Act: 1 Chapter: 3 | Re-igniting an Old Rivalry. Lancia 037 VS AE86

A Rivalry Rekindled – The Battle Begins

The roar of two engines splits the night air, reverberating through the mountain pass. It's the most anticipated battle Yougou Pass has ever seen—a clash of titans, a rivalry reignited.

Pela stands between the two machines, her hand raised in the air. The crowd falls into a tense silence, all eyes on the starting line.

"Alright!" Pela's voice rings out, filled with anticipation. "Here comes the countdown!"

The air is thick with tension. Spectators hold their breath, the collective excitement palpable as the two cars sit ready, engines growling, hearts racing.

The revs climb higher. The engines whine with power, each growl vibrating the ground beneath their feet.

THREE!

The Eight Six and the Lancia's engines scream louder.

TWO!

Tires begin to spin, ready for the surge.

ONE!

The crowd's collective breath catches.

GO!!

In an instant, the Eight Six and the Lancia explode off the starting line, their tires screeching against the asphalt as they surge into the night. Despite its lack of sheer power, Collei's Eight Six edges forward, its lightweight frame giving it the agility to leap ahead as they charge toward Turn 1.

Both cars dive into the corner—side by side—each tire gripped by the road like a handhold. The sound of their engines blending into a symphony of speed and power.

Perfectly synchronized, neither willing to give an inch.

The radio crackles to life, capturing the excitement of the moment.

"They're barely a meter apart! This is gonna be a nail-biter!" the announcer's voice rings through the speakers, filled with awe.

March clenches his fists, his eyes wide as he watches the race unfold. "This… This is giving me chills!" he says, barely able to hold back the rush of adrenaline.

Amber, standing near the rail, doesn't take her eyes off Collei. Her gaze unwavering, she speaks with quiet conviction. "She's got this. I know she does."

Straights vs. Corners – A Clash of Strengths

As the road straightens, the Lancia roars ahead, its supercharged inline-four engine tearing through the night. The raw power of the Lancia seems to surge, but Collei's Eight Six stays close, the gap never widening, always right behind.

The two cars rocket toward the next series of tight corners, a switch between raw speed and precision.

The Lancia's power is undeniable—on the straights, it has the edge, tearing through the road with mechanical fury. But Collei? She isn't just relying on raw speed.

She grits her teeth, her eyes narrowing as the sharp corners loom closer. As they approach the series of hairpins, she feels the familiar rush of the wheel in her hands, her muscles responding instinctively. The Eight Six shifts its weight, and with one fluid motion, Collei flicks the steering wheel. The car slides into a perfect drift, the rear tires scrubbing the asphalt as she cuts the corner like a surgeon's scalpel.

The lightweight chassis of the Eight Six, coupled with its mid-corner balance, lets Collei slingshot past the Lancia, hugging the inside line with precision.

Clorinde's eyes flick to the rearview mirror, watching the white blur of the Eight Six dart past her. Her smirk widens, a glint of respect in her eyes. "She's one tough cookie…" she mutters under her breath, almost impressed by the younger racer's skill.

Their rhythm becomes apparent to the watching crowd:

On the straights, the Lancia dominates, its engine howling like a beast unleashed.

In the corners, Collei fights back, her driving a thing of finesse and calculated aggression.

Every turn, every shift, every battle for position pushes them both to the edge, the tension palpable in every move they make. The roar of engines, the squeal of tires, the sound of metal and rubber fighting for grip—it's a dance, a battle, and a test of both cars and drivers.

Neck and Neck – The Hairpin Duel

Back at the summit, Beidou watches with a sharp, calculating gaze, her arms crossed as she waits for the call. "At this point, they've swapped positions at least a dozen times already. This is insane."

Amber paces nervously, unable to keep still. Her heart races. "She's incredible… but so is Clorinde. This could go either way."

Down at the Five Consecutive Hairpins, Lyney, Lynette, and Arlecchino stand poised, eyes fixed on the road. The tension builds with every second.

Lynette yawns, clearly unimpressed by the long wait. "This is taking forever."

Lyney chuckles, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Patience, sister. They'll be here soon enough."

And then, the unmistakable roar of engines fills the air, sending a thrill through their veins.

Both heads snap toward the turn in unison.

There—

The Eight Six and the Lancia appear, side by side, their engines howling as if in challenge. Neither car yields an inch.

