Act: 2 Chapter: 3 | A Race to the limit. Eight Six VS Blackbird

The night air was thick with anticipation as the engines hummed, their exhausts crackling with heat. The neon glow of headlights reflected off the damp asphalt, illuminating the starting line.

Yelan rolled down her passenger side window, her expression relaxed but sharp, like a predator sizing up its prey. The low rumble of the Blackbird's engine vibrated through the cabin as she leaned slightly toward the open air.

"Hey, kid. Got a name? The name's Yelan."

Collei, still adjusting to the right-hand drive setup of her Eight-Six, hesitated before reaching for the window controls. The car felt different—more responsive, more alive—but she couldn't let herself be distracted. The window slid down, and she met Yelan's gaze. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened, but her voice came out steady.

"My name's Collei," she answered, determination seeping through her words.

Yelan smirked, flashing a thumbs-up before rolling her window back up. Collei followed suit, her fingers trembling slightly before she clenched her fist.

"I'll remember that…" Yelan murmured to herself, her eyes gleaming. "Collei."

The engines revved higher, the atmosphere growing heavier. The crowd held its breath, waiting for the moment of ignition.

Ningguang, perched near the sidelines in her FC, called out to Keqing over the roar of idling motors. "Hey, Keqing! Get in the car! We've got the best seats in the house!"

Keqing wasted no time, hopping into the passenger seat and strapping herself in. Her focus narrowed entirely on the two cars at the starting line.

March, ever the showman, grinned mischievously as she stepped forward, ready to count them down. The streetlights flickered slightly, as if even the city itself held its breath.

"Alright, we're doing this!" March announced, raising her hands.

"Three!" she shouted, voice ringing over the mountainside.

"Two!" The sound of exhausts burbling in anticipation filled the air.

"One!"

March slammed her hands down.

"GO!"

The Blackbird and the Eight-Six launched forward like bullets fired from a gun.

Yelan's Porsche roared, its high-output engine spinning the rear tires into a frenzy of wheelspin. The Blackbird surged ahead, its raw power carrying it forward with a force that sent a shiver through the air. The Eight-Six, in contrast, launched with precise control, its lightweight chassis gripping the road like it was born for this.

"The Blackbird is in the lead!" March hollered, eyes gleaming with excitement.

Beidou, standing on the sidelines, crossed her arms and scoffed. "That won't last. Collei's gonna take her on in the hairpins."

The two cars tore past the rest area exit, and without hesitation, Ningguang floored the gas in her FC, the rotary engine screaming to life as she and Keqing sped after them.

"VIP tickets to this race," Seele muttered, watching from the sidelines, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Up ahead, Yelan allowed herself a smirk, glancing at her rearview mirror. "I could lose you immediately," she murmured, fingers tightening around the wheel, "but I've decided… the race really begins after the first corner."

Ningguang, tracking the battle from behind, chuckled. "Looks like Yelan's getting cocky. She's holding up the Eight-Six."

Keqing smirked, tightening her five-point harness as she watched the scene unfold. "Let's see if that costs her the race at the halfway mark."

The first corner approached fast. Yelan took the turn with brutal efficiency, her Blackbird slicing through it like a sharpened blade. The Porsche's rear end slid slightly as she fought to keep it in check, but Yelan pressed on the accelerator the moment the car straightened out. The monstrous horsepower of the Blackbird surged forward, its tires scrabbling for traction as the rear wheels screamed. She felt the car's power plant working in harmony with her instincts, pulling away as the road stretched out before her.

But the Eight-Six wasn't letting go.

Collei followed like a shadow, her grip firm on the right-hand drive wheel as the Eight-Six's tail flicked sideways through the turn. The 1.6-liter engine hummed, the car's balance perfect despite the pounding forces at play. Ningguang's eyes widened as she observed Collei's movements, her gaze shifting between the two cars.

"That's insane," she breathed, almost in disbelief. "Keqing, are you seeing this? She's pulling a four-wheel drift at full throttle… with barely any countersteer. And she's wringing out every last drop of power from that little engine."

Keqing's expression remained unreadable, but there was a subtle shift in her gaze—a hint of respect. "You control your FC the same way," she admitted. "She's just like you."

Ningguang chuckled, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "We're watching an artist at work, Keqing."

