Ignition

The low hum of an idling engine filled the air, vibrating through the worn leather seat beneath Kai Damons. His fingers gripped the steering wheel, cold and unfamiliar, yet strangely natural. His breathing was uneven, heart pounding like the bass of a subwoofer at full blast.

This wasn't right.

A moment ago, he was in his bedroom, controller in hand, staring at the screen of his gaming monitor, lost in another late-night session of Need for Gran Touring Horizon 5.

Now—

Now, he was sitting behind the wheel of a real car, staring down a long, dimly lit road.

The familiar smell of burnt rubber and gasoline mixed with the crisp night air. The cheers of a crowd, the deep growl of idling engines, and the rhythmic pounding of music filled the space around him.

It was a street race.

And he was in it.

Kai inhaled sharply, his chest tightening as he took in his surroundings. The dashboard in front of him, the cracked leather of the seats, the faint scratches on the center console—he knew them all too well.

His grandfather's Corvette C5.

A lump formed in his throat. His fingers brushed over the familiar custom shift knob, the one his grandpa had installed years ago before handing him the keys.

It was impossible. This car—his car—was supposed to be parked back home, untouched for months, gathering dust.

But it was here. And so was he.

A metallic voice rang through his head.

[System Requirements Met.]

[Initializing...]

Kai flinched, his hands tightening around the wheel. His breath came fast. The voice wasn't coming from the speakers. It was in his head.

What the hell was going on?

The sound of a revving engine snapped his attention back to the road.

A sleek, black GR Supra pulled up beside him, its LED headlights piercing through the darkness. The driver revved the turbocharged inline-six, sending a sharp "stututututu" whistle echoing through the night.

The Supra was low and aggressive, its black paint gleaming under the streetlights. It was fast, way faster than the aging Corvette Kai sat in.

The driver leaned out of his window slightly. Messy black hair, sharp features, and a confident smirk.

"Hope you can keep up, old-school," he said, his voice smooth and teasing, yet oddly serious.

Kai just stared.

Nothing about this felt like a dream. The sounds, the smells, the pulse of adrenaline rushing through his veins—it was too real.

The crowd around them was electric, people waving their hands, shouting, holding up their phones to capture the moment. The bass from nearby speakers thumped through the pavement, blending with the symphony of revving engines and excited chatter.

Kai's heart raced.

What was he supposed to do?

Before he could figure it out, his eyes flicked up to the rearview mirror.

And his breath caught in his throat.

His reflection stared back at him.

Same smooth brown skin. Same sharp, tired eyes. Same high-top fade, freshly lined up just a few days ago.

He was still… himself.

Just not in his world.

Something flickered in the air in front of him, like a digital display forming out of thin air.

---

Main Quest: Win the Race

Penalty: Immediate Termination

---

Kai's blood ran cold.

"Terminate?!" he muttered, his throat dry.

He wasn't given time to think.

A tall woman in a black leather jacket and knee-high boots stepped forward between the two cars, her platinum blonde hair catching the glow of the neon streetlights.

The crowd erupted, making room as she confidently walked to the center of the road.

In her right hand, she held a bright red flare high above her head. The light bathed her face in an eerie crimson glow, casting long shadows over the pavement.

She gave both drivers a sharp look, her red-painted lips curving into a sly smile.

Kai barely processed her presence. He was too busy fighting the rising panic in his chest.

This wasn't a dream.

It wasn't a cutscene.

It was real.

She raised three fingers.

Three.

Kai's hands moved on their own, shifting into first gear. His foot pressed lightly on the gas, feeling the engine's vibration like an extension of his own heartbeat.

He didn't know what was happening. Didn't know why.

But he knew one thing—

If he lost, he was done for.

Two.

The Supra's driver cracked his neck, stretching his fingers over the steering wheel.

That smirk was still there. But this time, Kai noticed something else.

Recognition.

Like the guy already knew him.

One.

The woman flicked her wrist.

The flare dropped.

The race was on.