Act: 4 Chapter: 3 | A Rainy Downhill Battle! Eight Six VS S2000

As the race prepared to begin, Keqing keyed her radio, sending a brief message to Jinren's base. "Another race is about to unfold. Get ready."

The announcement rippled through the crowd—Ganyu's S2000 versus Collei's Eight-Six. The spectators, who had begun to filter out, quickly turned around, drawn back to the action. Excitement buzzed through the air, the energy palpable as the next challenge was set.

Silverwolf, standing casually against the railing, observed the cars with keen eyes. "An uphill climb in the rain, followed by a brutal downhill. This one's gonna be intense. But something tells me the Eight-Six is gonna pull ahead in the end." She tapped her fingers on the railing, her gaze never leaving the cars.

Yelan, calm and composed, stepped forward. She raised her hand in the middle of the road, signaling the start of the race. The sound of revving engines filled the air, sharp and loud, silencing the crowd's murmurs. Every eye was on the two cars lining up.

"Alright! Countdown begins now!"

Five!

Four!

Three!

Two!

One!

"Go!"

Yelan dropped her hand, and in an instant, both cars rocketed off the line, tires screeching against the wet asphalt.

Collei's Eight-Six hesitated for a split second, its wheels spinning in the slick rain-soaked road. That moment was all Ganyu's S2000 needed to surge ahead, taking the early lead. The cars approached the first high-speed right-hand corner, Ganyu entering it with smooth, razor-sharp precision. Collei followed closely, but the gap began to widen as they neared the sharp left hairpin. Collei pushed the Eight-Six through the turn, drifting it beautifully, but still, Ganyu had the edge.

In the backseat, March was being thrown around by the violent changes in direction. Her grip tightened on the seat, her voice barely audible over the roaring engines. "Ugh—Collei, this is insane!" she groaned, struggling to stay anchored.

But Collei? She didn't flinch. Her focus was absolute, eyes locked on the road ahead, calculating her moves with every turn. She was studying—analyzing. Ganyu's every movement, every shift in her car's balance, was being burned into her mind.

Back at the starting line, Beidou clenched her fists in frustration. "Damn it! The S2000's already pulling ahead!"

Seele, standing beside her, raised an eyebrow, placing a hand lightly on Beidou's shoulder. "You don't get it, do you?"

Beidou shot her a confused look. "Get what?"

Amber smirked, crossing her arms with a knowing expression. "Think back to Amakane Pass."

Beidou paused. "Yeah…?"

Amber's smirk grew wider. "Collei's doing the same thing she did when she raced Eula. She's holding back—learning Ganyu's style."

Beidou's eyes widened, the realization striking her like a bolt of lightning. "Oh… Oh! She's studying her on the fly! I should've known!" She groaned, smacking her forehead in embarrassment.

Seele chuckled softly, eyes still focused on the track. "Just wait. The real race hasn't even begun."

Meanwhile, Collei and Ganyu approached the next hairpin. Ganyu still held the lead, but the slick asphalt was beginning to take its toll. As she entered the turn, the rear end of her S2000 suddenly began to fishtail. The lack of grip on the wet surface caused her to lose a little control, her car sliding dangerously toward the edge of the track.

Instinctively, Ganyu feathered the throttle, delicately adjusting her footwork to regain control. The fishtail stopped just before it could spin out, but the seconds lost were enough for Collei to close the gap.

"Look at that S2K go!" a spectator shouted. "She's holding her own, even in this rain!"

"That was close," another murmured, nodding in admiration. "Controlling a slide like that in wet conditions takes serious skill."

But Collei wasn't letting up. As the rain intensified, she reached the same hairpin where Ganyu had slipped. This time, she executed a flawless four-wheel drift, gliding through the turn with the kind of precision that made it seem as though the rain didn't even exist.

The Eight-Six gripped the road like it was dry pavement, its tires clawing into the slick surface with perfect control. The crowd gasped in awe.

"That Eight-Six is something else!"

"She's drifting like she's driving in perfect conditions!"

"She's got the guts, and the skill to back it up!"

Inside the Eight-Six, March could barely believe what she was witnessing. "She's like a completely different person behind the wheel," she thought, eyes wide as she struggled to hold herself in place against the violent G-forces. "Even with me screaming in the backseat, she's totally unfazed. Who is she, really? Some kind of machine?"

March's gaze flickered to the road ahead. The storm was so thick now that she could barely see more than a few meters in front of them. Yet Collei—Collei never hesitated. The Eight-Six tore through the rain with a calm confidence, as if it were just another sunny day on the mountain roads.

"It's like we're driving into a black hole… And yet, she's completely in control," March marveled, her voice barely a whisper. "How is she doing this? This is her first time on this course!"

Ding-dong.

The cabin rang with a loud speed limit chime.

March's breath hitched. "That sound... We've crossed 100 kilometers per hour!"

