《Formula 1: The GOAT》 Chapter 1: Reborn After the Checkered Flag Chapter 1 - Reborn After the Checkered FlagBeep... beep... beep... Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee The monotone of the flatline reverberated through the orphanage''s infirmary, bouncing off sterile walls plastered with aging Formula 1 posters, the silent spectators to the close of a 25-year struggle. "Time of death: 17:58," the doctor murmured, scribbling the final notation onto the chart. No farewell. No ceremony. Just the quiet passing of a bedridden Formula 1 superfan whose life had been nothing but a prolonged pit stop of pain. ........ "Am I... floating?" No light. No sound. No weight. Just the absence of everything. Not even darkness, just a void, like the blank space behind closed eyelids during a migraine. But for the first time in years, there was no pain. No fire in my nerves, no ache in my bones. Just... stillness. "So this is death. Peace." They say trouble never comes alone. In my case, it didn''t come for me, I was born in it. A cluster of genetic disorders didn''t grant me superpowers. They gave me constant, unbearable pain. Sure, over time, I built up a mental resilience, a tolerance for agony, but that just meant I needed slightly less medication. Eventually, even walking became torture. The pain anchored me to a bed, where I spent my final years being pumped full of addictive and experimental drugs, just to dull the torment. I was a child of surrogacy. My parents died before I was even born. No relatives stepped forward. No one claimed me. So the orphanage became my world. Twenty-five years under its roof, seven of them spent staring at the ceiling, waiting for the pain to stop. And now... it finally had. In those bed-bound years, when the pain had whittled life down to moments between medication cycles, I discovered Formula 1. It became my lifeline, alongside the few friends from the orphanage who never stopped visiting, never stopped believing I was more than just a body trapped in pain. F1 wasn''t just entertainment. It became a sanctuary. Something about the precision, the speed, the strategy, it let me tune out the agony. When the engines roared, the pain quieted. And thankfully, I hadn''t discovered it at its inception. The sport had decades of archived races, interviews, documentaries, an entire history waiting to be consumed. During the endless hours between live races, I immersed myself in the past: legendary duels, historic crashes, impossible comebacks. I watched other motorsports too, of course. But I always returned to Formula 1. It was my sport. Still, not even that, nor the love of my friends, was enough to erase the thought of ending it all. The pain was too relentless. But instead of giving in, I made a choice: no suicide, no euthanasia. Just a quiet line drawn¡ªA DNR. Do Not Resuscitate. And now, it seemed, that line had finally come into play. "So this is what it means to die? Nothingness... forever?" If so, it wasn''t terrible. There was no pain here. No screaming nerves. Just peace. "Not so bad," I muttered into the void, preparing myself for an eternity of empty stillness. But then, something appeared. A flicker. A break in the monotony. A screen. Blue, glowing faintly, yet bright enough to command every ounce of my attention. "What... is that?" I tried to move, blink, and turn my head, but couldn''t. I wasn''t even sure if I had a body anymore. Still, the screen was either close or massive, because I could read it clearly: [System Initializing .......99%] The loading bar moved fast, almost too fast. But when it hit 99%, it froze. Seconds ticked by, or maybe minutes. I had no way of measuring time in this void. And then, without warning, the screen vanished. "Wait¡ªwhat? No, no, no... don''t tell me it failed." From the books I''d read, I knew what a "system" was. Countless characters had died, then awakened with abilities, powers, new lives... guided by systems tailored to their needs. I had dared to hope. But just as quickly as that hope arrived, panic crept in. What if mine had glitched? What if I ended up in one of those cruel stories where the system malfunctions and everything goes wrong? But before I could drown in panic, a new presence emerged. This time, it wasn''t just a screen; it surrounded me, wrapped around my awareness, and passed through my very mind. I could feel it, not in a painful way, but like gentle threads weaving through memories and dreams. Then, words formed in front of me, calm and resolute: [The user''s desires and wishes have been determined. A system to help him achieve them is created.] Relief. Pure, overwhelming relief. Not just because I was getting a system, but because that sentence confirmed something far greater: I was getting another chance at life. And more importantly... I wouldn''t be shackled to that same broken body. Even if all I got was a new life without pain, that alone would''ve been enough. But the system, it was offering more. It was tailored to my dreams. The screen dissolved again, replaced by a new sequence: [........] A row of loading dots. They remained. Unchanging. I wasn''t sure how long it had been, five minutes? Ten? Maybe more? But I didn''t mind. After all, the best things in life... take time. [The Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) System has been created.] Please choose the sport and category in which you wish to have the potential to become the GOAT: ? Motorsports ? Team Sports ? Individual Sports ? Combat Sports ? Water Sports ? Mind Sports ? ... ? ......... ? ........ The list stretched on, almost endless. It was then I realized something: The system had pulled from the deepest parts of me, all the moments I had watched from the sidelines, aching with jealousy at what I could never do. And it offered me a chance. Not just to participate, but to excel. To be the Greatest Of All Time. There was no hesitation. I tapped Motorsports the moment I saw it. This wasn''t just a dream, it was the dream. The one that had carried me through the worst of it. The one I could never chase in my old life, no matter how badly I wanted it. As soon as I selected it, the other categories faded away, and Motorsports expanded with a new list: [Please select a motorsport category:] Formula 1 NASCAR MotoGP Rally Racing Drag Racing ...... .... ........ Each name glowed with potential, but only one made my heart skip, just like it always had. Without hesitation, I tapped Formula 1, making sure I didn''t misclick and accidentally select another category. [Loading ...............100%] [Generating Abilities .......100%] [Creating the Perfect Body ...........100%] [Assimilating Abilities ....100%] [...100%] [...100%] [...100%] [...100%] Each line blinked in rapid succession. Dozens... no, thousands of system processes executed in the blink of an eye. When it finally completed, the entire interface shrank into a single point and shot straight into me. I didn''t feel pain. But I felt it, an avalanche of data cascading into my consciousness. Too much to comprehend, let alone process. But I didn''t need to understand it all immediately. A new prompt appeared, calm and informative: [To assist you in your journey, you have been granted 15,000 System Points. These may be used to purchase abilities and enhancements from the System Shop before temporary deactivation.] The path to F1 wouldn''t be handed to me, but the tools to get there were. And now... it was my move. The prompt faded, replaced instantly by the System Shop. Rows upon rows of abilities unfolded before me, neatly categorized and described. Each one offered a glimpse of excellence, skills that could elevate any driver to a top-tier Formula 1 competitor. And now, they were all at my fingertips. For a moment, excitement surged. With this many options, I could dominate! But when I saw the prices, all of the excitement went out the window. Each ability required System Points (SP), and the costs weren''t trivial. Worse still, barring a few, nearly all of the abilities had tiers that significantly influenced their effectiveness, with the price doubling for each higher level. [Ordinary ¡ú Good ¡ú Excellent ¡ú Genius ¡ú Ultimate ¡ú Limit Break] [Ordinary ¨C A skill comparable to the average professional. Functional but unremarkable. Good ¨C Sharpened and refined, offering consistent, noticeable advantages. Excellent ¨C Exceptional. Begins to define a driver''s style and provides distinct advantages. Genius ¨C Legendary. The skill achieves a level worthy of icons in the sport. Ultimate ¨C Near-perfection. Mastery over every aspect of the ability. Limit Break ¨C Transcendent. A realm where the impossible becomes possible.] I could pour all my points into a single Ultimate-level ability, gaining unparalleled mastery in one skill. Or, I could distribute them across several Good-level abilities¡ªthe minimum tier of the abilities available for purchase of any ability¡ªbalancing versatility at the cost of specialization, becoming a jack of all trades but master of none. As I examined the system''s ability shop, something became clear. Every ability was designed solely to enhance my physical and mental capabilities. There were no options to alter the car''s performance, or to interfere with my rivals like causing them to lose focus or make mistakes or manipulate the environment. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It became evident that the system''s design was deliberate: To be considered the GOAT, my success had to come entirely from my own skills. By limiting the abilities to only impact me, it was clear that I would need to be the difference-maker, relying solely on my own mastery to excel Chapter 2: The Choices Chapter 2 - The ChoicesMany of the abilities in the system shop overlapped, some being slight variations or subcategories of others, and their prices reflected that. After sorting through hundreds of options, I finally selected the ones I knew I would need right from the start. But there was a problem. Their combined cost exceeded the 15,000 SP I had. [Simulation] Category: Single Purchase SP Cost: 10,000 Description: An immersive world where the user can practice, experiment, and refine their abilities without any risk to their real self. Key Features: Allows the user to modify and change scenarios using SP.Enhances Mentor (if purchased), unlocking its full potential.Enables the registration of up to two vehicles via physical contact, with each registration costing 100 SP. Limitations: Can be used for a maximum of 4 hours per day. Why this? Because no matter how talented I became, the FIA''s restrictions on practice time would always be a wall I''d hit. Real-world teams had limited hours of track time. I needed more, a sanctuary to push myself past the limits. A place to crash, burn, rebuild, and learn without consequence. This would be my private circuit. My personal N¨¹rburgring. Where I could run hundreds of laps. But raw repetition wouldn''t be enough. I needed a teacher who could dissect my flaws and help me evolve, a coach who would break down my weaknesses before they broke me. [Mentor] Category: Single Purchase SP Cost: 10,000 Description: A personal coach dedicated to guiding the user toward self-improvement through structured missions and continuous feedback. Key Features: Creates missions tailored to personal growth. Provides constant guidance and feedback. Grants SP-earning missions. Limitations: Requires Simulation for full effectiveness¡ªwithout it, mission variety will be limited. Together, Mentor and Simulation would form my perfect training loop. But training isn''t just about driving, it''s about mind and body too. So next, I picked a pair of synergistic abilties: [Sponge Brain] Category: Upgradable Level: Good SP Cost: 1300 Description: Enhances the interpretation and absorption of information [Sponge Body] Category: Upgradable Level: Good S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. SP Cost: 1300 Description: Optimizes the body''s efficiency, accelerating recovery, enhancing physical training results, and improving overall coordination. If I was going to train like a machine, I needed the brain of a scholar and the body of an athlete. Sponge Brain would make every lesson stick. Sponge Body would let me push myself further, faster, and bounce back by morning. But learning and endurance alone weren''t enough. Some races could be won or lost in fractions of a second, so I also added: [Catlex] Category: Upgradable Level: Good SP Cost: 900 Description: Sharpening reflexes and accelerating decision-making speed And finally, I also added a wild card. A bit of chaos... but the good kind. [Zone] Category: Single Purchase Level: Good SP Cost: 1,000 Description: Raises all abilities by one tier for a random period of time. Activation requirement: Random. Although Zone had a random activation condition, what it offered was too good to pass up. When it triggered, it would be as if every ability I owned had been upgraded all at once. That kind of spike could win races¡ªor save me from losing one. But while going through the shop, something odd stood out: there were no abilities related to mentality. Nothing about grit, mental endurance, or pressure handling. I searched again and again, but the result was the same. It made me curious... but there was no time to dwell on it. I was facing a bigger problem. A dilemma. Two of the most important abilities in the system, Simulation and Mentor, were both essential. One was half useless without the other, and yet their combined cost was beyond my current SP balance. I hesitated, then asked what felt like a stupid question: "Is there a way to get more SP?" I wasn''t expecting an answer, but I got one. [The user may downgrade their innate ability from Limit Break to Ultimate in exchange for 10,000 additional SP.] I blinked, stunned. "Wait... I have an innate ability? Since when?" The system didn''t respond verbally. Instead, it displayed the answer: [Invictus] Category: Innate Level: Limit Break Description: Born from past suffering, Invictus grants the driver extreme mental endurance against all forms of pressure while heightening physical sensitivity. "Oh my god," I muttered. "Limit Break? Was my suffering really that deep?" The system didn''t assign that level casually. It meant my past was intense enough to shape something... extraordinary. But this put me in a real dilemma. Should I downgrade Invictus, an ability at the almost mythical Limit Break tier, and gain something monumental in return? Or should I hold onto that power and settle for purchasing just one of the core abilities, hoping to gather the rest of the SP later? I weighed both sides, my thoughts circling like cars in a wet qualifying session. Eventually, clarity hit me. At this stage, Invictus being at Limit Break wouldn''t make much of a difference. Even at Ultimate, it would be near-perfect. And if I was planning to gather SP anyway, the time it would take to re-upgrade Invictus would likely match the time it took to buy whichever ability I''d otherwise delay. The better choice, the smarter choice, was to act now. "System," I said quietly, bracing myself, "downgrade Invictus." A dull ache tugged at my chest, as if I''d just handed back something sacred. Losing a Limit Break ability wasn''t easy... but the decision had been made. [INVICTUS has been downgraded (Limit Break ¡ú Ultimate).] [You have gained 10,000 SP.] I wasted no time. With the full 25,000 SP now available, I confirmed the purchases of every ability I had carefully chosen. One by one, the transactions were completed. When the dust settled, I was left with 500 SP. There were still a few niche options, like something focused on