The Speed Of The Stars

As night blanketed the mountain pass, the Sky Lounge buzzed with anticipation. The parking area, now illuminated by scattered lights and the glow of countless headlights, was packed to capacity. Former opponents, loyal fans, and curious spectators crowded the lot, their chatter blending into a cacophony of excitement. The tension was palpable—it was the final night, the last showdown for Team Speed Stars.

At the edge of the viewing deck, Lumine, Aether, Stelle, and Caelus stood overlooking the parking area, the energy below infectious.

Aether leaned over the railing, his eyes wide with awe. "Wow. It looks like Team Speed Stars has more supporters than we ever imagined."

Caelus nodded, gesturing toward the cars below. "No kidding. Some of these folks? I've seen their posts all over social media."

Stelle rubbed her hands together, her voice quieter than usual. "I've never seen a turnout like this. Not for any final race."

Lumine crossed her arms, her expression shadowed by mild annoyance as she turned to her silver-haired companion. "Isn't it obvious, Stelle?"

Stelle blinked, confused. "What's obvious?"

Lumine sighed and facepalmed dramatically. "You're supposed to be the fastest uphill racer here, and yet you're so clueless sometimes."

Stelle's brow furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means, Stelle," Lumine shot back, her tone laced with exasperation, "that everyone is here to witness history. Team Speed Stars is racing for the last time tonight. They've earned this support."

Before Stelle could respond, the sound of an engine roaring up the pass interrupted them. The distinctive growl of a supercharged Lampredi Twin Cam engine echoed through the mountains, followed by the crisp, raspy harmony of individual throttle bodies.

March, standing near the crowd below, turned her head toward the road and shouted, "They're here!"

All eyes turned to the uphill road as the unmistakable silhouette of Clorinde's Martini-liveried Lancia Rally 037 emerged from the shadows, its headlights piercing the night. Her hand waved out of the small Lexan window as she rolled into the lot, her presence commanding immediate attention. Right behind her, Collei's iconic AE86 followed, its pop-up headlights illuminating the path ahead. Collei waved enthusiastically from her rolled-down window, a bright smile visible even from a distance.

Cheers erupted from the crowd, a thunderous reception that surrounded the two cars as they carefully navigated through the sea of people. Fans and former rivals surged forward, eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary duo.

Inside the lead support van, Keqing peered out of the passenger window, her eyes wide with astonishment. "Holy shit," she muttered, her voice barely audible over the noise. "Look how many people actually showed up."

Ningguang, sitting beside her, nodded with a satisfied smirk. "No kidding. It seems even our old opponents couldn't resist coming out to witness this spectacle."

The convoy finally carved a path through the crowd, pulling into an open space at the center of the lot. The Lancia and AE86 parked side by side, their hoods angled slightly inward like two warriors preparing for battle. The support vans settled in a line just ahead of them, completing the formation.

Clorinde stepped out of her car, taking a moment to soak in the electric atmosphere. She turned to Collei, who had just exited her AE86, and gestured toward the crowd.

"Looks like half the nation came to cheer us on, huh?" Clorinde said with a smirk.

Collei nodded, scanning the faces in the crowd. "No kidding. I recognize almost everyone here. It's overwhelming."

Clorinde chuckled, squinting as her gaze swept over the lot. Her smile briefly faded. "Good thing Blade didn't show up."

Collei sighed, placing a hand on her hip. "After what happened to your Lancia, there'd be a brawl the second you spotted him."

Clorinde smirked again, her focus shifting to the task ahead. "Well, he's not here. Let's focus on what matters."

The crowd began to disperse, moving to strategic vantage points along the course to watch the night's battles. Lumine, Stelle, Caelus, and Aether approached Ningguang and Keqing near the vans to finalize the race setup.

Keqing addressed them first. "Alright, we'd like to start with the uphill run. Since you're the locals, you can decide the starting order."

Stelle glanced at Lumine and Aether, then back to Keqing. "I'd like to lead if that's alright."

Keqing nodded briskly. "It's settled, then." She turned and shouted toward Clorinde, who was standing by her Lancia. "Hey, Clorinde! You're chasing! Line up at the starting line, stat!"

Clorinde gave a thumbs-up. "Got it!"

Before heading to her car, Clorinde turned to Collei. The two exchanged a firm handshake, their eyes locking in mutual respect.

"Go get them, Walter Röhrl," Collei teased, a mischievous grin on her face.

Clorinde laughed heartily. "You got it!"

She climbed into her Lancia, the cockpit familiar yet exhilarating. She tightened her harness, adjusted the straps, and inserted the key. The supercharged Lampredi engine roared to life with a deep, throaty growl that reverberated through the mountains.