Lyney's eyes widen in disbelief. "Here they come!"

Lynette leans forward, her excitement palpable. "They're still side by side?!"

Collei's grip tightens around the steering wheel, her mind sharp, her focus laser-like. This is it. The moment she's been waiting for.

She taps the brakes—just enough to let Clorinde's Lancia edge ahead. It's a subtle move, but calculated. The game of cat and mouse continues.

Then—

She dives inside.

The two cars enter the first of the five hairpins. Collei shifts the Eight Six into a perfect gutter run, her right wheels biting into the narrow strip of pavement on the edge of the road. The car sticks to the tarmac like it's on rails, pulling off an impossible switchback overtake with an elegance that takes the crowd's breath away.

Clorinde blinks in stunned disbelief. "What the—?!"

Before she can react, Collei has already surged past her, moving into the lead.

Lynette grips the railing, her eyes wide in shock. "Whoa! Did you see that, bro?!"

Lyney exhales slowly, his grin spreading. "I saw it. That was brilliant."

Behind them, Arlecchino smirks, leaning back against the railing with a satisfied look on her face. "Go get 'em, tiger…" she mutters under her breath, her gaze following Collei as the Eight Six holds the lead.

Lynette turns, eyes narrowing in surprise. "Wait a second… That's your daughter?!"

Arlecchino leans back, her arms crossed, a proud smirk on her face. "Yeah," she says with a touch of pride in her voice, her eyes never leaving the cars on the track. "And it looks like she's got that Lancia right where she wants it."

The battle continues to rage as the two cars barrel through the final series of hairpins. Each corner, each shift of weight, each flick of the wheel adds a new layer of intensity.

The fifth and final hairpin looms ahead like a massive wall, the tightest, sharpest turn yet. Collei and Clorinde are neck and neck, their tires screeching in protest as they race toward it.

Collei's eyes are locked on the road ahead, reading the track with surgical precision as she hooks her left wheels into the gutters, just as she did before. The Eight Six grips the asphalt perfectly, the lightweight chassis and finely-tuned suspension making the car feel like an extension of herself.

But then—

Clorinde responds with an almost identical move. Her Lancia's tires cut into the gutter with a harsh, aggressive bite, the supercharged engine roaring as she mirrors Collei's run.

Collei's eyes widen in disbelief. "Holy shit! She's doing the gutter run too?!"

The crowd gasps in unison. The Lancia, once trailing, has now matched Collei's every move.

The final hairpin arrives in a blur. Both cars slip into the corner, drifting in perfect tandem, the tires howling as they narrowly avoid the guardrails. They're barely a foot apart—every second feeling like an eternity. It's a dance of speed, precision, and willpower.

And then, as if by instinct, they both floor it—blasting out of the corner and onto the longest straightaway of the course.

It's a pure drag race to the finish.

The engines howl with raw power as the two cars surge forward, the noise deafening. Every inch of the straightaway counts as the two legends tear through the night, their headlights cutting through the darkness like twin beacons.

The finish line is within reach.

The Final Sprint

At the final corner, Ningguang, Keqing, and Ganyu stand by the finish line, their eyes fixed on the road ahead, hearts racing in anticipation.

"So, Ningguang, who do you think is going to win?" Ganyu asks, her voice tight with nerves, unable to look away from the track.

Ningguang's lips curl into a knowing smirk. "Neither."

Keqing whips her head toward her, incredulous. "What do you mean, 'neither'?! One of them has to be ahead!"

Ningguang doesn't even glance at her. Her gaze is locked on the race. "No. I think they'll cross the finish line at the same time."

Ganyu's breath hitches, her mind spinning. "You're saying… it's going to be a draw?"

Ningguang's gaze remains unwavering. "Yes. The Lancia has straight-line speed, but the Eight Six dominates the corners. They'll match each other perfectly—just like their fathers did."

Keqing's eyes widen as the pieces click into place. "The history repeats itself… The Eight Six's original driver and the Lancia's former driver never lost in their own runs, but whenever they faced off—"

"—They always tied." Ningguang finishes for her, her voice steady, almost prophetic.

The distant roar of engines grows deafening, now accompanied by the thundering sound of rubber meeting tarmac. It echoes through the mountain, vibrating in the chest.

Keqing's heartbeat quickens, her pulse pounding in her ears. "They're coming!"

Ningguang's eyes snap even sharper. "Keqing! Get a slow-motion shot! Go!"