Before she could even process the shift, the next corner loomed ahead. Collei, unfazed, immediately swung the Eight-Six into another aggressive drift. March was violently tossed across the seat, her body barely managing to hold on as the G-forces pinned her into the upholstery.

Collei, however, was unfazed. Her hands moved like an extension of the car, smoothly controlling the throttle and brakes as if the Eight-Six were her own limbs.

"Time to turn up the pressure," Collei muttered under her breath, a dangerous smirk tugging at her lips.

March blinked in disbelief, her heart pounding in her chest. "Turn up the pressure?! What the hell has she been doing this whole time?!"

In response, Collei's foot slammed down harder on the accelerator.

The Eight-Six surged forward, the tires biting into the wet asphalt. The car jolted momentarily, but Collei never flinched. The speed increased, rain hammering against the windshield, and the wipers struggled to keep up with the downpour.

Ahead, Ganyu felt her confidence soaring. The S2000 had been steadily pulling away, each corner passed with controlled precision. She could feel it now—the car was an extension of herself, every motion in perfect harmony.

"This time, I'm the one who's going to beat the Eight-Six. I don't need Ningguang. This is my race."

But then—

A flash of headlights appeared in her rearview mirror.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"No way…!"

The Eight-Six was right there. Closing the gap with terrifying speed.

"How?! In this rain?! That's impossible!"

Ganyu's eyes flicked to the dashboard, checking the vitals—engine temperature, tire pressure, traction. Everything was fine. So why...?

Why did it feel like she was getting slower?

Panic shot through her chest. She slammed her foot into the gas, pushing the S2000 harder. The engine roared in protest, but still, the Eight-Six was there, looming closer.

It was closing in. Fast.

As they approached a tight right-hand corner, the S2000 suddenly fishtailed again, the rear of the car sliding out on the slick road. Ganyu fought the wheel, but the control she once had was slipping away. Collei, however, was in complete control, staying just behind her—close enough to strike, but not yet.

The gap was narrow. Too narrow.

Collei's eyes narrowed. She knew this wasn't the moment to attack. Not yet.

But then—

At the next hairpin, Ganyu slammed on the brakes.

For just a split second, the S2000 hesitated. It lost a fraction of momentum.

And that was all Collei needed.

With lightning-fast reflexes, she mashed the accelerator, the Eight-Six surging forward like a coiled spring released. The rear tires clawed at the wet surface as Collei launched the car past Ganyu.

Ganyu's eyes widened in disbelief.

"No way! She's beside me?!"

Before Ganyu could even react—

Collei was already ahead.

The Eight-Six shot past, its tires gripping the slick pavement as though the rain didn't exist. The crowd exploded into a cacophony of cheers and shouts.

"Did you see that?! That was insane!"

"She handled that corner like it was bone-dry!"

Inside the S2000, Ganyu gritted her teeth, frustration and disbelief fighting for control. "I can't keep up... She's pulling away!"

Corner after corner, the gap between them widened. Even if Collei made a mistake, it wouldn't be enough.

This race—was already decided.

The Eight-Six had won.

Over the radio, Yelan's voice crackled, sharp and clear.

"The race is over. The Eight-Six takes the win."

She made her way to Keqing's car, tapping lightly on the window.

Keqing rolled it down without a word, the cool night air mixing with the hum of the engine still running.

Yelan leaned in slightly, smirking with a trace of satisfaction. "Your girl lost."

Keqing exhaled slowly, nodding. She had known all along, but the finality of it still stung.

Yelan shrugged, stepping back with a lazy grace, and slipped into her Blackbird. Moments later, the engine roared to life, and the sleek car disappeared into the night, its tail lights fading into the distance.

Keqing leaned forward in the seat, her mind racing as the sounds of the crowd and the damp air filled her senses.

"No matter the rain… the Eight-Six always wins," she muttered to herself, her eyes distant. "But Ningguang? She'll take the victory in two days' time. I have no doubt."

At the summit, news of Collei's victory spread like wildfire, igniting a buzz in the air.

Spectators murmured among themselves, still processing what they'd witnessed.

"Unreal. The Eight-Six beat an S2K in the rain."

"She really is something else."

Beidou, Seele, Pela, and Amber stood nearby, exchanging glances as they processed the night's race in their own ways. Each of them absorbed in their thoughts, yet silently impressed.

Amber broke the silence with a smirk, the flicker of recognition in her voice. "Another win for Collei."

Beidou crossed her arms, the weight of the race settling in her chest. "Rain or shine, she gets it done. No surprise there."

Pela smiled slightly, the corners of her mouth lifting. "At least it's good practice for the real test—Ningguang."

Amber shrugged nonchalantly, already turning toward the parking lot. "Let's go. We've seen enough."

Without another word, the group made their way toward Amber's SilEighty, the low rumble of the engine echoing across the parking lot. The weight of the night's events lingered in the air, a mix of triumph and uncertainty.

Two battles had ended.

Two victors had emerged.

But from two very different corners of Narukami Prefecture.