slow-corner entry optimization, but I resisted the urge. Better to hold onto the remainder until I identified a specific gap or weakness in need of solving. No use plugging a hole that hadn''t even appeared yet. The moment the final confirmation clicked, the screen blinked out, returning me to the void. But the silence didn''t last long. Just like the moment I died, I felt consciousness slipping again, but this time, I wasn''t sinking into death. This time... I was waking up to life. ....... T¨¹rkiye, Istanbul, Fatih, Gureba Hospital. Inside a dimly lit labor room, a mother lay exhausted, her face drenched in sweat from the grueling hours of labor she had endured. Despite the pain, her gaze was tender as she cradled her newborn son, her heart swelling with a love that only a mother could understand. She stared at him in quiet awe as he slept soundly, his tiny chest rising and falling in peaceful rhythm, the crying that had once filled the room now replaced by serenity. "Fatih," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible in the stillness, "Fatih Y?ld?r?m, that''s your name." She gently traced her finger along the curve of his small nose, her eyes never leaving his face. For a moment, she could forget the pain, the fear, and the loneliness. In this instant, it was just her and him, a new beginning. "Give him to me, you need to rest." A voice, warm and authoritative, broke the moment. It was a woman in her fifties, her hands gently wiping the sweat from the new mother''s forehead as she leaned in to take the child. "I want to see his face a bit longer," the new mother replied, her voice tinged with a bittersweet smile. "He reminds me of his father." Her smile faltered as she spoke of the man she had loved, her husband. The sadness lingered for a moment, but it quickly dissolved as she gazed once more at her son, her joy returning. For a few moments, she held her child in her arms, savoring the precious time, before finally relenting and handing him to her own mother. "Our conqueror is sleeping so peacefully," the older woman said, her voice a mixture of pride and affection as she cradled the baby. She carefully adjusted him in her arms, not daring to mention his father. She didn''t want to stir the painful memories of the man who had passed away too soon, just four months before the birth of his son. The young mother had suffered terribly from the grief of losing her husband. The depression nearly took everything from her, even the child she now held in her arms. Yet, with her mother''s unwavering support, she had found the strength to carry on. They both knew that this child, Fatih, was a living piece of the man they had lost, and a symbol of hope for their future. "Which language is this?" Fatih wondered to himself. Although everyone in the room believed he was asleep, he had simply shut his eyes the moment he became aware of his surroundings. The first thing he noticed was that he was crying, uncontrollably, as if on instinct. Through blurry, unfocused vision, he caught a glimpse of a woman''s face, soft, tired, and full of love. His mother, he realized. But the sounds around him, the words being spoken... they were unfamiliar. He tried to piece it together, reaching into the memories that had been reborn with him. Yet despite his efforts, he couldn''t identify the language. The headache that followed made it clear he was pushing too hard, too soon. Frustrated but realistic, he decided not to waste energy. There would be time for all of that later. For now, rest was the only thing he needed. Chapter 3: Life in T眉rkiye Chapter 3 - Life in T¨¹rkiyeThat was the year he was born, May 16, 2003, a Friday, to be exact. It had taken him a full two years to learn the exact date, but that was also long enough for him to grow accustomed to the limitations of being a child who couldn''t do much. Now, at two years old, his brain had developed enough that he could think for extended periods without losing concentration or feeling sleepy. Thanks to his Sponge Body and Sponge Brain abilities, he had easily learned Turkish. He wasn''t at a fluent speaking level yet, but he could understand everything said to him, so long as basic words were used. {An English commentator''s voice drifted from the TV in the living room.} {"Hello, everybody. What a cracking atmosphere here at Monte Carlo. Well, as we saw, a young prince has risen to the throne here recently, Prince Albert taking over from his late father, Rainier, and in a couple of hours'' time, he will present the prizes to the winner of the world''s most prestigious Grand Prix."} {"In all probability, it''ll be one of the young contenders to Michael Schumacher''s crown who''ll be stepping up to the royal box to collect the trophy this afternoon. Kimi R?ikk?nen and Fernando Alonso are in a league of their own here this weekend."} {"The June jewel has been intense right from the get-go first practice on Thursday, throughout the two qualifying sessions as well. And the margin between them on the grid is just eight one-hundredths of a second. And I understand that Jenson Button is coming towards me now..."} Fatih sat on one of the sofas, eyes glued to the screen, carefully watching the race that was about to start, determined not to miss a single moment. He had lucked out; his family had a subscription to a satellite channel provider that included international channels like ITV, which was now broadcasting the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2005. The race was taking place on May 22nd, just a week after his second birthday. "Can you understand it?" His mother, R¨¹meysa, entered the living room just as the race began and Kimi R?ikk?nen maintained his lead into turn one. She smiled, noticing him engrossed in the English channel. "Bu kadarc?k (Just this much)," Fatih replied, forming a small gap between his thumb and pointing finger, his small hands emphasizing the point as he looked up at his mother happily. These past two years, he had experienced familial love, a warmth he hadn''t truly felt in his previous life. Though he had loved his friends dearly, this maternal bond was profoundly different. He had realized he had no father; he hadn''t seen one since his vision cleared, and the meaning of Turkish words began to solidify in his mind. Yet, he wasn''t sad. One loving parent would have been enough, but he had two: his mother and his grandmother. As if to ensure he never felt the void of his father''s absence, both his mother and grandmother doted on him, showering him with attention. "Who do you think is going to win?" his mother asked, taking a seat beside him and gently lifting him onto her lap so they could watch the race together. "Kimi," he said, pointing a tiny finger at the onboard camera view of Kimi R?ikk?nen''s car as it navigated the Portier corner. His mother looked slightly surprised that her two-year-old knew the driver''s name. Her surprise quickly faded, however, when the commentator mentioned, {"...Kimi R?ikk?nen holding strong..."} Seeing her son, now resting his head on her chest, watching the race with such serious concentration, R¨¹meysa decided not to disturb him with more questions and settled in to watch with him. While the images of roaring engines and screeching tires filled his vision, Fatih''s mind was also racing. Ever since he''d realized he was born in 2003, he had been trying to determine if this was the same world he''d left or an alternate universe with a different history. He wasn''t well-versed in global events from this era beyond motorsport, so he was watching this race intently. Despite already knowing the results and any highlight-worthy incidents, if they unfolded as he remembered, he would be sure this world was the same. That confirmation would make his road to Formula 1 easier by several magnitudes. If things went differently, however, he would have to devise other strategies to ease his journey, a more difficult prospect considering their current living conditions. He was fairly certain they were a middle-class family, judging by the size of their house. But for a family at this level, funding a motorsport career was a monumental task unless one had exceptionally wealthy benefactors or found other unconventional paths into Formula 1. With each lap, as the counter ticked down on the screen, Fatih''s smile grew wider. Events unfolded exactly as he remembered: Karthikeyan, Coulthard, Friesacher, Liuzzi, all of them DNF''ing (Did Not Finish). His heart pounded in anticipation as the final laps approached. {The commentator''s voice rose with excitement: "We''re going to be watching R?ikk?nen win the race. Kind of understandably. And Kimi R?ikk?nen comes through, out of the final corner! Two in a row for the Finn! Another dominant victory, and Kimi R?ikk?nen wins on the streets of Monte Carlo!"} As R?ikk?nen crossed the finish line, Fatih couldn''t hold his happiness in any longer. He jumped from his mother''s lap, startling R¨¹meysa, who was amazed that the driver her son had predicted would win had actually done so, even if Kimi had been leading when he''d made the call. "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Fatih cheered, running in circles around the room, ecstatic for R?ikk?nen''s victory but even more so because he was now certain: this world was, most likely, the same as his previous one. R¨¹meysa watched him, a fond smile on her face, as he celebrated. "Do you like cars that much?" she asked once he started to slow down. "Yes! I love racing! I want to be a racing driver!" he declared. He stumbled over a few sounds and pronunciations, his two-year-old tongue still mastering the words, but his intent was crystal clear. After more than five minutes of exuberant celebration, his little body ran out of energy. He walked back to his mother, climbed onto the sofa beside her, and laid his head on her lap, drifting off to sleep. .......... While his physical body slept peacefully in the real world, his mother gently stroking his hair, Fatih''s consciousness was elsewhere. He found himself inside the Simulation, sitting on a paddock chair at the Silverstone circuit. Although he had yet to register a car he could drive, the Simulation was still accessible. It was just an empty circuit of his choice, so long as he spent SP to unlock it. So far, he had only unlocked Silverstone, the very track he was now visualizing. "Now that I''m sure," he murmured to the empty air, "I need to come up with a plan to make my journey up the racing ladder as easy as possible." He began to meticulously think through the ways he could achieve this. "The largest problem is going to be money," he mused. "I haven''t seen Mom or Grandma go to work at all. This means Mom is either on an extended maternity leave¡ªmore than two years now¡ªor we''re living off her savings, Grandma''s money, or perhaps an inheritance from Dad. Whatever the source, it''s unlikely to be enough for the massive investment motorsport requires, especially for what Mom would initially consider just a hobby for a child." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He continued, "The easiest way is to be signed by a racing academy. They would cover most of the costs. But that requires showcasing massive talent, which I''m confident I won''t lack. The problem is, I''m not sure if they even have scouts in Turkey during this period, or even in the next decade." "Other than that, there''s the route of using my future knowledge for investments. The memories I have that could be financially helpful are few, and some of the best opportunities haven''t even come into existence yet. Those will be crucial once I reach the money-hungry part of the ladder¡ªthe moment I leave karting. But even if other avenues open up, I still plan to exploit these memories." Slowly, he began to create a roadmap, piecing together the best path for his career. He used his memories and knowledge of upcoming regulation changes, the creation of feeder series, and the evolving ladder to Formula 1. Gradually, a rough plan started to take shape. "What do you think of it?" he asked once he had visualized the basic framework. A figure shimmered into existence beside him. Tall and imposing, with an aura of calm wisdom, it resembled the Greek mythological god he was named after. "It is a good basic plan," Apollo, his Mentor, replied, his voice resonant. "But you haven''t considered your mother''s input, Fatih. How will she feel about letting such a young child travel for all these events? Or if she will even agree to buy you a go-kart in the first place?" Fatih smiled. "That, I can try and convince her of. It will be difficult, but not entirely impossible." Chapter 4: Life in T眉rkiye II Chapter 4 - Life in T¨¹rkiye IIFor weeks, Fatih had repeatedly asked his mother for a go-kart at every opportunity. His plan was to continue asking until his next birthday, hoping persistence would secure it as a gift. Unfortunately, that plan was abruptly interrupted when, one day, his mother sat him down for an important conversation. "Mother has to return to Germany for work next month," R¨¹meysa said gently, her expression serious. Although she knew he might not fully understand the complexities, she felt it was better to tell him than to simply disappear one day, leaving him confused and questioning. "You have work?" Fatih asked, his small face tilted up to hers. "Yes, Mom does," she affirmed, choosing her words carefully. "I''ve been on parental leave for the last two and a half years, ever since your father passed away. Now, I need to return, or my three-year leave will expire, and I might have to reapply for my position." She spoke slowly, using simpler terms, ensuring he was focused. To her constant surprise, raising Fatih hadn''t involved the difficulties other mothers often described. She often wondered if it was simply her deep love for him, the invaluable help from her own mother, or if Fatih was truly one of those children often labeled prodigies. Unlike the stories she heard from friends, her son rarely engaged in dangerous antics, caused little trouble, and didn''t create messes when left unattended. He didn''t exhibit the typical childhood stubbornness or lose attention during conversations; instead, Fatih usually listened intently, as if he understood everything. And, barring a few complex topics, his actions often showed he did understand. She''d even worriedly asked his doctor about it during a check-up, only to be reassured that he was a perfectly normal, albeit very observant, child. "When are you leaving?" Fatih asked. He tried to remain calm, but his two-and-a-half-year-old body betrayed him, his face telegraphing a wave of emotions. "Next month," she answered, her own emotions welling up. This was why people said mothers had a weakness for their children; the look on Fatih''s face was almost enough to make her reconsider everything. But she knew she had to return to work. "Will you come back?" His voice was small. "Yes, of course. I''ll come visit you every chance I get, and you''ll be with Grandma." A flicker of his usual determination returned. "I want a go-kart when you come back," he said, sensing the emotional current. He needed to divert the topic before his mother cried, but also saw an opportunity to secure his most cherished wish. R¨¹meysa looked at her son, a mix of sadness and amusement in her eyes. "I will buy you one for your fifth birthday," she finally relented, "but only if you behave well and don''t trouble Grandma while I''m gone." "I promise I''ll be good to Grandma!" Fatih exclaimed, hugging her tightly, not wanting her to retract the promise. A go-kart three years away felt like an eternity, but a promise was a