"Dear audience, I'm sure you've all been dazzled by that thrilling battle just now—but let's not forget, this is still a car race!"
"And now, the long-awaited moment is finally here! After a series of breathtaking competitions, our champion has emerged! Representing the pride of Hell's Kitchen—Team Pietro! From the very beginning, they held onto first place, and now they've secured it completely!"
"Let's offer our warmest applause and cheers to them! Not only will they receive the massive grand prize of 2 million U.S. dollars, but also a special reward from none other than the Lord of Hell's Kitchen himself—Alex Ray!"
The crowd in Hell's Kitchen exploded into a frenzy of celebration. Cheers shook the stadium, weapons were waved wildly in the air, and the energy of the crowd was enough to nearly tear the arena apart.
"Well done, Pietro! You're our heroes! You brought this glorious win home to Hell's Kitchen—we're so proud of you!"
"Hah, finally completed my sister's mission," Pietro muttered to himself with relief. He knew full well that if he hadn't taken first place, Wanda would have scolded him all the way home. He'd even prepared a contingency plan: if necessary, he would've used his mutant powers to lift the entire car across the finish line.
"But this lightning ability really is something else," Pietro thought smugly, his lips curling slightly into a grin. Unseen by the crowd, he had been secretly tapping into his Thunder Fruit power to enhance the car's speed. It was a hidden advantage, but the defining factor behind their victory.
Far from the track, in the VIP section of the audience, Wanda stood smiling brightly as she watched Pietro and his co-driver Domino stand atop the podium. She knew how much effort her brother had put in for this win—and now, she could finally redeem the prize promised by Alex Ray.
"Where should we go for our date? Disneyland? Universal Studios?" Wanda mused dreamily. She was still a young woman in her twenties, after all—romance and fantasy were very much part of her world.
But in truth, she didn't care where they went. As long as Alex Ray was there, it was destined to be a date she'd never forget.
"And now, closing in behind them—we have our runner-up!" the host's voice boomed across the arena.
"He is Takumi Fujiwara from the legendary Fujiwara Tofu Shop! This young driver captured the hearts and admiration of countless fans with his unique drifting style and the iconic AE86. Though he didn't seize the top spot, he's carved his name into racing history tonight!"
The crowd responded with roaring applause. While he didn't clinch the championship, Takumi's performance was undeniably unforgettable.
"That AE86 is insane! I'm definitely buying one when I get home!"
"Pfft, forget that. If I'm buying, it's a Benz or nothing."
"Girls these days would rather cry in a Mercedes than laugh in an AE86. You can see it right there in Takumi's passenger seat."
Inside the car, Ashu was practically bouncing in excitement, violently shaking Takumi by the shoulders.
"We got second place, Takumi! Second place! That's a million bucks! You're insane, man! You did it!"
Takumi sat behind the wheel in stunned silence. He couldn't quite process it—second place?
His fingers curled around the steering wheel, and his gaze drifted toward Pietro's team on the podium, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Next time," he vowed silently, "I'll take first."
This race was a carnival—some celebrated in triumph, others fumed in defeat.
"Damn it! How the hell did I only get fourth place?!" Dominic Toretto roared, his face stormy with rage. His eyes locked on two bald silhouettes in front of him, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened.
"It had to be them! Those two cueballs must've sabotaged me! If it weren't for them, I would've taken first for sure! That bastard Alex Ray rigged this whole thing! No way he'd let me beat his pets!"
Dominic's voice echoed through the arena, twisted with venom and fury.
He couldn't believe it— . And even worse, none of the other teams from his family managed to make it to the podium. In his mind, this could only be the result of a conspiracy orchestrated by Alex Ray and the people of Hell's Kitchen.
His pride refused to accept the loss. With all the horsepower his crew brought, how could he have been so thoroughly crushed?
"This was a setup… they joined forces to block me. That damn landlord of Hell's Kitchen sold us out."
From his elevated perch, Alex Ray felt the heat of Dominic's hateful glare and furrowed his brow. With a subtle twitch of his mental abilities, he skimmed Dominic's surface thoughts, his expression shifting into one of dry amusement.
"How could I possibly cheat?" Alex thought wryly. "I've been nothing but a mascot this entire time. This guy's just making me the scapegoat for his own lousy performance."
The truth was obvious to him: Dominic had lost because his team lacked the strength—and the luck. Shaking his head, Alex let out a breathless sigh.
"If you're just a rookie, then train harder. Can't even beat Takumi? Your skills are barely street level."
He wasn't bothered by Dominic's bitterness. He knew men like Dom. They'd always look for someone else to blame—and eventually, they'd lash out.
But Hell's Kitchen wasn't the same gang-infested neighborhood Dominic remembered. It had evolved. The people here had firepower, strength, and loyalty. Anyone foolish enough to mess with them would be met with swift and brutal retaliation.
Still, Dominic wasn't finished scheming.
Since he couldn't win the prize, he had to find another way to gear up. During the race, he'd noticed how well-armed many Hell's Kitchen residents were—stockpiles of weapons and advanced tech in every corner.
"I'll just pick a few targets," he thought, eyes gleaming with dangerous intent. "Break in, grab what I need, and disappear. No big deal."
He couldn't have been more wrong.
Hell's Kitchen had changed. The people here weren't sheep—they were warriors, vigilantes, mutants, assassins. They lived by their own code, their own laws. And if someone came looking for trouble, they'd respond with deadly force.
But Dominic didn't know that yet. All he saw were targets. And all he felt was rage.
And so, with revenge in his heart and a plan in his mind, he made his decision—one that would drag him deeper into a world he didn't understand, against people he had no business crossing.
Hell's Kitchen was ready for him.
But he sure as hell wasn't ready for Hell's Kitchen.
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Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones
2nd Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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