Without another word, Keqing bolts toward the finish line, pulling out her phone with practiced precision.

The Impossible Photo Finish

The Lancia and the Eight Six streak past Keqing in a blur of speed, engines roaring like beasts. The ground beneath them seems to tremble, both cars locked in an all-out sprint.

Keqing's thumb taps the screen, recording everything in slow motion. Her heart races as she focuses on the incredible sight before her.

The world seems to slow to a crawl as the two machines, side by side, exit the final corner in perfect synchrony, still locked in their battle for supremacy. There's no hesitation, no second to breathe.

They cross the finish line together.

Perfectly synchronized.

The sound of their engines fades into the distance as they roll to a stop in a nearby lot, the air filled with the aftermath of the battle.

Keqing stares at her phone, breath catching in her throat. "...No... No way..."

Her thumb hits the rewind button, replaying the footage. The frame-by-frame view confirms it. Both cars crossed the line at precisely the same moment.

The result doesn't change.

She looks up, stunned, disbelief etched on her face.

A Historic Outcome

Collei and Clorinde step out of their cars, both of them breathing hard, adrenaline still coursing through their veins. Their faces are flush with exhilaration, and despite the tension, there's a sense of camaraderie between them.

They stare at each other for a moment, both taking in the raw, unspoken respect in each other's eyes.

Then, with a shared understanding, they smile and shake hands.

"It was a pleasure racing with you, Clorinde," Collei says, grinning ear to ear, still catching her breath.

Clorinde returns the handshake, her own eyes full of genuine respect. "Likewise, Collei. That was insane."

They both laugh, nervous but exhilarated.

"That finish was way too close," Collei admits with a small shake of her head.

Clorinde chuckles, still catching her breath. "I have no idea who won."

At that moment, Keqing, Ningguang, and Ganyu rush toward them, the tension on their faces clear.

Keqing holds up her phone, her fingers trembling with the excitement.

Collei and Clorinde glance at the screen, their eyes widening as they both process what they're seeing.

"No way..." they whisper in unison.

Keqing nods, a slow grin creeping onto her face. "It's a draw."

The silence that follows is heavy, the weight of the moment settling in. Neither Collei nor Clorinde can quite believe it, but the truth is right in front of them.

Ningguang turns to Keqing, voice steady. "Radio it in. Get the official word."

Keqing doesn't hesitate, her fingers flying over the radio with practiced ease. "This is the finish line… We have the results."

The Verdict

At the summit, Beidou, March, Seele, and Pela are dead silent, hanging on the radio's response, their collective breath held.

Beidou's fists clench in frustration, eyes narrowing. "C'mon… What's the call?"

The radio crackles, the silence hanging heavy.

Then, the voice comes through, almost too calmly.

"It's... It's a draw."

The crowd erupts in chaos.

Gasps. Cheers. Disbelief. The sound of their collective shock fills the air as the news sinks in.

History Repeats Itself

"No way!" someone shouts, voice trembling with excitement. "The Lancia and the Eight Six tied?! Again?! That's insane!"

"This is the greatest race we've ever seen!" another voice cries, the magnitude of what just happened reverberating through the crowd.

Down at the hairpins, Arlecchino smirks, her arms crossed with a sense of satisfaction.

Lynette glances at her, a curious expression on her face. "You're not surprised?"

Lyney grins, his eyes gleaming with a quiet excitement. "Because history just repeated itself."

Lynette tilts her head in confusion. "Huh?"

Lyney crosses his arms over his chest, a knowing look in his eyes. "The Lancia's former driver was the only person to ever tie with Arlecchino in a downhill race. And now, their daughters just did the same."

Arlecchino's smirk deepens, her pride evident. "Like father, like daughter."

The Final Decision

The radio crackles once more, and the world goes still in anticipation.

A single voice comes through, steady and unwavering.

Collei, calm as ever, her voice clear. "We've discussed it. Both drivers are winners."

The crowd explodes into a deafening roar of celebration.

Cheers and laughter erupt from every corner. The adrenaline that had been building for hours finally bursts free as everyone realizes what just happened. The rivalry, the tension, the battle—all of it culminates in a night that no one will ever forget.

The rivalry is settled—at least for now.

But as the stars shine down on Yougou Pass, one thing is certain:

Collei's unbeaten streak remains intact.

And the legend of the Eight Six lives on.