Chapter 143
Selina's sudden mention of "Flying Shadow" made Lloyd's heart pound. He knew the name well. Having won the World Supercar Championship twice, Lloyd had confidently announced his intention to defend his title three times. However, a competitor shattered his dream: Flying Shadow.
Lloyd only knew she was a woman from Clusia, always masked and clad in a tight racing suit. This unusual attire concerned many; restricted vision posed a significant safety risk. The organizers repeatedly checked with her until she finally signed a waiver, accepting full responsibility for any consequences. This enigmatic woman, however, was the one who snatched Lloyd's coveted third championship. She departed with a flourish, leaving a trail of excitement in her wake.
Lloyd attempted to uncover Flying Shadow's identity, but to no avail. After a year's absence, during which Lloyd reclaimed the championship, Flying Shadow reappeared, again surpassing him and reducing him to a laughingstock. She had become a persistent nemesis in his career; he couldn't find her or learn anything about her. Every appearance meant a second-place finish for Lloyd.
After a second defeat, Flying Shadow vanished from international racing. Despite years of dedicated practice and competition, Lloyd never had another chance to compete with and prove his superiority over her.
Lloyd shook his head. "If you want to undermine my confidence, Selina, it's futile! I'm stronger than Flying Shadow now; I've broken her championship record."
Selina smiled coldly. "Really? Regardless, when Flying Shadow appears, you're second. Even if you break her record, the media will only compare you to her."
Lloyd couldn't argue, but he resolved not to be swayed. He glanced at Selina's unmodified Lamborghini—its performance far inferior to his GTR. Selina's pronouncements clearly hadn't translated into any hardware investment.
The countdown began: "Three... Two... One! Go!" The cars surged forward. Lloyd's powerful GTR shot to first place, while Selina's Lamborghini lagged behind, nearly last.
The cars remained close, jockeying for position. The host enthused, "The world champion, Lloyd, is in the lead! His expertly modified GTR is incredibly powerful, leaving the other contestants far behind!" He focused solely on Lloyd, prioritizing the sponsorship opportunities associated with his victory.
Nora, Selina's passenger, felt the wind and the speedometer needle's alarming ascent. She swallowed nervously, awestruck by the speed and thrill of the race. She could sense, however, that Selina's car was outmatched by the others – a testament to the competition's high entry threshold.
The first turn arrived. Lloyd's powerful GTR required a controlled slowdown for safe cornering, a maneuver he executed flawlessly. After the turn, he accelerated ahead.
Checking his rearview mirror, Lloyd saw Selina struggling. He smiled, accelerated, and quickly left her in his dust, certain of his championship win.
After a series of curves and straights, the cars approached the infamous five consecutive turns of Ravencrest Mountain—a challenging section even for Lloyd, demanding careful speed control. He valued safety alongside his love of the thrill. Speeding through these curves would be reckless.
Then, a flash of light appeared, overtaking several cars and closing in on Lloyd's GTR. In his rearview mirror, he saw Selina's Lamborghini, not slowing down, weaving expertly through the turns.
The host, previously reporting on Lloyd's impending victory, was speechless. "Selina, slow down! You're risking a crash!"
"Selina, are you crazy?" Lloyd exclaimed, incredulous at her reckless speed. Manuel, Caleb's friend and racing aficionado, echoed his concern, shouting, "Selina, what are you doing?!" But Selina's Lamborghini surged into second place, flawlessly navigating the turns and closing in on Lloyd.
Lloyd bit his lip. The finish line lay ahead. If Selina's daring maneuver succeeded... he wouldn't allow it. He aggressively defended his lead, forcing Selina to stay behind – a risky move. Her speed was alarming; a collision would be catastrophic.
Instinct propelled Lloyd's actions. Manuel protested, "Lloyd, get out of the way! Do you want us all to die?"