It's time for the next Survival Race. It's located at Red Canyon.
Shortly after the Splash Canyon race, Armand told everyone about what had happened to his father and his friends. But it's time for the next Survival Race.
Chapter 13: Red Canyon: Surviving the Sunset.
In the last race, Jet won and took the lead in points, all the way from 12th place. He also found his girlfriend in Wave, who just kissed him all of a sudden. The standings were: Jet (38), Raine (37), Rector (36), Sonic (33), Galeon (33), Howl (33), Nightscream (32), Armand (31), Tails (31), Basil (31), Wave (29), Knuckles (28), Axel (26), Storm (25), and Rampage (25). The standings were definitely close, with only 13 points separating 1st from last.
"Alright, the construction for the Red Canyon track has been completed. As you'll go along the track, you'll notice the changes. You know the rules, so good luck. As usual, the first racers will be the team leaders. Remember, 5 points in 5 minutes. Now, get to the starting block, and wait for the gate to disappear." Gerald announced.
Sonic, Jet, Rector, Armand, and Galeon took their places.
3…
2…
1…
GO!
Sonic was first off the line, followed by Galeon, Rector, Jet, and then Armand. There were two barricades near the beginning. The Chaos Emerald was waiting between them. Sonic, being in the lead, got it first. Up ahead, where there was a drop-off, there was a rock wall blocking it off. However, a nearby cave had opened. The first gate was just outside the entrance. Sonic boosted through it, earning the first point easily.
"Oh yeah. Now I just need four more." Sonic said.
But that didn't last long. Rector came up and used a Leaf Whirlwind Kick on Sonic, stealing the emerald in the process. He jumped off of the upcoming ramp, followed by Armand, who was closing in. Rector laid a tornado that Armand got caught up in. There were two ways out of the cave, but the hard left path was blocked off, so they had to drop down. As they exited the cave, the next gate was in sight. It was just before the rapids. Behind the nearby waterfall was a power barricade, but it was blocked off since in Survival Races, shortcuts were not allowed.
Rector sped through the gate, then hit the rapids. Normally, there would be rock outcroppings in the rapids, but they had been removed for safety reasons. At the end, a waterfall launched them up. Rector landed first in the small lake area. This place had the same power barricade as in Splash Canyon. The flight type shortcut had been moved, and the wheel ramp was still there, and in a normal race, the rail would have been there, including an extra one that led around the sharp turn. As they entered the walled area, the flying accelerators had been moved there, with them leading over the gap that made up the sharp turn.
The next gate was just ahead. It was in front of the water wheel. Rector slid around the corner and headed for it. Crystal Cave had been blocked off, but the water wheel led to another area, above the main entrance. Rector earned his second point, then headed up the water wheel. Armand, never one to give up, followed suit. As they hit the top, there was a ramp leading to a straight path. It ended at a waterfall. Armand tried to attack, but Rector laid another tornado. Armand hit it, and was frustrated.
"Damn. Now I've got to catch up again." Armand cursed.
Rector sped through the waterfall. There were 3 places to drop off. The right path was the easiest, and the fastest, but in a Survival Race, you risked a higher chance of missing the next gate. The left path would make you jump, but you'd go down faster. You had the same chance of missing the gate, though. The center path, which led to a rock drop-off, would slow you down, but put you on a straight path to the gate. Rector took his chances, and hit the middle. He passed through the next gate, picking up his third point.
Armand hit the right path, and caught up to Rector. He attacked, but Rector laid yet another tornado. Unfortunately, this caused Rector to run low on air. Armand dodged the tornado, and attacked Rector, stealing the emerald. Armand finally had his chance for points.
"Finally, my chance has come." Armand said to himself.
And it did. Armand sped down the slope, and went through the gate, picking up his first point. He shot off the ramp, and landed. He went on to the drop-off in the cave, and boosted to regain speed. Galeon was closing in, though. He hit the drop-off, and boosted towards Armand. Armand saw it, though, and just as Galeon was about to attack, Armand let loose a tornado, which Galeon hit.
"Damn you, tiger!" Galeon cursed.
Armand went on to score a second point. He hit the rapids at a high speed. Galeon, determined to score a point, followed. As they hit the upward waterfall, Galeon boosted too quickly, and hit a wall when going out of control. Armand hit the wheel ramp, and gained some air. It didn't last long, though, as Galeon recovered quickly and attacked Armand.
