Click.
The car door opened, revealing the two figures inside.
"Mmm mmm mmm—"
Seeing these two, Ratio's expression changed immediately, because the arrivals were not strangers to her; they were precisely Capitalist Bird and Clockie's Son whom she had just blasted away.
They actually managed to catch up?
The Capital duo, upon seeing Ratio, were first stunned, then their faces began to twist, uncontrollably bursting into laughter: "Com... company dog, so... so you have this day too?"
They hadn't forgotten who it was that turned them into idiots with a single piece of chalk before. Now seeing Ratio in such a predicament, naturally they couldn't miss the chance to gloat.
Ratio's limbs couldn't move, she could only lie prone on the ground, hair disheveled, eyes unyielding.
Being defeated by the Nameless Guest was one thing, it was her underestimating them first, but what were these two things? They even had the audacity to come rub it in?
"Too right."
Capitalist Bird "thud" slapped the ground, a very human-like smile appearing on its face: "That's right, that's right, what I've always wanted to see is exactly this expression of yours, so close at hand, yet unable to do anything."
"Little bird, don't waste time."
Clockie's Son interrupted its mockery and said: "Professor Ratio, we want to team up with you. As long as you can ensure that the people from the Astral Express don't win the championship, Mr. Sunday can agree to any of your demands."
Hearing this, a flash of surprise passed through Ratio's eyes. Sunday? So, these two guys were also sent by Sunday.
Blocking the Astral Express from winning the championship? So... among this group of people, the one Sunday least wants to see is the Astral Express.
But why? Based on the known information, there seems to be no direct conflict of interest between Sunday and the Astral Express...
Ratio looked coldly at the two in front of her, "Mmm mmm mmm— (What if I don't agree?)"
"Don't agree? Then don't blame us... Your teammate seems to be sleeping?" Capitalist Bird glanced at the flying car and said with ill intent: "Professor, you wouldn't want us to do something in front of your teammate, right?"
"He seems to be sleeping quite deeply, not sure if he'll be woken up by our noise, hehehe..."
Clockie's Son looked surprised at Capitalist Bird: "Wait a minute, how did you know she doesn't agree?"
"Read the expression and fill in the blanks. Look at that disgusted look in her eyes, the lines are only those few anyway, it just needs that kind of look, hehehe..."
Ratio lightly bit her silver teeth, silent for a moment, then could only nod her head forcedly.
"Yo? She actually agreed? Good, son, put it on them."
"..."
The race had already passed more than half, with only a few minutes left to the finish line.
The current rankings had Stelle's team and March 7th's team in the lead, followed by Acheron's team. At this trend, the ones to win the championship would definitely be the Express group.
Stelle was now mentally tense; she had already checked everywhere that could possibly have issues. Now the car was fine, no one chasing in sight within view, her own state good...
There shouldn't be any more mistakes possible, right?
—"Phew, finally it's ending. After winning the championship, I definitely have to rest well here."
At this moment, Sparkle's one sentence broke the calm atmosphere.
Stelle's face changed drastically: Don't set such a weird flag at the last moment!
Something will happen!
Buzz—
Sure enough, as Sparkle's words fell, at the end of the rear track, a flying car spewing blue flames chased up at an extremely fast speed. On both sides of the flying car were installed things similar to Gatling launchers, madly spewing chalk tips.
Stelle couldn't help complaining: "What kind of perverts are you all? We've already led by so much, why can you still catch up?"
"This plot development is just like a cartoon. Do you all complete dialogues, epiphanies, upgrades in an instant?"
The Capitalist Bird behind stuck out half its head and said: "Stupid! If not designed like this, you win too easily, would the readers be willing to watch?"
Stelle: "? Aren't we recording a variety show? You meant 'audience', right? Qlipoth above, I'll give you one chance to rephrase."
Capitalist Bird: "Stupid! If not designed like this, you win too easily, would the audience be willing to watch? Viewership ratings, completion rates would drop, right? Mr. Sunday also needs to make money!"
Stelle nodded: "Now that makes sense."
Sparkle: "Hey! Don't accept such a weird setting! Drive fast! That plaster doctor's chalk tips are already thrown over!"
Rumble—
Countless chalk tips indiscriminately bombed everything within range. Estimating by the speed difference between both sides, probably in just over ten seconds, all three teams would enter the chalk's range!
In this situation, even if Stelle slowed time, it would be useless: her goal was to win the race. Slowing time delayed the opponent but also restricted herself. Even if she dismantled Capitalist Bird's flying car barehanded, Sunday would probably use money power to forcibly drag the race to the last second.
—"Stelle!"
At this moment, Acheron suddenly spoke, "Before in Golden Hour, I owed you a favor."
"Now, it's time for me to repay you!"
Stelle had a question mark pop up above her head: "What are you going to do again?"
"I will help you win a great victory!"
"Go to the finish line with peace of mind. I will do my utmost to block their car. You must carry my will and head to the end!"
Stelle said moved: "Acheron! I will always remember you!"
"Hahaha, if there's a chance, I'll treat you to Annihilation Gang's stewed noodles!"
With that, Acheron stepped hard on the right pedal, while sharply turning the steering wheel, intending to make a beautiful brake drift, then intercept Capitalist Bird and the others...
Screech—
Bang!
The car fiercely crashed into the roadside guardrail. Under the terrifying kinetic energy, the entire car deformed and flew up on the spot, turning into a brilliant firework in the air.
Acheron's team, eliminated.
Elimination reason: Forgot that she had just removed the brake pads, causing the vehicle to lose control, car destroyed and people dead.
Stelle and the others: ...
Actually, originally with Acheron's strength, she wouldn't have been directly eliminated in such a minor accident, but the dream's judgment system, for some demonic reason, recognized Acheron as "dead" in the dream and forcibly woke her up.
...
At the finish line, Sunday leaned on the soft velvet sofa, sipping the fine wine in his hand with a contented face, watching the live broadcast on the 360-inch super large TV screen in front of him, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
After multiple investigations, he naturally knew the strength of Acheron, the boss of the Annihilation Gang.
Therefore, he secretly tampered with the dream's protection system, changing Acheron's "health value" in the dream to that of an ordinary person.
In simple terms, Acheron was plot-killed.