Ethan almost got tossed out like a ragdoll. Seriously. He held onto the overhead handle like it was life itself. His eyes? Locked on Anya. Not blinking. Not even a twitch. He was… trying to read her. Like she was an open book with invisible ink.
"Damn, nice driving," he said, trying to sound chill. Total fail.
Anya just twisted the wheel with one hand, like her arm had a mind of its own. "I used to deliver tofu for my family," she muttered, like that explained everything.
"Mount Akina drift king?" Ethan couldn't help himself.
She glanced at him, cold. Eyes like winter in Kyoto. Didn't say a word after that. Focused. Laser. Probably saw him as a weak NPC.
And then—finally—he noticed. Blood. Everywhere. Head. Back. Arms. Coagulated and now... oozing again. The scent was brutal. Metallic. And wow, the car reeked.
"You…" Ethan's eyes flickered with some cold light.
"Relax, I can make it to the last lap." Anya thought he was worried she might crumble. Ha. Cute.
He frowned. Didn't say a word.
Third lap. Out of nowhere—a silver car screams in like a thunderbolt. I mean, not "fast," like insane, unreal, someone slapped a rocket on it. Over the majority of the pack, pushing to the front.
"No way! That's Master's car!"
"Did it just… move?"
"What kind of drift was that?!"
Jason and Chase glanced through the rearview. Silver blurring past like someone photoshopped reality.
They're thinking—obviously—"Ethan got some secret training, right? No other way. That's… next-level nuts."
Last lap. The most hype moment. Hearts probably in throats. First tier: Jason and Chase. Behind? Silver missile.
Inside the cabin, blood smell like… like rotten metal chewing your lungs. Anya's lips paler than almond milk. If he didn't know she's a living human, he'd swear he's riding shotgun with a ghost. Ghost-driver vibes, seriously.
Who even is she? Why on this mountain? And—look at her!—like she's been through a horror movie but the director's lazy. Questions swarmed Ethan's head. And yet, nada. Silent. Creepy. Observing.
One slight distraction. The car rockets forward. Speedometer's about to launch into orbit.
"Hold on!" Anya says.
He doesn't loosen grip. Can't. This woman's… she's breaking laws of physics. Maybe reality too.
Eyes squint. Gas pedal stomps down. Wheel jerks. And boom—silver streak vanishes hundreds of meters ahead.
Everyone gasps. "…Master? What…??"
Jason internally: "This dude is literally losing it. Can't even. I mean, wtf."
Mountain road. Insane speeds. One slip and—yeah, disaster. Probably would meme it as "nature's revenge on humans." Not naked, tho. Forget that thought.
Silver car darts through Jason and Chase's narrow gap. Sparks. Fireworks. Someone probably just cursed in Portuguese.
"Ethan, what the hell are you—?!"
"Don't drag us into your death spiral!"
They cursed. Tried moving. Too late. Way too late.
Ethan yanks out earpiece. Tosses it. Noise? Meh.
Anya? Calm. Like she's sipping tea in a hurricane. He… trusts her? Honestly, wtf. Hands stay glued to the handles.
Everyone thought crash imminent. Surprise. Car flips slightly. Swerves. Clean pass. Sparks fly. One of those cinematic "stop-and-stare" moments.
Lands. Wobbles. Rear swings past mountain bend. Did someone even check physics? Nope. Doesn't matter.
By the time mortals noticed, finish line hit. Silver bullet stopped. Mic drop.
Jason almost swore. This is insane. Thought lives were over. Nope. Everyone still alive. Bonus: adrenaline overdose.
Ethan still processing. Kind of wants to rewind and watch that again.
"Victory," Anya mutters. Energy and sanity hitting… limit.
Horn blares. Anya's head smacks the wheel. Faints. Classic.
He yanks seatbelt. Opens door.
Finish line crew? Ready to cheer. Wait—Master? Just strolls out from passenger seat. Casual flex.
Before anyone reacts, Ethan storms to driver's side, lifts a bloodied woman. Seriously, she's a mess. And… delicate? Mind blown.
"Master," Luke rushes.
"Call Roya. Violet Garden. Now. Seriously." Ethan orders.
"Yes," Luke murmurs, glancing at the human-shaped alarm clock in Ethan's arms.
Meanwhile, racing mob hits the line. Jason and Chase hop out. They wanna interrogate, but—wait. Blood. Uniform. Girl. Dripping. Mind you, that uniform? Purple Star Academy.
Before anyone processes, Ethan carries her inside. Luke driving. Gas pedal stomped. Rearview only. Vanishing tail.
"What…?" Jason squints.
"You see, boss, that girl… in Master's car. When finished, she was in the driver's seat." Someone whispers like their life depends on it.
Shocked. Driver? That girl? WTF?
Chase: hands in pockets. Smirk. "Pull the mountain cam. I gotta see where she… popped out from."
Anya still half-blind. Medicinal smell. Relief. Promise kept.
Injuries? If she skips treatment, kaboom, body fails. Rebirth? Doesn't help.
Consciousness slowly returning. Eyes? Can't open. Limbs? Nope.
Two other people breathing. Can sense. Always knew. Survival instinct, honed long ago.
Oh, also, the road looked like… hell, I dunno, like someone tried to pave a war.