Act: 2 Chapter: 3 | The Rematch Lancer Evo IX VS FC3S

The night was alive with the crackle of anticipation. The gathered crowd, a sea of restless bodies, lined the mountain road under the cold glow of neon lights and distant street lamps. The mountain air was thick with exhaust fumes and burning rubber, a scent that only heightened the electric tension.

At the start line, two beasts sat idling, their engines growling like caged animals. On one side was Feixiao's Lancer Evolution IX, its white paint job gleaming under the floodlights. Opposite it, Ningguang's Mazda RX-7 FC3S, sleek and predatory, its low-slung stance exuding an unshakable confidence. These weren't just machines—they were weapons honed for battle.

Keqing strode forward, slipping between the two idling monsters, her presence commanding absolute attention. The crowd murmured in anticipation, their collective excitement a tangible force in the air.

Keqing raised her hands, signaling silence. "Alright! Here comes the countdown!" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the growls of idling turbos.

The air was charged, electric. Feixiao adjusted her launch control, the Evo's exhaust popping violently, sending a brief spurt of flames into the night. Ningguang, ever composed, exhaled slowly, her hands gripping the wheel as her turbo whined, spooling up for the perfect launch.

The countdown began.

"FIVE!"

The Evo growled deeper, Feixiao's hands tightening over the wheel. She could feel the tension in her muscles, every fiber of her being coiled like a spring.

"FOUR!"

Ningguang's crimson eyes remained locked on the road ahead, unshaken, the epitome of discipline.

"THREE!"

Feixiao licked her lips, her pulse quickening. Her fingers danced over the wheel—this was it.

"TWO!"

The FC's turbo let out a sharp hiss. The engines had reached their climax. The mountain seemed to hold its breath.

"ONE!"

Keqing's hands dropped.

"GO!"

Ignition – The First Strike

Like a bullet leaving the chamber, the Lancer Evolution IX catapulted off the line, its all-wheel-drive system clawing at the asphalt with savage precision. The tires screeched for only a fraction of a second before hooking up, launching Feixiao forward like a missile.

Ningguang's RX-7 FC3S hesitated. The rear wheels spun briefly before catching grip—just a momentary delay, but enough for Feixiao to take the lead. Ningguang's fingers twitched, but her expression remained unreadable.

From the sidelines, Keqing smirked, arms crossed as she watched the red taillights disappear into the abyss of Araumi Pass.

"Go get them, Ning. I know you can take that Lancer Evo."

The Chase – First Blood

The initial straightaway was Feixiao's domain. The Evo was a monster in the launch, its MIVEC engine howling as boost pressure surged through its veins. 500 horsepower gripped the road, sending it barreling down the pass with deadly efficiency.

But Ningguang's FC was coming.

The rotary engine screamed, its distinct high-pitched wail cutting through the night like a war cry. The turbo kicked in full force, and the gap between the two cars shrank like a closing vice.

Spectators gasped. From the sidelines, a schoolgirl in uniform jumped up, her voice cutting through the crowd.

"Go get them, Ningguang!"

Nearby, another voice chimed in—casual yet unmistakably energetic.

"Ayaka! Fancy seeing you here!"

Ayaka turned, eyes widening as she recognized the girl beside her. "Oh! Yoimiya! Great to see you too!"

Yoimiya flashed a grin, bumping Ayaka's shoulder playfully. "What brings you to this race? You drove all the way from Kannazuka, didn't you?"

Ayaka sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Yeah… I had to be here. I wasn't going to miss this."

Araumi's Twisting Fangs

Ahead, the first hairpin loomed.

Feixiao slammed on the brakes early, her Evo's anti-lag system detonating a series of brutal cracks and flames. The deceleration was instant, the Brembo brakes biting down hard as she prepared for the turn.

But Ningguang didn't brake yet.

She held her speed, waiting just a little longer.

The moment Feixiao committed to the corner, Ningguang finally hit the brakes—a fraction of a second later than Feixiao, but enough.