promise. R¨¹meysa was flabbergasted by how quickly her son''s sadness transformed into pure excitement at the mere mention of a go-kart. It was the final confirmation: her son was utterly captivated by motorsport. It was the only thing that elicited such an immediate, intense reaction. She made a mental note to research go-karting more thoroughly when she had the time. For the next month, R¨¹meysa, Fatih, and his grandmother spent nearly every day out together, visiting playgrounds, amusement parks, and anywhere a child his age might find joy. But inevitably, the day of her departure arrived. They parted sadly at the airport, and she returned to Germany to resume her work. Fatih had tried to learn more about her job, but she always answered vaguely. He had, however, managed to learn that his father, though of Turkish descent, had held German citizenship. This meant Fatih would have dual citizenship until he turned eighteen. After that, if Germany or Turkey allowed dual citizenship to be maintained, he would do nothing. If not, and he was required to choose one, he would make that decision when the time came. It was a problem for a much older Fatih, perhaps one with access to a computer to research the relevant regulations. For the next two years, R¨¹meysa called almost daily and used all her vacation days, a full month each year, to visit him in Turkey. During this period, Fatih diligently spent his allotted four hours daily in the Simulation. He meticulously wrote down everything he could remember from his past life, race details, technological advancements, and even significant global events. His Sponge Brain ability kept his memory sharp, but he wanted a written record for reference, reinforcement, and later verification. He dared not write these things in a physical book in the real world; if found, it would cause nothing but trouble. Thankfully, Apollo was there to keep him company during those long hours in the Simulation. But on the night he celebrated his fourth birthday, things changed. He logged into the Simulation after falling asleep, as usual. Instead of the familiar adult-sized Apollo, he was met by a child-sized version of his Mentor, waiting for him with an air of quiet anticipation. "What''s the occasion?" Fatih asked, surprised by the change. "You are now at an appropriate age to begin your training journey," child-Apollo stated, his voice still holding its characteristic calm. "This is the best age to build a perfect foundation. Starting tomorrow, your formal training commences." The moment Apollo finished speaking, a quest window materialized before Fatih: [Daily Quest (Repeatable)] A thousand-mile journey starts with a single step. Yours starts now. Tasks: * Neck Training (Incomplete) * Balance and Stability Training (Incomplete) * Reaction Training (Incomplete) * Endurance Training (Incomplete) Time Limit: 24 hours Reward: 1 SP Punishment: None (ACCEPT] \[DENY]) His first quest! Even though the reward was only one SP, it marked the beginning of him actively earning points. After quickly reading and understanding the terms, he pressed [ACCEPT]. "I will demonstrate the exercises," Apollo said. "Observe carefully. The System will notify you upon the completion of each training category." Apollo then began. "First, neck training." He stood straight, then gently moved his head from side to side, then up and down, for about a minute. "Next, balance and stability." He stood on one foot and performed light, controlled squats. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "For reaction speed, the System will project targets in the Simulation for you to interact with. For endurance training, it will be a light jog for five minutes." The exercises seemed more like gentle stretches than rigorous training, but Fatih understood they were appropriate for his four-year-old body. "Now, perform them so I can correct any mistakes before they become bad habits," Apollo instructed, stepping aside as a pen and notebook materialized in his hands, ready for note-taking. One by one, Fatih repeated the exercises, trying to perfectly match Apollo''s demonstrations. Despite their simplicity, Apollo still made several corrections. Exercising was foreign to him; in his previous life, any physical exertion beyond basic movement had only amplified his pain. Once all adjustments were made, and Fatih had repeated the corrected forms a few times to Apollo''s satisfaction, he was finally allowed to return to his note-taking within the Simulation. Later, back in the real world, a new thought struck him. "Looks like I need to make friends," he murmured to himself. He realized he''d need an excuse, like playing with friends, to go to the park regularly. This would allow him to do his daily exercises without his grandmother questioning why he suddenly wanted to go there every day, and without requiring her to accompany him constantly, as she had when he was younger. In the last two years, he hadn''t made any friends. He''d preferred staying indoors, partly to reduce the burden on his grandmother, and partly because, after years confined to a room in his previous life, he was still unaccustomed to spending extended time outside. His old room had been a prison, yes, but also a strange sort of safety cocoon. Unless he was with his mother or grandmother, he hadn''t ventured out much alone both because he was too young, and until now, he hadn''t had a compelling reason. Now, he did. Chapter 5: A Birthday, A Promise, and a Glimpse of the Future Chapter 5 - A Birthday, A Promise, and a Glimpse of the Future"What are you doing?" a boy, about six years old and holding a football, asked Fatih when he saw him methodically moving his neck from side to side. "I''m exercising," Fatih responded, not pausing. He glanced at the mental overlay from his System, which showed his neck training at 85% completion. "Wanna join us? We''re missing a person for our team," the boy offered. "Sure," Fatih agreed. Immediately, a notification popped up in his vision: [Neck Training (Complete)]. A small smile touched his lips. "I''m Emir," the boy said, bouncing with energy as he led the way towards the football pitch in the park. "What''s your name?" "Fatih," he replied, quickening his pace to keep up with Emir''s longer strides and enthusiastic speed. "When did you move in? I haven''t seen you around before." "I''ve lived here all along," Fatih explained. "I just hadn''t come to the park much." He wondered if their current pace would contribute at least ten percent to his endurance training for the day. "Guys!" Emir announced as they reached the fenced-off pitch. "This is Fatih, and he''ll be playing on my team!" With the teams now even at five players each, and after quick introductions, the game started. Thanks to his Catlex (Good) ability, Fatih found himself to be a surprisingly adept goalkeeper, his reflexes sharp. Throughout the game, G¨¹ldane, Fatih''s grandmother, watched from a nearby gazebo with a warm smile. She was happy he had finally made friends. She''d been a bit puzzled when he first started asking to come to the park only to do strange exercises by himself, but now, seeing him playing football so enthusiastically, her earlier concerns vanished. With Emir now a friend, Fatih had more freedom to visit the park. Emir would often come to pick him up, or Fatih would wait for his grandmother to finish her chores (helping as much as his small body allowed) before they went together. This new routine allowed him to earn his daily SP while also enjoying playtime with Emir, especially when Emir was back from school¡ªwhich Fatih himself was expected to start when he turned six. Time passed quickly, and before long, the much-anticipated day arrived: May 16, 2008. His fifth birthday. His mother, R¨¹meysa, had returned from Germany on Wednesday, two days prior, and had rested up. Fatih took a moment to check his System status: [Name: FATIH YILDIRIM] [Gender: Male] [Age: 5] [Date of Birth: May 16, 2003] [Abilities: Invictus (Ultimate), Simulation (Single Purchase), Mentor (Single Purchase), Sponge Brain (Good), Sponge Body (Good), Catlex (Good), Zone (Good)] [System Points: 840] [Evaluation: A youngling performing basic conditioning in preparation for his first drive. Yet to truly start his journey, but diligently building the perfect foundation.] A satisfied smile spread across his face as he looked at the amount of SP he had managed to collect. His initial 500 SP reserve had decreased to 475 after spending 20 SP to unlock the Silverstone circuit in the Simulation and an additional 5 SP on miscellaneous virtual items like notebooks and basic supplies. He had then earned 365 SP from completing his daily mission every single day over the past year. (If he completed today''s exercises, that annual earning would actually be 366 SP, as 2008 was a leap year.) "If I keep this up," he thought to himself, "I should be able to upgrade an ability every four years or so, or buy a new one every couple of years." He closed the System screen, his eyes refocusing on the world outside the car window. The 2005 Chrysler Town & Country was being driven by his mother, with his grandmother in the front passenger seat. Fatih was securely strapped into the middle seat in the rear. "I''ve looked into karts quite a bit over the past two years and learned a lot," R¨¹meysa said, her eyes meeting his in the rearview mirror. "For your first kart, we''re going to buy a used one. You''ll outgrow it quickly, and you''ll need a different one if you want to participate in proper competitions later. So, we''ll pick out the kart after we get you all the other equipment, okay?" To her slight surprise¡ªor perhaps, as she expected¡ªFatih didn''t throw a tantrum about wanting a new one. He just gave her a thumbs-up, the excitement on his face undiminished. ... "Welcome! How can I help you?" a shop worker greeted them warmly as they entered the karting store. "Wooooow," Fatih breathed, his eyes wide as he took in the sight. Bare kart chassis of different categories hung on the walls like metallic skeletons, and shelves were packed with colorful gear. "Thank you," R¨¹meysa replied. "We''re here to buy him racing equipment. We need a CIK-FIA Level 1 certified racing suit, a Snell K2005 certified helmet, karting gloves, racing shoes, a neck brace, and a rib protector." She recited the list as if she had memorized it, gesturing towards Fatih, who was already captivated by the karts on display. The worker listened attentively. "We have all of those available," she said with a smile, then looked at Fatih. "What''s his name?" "Fatih," R¨¹meysa answered. Fatih''s attention snapped back to them, and his mother beckoned him over with a wave of her hand. "Nice to meet you, Fatih," the worker said, crouching down slightly to his eye level and extending her hand. "Nice to meet you too," Fatih replied, shaking her hand politely. "He''s very respectful," the worker commented, glancing up at R¨¹meysa and G¨¹ldane, who were watching the interaction with pleased expressions. "First, let''s get your measurements and find you the right equipment." She gently placed a hand on his shoulder, guiding him towards the measuring area. Once his measurements were taken and the worker had gone to gather the items for him to try on, Fatih looked pleadingly at his mother. "Can I look around?" "Be careful and don''t cause any trouble," R¨¹meysa said, granting permission. She had yet to see him cause any real trouble when she gave him such instructions. "Thank you!" he said excitedly, giving her a quick hug before darting off to explore the massive shop, his eyes searching for fully assembled go-karts. And there it was. A sleek, aggressive-looking machine sat on a raised platform, gleaming under the shop lights as if it were a show car. "That''s a KF1 class kart," Apollo''s voice echoed in his mind. Knowing he didn''t have much time before he''d be called back, Fatih walked straight to it and reached out to touch one of its slick tires. As if prompted, the System immediately asked: [Would you like to register this vehicle? (First vehicle registration is free)] [Yes] [No] Without a second thought, he mentally clicked [Yes]. [Vehicle Registered! KART_KF1_2008_BASILINE_001 added to Simulation.] He felt a thrill that the registration was free, saving him 100 SP. He immediately opened his Simulation ability interface. [Simulation] Registered Vehicles (1/2): > KART_KF1_2008_BASILINE_001 He clicked on the highlighted name, and the detailed description appeared, just as he''d hoped. [KART_KF1_2008_BASILINE_001] -------------------------------------------------- VEHICLE ID: KART_KF1_2008_BASILINE_001 CLASS: CIK-FIA KF1 (2008 Homologation Era) STATUS: Ready for Simulation -------------------------------------------------- [CHASSIS SPECIFICATIONS] > Type: High-Performance, Direct-Drive Kart Chassis (CIK-FIA KF1 Homologated) > Material: Chromoly Steel Alloy Tubing (Typical Diameter: 30mm/32mm) > Wheelbase (Est.): ~1040mm - 1050mm > Adjustability: - Front Geometry: Caster, Camber, Toe-in/Toe-out - Ride Height: Front & Rear - Track Width: Front & Rear - Rear Axle: Interchangeable (Varying Stiffness) - Torsion Bars: Front (Standard), Side/Rear (Optional/Tunable) > Bodywork: CIK-FIA KF1 Homologated Aerodynamic Package (2008 Specification) - Includes: Nassau Panel, Front Spoiler, Side Pods, Rear Protection System [ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS] > Model Designation: Generic KF1-Spec Power Unit (Representative of 2008 Homologation) > Type: 125cc, 2-Stroke, Single Cylinder, Water-Cooled, Reed Valve Induction > Max Power (Est.): ~35-38 HP @ ~13,000-14,500 RPM > Max RPM (Est.): ~16,000 RPM (Regulated Limit May Apply) > Carburetion: Homologated Diaphragm Type > Cooling: Water-cooled via external radiator & belt-driven water pump > Exhaust: Homologated Tuned Expansion Chamber [DRIVETRAIN & STARTING SYSTEM] > Drive Type: Direct Drive (Chain to Rear Axle) > Clutch: Centrifugal, Onboard (Engages/Disengages at low RPM) > Starter: Onboard Electric Starter Motor > Power Source (Starter): Onboard Battery Pack [BRAKING SYSTEM] > Type: Hydraulic Disc Brakes > Configuration: - Front: Dual Discs (One per wheel), Hand-Operated or Pedal-Operated (Configuration Dependent) - Rear: Single Disc (Axle Mounted), Pedal-Operated > Bias Control: Driver-Adjustable Front/Rear Brake Bias [TIRES - DEFAULT LOADOUT] > Type: High-Grip Racing Slicks > Compound: Soft (Optimized for Maximum Grip, Moderate Wear Rate) > Size (Est.): - Front: 10x4.50-5 - Rear: 11x7.10-5 > Note: Tire model and compound can be modified within Simulation parameters using SP. