car blazes past Keqing, its wheels clawing into the asphalt with precision, hugging the corner as though gravity itself couldn't slow her down.

The spotters are in absolute disbelief.

"The Eight-Six is heading into the turn at full speed! It's almost like her brakes are gone!!"

Keqing's eyes widen in disbelief, her grip tightening, confusion flooding her mind. "What the hell is she doing?!"

And then—

A sharp screech cuts through the night, a high-pitched, metallic sound that sends a chill down her spine.

It's not the sound of a car losing control.

It's something else.

Keqing's instincts scream at her. Her eyes dart to the right, her thoughts racing.

And then she sees it.

Collei's right tires are locked into the gutter, her car wedged tight against the corner. The AE86 doesn't slide—it doesn't lose speed.

Instead, the gutter grabs her wheels, and the car is slingshotted forward with mind-boggling velocity, as if the mountain itself is pushing her onward.

Keqing's jaw drops. "What the hell!? What kind of move is that!?"

Before she can process it, Collei pulls the same trick at the second hairpin.

And then the third.

And then the fourth.

Each time, the AE86 hugs the curve with machine-like precision, her rear tires barely slipping, the car's trajectory dead accurate. It's like she's become one with the mountain, her movements a symphony of control and speed.

Meanwhile, Keqing struggles to keep up. Her RX-7 drifts beautifully, its back end swinging out with perfect grace. But it's not enough.

Every second she spends countersteering, trying to hold the drift steady, Collei gains ground.

A move that only someone who has conquered this mountain could pull off—someone who knows every inch of its twists and turns.

Keqing slams the gas in frustration, pushing the RX-7 to its absolute limits, but it's futile.

Collei is already ahead.

By the time they reach the last hairpin, Collei's lead is insurmountable.

The AE86 bursts out of the corner like a bullet, its headlights cutting through the final stretch of darkness. The crowd at the summit erupts, their voices carried by the wind.

"The Eight-Six is in the lead! She's going to win!"

Keqing's RX-7 screams down the straightaway, turbo whining in protest, tires screeching in defiance as she gives it everything she has. But the gap is too wide.

There's no catching up.

The AE86 crosses the finish line first.

A full car and a half ahead.

A deafening roar erupts from the crowd. The radios crackle with excitement.

"It's over! The Eight-Six WINS! IT'S ALL HERS!!!"

The cheers are overwhelming, the sound of victory ringing through the night air as the crowd erupts in pure, unrestrained exhilaration.

Keqing slams her fist against the side of her RX-7, the engine's hum still ringing in her ears. She throws the car into park with a sharp snap, her body trembling with frustration. The mountain air feels colder as she flings the door open, stepping out into the night.

"Goddamn it!" she spits, her voice a mix of disbelief and fury. She paces in small, tight circles, her fists clenched at her sides. "How the hell did I lose?!"

Her mind is a whirlwind, spinning between raw anger and a grudging respect. She knew the AE86 was quick, but the way Collei handled the mountain—it wasn't just power; it was pure mastery. Every corner, every hairpin—executed with flawless precision. The kind of driving that can only come from someone who has truly tamed Yougou Pass.

Beidou's crew is in full celebration mode.

Seele throws her arms around Pela, laughing and jumping in excitement. "That was incredible!"

Beidou punches the air in triumph, her grin wide and infectious. "Collei, you freaking legend!"

March, still bouncing on her feet, joins in with a shout. "That was insane! She completely smoked her!!"

But amid the chaos of celebration, Ningguang stands apart. Her arms are crossed, her eyes watching the entire scene with a quiet, inscrutable expression. Her lips curl into a slight, almost imperceptible smirk.

"I underestimated her," she mutters softly to herself, a whisper lost in the noise. Her gaze follows Collei's retreating figure, and for a moment, there's a glimmer of admiration behind her eyes.

As Beidou's convoy rolls down the mountain, their engines purring in victory, a shadow moves high above on the treeline. A lone figure stands hidden in the darkened forest, watching from a distance. Her long, dark blue hair ripples faintly in the wind, her eyes never leaving the final hairpin where the last, defining move took place.

A smirk tugs at her lips as she watches Collei's triumph, her voice barely a whisper to herself. "The only place you'd find that technique… is here in Yougou."

She takes a step back into the shadows, her thoughts shifting to something far deeper. She turns and begins to fade into the night, her words lingering in the air.

"This just got interesting."