"Yeah, now it's my turn." Galeon gloated.
"Don't you know, gloating is just a sign that you're showing off?" Armand asked.
"I don't care, tiger. Why don't you…" Galeon began, but remembered what happened last time he said what he was going to say. Galeon shuddered at the thought, which haunted him. He did NOT want to face Armand like that again.
"What were you about to say?" Armand asked.
"Uh, nothing." Galeon said, nervous.
Galeon sped ahead, wanting to get ahead. He went through the walled area, around the turn, through the gate, and hit the water wheel. He went up it, but as soon as he landed, he got attacked. Armand had caught up and stole the emerald.
"It's mine, now." Armand taunted.
"Grr. No way!" Galeon said.
But it didn't last long. Rector had been slowly catching up, leaving Sonic and Jet in the dust. He attacked Armand and stole the emerald, went down the waterfall, and went through the gate. Rector only needed one more point to win.
It didn't take long. Galeon and Armand had tried to catch up, but were slowed down at the waterfall. Rector sped down the slope, and passed through the final gate to clinch the win.
"And Rector wins the Survival Battle!" Gerald announced.
"OH YEAH! VIRTEX RULES!" Rector shouted.
The crowd went wild. The results: Rector (+5), Armand (+4), Galeon (+3), Sonic(+3), and Jet had no goals, so he got one point. Their points were now Rector (41), Armand (35), Galeon (36), Sonic (36), and Jet (39). Rector had recaptured the lead for now.
It was time for the flying Survival Race.
"Will the flight types for each team come out?" Gerald requested.
Tails, Wave, Nightscream, Raine, and Basil came out to the start line.
3…
2…
1…
GO!
Basil was the first out, followed by Raine, Nightscream, Tails, and Wave. The emerald had been reset on the course, so it was at its usual starting place. Being the first one out, Basil was the first one to get it.
"Time to see if my luck plays out." Basil said to himself.
Basil played smartly. Since he was a defending player, he had gained an ability that allowed him to look back as if he had a rearview mirror. He gained this ability about 9 years ago, before he, Armand, Basil, Zeus, Mintra, and Hurricane took on Eggman Nega (more on that in The Legend of Tobias Novak). He saw Tails and Wave ganging up on him, so he let loose a tornado. All four of his opponents got caught up in it. Basil easily scored the first point. He needed four more to clinch his first win. Raine had recovered quickly, however, and was making a dash for Basil. Just after the ramp was when she caught him.
"Sorry, Basil." Raine apologized as she threw a stomach virus powder on him, causing him to spin out. Seeing as how it was a stomach virus powder, Basil threw up after he recovered.
"Ugh. Those potions and powders of hers are really strong." Basil complained.
Raine had the emerald. She shot out of the cave, and headed towards the gate. She passed through it, and hit the rapids. Making her way through, she shot up the waterfall with Basil close behind. Just as he was about to attack, Tails came through and did so.
"My apologies, Raine." Tails said as he attacked her.
Raine recovered and got back on her board. She had nearly fallen off when attacked. Basil sped ahead as Raine went through the walled area, and slid around the sharp turn. Tails had already reached the water wheel, picking up his first point from the gate before. Raine and Basil followed behind, both determined to reach the emerald. Nightscream had been left behind, so it was likely he would come in last. He had just shot up the waterfall. Up ahead, he saw Wave disappear. She had gone through the small cove and was headed to the sharp turn. In the upper area of Crystal Cave, Tails had just emerged from the waterfall. As he sped down it, Raine caught up to him and bumped him, taking the emerald. She scored her second point.
"I'm in the lead. I hope I win." Raine hoped.
Raine continued through the starting block, between the barricades, and sped through the open area. She passed through the next gate. Only two more points. She went into the cave, and hit the ramp. Basil followed, and Tails came up behind Basil. Raine wasn't worried though. As they caught up, she laid a tornado once she was out of the cave. She approached the rapids, sped through the gate, and hit the rapids. She needed one more point to win.
"Only one more. I'm almost there." Raine told herself.