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [PERFORMANCE METRICS - SIMULATED BASELINE] > Acceleration (0-60 mph / 0-100 km/h Est.): ~3.5 - 4.5 seconds (Surface/Gearing Dependent) > Top Speed (Track Dependent Est.): ~85-95 mph / ~137-153 km/h > Cornering Capability: Extreme Lateral G-Force Generation (>2.5 G) > Handling Profile: Highly Responsive, Physically Demanding, Requires Precision Input. [SYSTEM NOTES / QUIRKS] > The KF-era engine includes an integrated electric starter and clutch system, adding weight and complexity compared to later OK-generation karts. Battery management and starter system reliability were notable characteristics of this formula. -------------------------------------------------- [SIMULATION OPTIONS] > [DRIVE] > [SETUP & TUNING] > [COMPONENT SWAP] -------------------------------------------------- Chapter 6: Purchase Complete Chapter 6 - Purchase Complete"If you are aiming for Formula 1, this is the highest level of FIA-sanctioned karting," Apollo''s voice stated as Fatih finished reading the KF1 kart''s description, his eyes still wide at the speeds it could achieve on a long straight. "The regulations will change eventually," Fatih murmured, a satisfied smile playing on his lips, "but until then, practicing on this should be more than enough." He was thrilled to finally have a vehicle registered in the Simulation, but even more excited because, after five long years of waiting, he would finally start driving. "Your mother is calling you," Apollo interjected, cutting through Fatih''s excited train of thoughts, which had made him oblivious to the real world. "Coming!" Fatih called out, snapping back to reality. He walked back towards his mother, finding her with the shop worker who had already gathered all the equipment for him to try on. "Sorry," he apologized to the worker, who offered him a warm smile. R¨¹meysa then led him to a changing room to test the fit of the clothes. He began by putting on the fire-resistant racing underwear: long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and socks, followed by a balaclava. Next came the race suit itself, then the rib protector, neck brace, gloves, and shoes. Lastly, with a sense of ceremony, he put the vibrant red helmet on. The moment it settled over his head, an extreme sense of calmness washed over him. It was as if the outside world had been perfectly isolated, yet his connection to his immediate surroundings became incredibly acute. His legs, the only part of him touching the ground, felt hyper-sensitive to the slightest tremors. His eyes seemed to gather more information, every detail sharper, and his ears amplified the ambient sounds, each distinct and clear. With each passing second, these heightened senses intensified. ''So this is how it feels when Invictus (Ultimate) activates,'' he realized, immediately understanding the cause of his current experience. The ability''s description mentioned "...all forms of pressure while heightening physical sensitivity." He had initially wondered about the seemingly contradictory nature of that phrase, but now it made perfect sense. His ability was turning his body into an advanced sensor, picking up and categorizing vast amounts of data from his surroundings, all while keeping his mind perfectly calm under pressure. "How does it feel? Is it too stuffy?" his mother''s voice gently pierced through the strange sensory bubble, bringing him back to a more normal perception. "It feels fine!" he answered, his voice brimming with excitement. "Good," she said, pleased to see his undisguised joy. They then carefully removed all the gear, layer by layer, before leaving the changing room. "Any problems?" the worker asked as they returned. "None, he''s happy with them, so we''ll take them all," R¨¹meysa confirmed, placing the items on the counter. By the time they left the shop, R¨¹meysa had spent the Lira equivalent of about five hundred US dollars. It didn''t seem to faze her; she appeared to have budgeted for it. Picking out the actual kart was straightforward but was left for last. First, his mother took them to a restaurant for a birthday celebration meal. Consequently, by the time they arrived home after collecting the used go-kart, it was already evening. "You can drive it tomorrow," R¨¹meysa said, looking at the darkening sky with a slightly apologetic smile. She knew how cruel it could feel to get a new toy and then have to wait to use it. To her surprise, instead of the tantrum she half-expected, Fatih simply replied, "Okay." He glanced towards the boot of their car, parked in the underground garage, where the Bambino go-kart and the newly bought equipment lay waiting. He then turned to help his mother carry some of the smaller bags. "Is that normal?" R¨¹meysa asked her mother with a puzzled look on her face. "His behavior, I mean. I was sure it would have been difficult to convince him to wait until tomorrow." "I remember buying you new clothes for Eid when you were his age," G¨¹ldane said with a chuckle, reminiscing. "You nearly kept us awake all night when I told you that you''d have to wait until morning to try them on." She looked towards Fatih, who had placed the items down and was now jumping to reach the elevator call button, having arrived before them. "He is very mature for his age. I don''t know what made him that way, but it seems like you got lucky," she added. "I''m starting to get worried that he''s growing up faster than he should," R¨¹meysa confessed, watching Fatih, who now stood patiently by the elevator, smiling at them. A pang of bitterness hit her as she wondered if his accelerated maturity was because his father was gone and she herself was away for work so often. "Don''t worry so much," G¨¹ldane reassured her. "Each child grows at their own pace. And it''s not like he''s growing up this way due to hardship or neglect. You should be grateful he isn''t one of those troublesome kids." She paused, then added gently, "But if you want to be with him more, why not quit your job and spend time with him, at least until he starts school?" "And how are we supposed to live without an income?" R¨¹meysa countered. "You''re an executive already," G¨¹ldane rebutted, a familiar note in her voice. "And you can use the insurance money. It should be enough for you to not work for decades and still look after him comfortably. We covered this two years ago when you were planning on returning to work." "As I said then, that money will only be used for Fatih''s needs," R¨¹meysa stated firmly. "And from the looks of it, he''s completely infatuated with motorsport. If that passion continues, even that insurance money won''t be enough. I need to keep working to prepare for that possibility." "You know best, dear. But instead of worrying so much about the distant future, isn''t it better for him to grow up with his mother by his side now?" "I know that, and I''m working on a solution," R¨¹meysa said, her answer sincere enough to show she wasn''t just trying to end the discussion. "What is it?" G¨¹ldane asked, surprised. "Let''s wait until I have a definite answer. I don''t want to raise our hopes only for it to potentially fail," she replied as they entered the elevator, where Fatih had already pressed the button for the 4th floor. ..... "Finally," Fatih breathed as he entered the Simulation later that night, after finishing all his real-world routines and settling into bed. On the main screen of his Simulation interface, his registered vehicles were listed: [Registered Vehicles] > KART_KF1_2008_BASILINE_001 > KART_BAMBINO_2008_USED_002 The smile didn''t leave his face. "Let''s start with the easiest one first," he decided, resisting the immense temptation to jump straight into the powerful KF1 kart. He knew he had zero real driving experience from his previous life, so he had to follow a logical progression, even if he couldn''t get physically hurt in VR. Just as he was about to select the Bambino kart, he paused, a thought striking him. "Ah, I need a proper karting circuit, or it''ll take me fifteen minutes just to drive one lap of Silverstone in this thing," he chuckled to himself. He navigated to the Circuit Shop within the Simulation. "Which circuit is best for starting out in karts?" he asked Apollo, valuing his Mentor''s input since Apollo would be guiding his training. "I suggest this one," Apollo replied, and a specific karting circuit was highlighted among the many listed in the shop. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. > La Conca With the suggestion provided, Fatih immediately clicked to read the circuit''s description. [La Conca] -------------------------------------------------- TRACK ID: CIRCUIT_INTL_LACONCA_ITA_001 NAME: La Conca International Circuit (Muro Leccese) LOCATION: Muro Leccese, Lecce, Italy STATUS: Ready for Simulation Deployment -------------------------------------------------- [CIRCUIT CONFIGURATION - PRIMARY INTERNATIONAL LAYOUT] > Length: 1,250 meters (0.777 miles) > Width (Average): 8-10 meters > Direction: Clockwise > Number of Turns: 12 (Typically 7 Right, 5 Left) > Surface: High-Grip Asphalt > Kerbing: CIK-FIA Standard > Run-off Areas: Asphalt & Gravel ... [Press for more details] ... [Price: 10 SP] "Grade 6 tracks seem to be the lowest priced, with the price increasing by 2 SP for each higher grade. It seems the System has some conscience after all," he mused, noticing the price was significantly lower than what a Grade 1 F1 circuit like Silverstone had cost. He immediately clicked purchase. [10 SP Deducted. Current SP: 730]. La Conca was added to his purchased list. [Purchased Circuits] > Silverstone > La Conca After selecting La Conca, his virtual surroundings instantly shifted from the familiar Silverstone paddock to the pitlane of the Italian circuit. Not wasting a second to even look around, he selected his vehicle: KART_BAMBINO_2008_USED_002. The little kart materialized before him. Simultaneously, his virtual avatar''s clothes changed from casual wear into the full racing suit, gloves, and shoes, with his red helmet waiting on the kart seat. Picking it up and putting it on, he eagerly jumped into the Bambino kart. Chapter 7: First Laps, First Lessons Chapter 7 - First Laps, First Lessons"Wow," Fatih breathed the moment his virtual body settled into the Bambino kart. He instantly felt something he had only experienced once before: his Invictus (Ultimate) ability activated, making him feel as if his very being was absorbed and assimilated into the kart. Although it was the first time he was truly experiencing this sensation in a dynamic context and he couldn''t quite describe it, he could say for sure that he felt everything. He felt how his breaths shifted his weight minutely and how this, in turn, affected the kart''s balance, its center of gravity. He could sense the subtle flex of the chassis, the grip of each individual tire. ''I wonder what this would have felt like at Limit Break?'' he mused, but without a shred of regret for his earlier decision. He knew downgrading Invictus had been necessary to build the best possible foundation, and it gave him more time to understand his abilities and how to exploit them to their absolute limits. Now seated comfortably and acclimatized to the new, heightened sensory input, he started the kart. The engine coughed to life, and its tremors coursed through his body. He revved it a few times, his foot lightly on the brake to keep it stationary, enjoying the raw sound and the vibrations. Satisfied, he lifted his foot from the brake and steered towards the pitlane exit. The moment his Bambino kart entered the main straight of La Conca, he immediately floored the accelerator. He approached the first fast right-hander (Turn 1) at the end of the main straight. Being his first time truly driving, he braked earlier and more heavily than perhaps necessary. He then navigated the following right-hander (Turn 2), braking hard for the tight right-hand hairpin (Turn 3), focusing on a smooth exit into the subsequent left-hander (Turn 4). He accelerated down the short straight before tackling the double left-hand bend (Turns 5 and 6), trying to maintain momentum. Approaching the next left-hander (Turn 7), which led into the downhill section, he braked again. Then came the iconic descent: he carefully guided the kart through the downhill, tightening left-hander (Turn 8), then transitioned into the downhill then uphill right-hander (Turn 9), feeling the kart compress and unload. Exiting this section, he accelerated towards the wide right-hand bend (Turn 10), followed by the quick flicks of the right-left S-bend (Turns 11 and 12). He then braked hard for the wide left-hander (Turn 13) that led back towards the pit straight area, before finally navigating the last right-hand hairpin (Turn 14) onto the main straight. [Lap Time: 2:24:043] flashed on his virtual dashboard. Without a second thought, he continued, pushing for his next lap. For the following ten laps, he consistently shaved off at least a second with each run. He was attempting to get used to the overwhelming feedback coursing through his body, trying to filter and differentiate what each sensation meant, where it originated, and how to react. Throughout this initial exploration, Apollo watched in silence from the virtual pit wall, a faint smile on his face. He saw the raw improvements Fatih was making with each lap. They were crude, unrefined, but considering this was Fatih''s absolute first time driving anything, he was doing remarkably well. It wasn''t until an hour had passed, and Fatih showed no sign of even considering a stop, that Apollo finally intervened. He disappeared from the pit wall and reappeared at the start/finish line, a checkered flag materialized in his hand, waving it aggressively to signal the end of the practice session. Since the pit lane entry was at the beginning of the main straight, Fatih decided to take one final, slightly more aggressive lap before returning. "Why did you stop me? I was just getting into the rhythm!" Fatih protested after bringing the kart to a full stop in the pit lane, a hint of frustration in his voice. He felt like he was losing precious time he could have spent driving and enjoying himself. "Driving blindly, even in a simulation, won''t benefit you much in the long run," Apollo stated calmly. "It risks ingraining bad habits that would take significant time and effort to correct later. Let''s first start with foundational knowledge and progressively increase the difficulty as you master each task." He clapped his hands, and a large, holographic whiteboard shimmered into existence beside them. "Let''s start with the basics of the basics: types of corners," Apollo began, as images started materializing on the board. "Depending on interpretation, there are nearly limitless variations, but today we will stick to the fundamentals: right-handers, left-handers, hairpins, double-apex corners, and chicanes." "The images are largely self-explanatory, so let''s move to taking the corners. Cornering is essentially a three-step process: Entry, Apex, and Exit. How you execute these three phases can win or lose races." "Anything related to slowing the kart¡ªeither lifting off the throttle and coasting, or active braking¡ªis done during the Entry phase, along with the initial turn-in. Depending on the type of corner, you will either be accelerating during the apex or after the apex to maximize your exit speed..." What followed was a clear, concise explanation of basic cornering theory, delivered in an easy-to-understand manner, with Apollo ensuring Fatih grasped every concept. After the theory, practice followed. Being a proponent of action over mere words, Apollo said, "I will now demonstrate how to take each corner on this circuit using only the principles I have taught you. We will not move to the next lesson until you understand this." His own Bambino kart, identical to Fatih''s in every specification, materialized beside him. He hopped in and took it onto the track. Apollo rocketed down the main straight, the small engine screaming. He attacked the first fast right-hander (Turn 1) with precision. He flowed into the following right-hander (Turn 2), then executed a perfect late braking maneuver and rotation through the tight right-hand hairpin (Turn 3), getting on the power early for a strong exit into the left-hander (Turn 4). He powered down the short straight and carved through the double left-hand bend (Turns 5 and 6) as if it were one continuous, flowing motion. For the left-hander (Turn 7) leading into the descent, Apollo demonstrated a wide entry for a late apex. Through the descent itself, his control was sublime: a committed entry into the downhill left (Turn 8), then a perfectly balanced transition