Race 9 – Inferno
Hospital – Dawn
The hospital smelled of disinfectant and metal. Kaiyo lay on the narrow bed, bandages tight around his shoulder and side. His fur was messy, matted, damp from sweat, dark circles under his eyes. He stared at the ceiling. Empty. Endless. It felt like it could swallow him whole.
On the metal table lay the blueprints of a new car. "Project Kaiyo," crossed out. Below, written in bold, confident strokes: Inferno.
Something burned inside him. Not real fire, not pain—but a hot, restless drive. A hunger he could feel in his claws, in his tail, in the way his muscles ached. It whispered: You are not done. Not yet.
The door opened with a soft creak. Tsuki stepped in, fur streaked with dust, hands black with grease, forehead shiny with sweat. Behind him, Mori-Mori, small and jittery, carried a rattling bag of tools.
Tsuki: "You look like you slept in concrete for a week."
Kaiyo: "And you… like you wrestled the whole workshop."
Mori-Mori shuffled nervously. "Uh… I'm here to… help. If you want."
Kaiyo's eyes scanned him. Small, nervous, but eager. Kaiyo smirked faintly.
Kaiyo: "You? My engineer?"
Mori-Mori: "Uh… yeah. I fix, I build… I watch too."
Kaiyo's smirk widened. Despite the pain, his claws flexed over the edge of the bed.
Kaiyo (quietly, almost to himself): "Good. You'll see fire soon enough."
Tsuki put a metal piece of the hood on the table.
Tsuki: "Ready? Have you seen the name yet?"
Kaiyo turned his head. "Inferno." His claw traced the letters lightly, leaving a faint scratch.
Kaiyo: "Good. Let it burn the track."
Tsuki's tail twitched nervously.
Tsuki: "Before it burns the track, it has to survive the test. You too."
Kaiyo slid off the bed, muscles tense under his fur. Wounds protested with every step.
Kaiyo: "The test starts when I drive. Not before."
Road from Apepolis – Midday
The truck rolled over dusty roads outside the city. Kaiyo sat on a crate at the back, next to the covered car. The tarp flapped violently. Dust and grit stuck to his fur. Every bump, every jolt reminded him how fragile his body still was.
Up front, Tsuki drove with laser focus. Tail resting lightly on the seat. Mori-Mori squinted at a tablet filled with engine data, adjusting settings.
Mori-Mori: "Oil temperature 114. High, but stable."
Tsuki: "This is Inferno. It isn't meant to be cold."
Kaiyo closed his eyes for a moment. Wind brushed against his face. Heart racing, the old rush of adrenaline igniting in him, molten and sharp.
Kaiyo (thinking): The road is calling. The engine is waiting. Every bump, every sound… I remember it all.
In the distance, faintly, engines roared on another track. Cars screaming across asphalt, their echo bouncing off the hills and walls. Kaiyo's ears twitched. He listened. The sounds, though distant, were like a warning—and a promise.
Test Track – Evening
The sky darkened. Track outside Apepolis was cracked, rough, smelling of fuel, burnt rubber, and dirt.
Kaiyo stood beside the tarp. Claws flexed over the edge. He pulled it down.
Inferno gleamed. Headlights like predator eyes. Hood low, aggressive. Body sleek and dangerous. Heat radiated from the engine, warming the fur on Kaiyo's neck.
Mori-Mori wiped his forehead. "Dual air injection. Engine reacts in 0.3 seconds. Don't push too far."
Kaiyo: "I'm not pushing. I'm listening."
He climbed in. Hands rough, scarred, gripping the wheel. Metal smelled of oil and sweat.
The engine roared, deep and angry. It shook his chest.
Tsuki: "Careful! This is just a test—"
Kaiyo pressed the gas. Tires screamed.
Inferno lunged forward like a freed beast. Dust and gravel flew behind it. Track lines blurred. Fur on his neck bristled. Every muscle tensed, every heartbeat synced with the engine.
This isn't a car. This is me.
When the first lap ended, air was hot from the engine. Kaiyo stepped out, breathing heavily. He studied Inferno, still glowing faintly red.
Kaiyo: "Good to hear you again."
Rooftops of Apepolis – Night
High above, on a concrete rooftop, Drax watched. White fur, pink skin, broad shoulders, towering presence. Eyes sharp, cruel, full of arrogant curiosity. Every movement screamed superiority.
Next to him, a small macaque shifted nervously.
Macaque: "Do you want me to send people to the track?"
Drax snorted, low and cruel. "Why? Let them fumble. Toys. They think they matter."
He leaned forward, elbows on knees, fingers long and powerful. Gaze fixed on Inferno. Cold. Calculating. Mocking.
Drax's eyes flicked to Kaiyo. Watching. Judging. Nothing said, but every second radiated arrogance. Perhaps, someday… if Kaiyo survives, Drax might give him a shred of respect.
The distant engines roared, cars screaming on other tracks. Drax's lips curled in a small, almost imperceptible smirk. He didn't speak. He didn't need to.
Drax shifted, tail twitching slightly, then stood. Muscles coiled, powerful. Slowly, arrogantly, he stepped off the rooftop, disappearing into the shadows, leaving the city to the sounds of racing engines and the quiet hum of anticipation.
Track – Late Night
The engine fell silent. Tsuki sat on a toolbox, Mori-Mori scribbled notes.
Kaiyo sat on the ground, back against Inferno. Hands black with grease, fur damp with sweat.
He stared into the headlights, faint red glow still pulsing.
Kaiyo (thinking): It's not about winning. It's about surviving. And tomorrow… I'll show them.
The wind carried smells of burnt rubber, gasoline, dust. Fur on his neck bristled, tail curled around his leg. Muscles tired, but ready.
Tsuki: "You should rest."
Kaiyo: "No. Inferno doesn't sleep either."
Mori-Mori: "So… what now?"
Kaiyo lifted his gaze. Reflections of workshop lights flickered in his eyes.
Kaiyo: "Now? We wait. Tomorrow… the race begins. And we'll show them that the macaque is back."
Tsuki nodded, tail flicking.
Tsuki: "Back from hell."
Kaiyo: "No. Back from Inferno."
End of Race 9 – Inferno
The silence after the engine was heavier than any noise.
Above, Drax had gone, but his presence lingered. Every glance, every thought, a weight of arrogance and judgment. He said nothing, watched nothing, yet everything was measured. Perhaps tomorrow, Kaiyo would earn a fraction of respect. Perhaps.
The night was quiet, but the engines in the distance screamed warnings. Tomorrow, the track would erupt with speed, fire, and danger. The race was coming.