Elena stomped on the gas.
The Porsche shot forward in a launch start, hitting 40 km/h in just one second.
For most drivers, cracking 30 that quickly was already something to brag about.
She grinned, ready to savor the achievement—
but then, in her peripheral vision, a silver shadow flashed past, disappearing in a blur of dust.
"Shit! That's gotta be at least a hundred already!"
Startled, Elena squinted.
Sure enough—it was Leon's car.
The Silver Marauder's oversized retractable wing had deployed, custom-built for him.
It carried an old-school elegance, yet every curve served aerodynamic function.
At speeds over 100, the wing eased open like a fighter jet spreading its wings, ready for takeoff.
"My God… so fast!"
Within seconds, all she could see was the Brute's taillights.
Leon's drift through the next corner was effortless—his rear end swung wide, carving a perfect, fluid arc, more graceful than a dancer's movement.
She glanced down at her own gauges.
Her speed had already broken 100, climbing past 200.
And yet… she still couldn't reel him in.
The gap was only widening.
Soon, even his taillights would vanish.
Sweat dotted her forehead.
Now she finally understood why Leon had dared to challenge her.
With that kind of monstrous speed, losing to him was almost inevitable.
"How the hell is he even controlling that beast?"
Forced to slow down at the next bend, she flicked the wheel, throwing the Porsche into a drift.
But compared to Leon—she was worlds apart.
He hadn't even touched the brakes.
At most, he lifted off the throttle slightly, steering the Brute with surgical precision.
Perfect entry, perfect angle, perfect exit.
Not a single wasted motion.
The difference in skill was obvious.
"What a man…"
For the first time, excitement flickered in her eyes—an exhilarating sense of being conquered.
She had to admit it: with speed that overwhelming, paired with flawless control, the race's outcome was already decided.
She couldn't beat him head-on.
Her only chance—was a shortcut.
The outskirts were flat, weathered land, crisscrossed with rough dirt trails.
Cutting through them could shave the distance by more than half.
Clenching her teeth, Elena yanked the wheel as soon as she cleared the town.
The Porsche swung around and dove into the barren terrain, its tires biting into dry yellow clay.
Dust clouds erupted like a sandstorm, blotting out the sky and her view ahead.
"Damn it… what's in his engine? That sound—there's no way it's normal!"
The trail was brutally uneven.
She had to wrestle the steering wheel with both hands just to stay on course.
Still, curiosity gnawed at her—
what kind of powertrain was Leon hiding under that hood?
Jaw set, she floored it harder.
The Porsche roared, exhaust spitting waves of searing heat.
The smoke behind her thickened even more.
On the highway, Leon's Silver Marauder had already left her far behind.
Through the rearview mirror, he noticed the rising dust clouds.
He chuckled knowingly.
"So, she took the shortcut. Figures."
He didn't know the local terrain like she did—
but it didn't matter.
"Shortcuts are useless if the surface won't let you keep speed. She'll only waste time."
Sure, dirt roads could cut distance.
But for anyone in a rush, they were worse than worthless—
narrow, uneven, littered with bumps and holes.
The car would rattle like it was falling apart.
Fast? Not a chance.
Smiling, Leon downshifted manually, built up revs, then smashed through the gears again.
The Silver Marauder surged back to peak speed.
Its roar thundered out like a nuclear blast.
Nearby drivers flinched, thinking a missile had just detonated.
But when they checked their mirrors, all they saw was a streak of silver tearing past—
a blur that vanished like lightning.
In the blink of an eye, it was ahead.
Another blink, and it was gone, leaving them choking on dust.
"What the hell car was that?!"
"Too fast—way too fast!"
"Did we just see a ghost?"
"I swear I'm hallucinating…"
"Bullshit, I've never seen a car move like that! It had to be over 300 km/h!"
The Silver Marauder's speed caused an uproar.
Every driver stared at the direction it had disappeared, buzzing with disbelief.
To weave effortlessly through dense traffic at that velocity—
that wasn't just driving. That was artistry.
"Unbelievable! That's a god behind the wheel!"
"Damn it, I didn't get a photo!"
"My phone camera couldn't even lock on before it vanished."
"That's what real speed looks like!"
The frenzy had only just begun.