through the uphill right (Turn 9), using the compression to his advantage. He carried impressive speed through the wide right-hand bend (Turn 10), then flicked the kart effortlessly through the right-left S-bend (Turns 11 and 12). His approach to the wide left-hander (Turn 13) was smooth and fast, setting up perfectly for the final right-hand hairpin (Turn 14). Here, he demonstrated another masterclass in braking, rotation, and maximizing exit speed to launch the kart onto the main straight with optimal momentum. [Lap Time: 01:50:563] Apollo repeated this for the next five laps, each time matching his initial lap time almost exactly, ensuring Fatih saw and understood the consistency and precision required. "Now, you have half an hour to work on perfecting your cornering for this circuit," Apollo said after his kart came to a stop in the pit lane beside a still surprised and deeply impressed Fatih. Despite driving for an hour, Fatih''s fastest time was still over ten seconds slower than Apollo''s demonstration. It was a stark reminder that simply watching races in his past life wasn''t enough to be good; specific instruction and dedicated practice were essential. The moment Apollo finished speaking, a mission prompt appeared before Fatih: [Training Mission] You have learned the basics of cornering and have been shown an example. Objective: Achieve a lap time within 1.000 seconds of Apollo''s time. Target Lap Time:01:51:563 Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Time Limit: 30 minutes Reward: 10 SP Punishment: None [ACCEPT] \[DENY] He accepted immediately. With no punishment for failure, there was no harm in trying. As the timer started, he launched back onto the track, determined to perfect one corner at a time, then link them into sectors, before attempting full, fast laps in the final closing minutes. Chapter 8: Lucky Discovery Chapter 8 - Lucky DiscoveryFor the first five minutes of the mission, Fatih focused solely on perfecting his corner entries. He adopted a focused approach: on one lap, he concentrated on the odd-numbered corners (1, 3, 5, etc.), and on the next, he worked on the even-numbered ones (2, 4, 6, etc.). He repeated this cycle, drilling the initial turn-in and braking points until he felt he had made them as precise as he currently could. Next, he moved on to perfecting each sector individually, dedicating five minutes to refining his lines and flow through Sector 1, then Sector 2, and finally Sector 3. Twenty minutes of the thirty-minute mission had evaporated, yet he hadn''t put in a lap time that was even within five seconds of the target (01:51:563). Surprisingly, or perhaps expectedly given his unique mental fortitude, he felt no pressure despite only ten minutes remaining. His Invictus (Ultimate) ability seemed to neutralize the anxiety, allowing him to think clearly and analytically instead of being dragged down by the ticking clock. Feeling he had integrated the sector practice sufficiently, he decided to go for a full push lap. As he navigated the final right-hand hairpin (Turn 14), he committed. The moment his Bambino kart hit the main straight, he floored the accelerator. As he crossed the start/finish line, a holographic qualifying-style timer appeared in his vision, showing sector splits and his current delta, but he ignored it, focusing entirely on the track ahead as he barreled towards the first corner. He hugged the left side of the straight approaching the fast right-hander (Turn 1), using the entry kerb before braking moderately while turning in, hitting the apex precisely with the inside wheels, and letting the kart drift wide on exit, using the external kerb under full throttle. He kept the power down until turning into the second right-hander (Turn 2), braking later this time, keeping the kart close to the inside kerb without mounting it. He positioned the kart wide for the entry of the tight right-hand hairpin (Turn 3), braked heavily, released the brakes as the kart rotated sharply, clipped the apex kerb, and powered out towards the middle of the track. He kept the steering lock applied slightly longer than usual as he accelerated through the subsequent left-hander (Turn 4). He didn''t brake for the double left-hand bend (Turns 5 and 6), carrying speed through both apexes before braking on the short straight that followed. He attacked the next left-hander (Turn 7), leading into the descent, braking firmly before turning in wide, hitting a late apex, and using the exit kerb with just his right-side wheels ¨C correcting a mistake from practice where taking too much kerb had unsettled the kart. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Leaving the kerb, he immediately prepared for the descent. He braked briefly before turning into the downhill, tightening left (Turn 8), keeping it tight to the inner kerb. As he transitioned into the uphill right (Turn 9), he accelerated hard. For a split second, the rear of the kart stepped out in a small slide ¨C about a meter and a half ¨C but thanks to Invictus heightening his senses and Catlex speeding his reaction, he caught it instantly, maintaining a tight line. He accelerated out towards the wide right-hand bend (Turn 10), cornering smoothly near the middle of the track before braking slightly near the apex. He powered off the brakes and attacked the right-left S-bend (Turns 11 and 12) at full throttle, using the kerbs aggressively but staying within limits. He carried speed through the wide left-hander (Turn 13), staying slightly towards the center of the track to optimize his entry for the final right-hand hairpin (Turn 14). He braked heavily, rotated the kart, got back on the accelerator right at the apex, and kept his foot planted, determined not to lift until he crossed the finish line. [Lap Time: 01:50:983] The timing screen flashed the result. Sector 1 was yellow (slightly off optimal), Sector 3 was green (personal best), and unexpectedly, Sector 2 ¨C the section where he had the slide ¨C was purple (fastest overall)! [Mission Completed!!!!!] [+10 SP] He was so stunned by the mission completion prompt and the purple sector that he instinctively slammed on the brakes, sending the little kart into a long, screeching slide before coming to a stop. Overwhelmed, he quickly turned the kart around and headed back towards the pit lane, entering unconventionally from the track exit side. "I''m pretty sure the second sector should have been slower than optimal since I slid. Why did I get a purple sector for that one?" he asked Apollo as soon as he stopped, his voice filled with genuine surprise and confusion. "That slide is the reason you achieved the purple sector," Apollo explained, looking quite satisfied with his fast-learning student. "Inducing a controlled slide can allow for faster rotation in certain corners, effectively shortening the path or allowing earlier throttle application. It''s an advanced technique, something I planned to introduce after you mastered the basics. Congratulations on successfully completing the mission, and discovering a new technique, albeit accidentally." "However," Apollo continued, his tone shifting back to instructive mode, "you are not done just because you achieved the target time once. Consistency is paramount. Go back out and give me at least ten consecutive laps under 01:51:500 before we move to the next lesson." "Copy," Fatih acknowledged. He turned the kart around properly this time and headed back out, eager to replicate his success. He consciously tried to induce the slide again through Turns 8 and 9, but this time, he overdid it. The kart snapped sideways more violently. His Catlex reflexes kicked in as he counter-steered rapidly, but he couldn''t save it completely. The kart slid off the track, bumping through the grass and nearly tipping over before he wrestled it back under control, heart pounding despite the simulation''s safety. Shaken but undeterred, he drove back onto the track to complete the lap. Thanks to Invictus (Ultimate), the fear vanished almost instantly, his focus returning as he started the next lap, pushing hard again. It took another focused period of driving ¨C perhaps twenty minutes ¨C for his mind and body to fully adapt to the constant stream of information from Invictus and the nuances of the Bambino kart at the limit. He learned to differentiate the subtle feedback, understanding how tiny shifts in weight or steering input affected the kart''s balance. As a result, his driving smoothed out, and he began consistently lapping in the low 01:51s, occasionally dipping just below. Apollo, seeing the established consistency, reappeared at the finish line, waving the checkered flag once more. Fatih completed one final cool-down lap before returning to the pit lane. "How are you feeling?" Apollo asked, seeing Fatih still sitting in the kart, visor lifted, a look of exhilaration on his young face. "This is... exciting," Fatih said, his voice thick with emotion. "I can''t believe I''m actually experiencing this." A wave of thankfulness washed over him for the second chance, for this incredible opportunity. "Then you must ensure you do not let it go to waste," Apollo replied, recognizing the genuine gratitude. "If you maintain consistency in your training, combined with the abilities you possess, one day people will look to you as their inspiration, just as you watched others." He knew the System was tailored for motorsport; Fatih''s abilities would provide benefits in daily life, but they reached their peak potential here, on the path to Formula 1. But despite all of that, the System had no ability to force him if he didn''t truly want it, hence his genuine encouragement. "Don''t worry," Fatih said, his expression hardening with conviction. "I won''t laze around. I rested enough in my previous life. Now it''s time to achieve the dream I couldn''t then." "Good," Apollo said, a smile touching his features. "Now that the basics are established, I will demonstrate a lap pushing this kart to its absolute theoretical maximum, using all available techniques. This will be your new benchmark ¨C the target lap time you will constantly strive towards as you learn and improve. From now on, for every new car you register, I will set the optimal lap possible under ideal conditions, and your training will focus on consistently achieving times within a few tenths of that benchmark." As Apollo spoke, another identical Bambino kart materialized beside Fatih''s. Apollo boarded it, ready to set the ultimate target time for this kart on this track. Chapter 9: From Simulation to Reality Chapter 9 - From Simulation to Reality[Lap Time: 01:44:047] The timing screen in the Simulation flashed, displaying Apollo''s new benchmark. He had shaved more than six seconds off his previous basics-only lap, showcasing the true potential of the Bambino kart on La Conca when driven with advanced techniques. But he didn''t stop at one lap. Apollo reeled off nearly ten consecutive laps, each one almost an exact replica of the first, his driving a mesmerizing display of precision and control. Throughout this demonstration, Fatih watched intently from the virtual pit wall, his mind a sponge, absorbing every detail of Apollo''s lines, braking points, and throttle application. He planned to dissect the reasoning behind every action later. "That," Apollo stated, patting the sidepod of his virtual kart after coming to a full stop in the pit lane, "is as fast as this little machine can go on this circuit. When you can consistently match that time here, under these perfect conditions, few in your age group, in this class of kart, would be able to touch you." "I have a few questions about the things you did during that lap..." Fatih began excitedly, eager to understand the nuances. But he paused as Apollo, who was slowly reverting to his more familiar adult form, raised a hand to stop him. "Before you ask about what I did," Apollo said, his tone firm but fair, "first, try to replicate it. Attempt to deduce why I made certain inputs or took specific lines. Then, and only then, will your questions be truly constructive. Spend the rest of today''s session attempting to emulate what you saw. I will answer your questions and correct your mistakes afterwards. This approach will help you learn and develop a driving style that best suits you, rather than just blindly copying me. There are often multiple ways to achieve a similar result on track, and discovering what works for your innate talents is crucial." Apollo wanted to prevent Fatih from becoming reliant on simply being given answers, encouraging him instead to think critically and develop his own problem-solving skills ¨C a vital trait for any top-tier racer. "Copy that," Fatih replied, a new sense of determination filling him. He boarded his own Bambino kart and launched back onto the La Conca circuit, ready to push himself to understand and replicate Apollo''s masterclass. ....... The next morning, Fatih emerged from his room feeling fully refreshed. Despite having just woken up, the excitement from his previous day''s simulation session was still clearly visible on his face. "Good morning," he greeted his mother. "Good morning, sweetie. How was your sleep?" R¨¹meysa replied, pausing from mopping the patches of the living room floor not covered by the rug. "Good," he said, hugging her leg and looking up at her with a bright smile. "Go and clean yourself up before we have breakfast. Then, we''ll finally try out your new kart, okay?" she said, affectionately ruffling his hair. "Okay!" Fatih chirped, already heading towards the bathroom. It took nearly two hours before they finally finished breakfast. Part of that time was spent waiting for R¨¹meysa to cook once she had completed her morning cleaning routine. "Let''s see... a 16-to-1 ratio of fuel to oil," R¨¹meysa murmured, consulting the notebook that contained all the information on how to prepare and run the Bambino kart. Fatih watched her every move carefully, memorizing each step so he could eventually do it himself when she wasn''t around. "Now, let the engine idle for a few minutes to warm up," R¨¹meysa instructed after successfully starting the kart. She used a new cleaning towel to give the seat a final wipe-down while Fatih eagerly picked up his helmet. After five minutes, she finally gave him the nod. Fatih carefully boarded the kart. He started driving slowly across the underground parking lot, heading towards the exit ramp, waiting for his mother to catch up on her bicycle. She wasn''t planning on letting him go to the park alone just yet; there was always a risk he could do something dangerous, or that someone might try to interfere with a young child driving a motorized vehicle. Thankfully, the kart was fitted with a silencer that reduced the engine noise significantly without noticeably harming its performance. He spent a good three hours at the park, even having to return to their car once for R¨¹meysa to refuel the kart. The park was massive, and its network of paved pathways allowed him to mentally map out several different circuit configurations. He soon started pushing the little kart, applying everything he had learned in the Simulation. It seemed his Invictus (Ultimate) ability was incredibly effective at translating the muscle memory and sensory feedback from his virtual practice into the real world. He felt almost no disconnect. The main difference was the surface: the park pathways were mostly covered in bricks, with some unpaved sections, making it a much slipperier and more unpredictable surface than the simulated high-grip asphalt of La Conca. Yet, he adapted to it with surprising ease. "He seems to have forgotten the outside world even exists," R¨¹meysa remarked with an amused sigh, turning to her mother, G¨¹ldane, who had arrived about an hour earlier, intending to call them for lunch but ending up staying to watch Fatih''s enthusiastic driving. "At this point, I consider everything he does as being normal for him," G¨¹ldane answered, her eyes fondly following Fatih as he skillfully adjusted his route to ensure the pathways he was using were clear of pedestrians. