The ramp section of the Greenfield Advancement Race remained extremely wide, giving both drivers and Mecha Girls plenty of room to maneuver. However, the ramps themselves differed in angle. Retaining walls split the course into three lanes: the leftmost ramp had the steepest incline, producing the highest jump. After landing, the Mecha Girl would enter an electromagnetic rebound zone, gaining a burst of braking-assisted acceleration. The middle ramp had a moderate incline, while the rightmost ramp was the gentlest.
In theory, choosing the ramp with the smallest angle would result in the least speed loss.
But the Greenfield Advancement Race organizers would never allow a low-risk, high-reward option to exist.
As a result, electromagnetic braking zones were installed after each ramp.
The left lane's braking zone was the longest and provided the strongest electromagnetic thrust. The middle lane was moderate, while the right lane had no electromagnetic braking zone at all. Choosing the left ramp meant embracing danger and the risk of losing control, so most racers opted for the middle or right lanes, prioritizing stability. After all, the most difficult part of the Greenfield Advancement Race came at the very end—there was no need to make things harder for themselves and their Mecha Girls early on.
Laiya An and Dawnbreak had always trained using the ramp angle of the middle lane.
In reality, very few competitors chose the middle ramp. Ninety percent went for the right lane, preferring to give up the electromagnetic braking zone in exchange for lower risk of instability and reduced wear. This section primarily tested a Mecha Girl's Stability.
In this race, Laiya An confidently guided Dawnbreak straight toward the middle ramp.
Just as she assumed Derek Su and Stella would continue following, the ghostly silver phantom that had been clinging to her rearview mirror suddenly vanished.
"Master, they… they went left!"
Dawnbreak's incredulous voice rang out.
Since the Greenfield Advancement Race was first established, only a handful of competitors had ever chosen the left ramp and completed the entire course.
This race was the final Greenfield Advancement Race of the year.
Yet even now, no one had successfully chosen the left ramp lane and finished the full course.
So when Derek Su and Stella made that decision, Dawnbreak's first thought was that they had gone mad with their desire to win.
Laiya An pressed her lips together. Their choice was undeniably reckless, but it also filled her with a sense of unease. For ordinary drivers and Mecha Girls, such a decision would be nothing short of madness. But that was the "Magician"—the man who had pushed global driving techniques forward. Would he really make an overconfident mistake?
There was only one explanation: absolute confidence.
Even so, confidence didn't always prevent accidents.
The left lane was still far too dangerous.
Taimei was already shouting excitedly from the helicopter:
"My god, what am I seeing?! The King of Knox has chosen the leftmost, highest-difficulty lane! Is this a pride-fueled gamble, or supreme confidence? If Derek Su and Stella can clear the left lane and finish the entire course, they'll become the only pair this year to conquer the Greenfield Advancement Race's Hell Difficulty Challenge!"
Once the left lane was chosen, there was no turning back.
This lane would carry them all the way to the river at the finish line.
At that moment, Derek Su and Stella roared as they charged onto the first ramp.
There was no turning back once the arrow left the bow.
"Stella, prepare for takeoff!"
"Awoo~ Received! Pineapple Charge!"
Boom—!
Stella's tires slammed into the ramp.
With a sharp clack, the entire chassis launched into the air at high speed.
The cameras locked onto Stella as she soared.
All eyes were fixed on the giant screen.
Because of the steeper incline of the left ramp, Stella's jump was noticeably higher than Dawnbreak's on the middle lane—over a full meter higher. While airborne, Derek Su even had time to lean out of the window and whistle at Laiya An and Dawnbreak.
He quickly pulled his head back in.
Adjusting the landing angle, he floored the throttle, the chassis tilting slightly.
Dawnbreak landed first on the adjacent lane. Under the electromagnetic rebound braking, she instantly pulled away from Stella.
Derek Su and Stella landed moments later. At the instant of touchdown, Derek tapped the brakes once, then immediately released them, slamming the throttle down again to gradually restore traction. At the same time, he corrected the steering to maintain balance. Stella traced a slight Z-shaped sway along the track, dissipating most of the impact and inertia through this controlled rhythm.
Then Stella entered a fifty-meter electromagnetic acceleration zone.
The instant she exited it, all the stored momentum erupted.
"Boom—!"
Stella's speed was shoved past 600 km/h. Like a shell fired from a cannon, she blasted forward and overtook Dawnbreak in the blink of an eye.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Derek Su and Stella have landed successfully! I dare say that was the most beautiful jump we've seen!"
"Camera crew, cut that clip right now—I want it in the Greenfield Advancement Race highlight reel!"
The stands erupted in thunderous cheers.
Purple Lightning stared blankly at Stella's rapidly shrinking figure, accidentally jamming a piece of dried pineapple straight into his nostril.
...
After the first ramp came a straight stretch and a gentle curve, leading toward the next jump.
Through the reinforced glass wall beside the track, Laiya An and Dawnbreak could see Derek Su and Stella racing ahead like a blur.
Even so, on the long straight, Dawnbreak was still slowly closing the gap thanks to her superior acceleration.
But neither of them felt at ease.
"Master, they pulled it off. Perfect jump, perfect landing—no loss of control, no collision with the glass wall, and no… falling apart."
"I know…" Laiya An replied, her face pale. "As expected of the Magician. We underestimated him. His coordination with Stella is flawless. They've probably practiced this ramp angle countless times."
Silence filled the cockpit for a moment.
Staring at the rapidly approaching next ramp, Dawnbreak spoke through clenched teeth.
"Use the skill, Master."
"Now? But we—"
"Master, you understand, don't you?" Dawnbreak's voice dropped low. "The distance between each ramp is fixed. We barely caught up before the second ramp. That means the more ramps we clear, the wider the gap will grow—until we can't close it at all."
"Dawnbreak, winning or losing the Greenfield Advancement Race doesn't matter," Laiya An said quickly, trying to calm her. "We just need to place in the top ten. Save your skill for Panlong Mountain—it'll be our trump card."
"But, Master… I've never lost on a straight."
Dawnbreak tilted her head slightly, her crimson bangs casting a shadow over her eyes.
Laiya An saw the deep obsession burning in her gaze.
In that moment, she realized that for Dawnbreak, the Greenfield Advancement Race was no longer just an advancement race.
She was a top-tier Mecha Girl born with a special ability—someone with the potential to stand among the world's elite.
Yet now, she was about to lose on her strongest terrain to an ordinary Mecha Girl. How could she possibly accept that?
It would haunt her for the rest of her life.
"…Alright. We won't hold anything back."
Laiya An nodded heavily. If Dawnbreak wanted to win, then she would let her win.
Strategies, tactics—none of it mattered anymore. If necessary, she would claim victory through sheer, overwhelming power.
They charged up the ramp, soared, and landed. The silver phantom surged up beside them once more at terrifying speed and effortlessly overtook them. Just as Dawnbreak had predicted, the gap widened even further—but there was no fear left in their eyes, only surging momentum.
"Now!" Laiya An roared.
Dawnbreak raised her head.
Crimson light flared in her eyes.
The engine shrieked like the cries of countless birds. A faint red aura enveloped the chassis, trailing streams of luminous afterimages behind her.
"[Extreme Stance]—Activate!"
"Let you see… the fully unleashed version of me!!!"