Chapter 26: The Legendary Trail Begins
The roar of engines pierced through the cold morning air. Spectators cheered from the stands, thousands of cameras fixated on the racers lined up at the starting grid. Lana stood beside Phoenix Blaze, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She knew today wasn't just about the race—it was a battle against fear, vengeance, and forces far greater than herself.
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An Intriguing Start
The red lights lit up, followed by the countdown. Three… two… one… green!
The cars shot forward like lightning, leaving a thick cloud of smoke in their wake. Lana managed a strong start, holding her position in the middle of the pack. As expected, Kyron immediately took the lead, flanked by two racers from the mafia gang, forming a protective formation.
The first section of the track was full of sharp turns and steep inclines. Lana maneuvered Phoenix Blaze carefully, avoiding collisions while maintaining her speed. But she couldn't ignore the pressure from the racers behind her, who were clearly trying to push her off the track.
One car approached aggressively, attempting to sideswipe Phoenix Blaze. Lana quickly turned the wheel, executing a defensive maneuver she'd learned during training with Rai. The other car missed her by inches, nearly veering off the track.
"You'll have to do better than that," Lana muttered, keeping her focus sharp.
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Sabotage in the Tunnel
As the racers entered the most challenging part of the track—a dark underground tunnel—something unexpected happened. The lights in the tunnel went out, plunging the racers into complete darkness.
"What the hell is this?!" one racer yelled over the radio.
But Lana remained calm. With the help of Phoenix Blaze's new infrared sensor system, she navigated the tunnel without issue. However, the darkness wasn't the only obstacle. Large boulders suddenly appeared on the track, as if deliberately placed there.
Kyron and the mafia racers sped through effortlessly, proving they were aware of the trap beforehand. Lana had to think fast, guiding her car through narrow gaps between the rocks.
"They're really trying to take us out," Lana thought grimly.
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An Unexpected Alliance
Amid the chaos, a local racer, Alex—who had previously been one of Lana's rivals—suddenly approached her.
"Lana, we can't take them down alone," he said over the radio. "I know I haven't always supported you, but this time, we need to work together."
Lana hesitated but eventually agreed. "Alright. What's the plan?"
"I'll distract them. Use the opening to overtake them," Alex said.
With remarkable courage, Alex charged toward Kyron and the mafia racers, throwing them off their rhythm. This gave Lana the chance to accelerate and climb to fifth place.
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A Dangerous Stunt on the Suspension Bridge
The most treacherous part of the track was a narrow, long suspension bridge. Strong winds made this section particularly perilous. Lana knew that even a small mistake could send her plummeting into the canyon below.
Kyron, leading the pack, seemed relaxed but deliberately slowed down, waiting for an opportunity to block her.
As Lana closed in, Kyron suddenly swerved to the right, cutting her off.
"This is your final lap, Lana," Kyron taunted over the radio.
But Lana wasn't about to give up. Using a drifting technique she had tirelessly practiced, she veered to the left, jumping over a cracked section of the bridge, and took third place.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
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Sabotage on the Final Lap
As the race entered its final lap, Kyron and his mafia allies unleashed their ultimate trick. They activated illegal devices on their cars to scatter spikes across the track.
Several racers skidded and spun out. Lana narrowly avoided the spikes, thanks to Phoenix Blaze's advanced system, which adjusted tire pressure to minimize damage.
Meanwhile, Alex, still trying to help, hit one of the traps and spun out of control.
"Lana… you have to finish this for us," he said over the radio before his car came to a halt.
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The Final Stretch
On the last turn, Lana was in second place, right behind Kyron. She knew this was her moment.
With a daring maneuver, she exploited a tiny gap on the inside lane, pushing Phoenix Blaze to its limits. Kyron tried to block her, but he was too slow.
Lana crossed the finish line just one second ahead of him.
The crowd went wild.
But before the celebration could begin, something strange happened. Kyron abruptly pulled his car to the side of the track and stepped out without a word. The mafia racers, who had dominated the race, suddenly vanished from the scene.
"What's going on?" Lana wondered, her mind racing.
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Chapter Ending
Standing on the podium, Lana accepted the victory trophy with trembling hands. She had overcome everything—sabotage, threats, and fear. But the victory felt hollow. Something was wrong.
In the background, she noticed Rai talking to a suspicious figure. The expression on Rai's face made it clear this wasn't an ordinary conversation.
"This isn't over," Lana thought, sensing that something much bigger was waiting for her.
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