She dived inside, her FC's weight shifting flawlessly as she entered the drift.

The crowd erupted.

Ningguang's FC tore through the hairpin ahead of Feixiao.

Mind Games at 140 km/h

Feixiao gritted her teeth.

"Tch… you really think that'll be enough?"

The Evo's turbo roared as she downshifted, staying glued to Ningguang's bumper.

Feixiao wasn't just any driver. She was a tactician—an apex predator who studied her prey's every move.

Her narrowed eyes flicked over Ningguang's racing line, throttle control, countersteer inputs.

She analyzed. She learned. She adapted.

And then she smirked.

"I've got you in my sights, Ningguang. This isn't just a race… this is chess at 140 kilometers per hour."

The Battlefield Unfolds

The Evo and the FC streaked down Araumi Pass, engines screaming as they attacked the next series of bends.

Feixiao's headlights flashed in Ningguang's rearview mirror—relentless, unyielding.

Then came the next turn.

A long, sweeping right-hand corner.

Feixiao saw her opening.

She braked late. She braked HARD.

The Evo shuddered as she forced it into a tighter line than normal, threatening Ningguang's positioning. A squeeze play.

Ningguang's eyes flicked to her mirrors.

She knew what Feixiao was doing.

"Hmph."

Instead of fighting it, she adapted.

At the very last second, Ningguang flicked her wheel.

Her FC drifted at an even sharper angle—wider than usual—but with total control.

It was deliberate.

The Evo surged forward—right into Ningguang's trap.

The FC's rear snapped back into place just as Feixiao tried to overtake—forcing the Evo to slam the brakes to avoid contact.

Feixiao's tires screamed.

She lost speed.

And just like that… the FC pulled away again.

The crowd went insane.

Feixiao's Snarl

Inside the Evo, Feixiao's grip tightened.

"Son of a BITCH."

She wasn't mad at Ningguang. She was mad at herself.

Ningguang had outmaneuvered her.

But Feixiao wasn't done yet.

She cracked her knuckles, took a deep breath, and focused.

The next section was coming.

Her turn to strike.

She muttered under her breath.

"This isn't over."

One Year Ago – The First Battle at Araumi

The memory crashes into Feixiao's mind like a tidal wave.

The night air had been just as cold, the neon lights just as harsh. The scent of burning rubber and high-octane fuel still clung to the pavement where Feixiao had lost.

Her Lancer Evo IX sat parked, engine ticking as it cooled, the faint heat waves distorting the air above the hood. The sting of defeat was still fresh, and it tasted like rusted metal in her mouth.

Across from her stood Ningguang, calm and unwavering, as if the victory meant nothing to her. As if Feixiao's loss was inevitable.

Feixiao's fists shook at her sides. She took a step forward, her narrowed eyes burning with frustration.

"Don't let this race go to your head, Ningguang." Her voice was sharp, but underneath it was something she hated even more than losing—uncertainty.

"Street racers like you are the lowest of the low in racing! There's no way a street racer's technique can compare to a professional's. No way! Our techniques are tested, trained, and perfected to push the limits of speed and precision. Everyone knows it!"

Ningguang didn't flinch. She simply adjusted the cuff of her racing jacket, her crimson eyes steady as ever.

"Believe that all you want, Feixiao." Her voice was smooth—controlled. Calculated. "But racing on mountain passes requires a different skill set. Some circuit techniques apply, sure, but not all. What I've mastered out here is something you won't find on a track—especially not in Gymkhana."

Feixiao's jaw clenched. Bullshit.

"Bull. Shit."

Her hand curled into a fist, shaking. Every nerve in her body screamed for her to hit something—anything. The frustration threatened to consume her.

Ningguang took a step closer, standing within arm's reach, her expression unreadable.

"If you truly believe that," Ningguang said, voice quiet but firm, "punch me in the face and say it again."

Feixiao froze.

"But if you can't…" Ningguang's voice remained steady, "…then all you have is a theory."

