"The first tier has passed the fifteenth checkpoint, the second just cleared the fourteenth checkpoint, and the third is closely following the second! Amber—Amber has overtaken the second tier, sprinting toward the first!"
"Her speed is incredible! She's maxed out on eight wind rings this phase, pushing her velocity to the limit! At this rate... three, two, one! She's overtaken Stanley and Nicola in the first echelon! Wait! What's that?!"
"Shen Qin is accelerating madly! He's surpassed the third... the second... the first! and... Amber! He's reclaimed his crown! But Amber isn't giving up—she's pushing her speed even further! Never giving up her throne to the underdog"
"Now, the competitors are split into four echelons, with Shen Qin and Amber in a league of their own, pulling away significantly from the rest of the pack."
"Huh? It seems there's trouble in the second echelon—it's Stanley! He's landed on a rooftop. What's he doing? Oh—he seems exhausted and is leaning against a wall to rest!"
"Seeing this, I can't help but feel a little emotional. Last year, despite finishing as runner-up in the flying competition, Stanley already showed signs of struggle. I honestly thought he'd retire this year—but he didn't!"
"Moreover, his performance in the first half of the race was stellar, making him a strong contender for the championship. But with age catching up, stamina inevitably becomes an issue. His disadvantage has become more apparent in the latter stages."
Liben narrated emotionally, and the audience fell silent. Although many couldn't see Stanley resting on the rooftop, Liben's description allowed them to vividly imagine the poignant scene of a hero at dusk.
"S-S-Stanley! You can do it"
Suddenly, someone shouted from the crowd.
"Stanley!"
"Stanley!"
The chant spread, echoing throughout Mondstadt. Gasping for breath, Stanley heard the city calling his name, and his vision blurred.
"Stanley... Stanley... I won't disgrace your name." he muttered, gritting his teeth before leaping off the rooftop, unfurling his wind glider once more.
"Stanley is back in the air! He's now in the third echelon but accelerating! He's closing the gap with Nicola in the second echelon—albeit slowly. Can he overtake Nicola to claim third place before the race ends?"
Liben no longer believed anyone could catch up to Shen Qin and Amber. They had already passed the twenty-first checkpoint, while Nicola in third place had just reached the twentieth. Barring any accidents, the championship and runner-up positions seemed locked in.
However, the leading Shen Qin was struggling. His speed had already reached a blistering 60 kilometers per hour, yet Amber clung to his tail. For a regular person with only temporary training, this was his limit. Any faster, and he risked losing control of his hoverboard.
Stability systems could only do so much; ultimately, it was human skill that controlled the board.
Checkpoint twenty-two, checkpoint twenty-three—approaching checkpoint twenty-four!
Suddenly, amidst the tense moment, Shen Qin heard Liben's startled exclamation: "What's happening to Amber?! She seems to have lost her balance!"
He turned instinctively and saw one side of Amber's wind glider collapse. She was struggling to stabilize herself but continued to spiral downward!
At this height and speed, a crash could be catastrophic...
Without hesitation, Shen Qin whipped his board around and dove to save her.
'Faster! Faster!' His speed surged to 80 kilometers per hour, but saving her was all that mattered now.
Amber was plummeting. Shen Qin's rescue attempt unfolded within seconds, and spectators clenched their fists, hanging onto Liben's live updates.
"Shen Qin reaches for Amber but misses! This is bad news—her spinning is getting faster, and the longer it takes, the harder it will be to rescue her!"
"His second attempt—failed! He nearly lost control himself, almost crashing into a rooftop! He's not giving up. He dives straight into her! He's got her! Shen Qin has caught Amber!"
Pain shot through Shen Qin as he cradled Amber with his body. Several areas of his body throbbed intensely, particularly his right forearm, which felt like it might be fractured.
"Are you okay?!" Amber asked, worry etched on her face as she noticed his grimace.
"Just a minor issue. No time to talk—hold tight!" Shen Qin, gritting his teeth against the pain, piloted his board upward and rejoined the track.
Their reappearance sparked a roar of applause from the crowd.
The drama of a hero saving a damsel in distress never failed to captivate hearts, did it?
Stanley and Nicola, piloting their wind gliders, whizzed past them but stopped at the twenty-fourth checkpoint. Turning back, they watched Shen Qin.
Surprised, Shen Qin smiled and approached Amber.
"What are they planning? A true head-to-head flying duel? Oh—this is exciting! Allow me to count down for this exclusive showdown of three!
"""Three—two—one!"""
The crowd joined Liben in chanting the countdown.
As expected, wind gliders couldn't match the speed of Shen Qin's hoverboard. Even carrying Amber, Shen Qin crossed the finish line first, followed by Stanley and Nicola.
The moment Shen Qin crossed the line, Barbara rushed to heal him with her magic. Amber, bearing only minor injuries thanks to her Vision, was largely unscathed.
"Thankfully, your injuries will heal by tomorrow!" Barbara said after finishing her spell, admiration shines in her eyes. Whether it was catching the Little Flyer or saving Amber, Shen Qin's feats had elevated his image in her heart.
"Th-thank you! And... I'm sorry for causing you harm," Amber apologized, lowering her head in embarrassment. Her glider had failed under the strain of excessive speed, a result of her recklessness.
By now, all competitors had completed the race. Instead of fixating on their rankings, they flocked to Shen Qin, pushing Amber and Barbara aside.
"Brother, that was epic! Whether it was catching the Little Flyer or saving Miss Amber!"
"Dude, your hoverboard is amazing! I heard you built it yourself? Any chance you'll sell it someday?"
Some female competitors took the opportunity to touch him inappropriately, leaving him flustered.
Thankfully, Liben arrived to rescue him.
"Alright, alright, everyone! Please line up on stage and face the audience—it's time to announce the final rankings!"