"Can't shake her?"
"Why can't you shake her?!"
Chloe Qin glanced at the rearview mirror in disbelief.
She slammed a fist down on the control stick and roared hoarsely, "Blazing Wind, say something! I installed Modules specifically to counter her—why can't you lose her?!"
"I… I don't know…"
Blazing Wind was on the verge of tears.
She was already pushing herself to the limit.
Only Derek Su knew the real reason.
Because Imperial Scale's special skill had activated the moment the race began.
[Special Skill: Imperial Might — When a Mecha Girl is within 50 meters, designate the nearest one as the Judgment Target. If the opponent's speed exceeds DL-01's, DL-01 gains partial Acceleration attribute bonuses based on the difference in Acceleration attributes. If the opponent's speed is lower than DL-01's, no bonus is gained, and all control and collision effects from the opponent are negated…]
Chloe Qin couldn't see any of this.
But Derek Su could. On a radar-like screen in front of Imperial Scale's cockpit, Blazing Wind's 3D model was displayed. At that moment, a blood-red thorned halo encircled the projection, and above it hovered a majestic crimson greatsword.
Clearly, Blazing Wind had been designated as the Judgment Target.
Because Blazing Wind's Acceleration attribute was higher than Imperial Scale's, Imperial Scale received the skill bonus, raising her Acceleration to 82.5 (75+7.5).
Although still slightly lower than Blazing Wind's, Imperial Scale's exceptional off-road performance on sand meant her speed was no slower—if anything, she was a touch faster.
Chloe Qin threw everything she had into it, but after several consecutive turns, she still couldn't shake Imperial Scale. She was nearly losing her mind.
Blazing Wind trembled all over, terrified Chloe Qin might snap and do something reckless.
In fact, Chloe Qin had already steered Blazing Wind onto several unsafe routes.
Derek Su and Imperial Scale followed closely behind. If Blazing Wind could make it through, Imperial Scale certainly could.
Sand dunes and pits that Blazing Wind struggled with? Imperial Scale could clear them without hesitation.
Despair and fury wove themselves into a tightening web around Chloe Qin and Blazing Wind's hearts.
The pressure mounted. The air grew heavier.
...
"Aiyo, something's happened!"
Aiyo had been delivering an impassioned commentary.
The broadcast was currently focused on the first-place racer from the GPC Club.
Being interrupted mid-flow clearly annoyed him. He turned around with a dark expression. "What's wrong with you? If you don't give me a good reason, I'm docking your chicken leg! I was just getting into it—so fired up—and you cut me off? You killed my momentum!"
"Aiyo, it's serious!" the assistant said anxiously. "The weather station just issued a report—there's a tornado forming near the Maratela track. They're predicting it might pass through the fourth relay section… Should we suspend the race?"
Aiyo froze for a second.
Then his face lit up with excitement.
"Suspension? Suspend my foot! A tornado is great! This is a desert circuit—what are we racing if not extreme conditions? A tornado will truly test the Mecha Girls' performance, the drivers' skill, and their mental resilience!"
"But Aiyo, the safety risks—"
"No need to worry about safety!" Aiyo clenched his fist, voice rising passionately. "Are you questioning the medical and rescue teams contracted by our sponsors?"
He didn't let the assistant finish.
Turning back to the camera, he announced, "Viewers, I have one piece of good news and one piece of bad news! The bad news is that the weather station has detected a tornado forming in the Maratela Desert. The good news is—this tornado is very likely to sweep across the fourth relay section!"
"We'll inform the racers on the fourth section right away. I can't wait to see their reactions~"
A mischievous grin curled at the corner of his mouth.
A tornado is a powerful, localized vortex formed by intense atmospheric convection.
It typically lasts only a few minutes to several dozen minutes. It moves rapidly, never staying in one place, and its destructive force is immense.
When encountering such a natural disaster on the track, the safest option is usually to wait for it to pass—or take a detour.
But in racing, time is everything. Some drivers and Mecha Girls choose to charge straight into the tornado, attempting to break through the wind barrier.
There have always been brave challengers.
Yet many overestimate their own abilities and their Mecha Girl's performance. Once they rush into the tornado, they can't escape.
That said, as long as the driver remains inside the Mecha Girl's chassis, serious injury is unlikely.
Unless it's an especially violent tornado strong enough to lift a Mecha Girl into the air, most will simply be tossed around by the raging winds, unable to break free.
When the tornado weakens or dissipates naturally, they can be rescued.
...
[Attention all competitors!]
[A tornado is forming at coordinates 1735, 7632 in the 4th Relay Section of Maratela!]
[The tornado will move northwest, passing Observation Points 32 through 56!]
Many racers who had already cleared Observation Point 56 felt a chill run down their spines.
Despite the desert's low visibility, they could still faintly make out, under the moonlight, a funnel-shaped mass gradually taking form in the ink-dark dusk behind them.
At that moment, Derek Su and Chloe Qin were approaching Observation Point 32.
As the officials' warning sounded,
a massive funnel-shaped vortex had already formed over the track.
Unfortunately, they—and every racer behind them—would be forced to confront the tornado head-on.
No one knew how long it would linger over the course.
"Damn it! It had to show up now of all times!"
Chloe Qin's expression darkened as she drove Blazing Wind straight toward the tornado.
"Ahhh! Master, don't!"
"That's a tornado!!"
Blazing Wind's terrified screams were useless.
Fortunately, as they drew closer, Chloe Qin came to her senses. The terrifying wind pressure hit her like a wake-up call.
Blazing Wind was already being pushed off course by the gale. If they continued forward, they would absolutely be sucked into the vortex.
She simply wasn't a Mecha Girl capable of fighting a tornado.
So Chloe Qin made the decision to detour.
Even if it meant losing a great deal of time.
But Derek Su and Imperial Scale, who had been tailing them closely and were barely affected by the crosswinds, had other ideas.
Imperial Scale's front end suddenly cut hard from the side, blocking Blazing Wind's path.
Inside the cockpit, Chloe Qin lurched forward, nearly smashing her forehead against the control stick.
"Are you insane?! Move aside!"
She raised her head and glared at Derek Su through the window.
Their eyes met through the glass.
In Derek Su's gaze, she felt a blade-sharp coldness.
"Master, we have two choices."
Imperial Scale's voice remained calm and cool. Even as they drew closer to the tornado, her tone didn't waver.
"Choice one: Ignore Chloe Qin and Blazing Wind. Charge through the tornado and secure a better ranking."
"Choice two: Ram Chloe Qin and Blazing Wind into the tornado—let her learn the price of bullying Stella."
Derek Su lowered his eyes.
"If it were you, which would you choose?"
"I care deeply about the results of my first race…"
Imperial Scale lifted her head.
In the rearview mirror, her eyes were clearly visible—filled with killing intent.
Her red lips parted slightly.
She said calmly:
"But I choose the second one."
...
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