Stelle's Supra exited the lot first, its taillights glowing like beacons as it disappeared down Autake Pass to prepare for the uphill. Clorinde followed closely, her Lancia gliding after the Supra with precision. Behind her, Support Van #1 trailed at a safe distance, ready to assist if needed.

Collei leaned against her AE86, her gaze fixed on the retreating taillights. The weight of the night's importance settled on her shoulders, but her lips curled into a determined smile.

"Give them hell, Clorinde," she whispered.

Later on. At the bottom of Autake Pass was alive with the roar of engines, the faint hum of crickets drowned by the visceral sound of horsepower unleashed. The crowd along the course waited in bated anticipation as Clorinde's Lancia Rally 037 and Stelle's GR Supra lined up for what promised to be an unforgettable battle.

Stelle extended her hand toward Clorinde, her voice steady. "Name's Stelle," she introduced herself confidently.

Clorinde took her hand with a firm grip, her stoic expression betraying no emotion. "Clorinde of Team Speed Stars," she replied simply.

With the handshake exchanged, both racers returned to their cars. For a moment, there was nothing but silence in Clorinde's cockpit, save for the rhythmic beating of her heart. She closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath.

"Bring it home, Clorinde. Show her who owns this uphill sector," she whispered to herself. Her eyes opened, steely determination shining in them.

Her hand gripped the gear lever tightly. "Let's do this... the Group B way. Flat out."

The Lancia's engine snarled to life as Clorinde revved it hard, its supercharger's whine cutting through the cool mountain air. Stelle, sitting in her Supra, glanced in her rearview mirror, her confidence faltering for a brief moment.

"No way a Group B rally car can keep up with my Supra. Not stock, anyway," she muttered, steeling herself for the challenge ahead.

Keqing stepped forward, raising her hand high as both cars idled menacingly at the starting line.

"FIVE!"

"FOUR!"

"THREE!"

"TWO!"

"ONE!"

"GO!"

Keqing dropped her hand, and the race exploded to life. Tires screeched against asphalt as both cars launched off the line, rear wheels spinning for traction. The Supra surged forward with its turbocharged power, but the Lancia wasn't far behind, its raw, old-school aggression refusing to yield.

The two cars rocketed down a short straightaway, swiftly navigating the initial right-hand corner. A slight right curve followed, their taillights glowing fiercely against the darkened road. The first major hairpin loomed ahead, where March, Beidou, Amber, Seele, and Pela watched with eager anticipation.

The sound of Stelle's Supra's turbo spool filled the air, but it was overpowered by the Lancia's signature supercharger whine, a banshee's scream that sent chills down the spines of the spectators.

Amber leaned over the railing, her voice breaking the tense silence. "Here they come!"

Both cars braked hard into the hairpin, Stelle's Supra gripping the turn cleanly. But Clorinde's Lancia stole the show, performing a textbook no-countersteer four-wheel drift—a daring maneuver for an MR-layout car. The crowd collectively gasped as she executed it flawlessly, exiting the corner mere inches from the Supra's rear bumper.

March's jaw dropped. "Holy shit! That Lancia is flying!"

Seele nodded, her voice tinged with awe. "A no-countersteer four-wheel drift... in an MR car? That's insane!"

Beidou crossed her arms, grinning. "She's come a long way. Makes you wonder what Collei's got in store for her run."

Amber raised her fists in the air, her energy infectious. "I can't wait to see her race!"

The race continued at breakneck speed, the two cars darting through a series of bends and straights. Clorinde's sharp focus never wavered, her hands and feet working in perfect harmony.

"What's going on? She's losing focus," Clorinde muttered, noticing slight errors in Stelle's lines.

Inside the Supra, Stelle clenched the steering wheel tightly, her voice strained. "Maintain focus, Stelle. The team's reputation is on the line."

She took a deep breath, downshifting from fourth to third as she powered out of a turn. The Supra lurched forward slightly, finding new momentum.

Clorinde smirked, sensing the change in pace. "Now you're talking," she murmured, her foot slamming the accelerator to the floor. The Lancia surged forward, its raw power closing the gap even further.

The two cars approached a right-hand turn with a center island, Stelle taking the outermost line. Clorinde seized the opportunity, diving into the innermost line with precision.

The crowd at the turn erupted as the Lancia shot ahead, its tighter line allowing Clorinde to overtake Stelle cleanly.

Inside the Supra, Stelle slammed her hand against the steering wheel. "Damn it! Come on, Stelle!"

