[img]https://i.imgur.com/ole9eWE.jpg[/img][img]https://i.imgur.com/I0DIzZb.png[/img][color=bc8dbf]“Pssh. Amateurs.”[/color] Wave made no attempt to hide her voice as the drones flitted away from the gathered racers. She had long since muted Claudia’s little verbal threats and cut the feed early to Rema’s show off before she got too full of herself. As expected, all of them followed their heed and arrived to the first track with little need for direction giving. That was fine by her and, given everything was running smoothly, Mevalo as well. [color=bc8dbf]“Alriiiiiight, we’re nearly ready to begin~”[/color]

Now that every racer was assembled, the roar of the crowd and sheer size of their scope became more apparent to each Ark Rider. Thousands of bustling fans and eager watchers filled the arena with half a thousand more drones flying around like buzzing insects to capture the sporting occasion. It might have reminded Rema of similar grand spectacles on her home planet in their eagerness for bloodshed but that was neither here nor there. [color=bc8dbf]“Wohoho, and look who we have today! A surprise face for this year’s grand tourney~”[/color] The crowd ooohed and awed in response.

The large monitors overlooking the mass arena revealed a [url=https://i.imgur.com/SK9K0R9.jpeg]helmeted figure[/url] walking back to his vehicle. The electricity in the air doubled down at once. [color=bc8dbf]“It’s the infamous Skull Rider! No one knows his name or his deal, but seeing him always spells doom! This high-risk Ark Rider is known for always surviving impossible situations: The Skull Rider and his Skulldugg!”[/color] The Skull Rider ignored the hype of the crowd, silently flitting to his [url=https://i.imgur.com/bf4hDlK.png]Skulldugg[/url], patiently waiting for the races to begin. He wouldn’t have to wait long.

[color=bc8dbf]“And we’re set to begin racers!”[/color] Wave announced. [color=bc8dbf]“The 45th Cosmic Grand Prix is set to roll so Ark Riders, start your engines!”[/color] She paused. [color=bc8dbf]“Brought to you by Mevalo,”[/color] she added. Mass lights above the Ark Riders’ vehicles counted down in coded coloration, from red, to yellow, and finally, to green. Time was quick and time was money, Mevalo wasting neither in burning through both. And so, the first race began, carried into the heart of Mevalo City. Naturally, the air churned with smoke thicker and blacker than oil as the Skulldugg took off first. 

[color=bc8dbf]“Woah, what a stunning beginning! The Skull Rider takes the first leap of faith and is already speeding ahead of his opponents! But wait, what’s this!?!”[/color] Wave gasped. Indeed, the Skulldugg was already depositing a trail of splayed and scattered orbs protruding spikes in its wake. Each one latched onto the ground like a mine, perhaps magnetic in some impossible way. Whatever they were, they rested in wait for any Ark Rider daring to trail behind the leading Skull Rider.
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