Up ahead, Yelan's pulse quickened as the adrenaline surged through her veins. "Yes… yes! This is what makes my blood boil!" She grinned, tightening her grip on the steering wheel as the night road twisted ahead. "Alright, kid. It's time to cut you loose!"

The next hairpin loomed, its curve approaching fast. Collei braced herself, feeling the car's subtle shift in response to her thoughts. She breathed out, steadying herself, but there was something new in her control—an adjustment, a flow she hadn't felt before.

"When I'm drifting… it's like I'm not losing control when I step on the gas," she muttered to herself, realization dawning.

Her eyes widened as it clicked.

"This means… I can accelerate way sooner than I normally would!"

The pieces fell into place. She understood now—this was the difference. The reason Arlecchino had tuned the suspension settings. The suspension changes had given her a level of precision she had never experienced before.

Collei grinned, pressing harder on the gas as the engine growled, pulling her into the next turn. "You changed the suspension settings…" she murmured, the excitement rising. "I like this."

The Blackbird powered through another hairpin, its rear tires trying to push past the limit of grip, entering a long straightaway near the ice rink. Keqing's eyes narrowed as she watched the gap between the two cars.

"Damn. The lead's growing. Yelan's pulling away!"

Ningguang chuckled, a quiet pride in her voice. "Heh. Yelan's got a big mouth, that's for sure… but she's got the skills to back it up. That Porsche is a beast in her hands."

Keqing shot her a sidelong look, eyebrow raised. "Damn, Ning, whose side are you on?"

Ningguang's smirk faded slightly as she kept her eyes on the road ahead, her expression turning steely.

"The battle hasn't even started yet, Keqing," she said calmly. "This first half? It's all straightaways and gentle slopes. That's the Eight-Six's weakness."

The road began to tilt downward, the incline steepening, and Collei's focus sharpened.

"But now…" Ningguang's fingers gripped the steering wheel, her body leaning forward with the anticipation of what was to come. "Now we'll see what a true downhill specialist can do."

Up ahead, the five consecutive hairpins came into view, their tight curves waiting like a predator's jaws. Yelan felt her heart rate spike as she dove into the first one. The Porsche thundered over the asphalt, a roar of power accompanying its movement.

Yelan's face twisted in frustration as she felt it.

Shit.

The rear tires lost their grip for just a fraction of a second. The Blackbird's weight shifted unpredictably, and she had to fight against the skidding slide. The power of the engine tugged against the tires' struggle, and she could feel the car threatening to spin out of control.

"Goddamn it!" Yelan growled through gritted teeth. "The rear's starting to lose grip!"

But Collei, now fully in tune with her car, was a study of precision and finesse. The Eight-Six danced through the next hairpin, its front tires pushing through the corner while the rear floated through with perfect synchronization. The gap closed.

Every adjustment, every slide, every drift—perfect. In sync with the road, as if the car and Collei were one.

The tension between them built to a fever pitch, the next hairpin coming fast. And now, the Eight-Six was right there.

The roar of engines crescendoed, rising with the intensity of the moment. Lyney's fingers tightened around his phone as the sound of the two cars reached his ears.

"I hear them coming!"

A split second later, headlights cut through the darkness, the Blackbird and the Eight-Six rocketing into view. Both cars dove into the hairpin, drifting side by side in perfect harmony. Sparks flew as the Blackbird's rear tires scraped the guardrail, its grip barely holding on. But the Eight-Six stayed tight to the apex, its inside tires brushing the very edge of the asphalt.

Lyney's jaw dropped in awe.

"You should've come, Arlecchino!" he yelled, barely able to contain his excitement. "Collei's on rails! She's eating that Blackbird's bumper!"

From the speaker, Arlecchino's voice was calm as ever.

"I know. Like I said, it's all about endurance." There was a brief pause. "Now, excuse me, I need to make dinner."

The line went silent.

Lyney sighed, lowering his phone as his eyes remained locked on the race. The battle was far from over, and yet, the stakes had never felt higher.

The two cars barreled toward the first of five consecutive hairpins.

From the cockpit of the FC, Ningguang's eyes sharpened. She called out to Keqing, her voice firm.

"Keqing, focus. They're entering the five consecutive hairpins." Her gaze flickered. "This is where Collei left you in the dust."