She went up the waterfall at the end, and landed in the small lake. She went through the cove, and sped around the turn. Basil had caught up. But just as he was about to attack, Raine passed through the next gate, and got the final point.
"Whoa! Raine wins by a long shot." Gerald announced.
"I won. I don't believe it." Raine said, proud of herself.
"Alright, Raine!" Rector yelled.
The results: Raine (+5), Basil (+4), Tails (+4), Wave (+1), and Nightscream (+1). Basil and Tails had each gotten one goal, so they both technically finished in second place. Wave and Nightscream didn't get any goals, so they were awarded one point each. The results after this race: Raine (42), Basil (35), Tails (35), Wave (30), and Nightscream (33). Raine had recaptured the lead in the standings. It was time for the power types, as well as Howl, to race.
"Will Howl and the power players report to the start line?" Gerald requested.
Howl, Rampage, Storm, Axel, and Knuckles got to the start line.
3…
2…
1…
GO!
Howl got off the line first, followed by Storm, Knuckles, Axel, and then Rampage. As he was the first one out, Howl got the emerald. He was determined to win, and show that he could take on anybody, even power types. He passed through the first gate with ease. He hit the ramp, but as he landed, Storm came up and bumped him, taking the emerald. Knuckles boosted, and attacked Storm, stealing the emerald. Rampage bumped into him and took it. Axel attacked and stole it. Then Howl bumped into Axel and took it back. The emerald had just gone in a complete circle of possession (so to speak). Howl managed to keep it until the next gate, where he scored his second point. The 5 racers hit the rapids, wanting to make it through as quickly as possible. Howl couldn't stand the other four behind him.
"Man, why did I have to be put with these four in the survival race?" Howl asked himself.
They shot up the waterfall, and landed in the lake. Howl hit the wheel ramp, and went the farthest, giving him a lead. He sped through the cove, slid around the sharp turn, and passed through the third gate, before the water wheel, all while the other four were chasing him.
Howl was dominating the race. It wouldn't be long before he won. He sped through Crystal Cave and headed down the waterfall. The others got slowed down because they hit the small jump, but Howl rode down the waterfall. He picked up the fourth point. If he won right now, he would pick up five bonus points for a shutout. He sped through the starting block, down the slope, between the barricades, and through the open area. He came upon the final gate. The others were closing in, so Howl had to hurry. He kicked the booster and sped through the final gate. Howl had won.
"THAT was amazing. Howl managed to win without the others scoring any points. He will gain 5 bonus points." Gerald announced.
"Yes! I won the race. Perfect!" Howl said.
The results: Howl gained 5 points for winning, plus 5 bonus points for a shutout. The others got one point each for not having scored. The standings: Howl (43), Storm (26), Rampage (26), Axel (27), and Knuckles (29). Howl had taken the lead, and now Team Virtex held the top three positions. As if that wasn't enough, Team Virtex had dominated the Red Canyon Survival Race. (Babylon Sky Hawk's going to really go paranoid when he reads this.)
"It's amazing. Team Virtex is dominating the competition. Not only did they win all three Survival Races today, they also hold the top three spots in the standings. And there's only one point separating the three. Well, tomorrow, we all head to Eggman's Egg Factory for the next race. He has set up the course himself. See you there, and don't forget to bring something to keep you cool, because it's a blast furnace in there."
As he was leaving, he remembered something.
"Oh yeah, after the Snow Valley Survival Battle, the racers in 11th through 15th places will be out of the tournament. Well, see ya." Gerald announced, surprising everyone. The competition would really get tough now.
Gerald took his leave, and everyone headed to the Egg Factory track.
End of Chapter 13.
That wraps up the Survival Race.
The standings (Those who are currently in danger of being knocked out will be in bold lettering and underlined):
Howl: 43
Raine: 42
Rector: 41
Jet: 39
Sonic: 36
Galeon: 36
Tails: 35
Armand: 35
Basil: 35
Nightscream: 33
Wave: 30
Knuckles: 29
Axel: 27
Storm: 26
Rampage: 26
Uh oh. Wave, Knuckles, Axel, Storm, and Rampage are in danger of being knocked out of the competition. Will they catch up?
Team Virtex had dominated this Survival Race. Can they keep up the lead? Or will someone else take the lead soon? Only one way to find out.
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