*C*'s aura flares only momentarily before fading again, but in that tenth of a second her energy proves unmistakable. Malkimon's, or rather a power nearly identical to the Witch Mega's own. And in turn a power, so similar to your own.
That… she can't be Malkimon…
Whilst you've paused in shock, a faintly blue whirlwind has roared to life around the *Witchmon's* kart, swirling in a pattern your ears can only describe as melodical. And what's more… your ears twitch, struggling to make out the
other noise, something simultaneously radiant yet only
barely audible.
She's… humming, something?
Suddenly the cheshire-grinned womon's kart is thrown forwards, launching down the track at speeds approaching the sound barrier. You half expect the shoddy vehicle to go out of control the moment it touches back down, but instead burst of magic wears off *C* manages to calmly take control and steer it… right into the first arrow marker.
The magical trap seizes her kart and immediately sends it skipping down the track, at even greater speeds than even her spell. Your disciples *date* comes roaring into the bomb-field at clearly uncontrollable speeds, and to your shock the heightened momentum lets her simply wizz past most of the falling hazards before they can explode. Only a single bomb at the far end manages to fall in a path to intercept her.
For a moment it looks as if the explosive is going to crash into her, however at the last second before impact her broom sweeps up and around in a crescent,
redirecting the bomb back up and away without so much as looking at the offending hazard.
… that wasn't the technique of a magician.
You watch with narrowed eyes as the womon hits another arrow, then immediately thrusts her broom into the ground, bouncing it
over the buzz saws. Even as she lands the *witch* slams down on her and turns into the next boost. What by all right should have seen her flip over and explode instead becomes a smoothly controlled drift around the first turn.
That… has to be some form of magic.
The entire thing reminds you remarkably of *Boy's* first tournament. His opponents had never stood a chance from the beginning. And it seems the same thing applies to the racers here.
In the time in which *C* has covered more than half the course, the other racers have only made it to the next obstacle in line. And while they struggle to navigate through the clump of boulders, she's still chaining boosts from arrow to arrow as if the hazards are merely an advanced form of shortcut.
She catches up with the racing pack's rearmost members shortly thereafter, accelerating off the first hill at full speed, then bouncing off the head of a very surprised Dinohumon. While the unfortunate reptile crashes and burns *C* manages to circumvent the spikes entirely.
Musyamon approaches the final obstacle a good several meters ahead of any runners up, aura full of confidence as he soars up the ramp. He doesn't notice *C* smiling madly at him, or more importantly, the
bomb she'd previosuly redirected smacking down on his kart.
How did-she had to have predicted where he'd be…
Xia lets out a wild series of cheers, as the swordsmon tumbles free from the wreckage of his kart. This time however you share the Rock-Dragon's sentiment. The kind of predictive ability just displayed was… most impressive.
"I've changed my mind Dadmon! Xia thinks she's cool! Super cool!"
Now fully aware that the *Witchmon* is going to take the lead (and easily at that) your eyes fall back to your disciple. Unlike his date, *Boy* has chosen to advance at a less suicidal speed, and is even now weaving through the bomb field at a steady, cautious pace. His progress is efficient and logical, as expected of his Aegiomon form. Doubtlessly his Ultimate self would have tried to bull his way forward and gotten his vehicle destroyed within seconds.
By the time your attention is back on *C*, she's already cleared the jump and is advancing upon the current frontrunner. Nanimon takes a quick look back, then pulls out another… projectile. Even as he tosses it your disciple's date sweeps out her broom again, this time launching a spray of water that intercepts the pink mushy substance and carries it into the back wheels of Nanimon's kart.
Nanimon loses control as his gummed up wheels seize, spiraling out of control and crashing into the coredramon with an enraged scream. Naturally, both explode upon contact.
Spirits below, how has her Kart not suffered the same fate?
*C* makes the first lap a few seconds later, and then in a surprising move, pulls to the side and slows down, letting the main pack roar past without a struggle. Her attention locks onto your student, whom is only now managing to get past the Buzz Saws.
Judging by his current pace it's clear that he's going to get lapped, and relatively soon at that.
That prediction turns into a reality just before the series of hills, where *Boy* has to fend off the racing pack as they zoom past him. Your student dodges bubbles, disperses fireballs with his fleece technique, but still ends up having one of his back wheels knocked off by an Ogremon's club. You watch with disappointment as he goes into a spin, face apanick as he struggles to regain control.
"Zyahaha! Dadmon he's about to go boom!"
Your disciple lets out a frustrated shout as his kart tips over, then seems to remember his training. A quick shove against the air reverses his catastrophic path, and sets his kart down back on all four-er now three wheels. Xia lets out a disappointed whine at that, which causes you to hold back a low chuckle.
Of course, now that one of his wheels is gone, there's little hope for your disciple to finish even a single lap. The final obstacle in particular requires full acceleration to make the jump.
So it's a surprise, both to you and the God-Man when *C* blitzes past and yoinks him free from his seat. *Boy's* yelp of fear ends abruptly as he lands behind his date, quickly turning into a blush as the mad *witch* lets out a teasing remark.
He flinches, coughs, and then a dozen seconds later, leaps off and punches Ogremon straight off his kart. Your disciple hastily takes control of the antagonist digimon's vehicle, whereas *C* calmly slows down and begins to talk him through the course.
Both seem oblivious to the fact that they're letting the remaining racers get a lap ahead of them. In fact the *Witchmon* remains perfectly calm… no her malicious cackles are anything but calm, but she seems confident about winning for some reason.
By the time they've made it back around, the other racers are all nearing the final obstacle on their lap. Indeed, victory appears to be within the grasp of none other than Manbomon.
That is
until Deimos and *C* make it to the bomb obstacle. Xia lets out a disappointed huff, glowering at the pair and clearly not understanding what's about to happen.
The *Witchmon* begins to hum again, broom spinning inbetween her claws. More teal wind gathers across the focus with every passing moment, eventually growing into a miniature tornado as they enter the bomb field.
"Zeeheehee!" And with a final, maddened laugh she casts the strangle melodic spell.
A localized storm blows through the hazard, sweeping up dozens of the low-powered explosives and carrying them directly towards the final obstacle. Where the pack of racers, going up the narrow ramp… have little room to maneuver.
You wince at the (figurative) slaughter. Xia breaks off into controlled laughter.
Needless to say… *C* and Deimos are the only mons to finish the third lap.
===
AN: Race is done! Next update will be the plot stuff about C!