Keqing gritted her teeth, the memory still fresh in her mind. She refused to blink, her eyes locked on the road ahead.

The Blackbird and the Eight-Six braked at the exact same moment, their brake rotors glowing red-hot. Collei swung to the outside, looking for an opening.

But Yelan saw it coming.

"Nice try, kid." Her voice was smooth, almost playful. "But you're not passing me that easily."

Collei tried again, this time diving low. Yelan shut the door, placing the Blackbird exactly where it needed to be.

Another attempt—denied.

Another—blocked.

The fifth hairpin loomed. Collei lined up for the outside line once more. Yelan smirked, already positioning herself to block.

"Gotcha, kid!"

But then—

Collei vanished.

Yelan's eyes widened in shock. "What the hell?!"

Her gaze snapped to the right—nothing.

Then she felt it. A sudden shift in air pressure, the faint kick of dust and debris—

She looked down.

The Eight-Six was on the inside.

No way!

The Eight-Six's left wheels had hooked into the gutter, dipping just enough to use the very edge of the road like a rail. Dirt and gravel spat into the air as Collei held the line with razor-sharp precision. The maneuver was impossibly risky—miscalculate, and the car would snap out of control. But Collei made it look effortless.

Keqing's breath caught in her throat.

"Incredible!" she gasped. "She faked going outside, then dived inside when Yelan blocked her… all that in an Eight-Six! Spectacular!"

As they exited the turn, Collei shot ahead.

For the first time all race, Yelan felt a spark of panic.

No!

She slammed the accelerator to the floor, aiming to claw back the lead in second gear.

The Blackbird's twin turbos spooled instantly. Boost kicked in.

But something was wrong.

The moment power surged through the rear wheels, the Blackbird snapped.

The rear end swung violently.

Yelan's reflexes kicked in, hands flying across the wheel. She countersteered, trying to regain control, but the weight of the Porsche fought back. The rear right fender clipped the guardrail—metal crunched, sparks flew—

And then, the Blackbird spun.

Ningguang's FC swerved expertly to avoid the wreck, its headlights briefly illuminating the moment Yelan lost everything.

The Eight-Six?

It was already gone.

The silence was deafening.

The Blackbird sat still, its once-flawless body dented and scarred. Smoke curled from the exhaust. The night air was thick, the smell of burnt rubber hanging heavy.

Yelan remained in the driver's seat, gripping the wheel.

She exhaled shakily.

"I… lost…"

Her fingers trembled slightly before she let go. She unbuckled her harness, stepping out of the car. The crisp night air hit her face, but it wasn't enough to cool the fire burning in her chest.

She knelt beside the damaged rear fender, running her hand over the cracks in the bodywork.

A long sigh.

She reached into her pocket, retrieving a cigarette. The flick of a lighter, the soft glow of ember, the first slow drag.

"I can't blame the car," she muttered, smoke curling from her lips. "I made the mistake. Not the Blackbird."

Her eyes darkened.

"Sure, I'm shocked I lost… but in a way, I feel satisfied." She took another drag. "Because deep down… I know I gave it everything I had."

The cigarette burned slowly between her fingers.

She let out a dry chuckle.

"Well, isn't this gonna suck." She exhaled, watching the smoke drift away. "That's a cool hundred thousand mora in damage."

She flicked the cigarette away, watching the embers scatter.

Then, with one last glance at her wrecked machine, she stood up—head high.

Because one loss didn't mean the end.

It only meant she had something to chase.

At the summit, word spreads like wildfire.

Collei's unexpected victory sends ripples through the crowd, the excitement almost palpable. Conversations overlap, voices rise, and the air crackles with disbelief. March can hardly contain her energy—she jumps up and down, grabbing onto Seele, Beidou, and Pela in rapid succession, shaking their hands like a hyperactive race commentator.

"Did you SEE that?! She actually did it! Collei beat the Blackbird!"

Seele exhales deeply, her hands trembling slightly from the adrenaline coursing through her.

"An Eight-Six... beat the Blackbird..." she mutters, the words tasting unreal on her tongue. She can still picture the moment—the raw, unrefined power of the Eight-Six carving through the mountain roads, defying everything the Blackbird stood for.

Beidou blinks, snapping out of her trance.

"That's..." She rubs the back of her neck, still trying to process what just happened. "I don't even know what to say. I thought the Blackbird had it in the bag."