The cold wind pressed between them. The weight of her words dug deep, sinking into Feixiao's chest.

Her fingers twitched.

She couldn't move.

Couldn't lift her arm.

Couldn't throw the punch.

Silence.

And then Ningguang turned away, walking back to her Mazda RX-7 FC3S like nothing had happened. Like the conversation was over.

Feixiao had stood there, fists clenched, watching as the FC's taillights disappeared into the night.

The burn of humiliation had never left her.

Present Day – Revenge on the Mountain

Feixiao's grip on the wheel tightened.

The mountain pass blurred past her—turns, straights, elevation changes, the entire course vanishing under her car's relentless speed. But all she could see was that memory.

She knew Ningguang remembered it too.

"Your theory and my technique are both riding on these wheels tonight." Her voice was a low snarl, more to herself than anyone else. "Let's see which one crosses the finish line first."

Ahead, Ningguang's RX-7 FC3S sliced through the corners with surgical precision, the back end kicking out only when necessary, countersteering as if she were born on these roads.

Feixiao was right behind her, the Lancer Evo IX refusing to let go.

Each corner was a warzone, each maneuver a strategic play. The gap remained razor-thin, Feixiao pressing her attack, but Ningguang's lead was unshakable.

Then they approached it—

Araumi Pass's longest straightaway.

The very place where Collei's engine had detonated earlier.

Feixiao's golden eyes flashed.

This was her moment.

Side by Side – Unleashing the Beast

Her foot slammed onto the accelerator.

The turbocharger in her Lancer Evo roared to life, the pressure gauge spiking as the engine screamed under the sudden demand for power.

AWD grip. Turbo boost. Perfect launch.

Feixiao's Evo shot forward like a missile.

She was alongside Ningguang in an instant.

Ningguang glanced sideways—just for a fraction of a second.

And there it was.

That smirk.

Feixiao's lips curled, voice crackling through the comms.

"This is where four-wheel drive and my Misfiring System really shine!"

The Misfiring System—a violent form of anti-lag, designed to keep turbo pressure maxed even during throttle lift-off—activated with a series of brutal explosions.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

The Evo surged forward even harder.

The piercing screech of tires filled the mountain air as both drivers slammed onto their brakes. The scent of burning rubber mixed with the crisp night breeze. Feixiao, ever the strategist, eased off her brakes just a fraction of a second sooner than expected, slamming her foot back onto the accelerator.

Her Evo roared in response, the Misfiring system kicking in with ruthless precision. The turbo stayed spooled, keeping the boost pressure stable. With barely any loss in momentum, the all-wheel drive clawed at the pavement, propelling her forward with a brutal efficiency.

A perfect execution. A flawless move. And it worked.

She surged ahead, overtaking Ningguang in a flash of red taillights.

From the sidelines, Seele's eyes widened in shock. "No way! Feixiao just passed Ningguang—on a braking zone!"

Beidou folded her arms, her expression a mix of awe and concern. "That's the true power of a four-wheel drive. Now, Ningguang's in trouble."

Inside the FC, Ningguang stayed calm, watching Feixiao's car with a sharp, calculating gaze.

"Impressive," she murmured, a hint of respect flickering in her golden eyes. "You've sharpened your edge, Feixiao. Your Evo's tuned to perfection, and that Misfiring system keeps you in the powerband at all times. Clever."

The two cars rocketed toward a high-speed right-hander, the Evo leading. Feixiao's lines were crisp, her cornering aggressive. But Ningguang's grip on the race had not loosened.

She studied the gap between the Evo's right front tire and the guardrail.

Still making the same errors, Feixiao...

The memory of their first race clawed its way into Feixiao's mind. Her loss. Her frustration. Ningguang's words echoing like a ghost.

"Some circuit techniques apply, sure. But what I've mastered out here—you won't find on a track."

Feixiao tightened her grip on the wheel. That was then. This is now.

The crowd was alive with energy. Onlookers leaned forward, eyes locked on the battle unfolding before them.

