The starting horn's blast shattered the silence.
Forty-eight chariots lurched forward in a thunderous surge of hooves and wheels.
Rui's spectral horses responded instantly, their ethereal forms cutting through the air as the pack compressed into the first turn.
"Stay with the middle group!" Shen shouted over the roar of wind and wheels.
Rui pulled her reins left, guiding Moonbeam and Stardust through the chaos.
Chariots jostled for position around her—some drivers already making desperate moves for the lead while others hung back, waiting for opportunities.
Zinon's massive frame dominated the inside lane, his chariot's reinforced wheels sparking against the track.
He muscled past two smaller teams without regard for their safety.
"Sharp turn coming up!" Shen called, his voice carrying the tactical precision they'd practiced.
Rui saw it—the treacherous left bend that had nearly claimed her during practice.
