Overtake: Reincarnated in the Racing Realm

Engines roared. Tires screeched. The world blurred past in streaks of light and color.

Ren's eyes snapped open.

Wind slammed against his face. His hands gripped a cold, unfamiliar steering wheel. A massive digital countdown flashed on a holographic dashboard—

3… 2… 1…

A deafening explosion of noise.

Cars shot forward like missiles, their exhausts spewing flames. Ren's head whipped back as his body was crushed into the seat by sheer acceleration. His heartbeat pounded in his ears.

What the hell?! Where am I?!

His surroundings were an overwhelming blur—towering structures, neon lights flashing symbols he didn't recognize, and a track suspended in the air with no guardrails. Beneath him was nothing but a dizzying drop into a swirling abyss of blue energy.

And he was in a race.

A real race.

The car in front of him swerved violently, barely dodging a sudden gap in the track. Another vehicle—sleek, obsidian black with crimson streaks—didn't make it. It missed the turn, spiraling off the edge, vanishing into the abyss below.

No time to think. No time to panic.

Ren gritted his teeth and yanked the wheel instinctively, his tires skimming dangerously close to the edge as he narrowly avoided the same fate.

His hands moved on their own. His body reacted faster than his mind. But how?

A holographic display flickered on his windshield, showing a list of racers ahead of him. A name stood out—

[Ren Kisaragi – Rank: 20/20]

Last place.

What the hell is happening? Why am I in a race?!

Another racer pulled alongside him—a bulky, armored car with jagged plating and a massive rear engine. The driver, a masked figure in a sleek racing suit, glanced at Ren—then suddenly veered straight toward him.

A direct collision course.

They're trying to take me out?!

Ren's mind screamed for a way out. Dodge? Counterattack? Brake? He wasn't sure what to do—until something inside him… activated.

A voice, cold and mechanical, echoed in his mind.

—Absolute Calibration Activated—

Time slowed.

Data flooded his vision. His car. The opponent's car. Speed. Trajectory. Weak points.

And then—adjustments.

Ren's hands moved before he even processed the information. His car suddenly jerked to the right, twisting at an impossible angle, the rear tires gripping the track at the last second.

The enemy car missed him by a hair's breadth.

But Ren wasn't done.

With surgical precision, he counter-steered, aligning his car perfectly in the opponent's blind spot. His hands shifted gears instinctively.

Nitro Boost Activated.

VRRRRMMMM!

Ren's car launched forward like a bullet, clipping the enemy's rear tire at just the right angle.

The opponent's vehicle spun out of control—its momentum sending it crashing into another racer, both cars spiraling off the track.

From last place to 18th.

Ren's mind raced as time returned to normal.

What… was that?

Before he could process anything, his dashboard flashed red.

WARNING: Obstacle Ahead.

His eyes shot forward—

The track… ended.

A massive gap separated one section of the circuit from the next. No ramps. No guardrails.

And the only way across… was to jump.

Ren's grip tightened. His instincts screamed at him. His foot slammed the accelerator.

If this is real… if I'm really in this world… then I'll survive. I have to.

The edge approached at blinding speed.

And Ren—without hesitation—took the leap.