Her eyes narrowed, a fire igniting in her gaze. "Catch her and take back the lead!"

Back in the Lancia, Clorinde glanced briefly at her rearview mirror, her smirk widening. "Nice. That was simple enough. Now I just have to outrun her."

The race wasn't over, and Clorinde knew it. Her hands gripped the wheel tighter as she prepared for the next challenge—a sharp left-hand turn looming just ahead. The stakes were high, and neither racer was willing to back down.

At The Summit. Collei stands beside Ningguang, awaiting the race to be finished.

Ningguang makes the first move to speak. "Collei. I'm pretty sure you're aware of who you're racing against, right?"

Collei nods. "No need to tell me. I know I'm racing the NSX."

Ningguang nods, a knowing smile forming on her lips. "And you know about its weaknesses, right?"

Collei nods again. "Yes."

Collei then explains with confidence. "Unlike in an FR or an RR, an MR has its engine in the middle. Perfect for weight distribution and acceleration because its weight is distributed evenly between the axles. It's similar to Clorinde's Lancia 037. But the catch, of course, is the snap oversteer. Drive it too aggressively, and the thing could spin out on you in the blink of an eye."

Ningguang's eyes widen slightly. "Damn. Didn't know you had that in you."

Collei smirks, her expression unwavering. "Been self-teaching myself."

Ningguang nods thoughtfully. "So tell me, what are your thoughts on the uphill race?"

Collei looks toward the road, her gaze intense. "Clorinde has the advantage... The GR Supra is a great car. Especially considering she has the 6-speed manual in it. But in reality, it's just a BMW Z4 underneath. So, of course, the factor you'll have to consider is weight. The Lancia weighs as much as my Eight-Six, but the GR Supra weighs twice as much as the Lancia. When it comes to accelerating out of a corner, the Lancia excels. Pair that with its perfect 50/50 balance and reactive handling, and you've got a machine built for rally—like what Walter Röhrl said. A rally formula car."

Ningguang listens attentively, nodding slowly. She looks away slightly, a proud smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"She's changed. She knows more about the technical details. I'm very proud to see that. Never in a million years would I have imagined her saying those words," she mutters to herself, a sense of nostalgia and admiration washing over her.

She then glances to Collei "She's one Special kid. So much Life and so much future in her."

Back in the race, they have reached the halfway point. They race through a wide left-hand hairpin, the Lancia refusing to back down as Stelle fights tooth and nail to pass Clorinde and reclaim the lead.

Clorinde glances at her rearview mirror, smirking confidently. "I know you're trying to pass me. But after the right-hand hairpin, I won't hold you back anymore."

Stelle's grip on her steering wheel tightens. "I need to pass. I'm not backing down!"

As Stelle slams her foot harder on the gas, Clorinde suddenly slams on her brakes. This catches Stelle off guard, forcing her to swiftly shift from the gas to the brakes. She nearly rear-ends Clorinde, and the sudden shift sends her into a vicious understeer into the right-hand hairpin. As Stelle manages to regain control, Clorinde's Lancia rockets forward, leaving a trail of glowing lights behind. Stelle speeds out of the hairpin, but Clorinde's Lancia is already one car length ahead and quickly increasing the gap.

Stelle's eyes widen in frustration. "She's picking up the pace!"

Indeed, Clorinde has picked up the pace. The Lancia, with its sheer lightness and 350 horsepower, seems to accelerate faster and faster, leaving Stelle trailing behind. If the gap continues to widen, the race will be decided purely on distance between the two cars.

Stelle slams her foot down hard again on the gas. "I'm not out of this yet!"

She races through a slight left followed by a medium right, but the gap to Clorinde's Lancia isn't shrinking. If anything, it's increasing further and further. The Lancia 037's light weight combined with its powerful engine makes its acceleration vastly superior to the Supra's.

Suddenly, Clorinde's Lancia emits a vibrant aura—sky blue, dark blue, and red, the iconic colors of the Martini livery. The car's vibrant spirit seems to come alive as it streaks into the sharp left-hand hairpin, disappearing in a blur. By the time Stelle approaches the sharp left-hand hairpin, it's already clear the race has been decided. The gap between them had gone from two car lengths when they entered the hairpin to four car lengths when they exited.

Stelle's heart sinks. "The race… it's over."

Clorinde had pulled ahead, out of reach. The Lancia's sheer precision, speed, and lightweight had proven too much to overcome.

Clorinde crosses the finish line with ease, leaving Stelle in her wake. The Final Uphill Battle for Team Speed Stars has been claimed by Clorinde.

The uphill races are over, but the final downhill race is yet to begin.