Part 2
Moments after the opening ceremony, four massive screens descended as drones buzzed above the stadium. The crowd in the stands turned their eyes toward them: the first event was about to begin.
The Pilot Obstacle Course.
Cameras captured every possible angle—the mechs lined in formation, wings extended on the carrier deck, even close-ups of the young pilots inside their cockpits, faces brimming with determination.
Then, the firm voice of Professor Zao rang out across the stadium.
"Honored guests, my name is Zao Wei, instructor of aerial defense and piloting at Seisen Academy."
"For your comfort and enjoyment, we've deployed an artificial course over the sea, designed so everyone can watch the race with full clarity."
Applause rippled through the stands, quickly followed by cheers from the students.
"For the safety of both the audience and the pilots, the entire competition will be broadcast exclusively through the visors," he added.
The screens shifted, revealing the track: a colossal circuit filled with floating obstacles, energy towers, flight rings, and artificial wind tunnels.
On the carrier deck, eight mechs stood in line at the starting point. The roar of their turbines rumbled like a storm barely contained, ready to explode.
The central visor flared red, and SEI's voice began the countdown:
3…
2…
1…
START!
The turbines roared to life, shaking the air like a dozen fighter jets launching at once. Sparks ignited across the deck as the mechs shot into the sky like bolts of light.
Slowly but surely, Misaki's calculated movements began to pull her ahead. It was as if she squeezed every possible second out of her machine's performance.
"So that's the level of a global top…," Meiyun muttered, watching the Japanese pilot's precision. She tried to close the distance, but what startled her most was that the American was right on Misaki's tail, refusing to fall behind.
Further back, Inti Callao was locked neck and neck with Raj Malhotra.
"Don't think I'll let you through, Bollywood pretty boy."
"Heh, you've got a long way to go before you can—"
At that moment, Eitan surged past them mid-argument.
"Eyes up, low clearance ahead!" he warned over comms, dropping to sea level.
Inti reacted in time, diving hard, but Raj stayed too high. His mech skimmed over the obstacle, triggering instant disqualification.
"Tch… how could I slip up like that…?" he muttered, resigned.
The circuit pressed on into a zigzag section of shifting rings. The audience roared with every daring maneuver, clapping and cheering as the pilots danced through the air.
Jake grinned inside his cockpit as two figures cut ahead of him with ease.
"So this is the global top's level, huh… That Misaki doesn't mess around."
In the stands, Touma Kisaragi watched with Shizuki, Hina, and Mirai.
"Jake's not doing half bad," Touma remarked.
"Yeah, I didn't expect the dumb American to be this skilled," Shizuki replied with a scoff.
"It's true. He doesn't look like someone who takes things seriously, but you can tell he's enjoying this to the fullest," Touma added.
"He's… not that bad," Hina admitted, folding her arms.
Back on the course, the next obstacle loomed: a towering vertical loop stretching skyward. Misaki led with unwavering control, trailed by Meiyun and Jake, while the rest pushed their limits just to keep up.
But before Eitan could enter the loop, his sensors flared red. His mech dropped altitude, descending until it touched down on the sea's surface.
Altitude sensor damaged, his display read.
"Damn it!" He slammed the controls in frustration as his unit slowly made its way back toward the carrier.
—Eliminated pilots, announced Zao Wei. "Riku Hayasaka, Raj Malhotra, and Eitan Levin."
The screens focused on the front runners.
"In the lead: Misaki Toudou… followed by Li Meiyun and Jake Maverick. They're approaching the final stretch!"
The crowd's roar shook the coliseum.
As the mechs cleared the loop at high altitude, Inti Callao's unit began to falter.
"No, no, no—not now!"
Left turbine damaged. Function canceled.
"Damn Peruvian tech!" He slammed the controls in frustration.
Then Li's words echoed in his mind:
"If you don't maintain your mechs properly, don't be surprised when something fails."
"…She's right. This was my fault," he muttered as his machine drifted downward, running on the last scraps of power from a single turbine.
On the final stretch, Misaki's thrusters roared even louder. The Japanese pilot widened the gap, unreachable in her perfection.
Li Meiyun kicked in her combustion reserves, managing to edge slightly ahead of Jake.
Warning: Imminent Overheat blinked across Maverick's display.
"Sixty percent core output is plenty… I'm not settling for third."
He yanked the reserve controls open.
Core at 80%.
His speed surged, pulling him even with Li.
"Maybe I can't beat Toudou yet… but I'm not giving up."
With a sharp motion, he cut the warning sensors.
"I'm not cold and calculating like them… but taking risks? That's my style."
His hand slammed down on a final lever: a bright red button labeled OVERCLOCK.
"Let's do this the American way."
At the press, a burst of nitrous oxide flooded into the turbines. Flames shifted from a normal yellow to a fierce blue.
Jake's mech exploded forward like lightning, blasting past Meiyun before she could react. Even Misaki spared a glance at her proximity display, the slightest flicker of unease in her eyes.
Inside Maverick's cockpit, everything bathed in red. ALERT! OVERHEAT!
"What an incredible ace up Maverick's sleeve!" Zao cried, stunned.
"YEAH, LET'S GOOO!" Jake roared inside his cockpit, cheering on his own machine.
The entire stadium erupted into pure euphoria.
"That idiot…" Hina muttered, palm to her forehead.
In the end, Misaki crossed the finish line first. Seconds later, Jake followed in second place. Behind them, Li Meiyun and Haruka Aizawa completed the podium.
The moment he crossed the line, Jake's mech sputtered out, descending gently into the sea. Black smoke poured from its turbines as it floated, exhausted—just like its pilot.
The roar of the audience didn't let up. Fireworks exploded above the coliseum while the giant screens replayed the highlights of the race: Jake's daring overtake, Inti's downfall, Misaki's icy composure all the way to the finish.
At the center of the stadium, a platform rose slowly. Three pedestals emerged, illuminated by colorful spotlights.
"And that concludes our very first international speed race!" Professor Zao Wei announced solemnly. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it for our top three pilots!"
A drum roll marked the rise of the finalists.
"In third place, representing China, the rising star: Li Meiyun!"
The crowd applauded thunderously. Meiyun raised one arm calmly, her expression firm—yet in her eyes flickered the frustration of someone aiming far higher.
"In second place, representing the United States—the rebellious hurricane of Seisen: Jake Maverick!"
Jake threw both arms into the air, grinning wide, as if he were standing on a NASCAR track. The crowd roared, though several NovaTech technicians buried their heads in their hands at the sight of his smoking mech replayed on the screen.
"And in first place, as expected—the world's number one, pride of Japan, and pride of our Seisen Academy: Misaki Toudou!"
The stands shook with sheer force. Misaki offered a graceful wave, saying nothing more. Perfection spoke for her.
The three stood atop their pedestals, surrounded by flashing cameras and flags whipping in the wind. Reinhardt appeared beside the stage, firing confetti from a portable cannon.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Seisen International Invitation is now officially open!" he shouted with theatrical flourish. "And this is only the beginning!"