"Never know what to expect from this, but I have to say—this is just absolute peak," Rose murmured, eyes fixed on the forested simulation ahead, the hum of her car surrounding her like a heartbeat.
After selecting and customizing her vehicle, she now sat at the starting line of the high-tech track. Around her, thirteen other racers idled, their engines roaring like wild beasts restrained only by the starting lights.
[[Okay, girl. Since you were too excited to let us explain earlier, we'll give you the rundown while you're waiting for the start,]] Anabeth's voice crackled through the comms.
"Sorry about that," Rose chuckled sheepishly, recalling how she'd bolted ahead after just a brief check.
[[It's fine, just enjoy it. First off—this is a free-entry race,]] Anabeth continued. >[[Meaning, no stakes—except your pride.]]
[[In other words, it's an aura-farming competition,]] Leo's voice joined in, sharp and calm. >[[The track features twelve distinct curves and two straight lines—designed to push the unfamiliar past their limits.]]
"I see… so, play it smart and show your skills?" Rose asked.
[[Nope. That's for everyone else. Not you.]] Leo's voice held a note of mischief.
Rose blinked. "Wait, what?"
[[You want to build your own crew, don't you?]]
"Of course," she replied, her tone unshakable.
[[Then crush them.]] His words were a dare wrapped in a promise.
She let out a laugh, full of fire. "Yeah… that sounds exactly like you."
-----
On the other side of the starting line, a blood-red car with black-tinted windows sat in complete stillness. Inside, John Wick leaned forward, his hands gripping the wheel with the precision of a seasoned predator.
[[Greetings, John Wick… or should I say, johnaten Jovonovich.]] The voice over the comms slithered through the silence.
A bead of sweat trickled down John's temple. His instincts screamed at him; he knew that voice.
[[To think, the infamous Baba Yaga returns just for this? Hah. You're making me feel honored.]]
John scanned the track, eyes narrowing. The soft roar of the crowd overhead. The anticipation in the air. The impossibility of escape.
"So… a blocked end, just like I expected."
[[Oh? How so?]] Leo asked curiously.
"I may be desperate," John replied, thumb brushing over his ring, "but I'm not stupid. Earlier, maybe I wouldn't have noticed. But after spending a few days here… You're not just some rogue. You're beyond anything I've dealt with."
[[Then why not back out? Why race?]]
"Would you let me?"
[[What makes you think I wouldn't?]]
John glanced at the stands. "I've been here almost three days. Forget the engines, the races, the noise—what I saw in everyone here was joy. Peace."
"And I know for sure places like this dont keep this spark easily," john sighed in defeat.
His voice turned cold and wistful.
[[Then you earn your ticket out. and sence you work on contract]] Leo's voice hardened.
[[Here's your new contract, Finish in the top three, and you're permanently under the paradise protection. As a base offer—]] he paused. [[any condition are accibtable. and sence you won fair to get here, your wife healing will be done after the race.]]
John froze. His breath caught. But in that still moment, his purpose ignited like a flare in the dark.
Moments Later
Twenty-five cars aligned at the start line as a sleek black drone hovered overhead, its underside pulsing with three red lights.
[[Racers—status confirmation, please.]]
"Rose. White Lightning. Ready to go," she said, igniting her stabiliser with a new growling voice, laying over the original engine voice, creating exted smile on her face.
One by one, each racer responded. Engines screamed to life. Tension snapped through the air like charged wire.
[[On your marks…]]
The lights blinked yellow—one, two, three—then burst green. The race began, and with all the racere rolling the view around them change, sumilating a forest track trough hard ligh projection.
funny fact, the whole similation system come to exist when Leo got bored with the fix of view trough the race, and crazy enough took it to a whole other level.
Section 1 – Top Deck: Forest Simulation
Rose's car darted forward like a bullet. Hard-light trees whipped past, the road twisting with unpredictable turns. Two racers misjudged early corners—one clipped a barrier, the other lost control and spiraled off the edge.
In the base above the track, Leo's crew watched through wall-sized monitors.
Jack leaned forward, arms crossed. "That girl's got guts."
"Or no brakes," one of the triplets snorted.
Frost, silent as ever, nodded toward the screen. "She's not just driving. She's hunting. now that to be expected, i guess."
Leo grinned, arms folded. "Told you. She's not here to survive. She's here to take over."
Section 2 – Internal Caverns:
The racers plunged into the belly of the ship trow a dive interence. Dim lights. Tight turns. Jagged rock projections lit by glowing veins. The field began to thin—five more drivers fell to pressure or miscalculation.
John sliced through the darkness like a scalpel—methodical, lethal.
Rose pushed close behind. They passed inches apart in a deadly spiral, her reflection catching briefly in his window.
Section 3 – Submersed Tunnel: Deep Sea Simulation
Down beneath the waves, into a glowing, eerie tunnel. Vast sea creatures—holograms and motion-projected illusions—floated beyond the thick glass walls.
Two more drivers lost nerve and spun out in the disorienting, kaleidoscopic visuals. The tunnel belonged to the elite now.
Final Stretch:
The last curve shot them back up into the open air—straight into the final line.
John and Rose surged ahead—neck and neck.
Inside the viewing deck, Leo's crew stood frozen.
"Is she gonna make it?" one triplet whispered.
Jack scoffed. "She ain't slowing down. Neither is he."
Engines roared—metal screamed—
And Rose crossed the line first.
A fraction of a second ahead, rosey exhaled hard,
John pulled up beside her, sweat on his brow, breathing heavy. He didn't speak—but the look he gave her said it all.
Back in the viewing room, the base exploded into cheers.
"That was insane!" one of the triplets yelled.
Frost simply nodded "She's one of us now."
Leo smiled at his coment with nod of confirmation.