CHAPTER 220: CHAPTER 220

"This looks like fun to watch," I said, handing back the flyer. "Good luck finding the last one," I added, about to turn back to my seat. But suddenly, they both knelt in front of me.

I stared, eyebrows raised. "What are you two doing?" I asked, a bit confused. "Stand up! It looks like I’m bullying the two of you," I added, noticing some passersby glancing our way.

The coordinator looked up at me with earnest eyes. "Please, join the race."

I shook my head. "Sorry, not interested," I said, sidestepping around them and heading back to my spot.

"The reward is one hundred thousand Glacium if you win first place!" the host boomed. "Please! Just bring your motor—Aack?!" he suddenly stopped mid-sentence, yelping loudly as I appeared instantly in front of him.

"What did you say the reward is again?" I asked, wide-eyed, tilting my head.

"One hundred thousand Glacium?" he repeated, eyes wide with surprise.

It’s been a long time since I last rode my bike. Maybe I should join in. "I’ll participate," I declared confidently.

Almost immediately, their faces lit up with excitement. The coordinator quickly whipped out a waiver. "If you could just sign here, Miss—?"

"Remillia Lockhart," I supplied smoothly.

"I’m Karlos Benzo, coordinator of this event," he said, gesturing toward the other man. "And this is Alex Winston, the host."

Karlos handed me the waiver, and I glanced at the title—"Waiver of Liability." Honestly, I didn’t care much about the details as long as the prize money was in my mind.

"Great!" Karlos snapped his fingers, and the waiver vanished into thin air.

"Wait, what about your bike?" Alex asked, eyes wide. "We don’t have any spare bikes left. How can you participate if—" he trailed off, but I didn’t bother. I simply dropped my bracelet onto the ground, and in an instant, it transformed into a sleek motorcycle.

Their jaws dropped in amazement as they stared at my bike, clearly impressed.

"Is this the limited edition Aston Martin Verdant Jade, adorned with striking Photon Lime accents and paired with the high-performance Brough Superior BMA 001 Pro?" Karlos asked, still not taking his eyes off my bike as he looked back and forth between me and the sleek bike.

"Yeah," I replied proudly, a confident smile on my face.

Alex’s eyes widened further. "There are only two of these in existence. Is this the real one, or just a counterfeit?"

I narrowed my gaze at him. "This is the real deal. I even have the papers to prove it," I said, pulling out my smartwatch and showing them the digital documentation.

The two of them looked stunned again, their jaws practically on the floor. "If you’re this wealthy, then why are you participating?" Alex asked, voice tinged with curiosity.

"For the money, and for the thrill," I answered simply, a determined glint in my eye.

Their mouths hung open once more, caught off guard by my confidence.

"You’re okay risking a dent or scratch on a motorcycle worth a billion just to win 100,000 Glacium?" Karlos asked, eyebrows raised.

I simply nodded.

"Are you sure? You’re racing with a machine that expensive just for a small prize?" Alex pressed again.

Again, I nodded.

Karlos exchanged a glance with Alex, then sighed. "We’ve changed. I don’t think you’re fit for this race. Maybe you should just participate in an asylum."

They clearly underestimated my motorcycle’s defenses. My spectral seal silently protected it, making it impervious to damage.

I stepped closer. "We’re wasting time. Either you let me join this race, or I’ll cause a scene that you won’t forget. You really don’t want that, do you?"

They both gulped at my threat.

"Let’s go change into your uniform first," Karlos said quickly, guiding me toward one of the nearby tents.

Once inside, Karlos began helping me pick out my gear. "Since your motorcycle has green accents, your helmet will be green to match and create a cohesive look," he explained, placing the helmet and clothes on the table.

After he finished explaining, I looked at him. "Can I wear my own gear instead?" I asked, voice calm but firm.

His mouth dropped open in surprise. "You should’ve said so from the start! You wasted my—" he paused, noticing my confident demeanor and realizing I was still wealthier than him. He quickly cleared his throat. "As I was saying, get changed now so we can start the race."

Once I saw that he had left, I calmly accessed my system shop. With a few quick taps, I purchased a custom race suit—more sturdy and capable of absorbing 50% of any damage. The material felt almost alive, infused with protective enchantments that would give me an edge in the race.

