Racing to Infinity
Episode 2 — The First Circuit
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Arrival
Ruko's eyes opened to light. Not sunlight. Not neon. Something else entirely.
The horizon bent like liquid glass, folding in on itself until it became a loop. The track ahead was suspended in space, coiling through asteroids, glowing gas clouds, and shattered moons. Some sections floated upside down, defying gravity. Others spiraled into tight, blinding tunnels that spat fire.
The air wasn't air at all — it shimmered, thin and electric. In the distance, thousands of cars hovered at the starting line, engines howling in anticipation.
A deep mechanical voice boomed over the entire dimension:
"Welcome to the Endless Circuit. First race initiation. Driver: Ruko."
Symbols etched themselves into the inside of his windshield:
[Level Gain Limit: +4 Levels Per Race — Permanent Cap]
[Placement Rewards: Higher rank = higher XP & vehicle evolution rate]
The Competitors
On either side of Ruko's Level 1 coupe were machines that made Earth's street cars look like toys.
To his left, a six-wheeled silver beast with a cockpit shaped like an eagle's head — its driver an insectoid alien with glowing orange eyes.
To his right, a floating sphere-shaped racer with no wheels at all, just thrusters, surrounded by shifting energy rings. The pilot was a humanoid covered entirely in smooth black armor, no face visible.
Every car here wasn't just owned — it was alive, connected to its driver. Ruko could feel the faint heartbeat of his own battered ride through the steering wheel.
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Pre-Race Countdown
A holographic display shimmered above the starting line.
3… 2… 1…
The world roared.
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The Chaos of Lap One
The moment the race started, half the field shot forward in blurs of light, their acceleration ripping shockwaves into the track.
Ruko's car screamed, gears grinding like they were protesting the abuse. He was instantly swallowed by the chaos of 1,000 racers battling for position. Two cars ahead collided, spinning into the void and bursting into a million sparks before respawning far behind.
The first turn hit like a gut punch — a vertical climb straight into an asteroid's core, then a sudden drop where gravity flipped. Ruko's stomach lurched as his car clung to the upside-down track, tires gripping like claws.
[Velocity Vision Activated]
Time slowed, the edges of the asteroid glowing faint gold. Ruko threaded between two spiraling wrecks, tires skimming the edge of the track before slamming into normal gravity again.
Mid-Race Rival
Halfway through lap one, a jet-black racer appeared in his mirror — no, not the same one from Earth. This one was leaner, faster, with glowing crimson exhausts that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Its driver's voice came through his comms, smooth and mocking:
"Earth rookie. Level one. I'll make this quick."
The black car darted forward, clipping Ruko's rear bumper just enough to send him toward the track's edge. He corrected the spin with a violent counter-steer, his car's suspension screaming in protest.
"Not bad," the rival admitted. "Let's see if you can hold it."
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Lap Two — The Hazard Run
The second lap turned brutal. The track ran through a collapsing asteroid belt, chunks of rock smashing across the course without warning.
One boulder the size of a small building tumbled directly in front of Ruko. The other racers split — half went above it using jet boosters, half swerved wide.
Ruko dropped two gears and went through.
The boulder split in half as a timed shockwave from the track detonated beneath it, showering him in fragments. His windshield cracked further, but the car held.
Final Lap — The Boost Zone
The last lap was where the real killers came out. The track's final stretch was a Boost Zone — a shimmering section where cars could reach speeds far beyond their safe limits… but steering was almost impossible.
The insectoid alien to his left entered first and instantly lost control, spinning into a fiery explosion.
Ruko gritted his teeth and hit the zone. His car wailed, the speedometer climbing into red numbers he'd never seen before. The black rival was right beside him, engines howling like a predator ready to pounce.
Velocity Vision kicked in again, this time without him triggering it. The rival edged closer, aiming to force Ruko into the barrier.
Ruko shifted up, letting the rival drift a fraction too close — then swerved just enough to let him overcorrect. The black racer slammed the barrier and vanished in a burst of light.
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The Finish Line
Ruko crossed the line in 17th place out of 1,000. Not a podium finish — but enough to make the announcer's voice boom across the dimension.
"First race complete. Driver: Ruko. Level up."
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Level Gains
[Driver: Ruko]
• Speed Level: 1 → 5 (+4)
• Handling Level: 1 → 2 (+1 from style bonus)
• Drift Level: 1 → 2 (+1 from hazard section survival)
• Power Level: 1 → 2
[Vehicle Tier: 1 → Tier 2 — Partial Evolution Unlocked]
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The Car Evolves
Before his eyes, his battered coupe shifted. The rust peeled away in curling flakes, replaced by fresh dark-blue panels that gleamed like they'd been dipped in starlight. The cracked windshield sealed itself, and faint gold lines traced across the hood, glowing like veins.
The hum in the steering wheel deepened — not just an engine's growl, but something alive, awake.
Aftermath
As the racers dispersed into wormhole-like portals, Ruko lingered on the track, running a hand along his newly transformed hood.
The announcer's voice echoed one last time:
"Next race begins in 48 hours. Prepare yourself, Ruko. The road only gets harder from here."
And somewhere, far above the stars, he swore he could feel someone watching him — a presence as familiar as it was impossible.
Kaien.
If his brother was alive out here… Ruko was going to find him.
Even if it meant burning through every god, monster, and racer in the Endless Circuit.