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "If this interest of his persists," R¨¹meysa mused, "I''ll have to look into registering him in a proper karting academy or club so he can learn professionally. Plus, I''m sure it won''t be long before we start receiving complaints from neighbors worried about their own kids being hit by him." She glanced at a group of other children who had stopped their games and were now watching Fatih with wide, envious eyes. She knew that tonight, at least a few parents would be pestered to buy go-karts, and depending on their reactions, some might complain under the guise of safety, hoping to stop Fatih from inspiring more such requests. "Give it at least six months before making any big decisions like that," G¨¹ldane advised. "I don''t want him to feel obligated to pursue this just because he showed some initial interest, only to lose that passion later. If he''s still this dedicated in half a year, then we can explore academies. And who knows? Maybe this truly will be his career." As they conversed, they momentarily lost sight of Fatih. Then, the distinct buzz of the kart''s engine grew louder, and he came into view, pulling to a neat stop beside them. "Is there a problem, Fatih?" his mother asked. "No, Mom," he replied, lifting his visor. "That''s enough driving for today. I need to do it in moderation." At least, that''s what Apollo had told him earlier, reminding him that he still had his daily physical training mission to complete. The mission''s difficulty had recently increased, but in return, completing it now earned him 2 SP daily. Chapter 10: Rain, Recession, and Return Chapter 10 - Rain, Recession, and ReturnThe following days settled into a predictable rhythm for Fatih. Nights were dedicated to the Simulation, relentlessly practicing with his virtual Bambino kart on La Conca. During the day, he''d spend at least an hour driving his real Bambino kart in the park before returning it home. Then, he''d head out again, this time to play football and other games with Emir and his friends. He consistently had to deny their requests to drive his kart, explaining that they didn''t have the necessary safety equipment. He didn''t want his own karting privileges revoked because someone else got hurt. By the third week of this routine, R¨¹meysa had grown confident in Fatih''s carefulness. He had yet to hit anyone or have any dangerous accidents on his own. This led to her permitting him to take the kart to the park by himself, with either her or his grandmother still responsible for mixing the fuel, refueling, and starting the engine. Once R¨¹meysa returned to Germany after her vacation days were exhausted, Fatih diligently continued his schedule: his daily physical exercises, at least an hour of real-world karting, and then playtime with his friends. Surprisingly, no neighbors had come to complain to his grandmother about his karting. Or, if they had, it happened while he was at the park, and G¨¹ldane handled it discreetly without burdening him with the details. In the Simulation, his progress was tangible. [Lap Time: 01:44:050] The timing screen flashed as he passed the start/finish line on La Conca. He didn''t ease off, pushing straight into the next lap. [Lap Time: 01:44:047] Then another. [Lap Time: 01:44:058] And another. [Lap Time: 01:44:049] Lap after lap, he was consistently hitting times within a few thousandths of a second of Apollo''s benchmark (01:44:047). He continued this relentless pursuit of consistency until Apollo materialized at the start/finish line, waving the checkered flag. Fatih completed a cool-down lap before returning to the pit lane. "Congratulations," Apollo said, a note of approval in his voice. "It took you a month, but you can now hit the target lap time with remarkable consistency. We can now move to the next lesson." As if on cue, just as Apollo finished speaking, a brilliant flash of lightning split the virtual sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder. The previously sunny sky above La Conca was rapidly consumed by dark, ominous clouds, and moments later, a torrential downpour began. Within five minutes, the track was thoroughly soaked. The System then adjusted the rain intensity to perfectly match the track''s water clearing rate, ensuring a consistent level of wetness across the entire circuit. "Good luck," Apollo said with a hint of a smirk, now holding a virtual umbrella as he stepped aside. A new mission prompt appeared before Fatih: [New Mission!!!!!!!!!] All true racing greats excel in the rain. You must master it as well. Mission Objective: Complete one thousand (1,000) laps under these rainy conditions with a lap time of 01:55:000 or below. Time Limit: 1 Year Reward: Aquaman (Good) Punishment: None (ACCEPT] \[DENY]\) Although he would have accepted the mission regardless of the reward, Fatih''s curiosity was piqued. He clicked on the Aquaman (Good) ability to read its description: S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Aquaman] Category: Upgradable Level: Good Description: Enhances the user''s innate feel and control in wet or low-grip conditions. Improves the ability to read changing track surface moisture, predict hydroplaning risks, and optimize driving lines for maximum grip when water is present. Reduces the negative impact of spray from other vehicles on visibility. It was exactly what he thought it would be ¨C perfect for this challenge. He immediately closed the ability screen and accepted the mission. He instinctively floored the gas pedal, intending to head out, but the rear tires of the Bambino kart just spun uselessly on the slick virtual tarmac, sending up plumes of spray. He quickly released the accelerator, then gently reapplied it, feeling for grip as he carefully navigated out onto the track for an initial reconnaissance lap before attempting any timed runs. ... Time passed quickly, his days falling into a structured rhythm. While asleep, his four hours in the Simulation were meticulously planned. Apollo would spend the first two hours teaching him new racing concepts: advanced overtaking maneuvers, defensive driving techniques, tire management strategies, precise braking control (like mastering late braking without losing control or speed), throttle management (balancing acceleration to optimize traction and minimize tire wear), and more. Sometimes, Apollo would even act as an opponent, and they would battle lap after lap, Fatih either trying to pass or defend. The remaining two hours of simulation time were dedicated to driving under the relentless virtual rain, chipping away at the thousand-lap mission. It wasn''t long before September 15, 2008, arrived. The previous day, Sebastian Vettel had won his first-ever Formula 1 Grand Prix at Monza, becoming the sport''s youngest race winner at the time, sending shock waves across Formula 1. Now, a different kind of tremor was about to hit the world. "After exhaustive efforts to stabilize our financial position, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. We deeply regret the impact this will have on our employees, clients, and the global financial system. We are working..." Just as in his past life, the news of Lehman Brothers filing for bankruptcy blared from the television, marking the definitive start of the global financial collapse. Fatih, watching the news with his grandmother, knew that while he wouldn''t feel the crisis directly in the same way many others would, he might even benefit from some of its side effects, like the expected plummeting of oil prices, which had been very high. However, a knot of anxiety tightened in his stomach. This was going to be a very risky period, depending on how the sector, and specifically the company his mother worked for in Germany, would fare. Things could either continue as they were, or, in the worst-case scenario, his mother could be laid off. The thought worried him immensely. As if fate delighted in toying with him, just a month later, in mid-October, with the world rapidly sliding towards what would officially be termed the Great Recession, his mother returned. She hadn''t mentioned an early visit. And she arrived with a large amount of personal belongings, far more than usual for a short trip. It was a clear indication that she likely wasn''t returning to Germany anytime soon. What he had worried about had most likely happened. His face filled with concern for his mother as he wondered how she was feeling. He didn''t even care that his real-world go-kart driving might have to stop if she had indeed lost her job and they needed to reduce spending; he had the Simulation for practice, after all. His mother''s well-being was paramount. "What is the problem, dear?" R¨¹meysa asked, her voice gentle, noticing his worried expression the moment she stepped into the house. She had intended her return to be a happy surprise. "Mom," Fatih began, rushing to hug her tightly around her legs, "were you fired?" He raised his head to meet her gaze, his young eyes searching hers for an answer. Chapter 11: New Challenges Chapter 11 - New Challenges"What do you mean?" R¨¹meysa asked, genuinely surprised. Where had that question come from? And how could he even consider such a thing instead of being happy and welcoming her after her surprise return? "The people on TV said there was an economic collapse and people are losing their jobs every day," Fatih explained, pointing at the television as he spoke, carefully ensuring his speech matched his age. His response was met with looks of astonishment from both his mother and grandmother. They quickly covered their faces, trying to stifle their laughter, but failed, bursting into giggles. Fatih''s serious, concerned expression only made them laugh harder. "Nooo, sweetie, Mom wasn''t fired," R¨¹meysa managed to say, taking deep breaths between words, still recovering from her fit of laughter. "I just resigned because I got a new job here in Istanbul, so I can be with you every day." "Really?" Fatih''s face instantly lit up with a wide smile. "You''re not leaving for Germany again?" S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes, really. I''ll only be leaving for work in the morning and returning in the evening," she answered, finally dropping the bags she was holding near the doorway. She walked to the sofa and sank into it, momentarily devoid of the strength to carry them further. "Where are you going to be working?" he asked, following her, eager to know. This time, he hoped for a concrete answer, unlike before when she''d cited his age as a reason for her vague replies. "I''m going to be working here," she said, pulling a chocolate bar from her pocket. She pointed to the familiar logo on the wrapper as she handed it to him. "¨¹lker?" Fatih asked. This didn''t come as a surprise to the two adults; the brand was so well-known in Turkey that even a young child would recognize the name and associate it with their products. "Yes. I''m the new Vice Head of Legal there," R¨¹meysa said slowly, knowing he likely wouldn''t grasp the full meaning of the title. The moment Fatih received the answer he wanted, his attention shifted entirely to the chocolate. He climbed onto the sofa beside his mother and laid his head on her lap. She gently brushed his hair as he happily ate the chocolate, his previous worries completely vanishing, replaced by the pure joy that his mother would be with him much more, no longer limited to her vacation days. With R¨¹meysa''s return, Fatih''s daily routine didn''t change drastically, other than his mother now taking over the role of pre-mixing his go-kart fuel in the morning before she left for work. His grandmother still handled refueling when he wanted to drive. The most significant change was the evenings; after an initial week of settling in at home, R¨¹meysa started spending time with him in the park after she returned from work. By January 2009, R¨¹meysa had acclimated to her new role at ¨¹lker. This month also marked the first major change of the year for Fatih: his mother had taken him to sign up for a karting academy. This made him incredibly happy; it was a clear sign she was recognizing his passion and was even considering supporting him fully if it truly was his dream. "As you can see, because we have both indoor and outdoor karting tracks, our students can practice all year round, even in winter conditions like we have currently," the academy''s receptionist explained, giving Fatih and R¨¹meysa a tour of their facilities. "How are the timetables structured?" R¨¹meysa asked, looking around the well-lit indoor track. It was fully covered and heated, and several people were driving rental karts around its twists and turns. "Since we operate as both a rental karting facility and a professional karting academy, our schedule is structured accordingly," the receptionist elaborated. "On weekdays, from 3 PM to 6 PM is dedicated academy time, with one-hour slots for different age groups and kart types. On weekends, it''s the opposite: morning until noon is for the academy, and the afternoons are open to the public for rental karting. You can choose how many days a week your child attends, and we''ll set a timetable based on that. However, we recommend a minimum of two days a week, as our curriculum is quite comprehensive, and it takes time to teach children his age properly." She continued, her voice enthusiastic, "Once they pass the basic training, we assist them with the application for the appropriate TOSFED (Turkish Automobile Sports Federation) karting license for their level. This license allows them to participate in all motorsport competitions covered by it. As long as a student continues to develop, we are also responsible for helping them upgrade their license accordingly. And, as one of the reputable academies, we often receive information regarding upcoming competitions a few days ahead of the public announcement, allowing our members to register early for the categories they are eligible for." The receptionist delivered her well-rehearsed speech, making sure to highlight as many benefits as possible, even hinting at potential future glory. She knew many children who signed up would lose interest within a few months, but that wasn''t her concern; her job was to get them signed up. R¨¹meysa took a moment to digest the information. Even if only a few of the promises were delivered upon, professional training would still greatly benefit her son if his passion continued ¨C and it seemed more and more likely with each passing day. Barring the winter days when the park was covered in snow, he hadn''t missed a single opportunity to drive his kart. In fact, his continuous use over seven straight months had necessitated a complete engine rebuild by a mechanic. "So, how is the pricing?" she finally asked the most important question. "Pricing depends on the number of lessons per week and is paid quarterly. An average single day of training is about 50 Lira (approximately ($30- $35) USD in early 2009)," the receptionist stated. She inwardly frowned; this was usually the point where she lost most potential customers. She quickly deployed her countermeasure: "But please don''t worry if that seems expensive. It''s quite competitive