Chapter Fifteen: The First Signs of a Small Circle

There was little time left for the mission, with only one shot at success—failure meant death! Mo Shu was tense inside; after all, race car drivers were used to flying close to the ground, while this high-altitude task was clearly more suited to extreme sports enthusiasts.

Fortunately, the sloped arc of the main tower on the North Loop Viaduct was relatively gentle. From a distance, the entire tower looked like a giant "A." So when the RT500 charged up the main tower, only the car's front underbody scraped the ground slightly.

Driving on the smooth steel structure, Mo Shu had already anticipated that tire grip would once again become a major issue. That’s why, while still on the ground, he had pushed the speed up to 200 km/h, ensuring the car had enough inertia to reach the top even if traction was insufficient.

"Didn't think you could pull this off—no wonder Wang Qing admires you so much," Wang Yining teased, her face fearless.

Mo Shu curled his lips, thinking that women were indeed strange creatures. The system was such a fascinating thing that it nearly scared Wang Yining to death, yet this kind of wild driving made her thoroughly enjoy herself.

The RT500’s power was truly unrivaled. Even the nearly vertical steel slope, hundreds of meters high, was no match for this supercar. Approaching the summit, the speedometer still pointed firmly at 80 km/h.

"Get ready—we're about to go airborne!" Mo Shu placed his other hand on the steering wheel. He needed to ensure the car’s posture was precise in midair, and more importantly, that it would land safely with both of them inside.

In that moment, they seemed more like a pair of pilots preparing to soar into the sky.

With the sudden surge of the tachometer, all four tires of the RT500 left the ground. The aggressive front end pointed straight up, aimed at the blue sky.

Mo Shu’s calculations were spot on. The metallic sphere, shimmering with a faint lavender glow, was now just two meters from Wang Yining. The car was still climbing, the distance between them shrinking rapidly.

"Got it!"

Wang Yining, exhilarated, quickly withdrew her arm from outside the car, now clutching a faint lavender orb adorned with strange patterns.

"Hold tight. The mission isn’t over till we’re safely back on the ground."

Though Mo Shu’s mind had already registered the mission’s completion, he knew survival depended on a safe descent.

The RT500’s ascent slowed. Mo Shu turned the wheel sharply to the right, then left his seat to squeeze into the passenger side with Wang Yining.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Wang Yining screamed as if she’d encountered a pervert.

"Bear with me, my lady—I don’t want this either..." Mo Shu’s right ear rang from her shriek.

As expected, with their combined weight on the right, the RT500 began to tilt rightward in the air. As they started to fall, the tilt accelerated.

Pressed together in the passenger seat, Wang Yining—for the first time—felt Mo Shu’s warmth and the faint scent of tobacco on him. Glancing at his handsome, well-defined profile, she blushed deeply.

"Alright, that’s enough!" Mo Shu’s focus was fixed on the car’s attitude, seemingly oblivious to Wang Yining’s reaction, which left a trace of regret on her face.

By now, the RT500 had completed a midair turn, its nose pointing almost directly at the ground. Mo Shu scrambled back to the driver’s seat.

"Perfect! Here comes the landing!"

With a screech of brakes, two thick tire marks were burned into the pavement as the RT500 touched down safely. Mo Shu let out a long breath, then raised his hand for a "Give me five" with Wang Yining.

"Miss, where to next?" Mo Shu joked with sudden enthusiasm.

"Our next stop?" Wang Yining smiled radiantly, her slender finger pointing ahead.

"Home!"

...

Back in Nanshan City, Mo Shu took Wang Yining to a restaurant; the two enjoyed a hearty meal and lively conversation. Returning alone to the team dormitory past midnight, Mo Shu shook off his fatigue with a shower, then was soon overcome by sleepiness.

"Beep~~~"

The system rarely appeared at this hour, surprising Mo Shu.

"Host, the metallic sphere is of great importance to us both—please keep it safe!"

"Really? Can you tell me what it does?"

"Not yet. A detailed explanation will follow. For now, know that you’ve gained a new skill and experience for your talent tree. I recommend you try them soon. Good night!"

"System? System!"

Mo Shu had so many questions left, but the system vanished after its "good night," leaving him in silence.

The next morning, Wang Yining arrived early at the garage to meet Mo Shu. They’d agreed to study their systems and the metallic sphere together.

As Mo Shu was about to relay the system’s instructions from the night before, Wang Yining seemed to already know, simply telling him to handle it himself before bringing up another topic with a mysterious air.

"I just found out we can form a team to enter competitions," Wang Yining’s eyes sparkled.

"What do you mean? Tell me more."

Wang Yining explained everything in detail. Mo Shu understood—if those with systems teamed up, not only could they use group bonus skills, but they could also assist each other with their unique talents to win. It was a golden opportunity.

Wang Yining insisted repeatedly that, if they teamed up, she wanted to be captain.

"Sure, no problem. You be captain—I’ll follow your lead." With the goddess in charge, Mo Shu was happy to comply.

"Beep~" The system had become unusually active lately.

"Host, congratulations on forming a team. You’ve received a new team skill reward: Speed Aura."

Mo Shu suddenly remembered the "Eagle Eye Analysis" and "talent tree experience" he’d received last night. Sleepiness had made him forget to check them then, so he quickly pulled up the system interface.

He successfully assigned points to the talent tree, though there were no big surprises; the "Heaven-defying Racing Line" skill had simply leveled up, just as he’d expected.

What about the "Eagle Eye Analysis"? Mo Shu pressed the skill button.

"Mo Shu, S-rank system, skills focused on speed. The Heaven-defying Racing Line is its core divine skill..."

Next entry.

"Wang Yining, K-rank system, excels at defense. Without compromising speed, her car’s weight can increase infinitely, tires gain extreme traction, and she can use slipstream interference against opponents. Suited to the team’s most crucial role: Tank."

Mo Shu burst out laughing, tears in his eyes. "So, you may be beautiful on the outside, but inside, you’re a meat-shield tank!"

"How annoying! Why are you laughing... Tell me, isn’t it usually the tank who calls the shots in a team?"

"Well... that’s true..." Mo Shu thought of his favorite online games—tanks were indeed indispensable, and often ended up as team captains.

"Exactly! With my protection, isn’t it much easier for us to win the championship?"

"Yes, yes, Captain Wang! I’m at your command!"

Seeing Mo Shu deliberately act the loyal subordinate, Wang Yining burst into delighted laughter, waving her hand with pride.

"Come on, follow your captain—let’s go build our new battle car!"