A spotter checked his stopwatch and immediately radioed Keqing. "They've passed the halfway point… eleven seconds ahead of the previous record."

Keqing let out a low whistle, arms crossed. "No denying it—Feixiao's fast. But Ningguang knows this pass better than anyone. And we're past the halfway mark. This is where the turns widen, and the gradient eases. This is where Ningguang plays her hand."

Back on the road, Ningguang's golden eyes flicked to her tachometer—6,500 RPM.

Perfect.

The next corner, a fast right-hander, loomed ahead. Feixiao, still leading, kept her line tight. But Ningguang saw it—the hesitation. The telltale micro-adjustment of Feixiao's steering, the fraction of a second delay in her countersteer.

Right-hand turns still aren't your strong suit, huh, Feixiao?

The moment Feixiao committed to the turn, Ningguang downshifted.

The FC's rotary engine shrieked as the RPMs shot up to 8,500 in an instant. She snapped the wheel, committing to an outside pass.

Feixiao's eyes darted to her mirrors. Too late.

The white FC shot up beside her, its presence looming like a predator in the night.

Feixiao's breath hitched. She's passing me—on the outside?!

With seamless precision, Ningguang completed the maneuver, her FC now inches ahead. But she didn't pull away—no, instead, she adjusted her position, deliberately boxing Feixiao in.

Feixiao gritted her teeth. "Damn it! She's forcing me into a bad line!"

On the sidelines, March clenched her fists. "She's doing it! She's blocking Feixiao's escape route—while drifting!"

Pela's voice was almost breathless with excitement. "That's insane! Ningguang's controlling the entire race from the front!"

The two cars exited the fast right-hander, the FC leading by half a car length.

One final left-hand turn. Then the last right-hand hairpin.

Feixiao desperately sought an opening, but Ningguang gave her nothing.

Another inch. Another car length.

Then another.

Then—

Ningguang crossed the finish line first.

A deafening roar erupted from the spectators at Araumi Pass. Cheers and shouts filled the air as the reality of what had just happened settled in.

Ningguang had won.

Not just won. Shattered her own course record.

Pela jumped up, punching the air. "SHE DID IT!"

March was practically bouncing. "A NEW RECORD!!!"

Back in her car, Feixiao exhaled sharply, hands still gripping the wheel. Her chest rose and fell with each heavy breath.

She had lost.

But this time, something was different.

She wasn't angry.

She wasn't frustrated.

As she looked ahead at the FC's taillights, gleaming triumphantly in the distance, a slow smirk tugged at her lips.

That was one hell of a race.

The night air was still charged with the electricity of the race as Ningguang smoothly guided her FC into a parking space, the rotary engine purring one last time before she shut it off. Stepping out, she barely had time to take a breath before Ganyu rushed up to her, eyes shining with excitement.

"Alright, Ningguang! A new course record!" Ganyu beamed, raising a hand in celebration.

Ningguang met her enthusiasm with a grin, clapping a firm high-five.

Just then, the deep rumble of an Evo's engine cut through the moment. Feixiao pulled up in front of Ningguang's FC, the nose of her Lancer Evo lined up directly with the FC's in an unspoken acknowledgment.

For a second, neither woman moved.

Then Feixiao stepped out, her amber gaze locked onto Ningguang's. No anger. No frustration. Just something deeper—respect.

She closed the distance between them, her posture relaxed, yet resolute. When she finally spoke, there was nothing but sincerity in her voice.

"That was a hell of a battle, Ningguang."

A slow, knowing smile spread across Ningguang's lips as she extended her hand.

"It was," she agreed, shaking Feixiao's hand with a firm, unwavering grip.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. The weight of old rivalries, old frustrations, old races lost and won settled between them.

And then—laughter.

Quiet at first, then genuine, breaking the tension like the first breeze after a storm.

The past no longer mattered.

Tonight, something had shifted.

What had once been a fierce competition had transformed into something else. A rivalry had ended—but a camaraderie had just begun.