The TV ratings exploded—surging by 9%!
As Leon guided the Silver Marauder into a daring spiral drift and climbed the steep slope, the broadcast's numbers soared to new heights.
No one watching could bear to change the channel. Even those who were drowsy refused to go to bed. They all wanted to see the same thing—could he conquer this deadly mountain road?
"Come on! You have to make it!"
"Tonight, make history!"
"I just know he can do it!"
"Do the impossible—conquer the cliff!"
Countless spectators clenched their fists, their hearts hammering harder than Leon's engine. Some even gripped their shirts so tightly their knuckles turned white, unable to look away.
Leon was only the second man to ever reach this place.
The first was a racer named David.
David had conquered the narrow mountain roads, the hairpin turns, and even the dizzying double helix spirals. He had become the man closest to victory. But in the end… he failed here.
His car plunged into the abyss. His spine shattered. He would never walk again.
Yet, even in failure, his legend lived on—his cornering techniques were studied and copied by countless others. More and more racers made it to the mountaintop, but none had ever cleared the cliff.
Every car that tried would fall short halfway across, crashing into the void.
The conclusion was simple and merciless: No one can leap across this canyon.
And now Leon was about to shatter that "impossible" prophecy. Could he really do it?
The Silver Marauder soon gave the world an answer.
It roared forward with unstoppable momentum, charging straight into the unknown. Its aura was fierce, unyielding—like a drawn bow with no turning back.
No hesitation. No second thoughts. Just pure speed.
Then—eight roaring jets of sapphire flame burst from the Marauder's rear exhaust.
The thrust catapulted the Silver Marauder forward, blasting past one limit after another.
The speedometer screamed past 700 km/h. Nearing 800.
If not for the straight stretch of road, Leon could never have pushed it this far—it would've been suicide to attempt such speed on a bend.
"So fast!"
"What kind of god-tier speed is this?"
"If it weren't for the news helicopter, no camera car could keep up!"
"It's too fast—the cameras can barely track it!"
Spectators across the world were left stunned.
This wasn't a car anymore. This was a missile. Even airplanes didn't take off at this speed.
What kind of modifications had Leon made?
Once this race was broadcast, every hypercar manufacturer on the planet would be scrambling to find him. If they couldn't acquire this kind of engine technology, it would mean only one thing—extinction.
The automotive world was on the brink of a revolution.
"Attention, everyone—the cliff jump is coming up!" Trish, the reporter in the helicopter, warned.
Even she felt her breath catch.
Her words pulled everyone's focus back to the screen.
All eyes locked onto Leon.
The ratings broke through 9.5%.
And then—before anyone could celebrate—the scene flipped.
The Silver Marauder's suspension hydraulics kicked in, launching its nose high into the air.
The car didn't just drive. It jumped.
At such impossible speed, with the nose tilted upward—it looked as if it was about to take flight!
Every viewer's heart clenched in unison. It had to work. It had to.
Ratings shot past 10%.
Then 11%.
12%.
And still climbing.
The trajectory was perfect—a clean arc, as if the mountain had sprouted a hidden launch ramp just for him.
Inside the cockpit, Leon kept his hands steady, his eyes briefly catching the endless blue sky above. His pulse thundered.
Even in midair, his foot stayed crushed against the accelerator.
The nitrous boosters roared to life, blazing like jet engines, pumping raw thrust even in the open air.
The Silver Marauder soared toward destiny.
Fly, Silver Marauder. Fly across the death canyon!
Time stretched cruelly. Seconds became eternities.
Under the gaze of millions, the Silver Marauder cut through the air like a silver arrow—
—and landed cleanly on the other side.
He had done it.
At long last, someone had shattered the Death Canyon curse.
A new legend was born.
The ratings rocketed to 20%.
The world erupted.
Cheers thundered across living rooms, bars, and city streets. Strangers hugged, beer mugs clashed, champagne sprayed into the air.
"YES!!"
"That's how it's done!!"
"Unbelievable!"
"Whoever he is, I'm his fan for life!"
Leon's popularity skyrocketed. Overnight, he had gained an army of loyal fans.
He didn't yet realize how massive the shockwave of his choice would be.
The doubters, the mockers, the naysayers—all of them had been utterly, brutally silenced.
And it felt damn good.
But Leon himself wasn't celebrating. He kept his focus, his grip steady on the wheel.
He had noticed the helicopters in the sky long ago.
But since they carried no weapons and showed no hostile intent, he ignored them.
He wasn't here to break records.
He was here to win a race.
And so, after clearing the cliff, he didn't stop to pose or soak in the glory. He simply pressed on, flying down the far side of the mountain.
Trish froze for a moment, her blue eyes wide with confusion—then shining with realization.
If Leon had come only for the cliff, he would have stopped already. He would have claimed his triumph.
But he didn't. He was still racing.
That could only mean one thing.
He was here for the competition itself.
This was better than she could have dreamed. Now she had the perfect chance to keep filming his run, completing her news station's assignment.
Excitement coursed through her.
Inside the Marauder, Leon flicked his eyes to the rear-view mirror.
The helicopter was still following. He could even make out the cameraman leaning with his equipment.
"Probably the media," he muttered.
And with that, he dismissed them.
"How much time has passed?" he asked aloud.
"Three minutes," came the AI's calm reply.
"How long to get down?"
"Two more minutes."
Leon frowned. Five minutes, just for this mountain? For a hypercar, that was an eternity. A five-minute gap on the open road could mean entire races lost.
"Is there a faster way?" he pressed.
"Yes," the AI said flatly. "From the mountaintop—straight down. Ten seconds."
Leon fell silent, staring out at the dizzying cliff edge.
Did it really mean… jump?
~~----------------------
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