Race 11 – The Duel
Morning Calm
The sun barely touched the horizon, stretching long shadows across the winding track of Apepolis. Dust from early preparations clung to the edges of asphalt, swirling gently in the cool morning breeze. A faint scent of fuel and hot metal mixed with the earthy smell of the hills around the track. The stands were beginning to fill with malpas, tails flicking in excitement, ears upright. Every small vibration of engines being warmed carried across the grandstands and into the track.
Kaiyo sat beside Inferno, stretching claws along the leather grip of the wheel. Fur along his spine bristled lightly in anticipation. Tail coiled, tense, balancing his posture. The soft hum of the early engines carried to his ears, each one distinct—the low purr of a tuner, the grumble of raw power.
Tsuki crouched nearby, tail flicking nervously. "Everything's in order. Tires, engine, brakes… Inferno is perfect. But remember, that car ahead…" His voice trailed off, eyes on the plain white car in the distant grid, Drax's vehicle.
Mori-Mori's ears twitched. "Yeah… calm can be deadly. Watch for surprises."
Kaiyo didn't answer. His amber eyes were fixed on Inferno, feeling the tension coil like a spring beneath him. She knows what to do. I know what to do.
The Grid
Engines thrummed, a slow crescendo growing as each racer prepared for the start. Dust rose in tiny clouds from tires being rolled into position. Monkeys on the stands chattered, tails flicking, waving banners and jumping in excitement.
Drax's plain car stood apart. No flashy paint. No visible modifications. Just quiet, ominous presence. The driver's posture was relaxed yet confident, exuding arrogance. He didn't shout or fidget like the others. He simply observed.
Tsuki whispered, tail flicking. "He's… too calm. I don't like this."
Mori-Mori nodded nervously. "Yeah… calm and confident means he's planning something."
Kaiyo only narrowed his eyes. Doesn't matter. Inferno and I—we handle this.
The Start
The red lights above the track glowed. The engines purred, low hums rising into roars. The crowd's excitement built.
Green.
Inferno lunged forward, tires squealing. Engine roared, sending vibrations up into Kaiyo's legs, through his tail, along his spine. He leaned into the first corner, claws gripping, tail balancing every micro-adjustment. Fur along his back bristled.
The pack surged. Drax's plain car remained calm, almost lazy… until a deep mechanical growl split the air.
The Surge
Without warning, Drax unleashed the ultra engines. The roar shattered the morning calm. Inferno vibrated violently beneath Kaiyo. Dust rose, debris scattered. The asphalt seemed to tremble under the immense acceleration.
Tsuki's voice cracked over the comms: "Wait… where did he put those engines?!"
Mori-Mori's tail flicked nervously. "Impossible… he just—exploded forward!"
Kaiyo's claws dug into the wheel. "Inferno, now! Push!"
Inferno responded like a living creature, muscles straining, engine screaming. The world blurred: asphalt, dust, roar of engines, the smell of burning rubber mixing with sweat and fur.
Monkeys in the stands leaped, tails flicking, cheering loudly. The commentator's voice boomed over the roar:
"Unbelievable! The unknown driver has activated ultra engines! He surges ahead! But wait—look! Kaiyo and Inferno are right behind him! Neck-and-neck, ladies and gentlemen!"
Neck-and-Neck
By the next hairpin turn, Kaiyo had closed the gap. Wheels nearly touched. Eyes locked on Drax. No words, just the silent duel of two predators.
Kaiyo angled right, testing Drax's response. Drax shifted left, countering perfectly. Each feint met with a counter-feint. Their cars moved in deadly symmetry, like swords clashing mid-air.
Monkeys in the stands screamed, jumping, squealing, tails whipping in excitement. Dust clouds swirled. Sparks flew as tires scraped edges.
Inferno's vibrations fed directly into Kaiyo's senses—every hum, every vibration, every micro-shift of the tires. Drax remained calm, arrogant, precise. Every tiny movement seemed planned.
Sensory Overload
Engines roared. Tires screamed. Fur slicked with sweat. Claws flexed tightly. Tail coiled. Every corner became a negotiation with physics. Every straight a test of nerve. The air smelled of burnt rubber, fuel, sweat, and dust.
Kaiyo felt Inferno alive beneath him, responding to each thought, each adjustment. Drax's car remained unnervingly calm, calculating. His ultra engines hummed beneath the roar, precise and ready to strike at any micro-second.
Tsuki's voice trembled over comms: "Kaiyo… pressure him… but he's unreal!"
Mori-Mori muttered under his breath: "Where did he even fit all that power?!"
Lap by Lap
The duel continued. Neck-and-neck. Side-by-side. Nose-to-nose. Every shift, every corner, every lean mirrored the other.
Kaiyo nudged slightly right—Drax corrected left.
Drax leaned left—Kaiyo shifted to balance.
Sparks flew from almost-collisions. Tires shrieked. Dust swirled.
Other racers tried to exploit openings, weaving through. But Kaiyo and Drax ignored them, eyes locked in silent challenge.
The Turning Point
On a long straight, Drax surged. Ultra engines screamed. Inferno roared in response. Dust and small rocks flew. Asphalt trembled.
Kaiyo's tail coiled tighter. Fur bristled. "Inferno… now!"
They remained side-by-side for several corners. Every micro-adjustment critical. Every fraction of a second a duel of instincts, reflexes, and skill.
The crowd erupted. Monkeys cheered, jumped, tails flailing. Commentator yelled:
"They're still side-by-side! Neck-and-neck! Incredible control, skill, and nerve!"
Drax's parsk of confidence echoed, almost taunting. He pressed forward. Tires screamed. The gap opened slightly. Kaiyo leaned into Inferno, fighting for every centimeter, but Drax held advantage, weaving past other racers with ease.
No words exchanged. Only the roar of engines, dust clouds, adrenaline, locked eyes, and the silent acknowledgment of equal skill.
Kaiyo's heartbeat raced. Fur bristled, tail balanced every micro-shift, claws flexing. Each corner felt like a test of nerves, each straight a chance for victory or defeat.
Drax remained the perfect predator—arrogant, precise, calm, and dangerous.
Conclusion of Race 11
The lap ended, cars screaming past the grandstands. The duel had begun, neither side yielding. The crowd of malpas erupted in excitement, tails and arms waving wildly.
Kaiyo breathed heavily, fur slick with sweat. Inferno's engine purred, alive, responding to every twitch, every thought. Drax's figure in the plain car moved like a predator, arrogant and calm. The silent battle continued, eyes locked, anticipation and tension unbroken.
One thought burned in Kaiyo's mind:
Next lap… I will push harder. I will not let him control this duel.
End of Race 11
The sun climbed over the track. Engines roared, dust rose, and Inferno vibrated beneath Kaiyo. Drax's plain car moved with cold, arrogant precision.
Neck-and-neck, eyes locked, hearts racing—who will take the lead next?