I finally secured my helmet, adjusting it snugly before stepping out. I made my way to my motorcycle, the sleek black machine gleaming under the overhead lights. With quick movements, I parked it precisely at the starting line, feeling the anticipation build within me.

Karlos signaled to Alex, who took a step forward, ready to host the competition. Alex cleared his throat and began, "Ladies and gentlemen, now that the preparations are complete, we are about to commence the race. Please ensure your safety gear is properly secured and your vehicles are in optimal condition. Let’s make this a race to remember—may the best rider win!"

The crowd roared with excitement.

The riders glanced over, their visors lifted just enough to show smirks and dismissive glances. They whispered among themselves, although I can clearly hear them gossip like little girls.

"Who’s this?" one sneered, eyes narrowing.

"Wait, is that the limited edition Aston Martin Verdant Jade?" another whispered, clearly impressed but also skeptical.

"Why is this rich guy even here? Guess he’s just showing off his fancy ride," a third muttered, a hint of disdain in his tone.

"Yeah, probably just trying to brag. Nothing special."

"Why don’t we just destroy his motorcycle first?" someone chuckled, a mischievous glint in their eyes.

I rolled my eyes inwardly, grateful that my visor was still down, hiding my smirk. Let them yap. Honestly, I couldn’t care less about their petty jealousy. All I was focused on was the thrill—this was my chance to dive into a real deathmatch on the track.

"On your mark, ready," Alex announced, his voice steady and commanding.

The tension in the air thickened as the crowd hushed in anticipation. I tightened my grip on the handlebars, feeling the adrenaline surge through me. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the racing pulse in my veins.

The other riders shifted slightly, their eyes fixed on the starting line, some sneering, some eager, all eager to prove themselves.

I took a deep breath beneath my helmet, preparing for the signal to unleash everything.

"Get set," Alex continued, his voice lowering just a bit, as if to heighten the suspense.

A brief silence fell over the crowd as everyone waited for the signal. I felt the engine thrumming beneath me, a beast ready to be unleashed. My fingers curled around the throttle, muscles tense, eyes fixed straight ahead.

"Go!" Alex finally shouted, his voice cutting through the tension.

With that, I squeezed the throttle, feeling the surge of power as my motorcycle roared to life. The world seemed to blur as I surged forward, adrenaline fueling every movement.

The other riders launched off the line behind me, some aggressive, some cautious. I pushed my bike to its limits, weaving through the pack, eyes sharp for any opening. The roar of engines and the screech of tires filled the air as we tore into the track.

As I accelerated into the lead, the atmosphere shifted. The track narrowed, and tight turns became deadly. I darted left and right, narrowly avoiding collisions, feeling the rush of air. Shadows flickered as bikes brushed past me, some dangerously close, their riders pushing the limits just as much as I was.

Suddenly, a rider behind me surged forward, attempting to overtake on the inside. I countered instinctively, blocking him, our bikes almost touching. Sparks flew as tires skidded on asphalt, but neither of us backed down.

Without warning, bursts of glowing light shot forth from behind me. The ground trembled as their powers intensified. One rider raised his palms, unleashing a blinding wave of energy that warped the asphalt, causing cracks to spiderweb across the track. Other riders conjured barriers creating invisible walls that blocked overtaking attempts.

One rider’s hands glowed with a fiery aura, summoning a blazing barrier that shimmered like molten glass, attempting to block my path. Another summoned a twisting vortex of wind and lightning, aiming to disorient and halt my motorcycle in its tracks. I pushed forward, gripping the handlebars tighter, my own aura flaring in defiance. I could sense the magical currents swirling around me, trying to seep into my defenses.

With a quick burst of my spectral seal, I unleashed a counter-shield—an invisible barrier designed to deflect or absorb incoming attacks. The moment the fiery barrier collided with my shield, a shockwave rippled through the air.

Suddenly, a surge of magic struck my bike as I tried to swerve around an oncoming barrier. The force threw me off balance, and I felt my bike wobble uncontrollably. My hands clenched the handlebars tighter, desperately trying to regain control, but the skid was inevitable.