compared to other academies, and we also offer scholarships for students who demonstrate exceptional talent. We see it as a way of supporting them, as their success ultimately enhances our academy''s prestige." She had used this approach many times. A child would drive a few laps, a trainer would declare them a "diamond in the rough" needing some polishing, and then they''d offer a ten percent scholarship. More often than not, parents, eager to believe their child was special and acknowledged by professionals, would sign up. Seeing the hopeful smiles on both R¨¹meysa''s and Fatih''s faces, the receptionist knew she had them. "So, what does the test involve?" R¨¹meysa asked expectantly, quite sure her son would qualify for a scholarship. If he didn''t, who would? "We''ll call our instructor. Your son will be given ten minutes of practice to get used to our karts and the indoor track. After that, he''ll be required to drive ten timed laps. His average lap time will determine the level of scholarship he receives. And," she added, pointing to a large board displaying various lap records, "if he breaks the existing lap record for his kart category on that board, he will be fully sponsored and receive his training for free, under the agreement that he races as a student of our academy for the duration of the sponsorship year." The board showed times set by academy instructors for larger karts, and by exceptionally talented former students for smaller categories like the Bambino karts. "What do you think, Fatih? Do you want to try?" R¨¹meysa asked her son, who had been gazing intently at the karts circulating on the track. "Yes," he replied, his answer directed not only to his mother but also to the System mission that had just appeared before him. [Urgent Mission!] The truly great often don''t pay; opportunities are provided for them to prove their worth. Seize this chance and benefit without financial investment. Objective: Break the official Bambino Kart lap record for this academy''s indoor track. Rewards: Full Scholarship, 50 SP Punishment: None (YES] \[NO]) He mentally selected [YES]. How could he deny an opportunity to reduce a potential financial burden on his mother, regardless of her ability to fund it? "Then please follow me to the waiting room while I brief the instructor and start the preparations for the test," the receptionist said, her widest, most professional smile firmly in place as she escorted them back into the main building connected to the indoor karting track. Chapter 12: The Scholarship Test Chapter 12 - The Scholarship Test"Just do the usual," the receptionist murmured to Burak, the driving instructor, as they walked. He had been enjoying a rare moment of rest after his Saturday training schedule, only to be called back to assess another child, likely to tell the parents the kid had "talent." "Teach him the basics, tell his mother he''s a fast learner, and then send him out for a timed lap. As long as it''s within twenty seconds of the lap record, we can offer her a ten percent discount. If not, we can reduce that to five percent. It''s all factored into the initial pricing anyway." Burak knew better than to complain aloud. Racing was an expensive sport, and running an academy even more so. These parents paid his salary and, more importantly, funded the training for the genuinely talented kids he occasionally found, the ones he knew could go far and make him proud. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I know, I know," he sighed, a hint of weariness in his voice. He''d just finished a session with some particularly unruly children a few hours ago. "How many times are you going to repeat this?" "Every single time," she retorted. "I don''t want a repeat of the disaster your former colleague caused." She was referring to an incident where a previous instructor had bluntly told a wealthy father his son had no talent, infuriating the man who was trying to live vicariously through his child, whom he believed was a motorsport genius. "But that kid was a minute over the lap record," Burak muttered, remembering the boy. "If he had lied, wouldn''t it have been worse for us when, despite ''training,'' the kid showed no improvement?" He recalled being surprised the boy had even managed to finish a lap without hitting the tire barriers, a frequent occurrence in his previous attempts. "Anyway, let''s focus," the receptionist said, cutting him off as she knocked on the door of the waiting room where she had left Fatih and his mother. "I''ve brought him," she announced upon entering, gesturing to Burak. "This is our driving instruc¡ª" She paused mid-sentence, surprised. Fatih was already fully kitted out in his racing gear, his helmet and balaclava neatly placed on the table beside him, clearly ready and waiting. "Oh, I got his gear ready to not waste too much of your time," R¨¹meysa explained, noticing the receptionist''s expression. "Oh, okay," the receptionist said, her voice trailing for a moment before she recollected herself. "This is our driving instructor, Burak. He''ll be responsible for teaching Fatih the basics and overseeing the test." "Nice to meet you, my name is Fatih," he responded immediately, getting up from his chair, already picking up his helmet and balaclava, eager to get to the track. This would be his first time driving on a proper, dedicated karting track in the real world. "Nice to meet you, Fatih," Burak replied, observing the boy carefully. He was correctly and fully kitted out in proper safety equipment. ''All the gear, no idea?'' Burak wondered silently, a common cynical thought among instructors for kids whose parents bought expensive equipment for amateur pursuits. After greeting R¨¹meysa, he turned back to Fatih. "Since you have all the equipment, we can move to the basics training immediately, if you''re ready." "Yes, we can start," R¨¹meysa answered, also getting to her feet as they all headed back towards the indoor track. ........ "Have you driven a kart before?" Burak asked Fatih, who now stood beside a gleaming red Bambino kart, his balaclava and helmet already on. "Yes." "Good. So, you know the basics already? Did you learn at another academy?" "I know the basics," Fatih confirmed. "But no, I didn''t learn it from an academy. My mom bought me a kart last March, and I''ve been driving it every day in the park, practicing alone." "Okay," Burak said, sighing internally. ''Kid''s probably bragging, been driving crudely around cones,'' he thought. "Since you say you know the rules, I''ll have you drive a few probing laps first. We''ll see what you know and if you need a refresher on anything. Understood?" "Yes," Fatih replied as he expertly hopped into the kart. Burak powered it on. "You can go now," the instructor said once the engine was running and Fatih was blipping the throttle, his foot on the brake. "Shouldn''t I wait for the engine to warm up a little?" Fatih asked, genuinely surprised he was being told to go immediately. "No need, you can go," Burak waved him on, already starting to walk back out of the pit lane towards the observers'' room just behind it. Given permission, Fatih didn''t linger. He lifted his foot from the brake and accelerated smoothly out of the pit lane. He had already studied the track layout displayed in the waiting area and memorized it, forming initial racing lines in his mind. Now, he just needed to adjust them based on the actual grip levels. ..... While R¨¹meysa and the receptionist made small talk, Burak was completely silent, his eyes fixed on the small kart circulating on the track. His initial casual observation had sharpened into keen interest. ''Where did he learn that?'' he asked himself, watching Fatih weave gently on the straights to warm his tires, clearly performing a reconnaissance and warm-up lap simultaneously. This continued for three laps. With each new lap, Fatih subtly altered his lines, exploring different parts of the track, obviously testing for grip. Burak''s train of thought was abruptly interrupted as he saw the boy approach the final corner before the main straight. Instead of braking conventionally, Fatih seemed to carry more speed, stepping on the gas early, and letting the kart run wide onto the straight, foot still hard on the accelerator. ''He''s starting a flying lap!'' Burak realized, instantly grabbing the stopwatch from the windowsill and clicking it the moment Fatih crossed the start/finish line. The kid braked incredibly late for the first left-hander, hitting the middle apex perfectly before accelerating out. He took the second corner of the following chicane without braking at all, keeping the engine singing on the short straight. As the lap progressed, the surprise in Burak''s eyes grew, widening with each corner. Fatih was employing techniques far beyond what any beginner, let alone a six-year-old with only park experience, should know. He was trail-braking into turns, subtly shifting his weight to the outside on corner entry to load the outer tires for more grip, allowing for higher entry and exit speeds. He even used the brakes to induce a hint of oversteer ¨C a controlled brake-steer ¨C to help rotate the kart in tighter, higher-speed sections. His throttle application was smooth and precise, his steering inputs minimal, maintaining momentum while adhering to an almost perfect racing line, consistently using the areas of maximum grip. "Oh my god," Burak breathed, unable to contain his astonishment. He glanced at the stopwatch in his hand as Fatih flashed past the start/finish line, completing his first flying lap, but the boy hadn''t slowed, immediately launching into a second. [01:35:276] was the time for the first lap. Burak quickly reset the main timer but kept the lap split. [01:35:256] on his second lap, Fatih had shaved off two-hundredths of a second. [01:35:263] a tiny loss on the third, but still faster than his first. Then the times tumbled: [01:35:201] [01:35:196] [01:35:163] [01:35:129] [01:35:087] [01:35:026] And finally, on his tenth timed lap: [01:34:875] With each lap, he had consistently refined his lines, pushing closer to the limit, breaking his previous best or matching it. His tenth and final flying lap was nearly half a second faster than his first. He then completed a cool-down lap before smoothly pulling into the pit lane. "Are you sure he hasn''t received any professional training?" Burak asked, his gaze lifting from the stopwatch to R¨¹meysa, his voice tinged with disbelief. He wondered if he had misheard Fatih earlier. "No, none at all," R¨¹meysa replied, a curious look on her face as to why he was so insistent. "He only watches Formula 1 races and drives the kart I bought him alone in the park. That''s precisely why I decided to register him here, so he could receive professional training." "What is it, Burak?" the receptionist interjected, prompting him for the expected "he has potential" speech, internally pleased. The instructor''s acting seemed much improved today; he looked genuinely serious. "Your son," Burak said, turning to R¨¹meysa, his voice now filled with genuine excitement, "just broke the Bambino lap record for this track by more than seven seconds." He then looked at Fatih, who was still sitting patiently in the kart. "He''s a genius," Burak added, a wide smile spreading across his face, his eyes sparkling. He realized he had just stumbled upon the kind of student instructors dream of, one who could bring glory to both the academy and himself. "What?!" Both the receptionist and R¨¹meysa exclaimed in unison, though their reasons for surprise differed. The receptionist was shocked because the boy had just unequivocally earned himself a full scholarship, blowing her usual sales tactics out of the water. R¨¹meysa, on the other hand, was stunned and overjoyed to hear that her son, so passionate about racing, truly possessed an extraordinary talent for it. What more could a mother ask? Chapter 13: A Mentor鈥檚 Conviction Chapter 13 - A Mentor''s Conviction"As I was saying," Burak continued, his earlier astonishment giving way to unrestrained enthusiasm, "your son is a genius. I''m not saying this just to coax you into having him join the academy, but I''m absolutely certain no one his age ¨C no one I''ve ever seen ¨C could do what he just did, especially in such a short period. It took him only three laps to get used to both the kart and understand this track''s grip levels and racing lines. After that, he immediately started putting in hot laps. Every single one of them was within half a second of each other, and more importantly, they were all more than seven seconds faster than the existing track record for this type of kart! That record, by the way, was set by a kid two years older than Fatih, who had been training on this specific track for over three years. He knew this circuit inside and out. That wasn''t the case for your son at all." Burak was on a roll, words tumbling out. "Calm down, Burak, you''re starting to ramble again," the receptionist interjected gently, trying to prevent him from overwhelming R¨¹meysa. It was a characteristic of his; his passion for motorsport could trigger these enthusiastic, sometimes lengthy, monologues, which could seem adorable or odd to those unfamiliar with him. "I''m sorry about him," the receptionist said to R¨¹meysa, offering an apologetic smile. "He''s just incredibly excited about the talent your son has shown." "Ah, apologies," Burak said, scratching the back of his head, a flush of embarrassment rising as he realized he''d been carried away. "I can''t hold myself back when I find such a talented child out of nowhere." "It''s quite alright," R¨¹meysa replied, waving a dismissive hand, though the proud and excited smile never left her face. "Everyone has their own way of expressing excitement." A brief, slightly awkward silence followed before R¨¹meysa broke it. "So, is the testing officially done, or was that still considered the practice session it initially was?" she asked, keen to move things forward. "There''s no need for any further testing," the receptionist stated decisively, knowing that if she left it to Burak, he''d have Fatih drive another ten laps just for the pleasure of watching. "He has already met all the qualifications to receive a full scholarship. We can move to the registration immediately if you''re still planning to go forward with his application." She then peeked through the observation room door. "It''s done, Fatih, you can come in." Fatih, who had been patiently sitting in the kart awaiting instructions, nodded, climbed out, and walked into the observation room, taking off his helmet as he went to sit next to his mother. "Aren''t you curious about whether you passed or not?" Burak asked, noticing Fatih calmly joining his mother, their conversation seemingly unrelated to his lap times. "I broke the lap record," Fatih stated simply. "How did you...?" Burak began, surprised. While there was a timing board, it wasn''t typically used for these initial assessments. "I counted in my head while I was driving," Fatih replied, delivering a well-practiced fib. The System, of course, displayed his lap times in real-time, and he''d received a notification of mission completion after his very first hot lap. "..." Burak was momentarily speechless. He just accepted it. The kid was a monster if he had enough spare mental capacity to accurately time himself while learning a new track and pushing the limits. "Please follow me to fill out his application," the receptionist said, guiding them to a meeting room. "We''ll need his health information to show he''s fit and able, a passport-sized picture, a copy of his birth certificate, and a document