Pela hugs herself, her breath shaky.

"I've got chills, guys..."

Silence hangs in the air for only a moment before the tension shatters into laughter. First, March, then Beidou, then Seele, and finally Pela—one by one, they erupt into uncontrollable, almost delirious laughter. It's not out of mockery; it's awe. The kind of awe you feel when something impossible becomes reality.

The Eight-Six had done the impossible.

A short distance away, at a dimly lit convenience store, Ningguang and Keqing lean against their parked FC, watching the summit's commotion from afar. Neither of them speaks at first. The occasional rev of an engine echoes through the lot, but it's background noise compared to the spectacle they just witnessed.

Ningguang finally breaks the silence, her voice soft, laced with admiration.

"That was spectacular. Collei is something else." She shifts slightly, eyes still reflecting the glowing lights of the summit. "That level of precision... I've never seen anyone control an Eight-Six like that."

Keqing takes a slow sip of her coffee, her gaze fixed on the distant crowd, her mind still replaying the moment when Collei pulled off that perfect inside-line pass.

"You tell me." She swirls the coffee idly in her cup, then takes another sip. "Despite having no ABS system, her braking technique is flawless. She keeps those wheels from locking up. That's not just skill, that's instinct." She shakes her head in disbelief. "She's driving like she's one with the car. It's... remarkable."

Ningguang tilts her head back, gazing at the sky, where the stars shine brighter than usual, a perfect reflection of the night's energy.

"I've never been more excited for our future race together," she murmurs, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips.

Keqing raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"That sounds an awful lot like an admission of defeat, Ningguang."

Ningguang chuckles softly, shaking her head, her smile never fading.

"Not at all. It just means the real battles are only beginning."

Back at Arlecchino's home, the night is quieter. The hum of distant engines has faded, replaced by the rustling of leaves in the cool breeze. The stillness feels almost surreal, a stark contrast to the chaos of the race just hours ago.

Collei stands in front of the Eight-Six, her fingertips grazing the hood as if thanking the car itself. She pauses for a long moment, appreciating the machine that had carried her to victory.

Behind her, the screen door creaks open. Arlecchino steps outside, hands in her pockets, her gaze settling on her daughter. She watches Collei in silence for a moment before speaking.

"Everything alright, kiddo?"

Collei turns, looking up at Arlecchino with understanding in her eyes, a quiet confidence in her expression.

"Did you..." She hesitates, then presses forward. "Did you change the suspension settings before my race with the Blackbird?"

Arlecchino crosses her arms, pride gleaming in her eyes. There's a softness there that Collei rarely sees, but it's unmistakable.

"Yeah. I changed it before your race tonight. Didn't want you to go in unprepared."

Collei's lips curl into a small, satisfied smile. She closes her eyes, letting out a slow breath as she lets the weight of the night settle over her.

"Now I understand why you took the Eight-Six that night." Her voice is low, full of newfound understanding. She straightens, stretching, a yawn escaping her lips. The exhaustion of the race, the thrill of victory, and the emotions she had suppressed all night finally crash over her. "I'm heading to bed."

She turns toward the house, but pauses just at the doorway, looking back at her father, who remains by the Eight-Six. Arlecchino stays where she is, arms still folded, her eyes lingering on the car, the faintest smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"That's my girl," she whispers to herself, her voice almost a breath.

Collei hesitates at her door, glancing over her shoulder. Through the window, she catches a glimpse of Arlecchino standing next to the Eight-Six, a rare moment of peace between them. It's a moment that feels like everything in their world has shifted.

A warmth spreads through Collei's chest, her heart full of quiet gratitude.

"...Goodnight, Dad."

Arlecchino glances up at her. Their eyes meet, the unspoken bond between them stronger than words.

"And thank you."

For a brief second, neither of them says anything. But in that silence, everything is understood.

Collei disappears into the house, leaving Arlecchino alone with the Eight-Six under the moonlight.

Arlecchino exhales, running a hand along the car's fender. The cool metal beneath her fingertips feels solid, comforting. She stares up at the stars for a moment, reflecting on the race, on Collei's victory, on the journey ahead.

The night comes to a close, but the echoes of the battle remain. The legend of Yougou's Eight-Six has been cemented.

And the next race?

It's only a matter of time.