Race Setup: The Speedway The sun hung high in the sky, casting a gleaming light upon the twisting and winding Speedway, a treacherous 10 km course adorned with hairpin turns, staggering loops, and precariously unstable platforms wobbling above a seemingly bottomless pit. The air crackled with anticipation as two fast competitors prepared to settle their long-standing rivalry in a race that would not only determine who was faster but also who would walk away while the other faced an unspeakable fate—vaporization. Competitors: Metal Sonic & Toei Sonic Metal Sonic stood poised at the starting line, his metallic exterior polished to a gleam. He was a formidable opponent with imposing power and speed levels. His green eyes emitted an unwavering confidence, pinpointing every detail of the course via his advanced data analysis and predictive capabilities. Toei Sonic, on the other hand, was a bright blue blur of energy, his determination palpable. A mere handful of words had ever escaped his lips; his focus lay solely on victory. With a slightly higher power level, he had a few tricks up his sleeve meant to propel him ahead in this critical race. The loud horn of the start signal blared, pumping adrenaline into their circuits and veins. The Race Begins Metal Sonic activated his systems, his engines roaring powerfully as he launched himself forward. Meanwhile, Toei Sonic charged at full throttle, executing a perfect Super Peel Out, speeding ahead with an intense burst momentum. “It’s too quiet,” Metal Sonic thought as he followed close behind, mimicking Toei's speed strategy with his unparalleled data analysis. Both competitors veered into the first loop, a dizzying spiral that would test their balance. Metal Sonic tightened his grip on the steering mechanism, rotating into the loop flawlessly. The fast-paced acceleration sent him spinning towards the outer edge—an area where he would take advantage of possible shortcuts. It was there that he utilized his skill to read Sonic's movements closely, waiting for the right moment. Toei Sonic, however, had his planning as well. Emerging from the loop, he opted for the right platform, leaping onto the unstable surface above. He had seen the potential here to gain a quick lead. With a jolt of energy, he unleashed a Spin Dash, hurtling himself forward. The cacophony of vibrations echoed beneath him as he landed and pushed into the next stretch of the Speedway. “Nice move!” Metal Sonic exclaimed internally, analyzing Sonic's trail and shifting calculations to match the trajectory. Tension Builds Through the intertwining paths, they were neck and neck at different points. Toei Sonic, feeling the pressure, activated his Magic Power through strategic jumps, using special bursts of energy to propel himself further. “Come on! Keep up!” Toei Sonic shouted, barely audible over the rumble of the engines and the racing wind. He could sense the Metal Sonic brimming behind him, a metallic specter ready to pounce. With a quick glance back, he saw the cold, steely figure closing the gap. Metal Sonic smirked as he spotted Toei's momentary struggle on an elevated stretch of unstable platforms. “Reversing course now would require a perfect calculation,” Metal Sonic thought. Suddenly, Metal Sonic pushed beyond his limitations, activating his ability to replicate Toei's recent moves, matching him stride for stride on the unstable platforms. Overconfidence sparked inside Toei, allowing Metal Sonic to exploit this weakness. The Final Loop As they approached the final loop, the shimmering red laser rumbled behind them—a sign of dire consequences should either fall behind. It loomed ominously in their rearview, moving closer, threatening to ignite the ground if it made contact. “Let’s go!” Toei Sonic panted as he surged into the loop, gripping despite the momentum threatening to throw him off-course. He was determined to escape defeat. Metal Sonic followed, tightly tracking his rival’s movement. It was here that he calculated the trajectory with pin-point accuracy as he opted to break from the loop momentarily—rocketing off an external ramp toward a zig-zag bypass that could secure him an undetected advantage. As he descended back onto the track, he unleashed a tremendous burst of speed—his power level surging beyond 364 as the laser screamed behind them, dictating their movements. The Finish Line Both racers were in a final sprint as they neared the last stretch, their surroundings becoming a blur. Metal Sonic caught up to Sonic's side. This was it—one last push. “Ugh!” Toei Sonic heaved—he could feel Metal Sonic’s presence accelerating even faster. He dug deep and unleashed a desperate Spin Dash directly into the last stretch. “I won’t lose!” he vowed, surging forward with everything he had left. But Metal Sonic, having mimicked this move with timing perfection, reacted in real-time. As Toei catapulted forward in the Spin Dash, Metal Sonic dove beneath him—a maneuver that surprised Toei, effectively edging past his opponent just miles from the finish line. As the finish line approached, Metal Sonic’s engine roared louder, propulsion reaching unprecedented levels. With a final jolt of speed, he crossed the finish line first. “Victory is mine!” Metal Sonic thought triumphantly as he felt the air shift at the end. The raw energy surged through him as he emerged victorious and automated systems sealed the fate of his rival. Conclusion of the Race Toei Sonic slowed to a halt, realizing the price of his overconfidence had secured him in last place. The giant lasering blade drew closer, its doom casting a shadow over him. “Just... a bit faster…” he whispered before the looming energy engulfed him. Winner's Time: 8 minutes, 42 seconds Rank: A Reasoning: Metal Sonic demonstrated not only superior speed and agility but effective adaptation to changes in strategy and environment. He skillfully used Toei Sonic’s moves against him while utilizing the terrain. His ability to read the dynamics of the race allowed him to secure victory decisively, marking him as an A-tier competitor in this tightly contested showdown. Toei Sonic's valiant effort, though admirable, revealed a significant reliance on his individual prowess, resulting in his downfall against a more adaptive opponent.