The Spiral Circuit transformed for the Valk Race.
Gone were the neon celebratory lights—tonight, it was bathed in deep crimson and electric indigo. The track shimmered under drones and banners, the crowd tenfold what it had been the night before. Even Nova stood silently, arms crossed, uneasy in the hush before the chaos.
Reyna stood beside her bike, armored and ready. Her helmet hung from her fingers. The sleek black suit she wore was traced with blue-gold veins of power, resonating faintly. She looked every bit a queen going into battle.
Avery stood across from her, hands trembling from tightening the last bolts.
"Everything's set," Avery said. "Stabilizers. Pulse coils. The micro-brakes."
Reyna looked at her. "And my luck?"
Avery grinned faintly. "Still refuses to be measured."
The announcer's voice boomed across the stadium.
"Tonight: the Valk Race. One-on-one. No assists. First to complete the Death Loop claims the Circuit Crown. The other… leaves."
Boos and cheers mixed. Valk stepped out from the shadows, striding like the villain she wore proudly.
She was radiant in malice, her suit sharp-edged, her bike growling low like a waiting predator. Her smirk found Reyna across the distance.
"You ready to give me my empire back?"
Reyna mounted her bike. "Try and take it."
Avery stepped close before Reyna put on her helmet.
"You come back to me," Avery whispered.
Reyna leaned in and pressed their foreheads together, just for a second. "Always."
The klaxon shrieked.
Both riders launched.
The initial burst cracked the air like thunder. Valk surged ahead, reckless, daring. Reyna held back, analyzing the track.
The Spiral had changed—more hazards, sharper curves. The Death Loop shimmered in the distance: a full inverted circle with no margin for error.
Halfway in, Valk dropped mines.
The crowd gasped.
Reyna twisted, skimming past the pulse mines. Sparks exploded behind her.
"Dirty move," she muttered.
She hit a boost pad, her bike screaming forward. She was neck-and-neck with Valk again.
"Still got a soft spot, Vex?" Valk shouted over the open comms.
"Still got a death wish?" Reyna shot back.
The loop rose before them.
They entered at impossible speed, tires clinging by pure gravity tech and willpower.
Valk tried to force Reyna against the outer rail.
Reyna dropped low, clipped her own stabilizer just enough to slingshot around Valk.
She emerged from the loop a heartbeat ahead.
The crowd erupted.
Reyna crossed the finish line first, engine howling triumph.
Valk's bike skidded out behind her, collapsing.
Reyna dismounted slowly, removing her helmet.
Avery ran to her, breathless.
"You did it," she gasped.
Reyna smiled. "We did it."
Avery pulled her into a hug, fierce, fast.
From the ground, Valk laughed bitterly. "Guess you finally figured out what real love looks like."
Reyna didn't answer. She only turned and kissed Avery in front of the roaring crowd.
This time, there were no ghosts.
Only the future.
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