of parental consent for our license application procedure with TOSFED. As for the rest, we''ll be responsible for handling those." The remainder of the day passed quickly. It only took about an hour to complete the forms and go through all the registration procedures. They agreed on a training schedule of three days a week: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Burak enthusiastically volunteered to be Fatih''s primary driving coach, an offer R¨¹meysa and Fatih gladly accepted. After bidding them farewell, R¨¹meysa took Fatih shopping as a reward for earning the scholarship before they headed home. For the following months, Fatih''s days settled into a predictable pattern. The main change was his regular attendance at the Karting Academy. He also started subtly requesting a computer from his mother, planting the seed in preparation for his upcoming sixth birthday, which was now just two months away. ...... "What? You want to register him for a championship when he only started formal training three months ago?" the Academy Director asked Burak, his eyebrows raised in surprise at the audacious request. "Yes, Director," Burak affirmed. "In these few months, he has absorbed everything I can possibly teach him at this stage. Most of his academy time is now spent garnering experience, track time, and competing in practice races against other children. And in those races, he''s consistently lapping everyone else by more than two laps by the end of the session. I genuinely don''t see any benefit in him training at this same level for another year before participating in official competitions." Despite trying to maintain his composure, Burak could feel his usual enthusiastic rambling starting to take over. "Stop, stop, stop," the Director interrupted, holding up a hand, clearly taken aback. "By more than two laps? Are you absolutely sure about that?" "Yes, Director! Since the practice races are half an hour long, his speed and incredible performance consistency allow him to lap the entire field within just ten minutes. Depending on track conditions, and assuming no one crashes into him ¨C which he usually avoids as if he has eyes in the back of his head ¨C he will have lapped them at least twice by the end. The results are the same even when I make him start from the very back of the grid in nearly all races. He''s in the lead within the first ten minutes and then just extends it, lapping them with the remaining twenty..." "How old is he again?" the Director asked, trying to recall the details. He remembered being informed about a talented child breaking a lap record and receiving a full scholarship but hadn''t focused on the specifics of his age. "He is currently five but will turn six during the championship season, so he will be permitted to participate as per TOSFED regulations," Burak answered, having meticulously prepared and reviewed the rules beforehand. "You do realize that participating in these championships costs the academy a significant amount of money, don''t you, Burak?" the Director said, his gaze steady. "And since he''s a scholarship student, all of those expenses will be coming directly from our budget. You''re asking the academy to heavily invest its resources to support a child who isn''t even six yet, in a championship category designed for kids aged six to eight." "I am certain he will be among the top contenders, Director," Burak stated confidently. "And since he will be racing in our academy-branded kart, the amount of positive exposure and prestige we will receive if he performs well should far outweigh our expenditure on him for this championship." "That''s if he actually delivers on your claims. Otherwise, it''s a waste of money," the Director countered, still skeptical. "His current records are against other inexperienced children at our academy. You want to take those results and pit him against kids who might be on their third year participating in this national championship, and you expect him to beat them and be among the title contenders?" "Yes, I do," Burak said firmly. "Normally, I would say he will win it outright. But, taking into consideration factors outside his control, I''ve conservatively estimated him as a contender. If none of those external factors play a significant role, he will most certainly win the championship by the end of the season." "Haaaaa..." the Director sighed, rubbing his temples. Common sense screamed at him to disapprove; it seemed like a potential waste of funds and risked putting immense pressure on a young child if he were to be crushed by more experienced competitors after being labeled a prodigy. "How about we do this?" Burak interjected, sensing the Director''s hesitation. This was his trump card. "If he doesn''t win the championship and isn''t in the top ten overall by the end of the season, I will personally cover all the costs incurred by the academy for his participation. But if he wins, or is in the top ten, the academy will match his prize money, if any, as a sponsorship stipend. How about that? There''s nothing for the academy to lose." If this failed, Burak was prepared to enter Fatih as an individual, without official academy backing. "You would go that far for him?" the Director asked, genuinely surprised by Burak''s conviction and personal financial risk. "Yes. That is how much I believe in his work ethic, his talent, and his passion." "Alright then, how about this," the Director proposed, offering a compromise. "We will sponsor his entry. However, if after the second championship round he is not ranked within the top ten overall, you will have him withdraw from the remainder of the championship." He saw Burak about to negotiate further and quickly added, "And if he wins the championship, I will personally double any prize money he receives as his reward from the academy." "Then please approve his application," Burak said, a triumphant smile spreading across his face as he slid a pre-filled championship funding application document across the desk. Only the Director''s signature was missing. The Director picked up a pen. Just as he was about to sign, he looked up. "Have his parents approved his participation in this championship?" "Yes," Burak replied, smoothly sliding another document forward ¨C a parental consent form, already signed by R¨¹meysa. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Director looked at Burak one last time, a wry smile playing on his lips. His attempts at delaying had failed. He had no other option but to keep his side of the agreement. He signed the document. Chapter 14: New Rules and First Duel Chapter 14 - New Rules and First Duel"What is the competition going to be like?" Fatih asked Burak as he emerged from the dressing room, helmet in hand. They walked towards the exit leading to the academy''s outdoor kart track, which was finally available for use. It was late March, and the spring season had officially begun. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since this was the first day the outdoor track was usable after the winter break and it wasn''t yet open to the public, Burak had requested it for Fatih''s practice. The director had approved, given Fatih''s upcoming championship participation. The track itself wasn''t scheduled to open to other students or the public until the following week, after the instructors had completed several reconnaissance laps to ensure everything was in order. "Do you know much about karting competitions and championships beyond what you see in Formula 1?" Burak asked, holding the door open for Fatih before following him out. "No, not really," Fatih admitted, stopping to wait for Burak to catch up after he closed the door. "My knowledge is mostly F1-related." "Then take a seat," Burak said, gently guiding Fatih by the shoulder towards some chairs under the shade of an umbrella. "Let me explain everything before we start, as our practice today will be based on that format." Once they were settled, Burak began. "The championship we''ve registered you for is called the TOSFED Minik Kart ?ampiyonas? (TOSFED Mini Kart Championship). It will run over six rounds, with one round taking place each month, starting in April and concluding in September. The races will be held at different tracks across the country, with the first and final rounds taking place here in Istanbul." He continued, "The race weekend format is somewhat similar to Formula 1, but condensed, starting on Saturday and ending on Sunday. First, there''s a practice session. Depending on the number of participants, this can be divided into groups, with each group typically getting two twenty-minute practice slots. This is followed by a qualifying session. After that, we have the heat races, then a Pre-Final, and lastly, the Final race." "If the number of participants is large enough to require splitting into groups from free practice, then qualifying will also be done within those initial groups. An overall qualifying list is then compiled by merging the times from all groups, ranking drivers from first to last. This overall ranking is then used to determine the starting positions for the heat races." "As for what heat races are," Burak explained, "you can think of them as shorter races. Their main purposes are to help set the final grid and, in some cases, to eliminate some drivers if the field is very large. If there are multiple heat groups, each driver will race in a number of heats equal to the number of groups minus one, ensuring they race against all other groups. In each heat, drivers are awarded points, typically zero points for the winner, with the points increasing for lower positions. After all heats are completed, these points are tallied. The drivers with the lowest total points get the best starting positions for the next stage. A pre-determined number of drivers at the bottom of this heat classification might be eliminated." "Then, those eliminated drivers might be given a last chance in a separate repechage or ''last chance'' race to see who can fight their way back into the main event. Finally, there''s the main Final race, which will be the longest of the weekend, a twenty-minute race plus one lap. The winner of the Final receives 25 championship points, followed by 20 for second, then 16, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, down to the fifteenth finisher receiving 1 point. Just like in many other motorsports, the driver with the most championship points at the end of all six rounds wins the championship. The overall champion receives a prize of about 1,500 Turkish Lira (around $1000 USD in 2009), the runner-up gets 1,000 Lira, and third place receives 500 Lira." Burak paused, noticing Fatih had been listening intently without interruption. "Did you understand all that, or are you just nodding?" "I understood," Fatih confirmed with a nod. Internally, however, a wide smile spread across his face. He had finally found a potential source of early funding for his plan to benefit from his future memories! This had been troubling him for some time, making him worry he might miss crucial opportunities due to a lack of capital. This prize money, though modest, could be a start. Of course, it all depended on whether his mother would allow him to use any money he earned as he desired, or if she''d save it for him, though the latter seemed less likely given her support. "Good then," Burak said, satisfied. "Let''s start practicing. Until the actual competition, you''ll be racing against me. I''ll be in my own kart, but I''ll limit its performance to match yours." They headed to the storage room to retrieve their karts, and Burak grabbed a helmet for himself. ...... They both spent about ten minutes on reconnaissance laps. The outdoor track was dusty from its prolonged period of disuse and hadn''t been cleaned yet, making some areas quite slippery. Burak wanted them both to identify these patches, and for Fatih, driving this specific outdoor kart for the first time, it was a chance to learn the circuit''s nuances. Once Burak deemed the initial practice sufficient, he slowed down near T14, the final right-hander onto the main straight, waiting for Fatih to catch up so they could begin their mock race. Just as Fatih was navigating the T9 chicane, a mission prompt flashed in his vision forcing him to slow down: [Urgent Mission!] Your instructor is preparing for a practice race. Your karts are matched for power (his is heavier but slightly derestricted to compensate). There is no reason to lose. Objective: Race your instructor. Take and keep the lead, defending effectively and preventing him from overtaking you until the end of this practice session or until he restarts the race. Reward: 10 SP Penalty: None (ACCEPT]/\[DENY]) Fatih glanced at where Burak was waiting near the end of the lap, then immediately accepted the mission. He instantly started weaving aggressively down the straight between T9 and the flat-out left-hander T10, trying to generate as much heat in his tires as possible, bringing them towards their optimum temperature as he approached Burak, who was now moving at a snail''s pace. "We follow safety car restart procedures!" Burak shouted as Fatih pulled up beside him. "You can only overtake once we pass the start/finish line, okay?" Fatih nodded. He slowed for T14, tucking in right behind Burak. The moment Burak hit the apex of T14, he accelerated hard. Fatih, thanks to Catlex (Good), reacted almost simultaneously. His lighter kart gave him a slight edge in initial acceleration, and he stayed glued to Burak''s gearbox, benefiting from the slipstream. He even brought his head forward and lowered his torso, creating a mini-DRS effect that gave him an additional speed boost, bringing him closer and closer to Burak''s rear bumper as they blasted past the start/finish line, officially starting their race. With the speed advantage from the tow and his aerodynamic tuck, Fatih immediately jinked to Burak''s left as they drag-raced towards the braking zone for the first right-hander, T1. As they neared the braking markers, neither seemed intent on braking early, a test of nerve. Burak looked intent on pushing Fatih wide if Fatih didn''t yield. Fatih was the first to blink, or so it seemed. He braked hard, much harder than optimal for T1, but it was a calculated move. Burak, committed to out-braking him, inevitably ran slightly wide, missing the perfect apex. Fatih, having braked earlier and more sharply, was able to turn in tighter, get on the power sooner, and hit the apex, immediately snatching the lead. He took the following left-hander (T2) smoothly, then set up for the double right-hand chicane (T3 and T4), navigating it precisely and using the kerbs to straighten his line. He accelerated towards the small left-hander (T5), going through it flat-out as if it were a straight line, hugging the left side of the track, then immediately prepared for the right-hander (T6). He carried good speed through T6, hitting the apex and going wide before taking the right-hander (T7), hitting its apex and going slightly wide on the exit while accelerating earlier and harder, achieving a smooth exit. This led him towards the left-hand hairpin (T8), where he hugged the right side of the track on approach, braked late, rotated the kart sharply, and powered out by taking a very late apex. He used that late apex exit to attack the T9 chicane (Right-Left-Right) aggressively, then went flat-out through the sweeping left-hander (T10). He trail-braked expertly for the right-hander (T11) that led into the right-hand hairpin (T12), taking a conventional but fast line. He then powered through the flat-out left-hander (T13) before braking precisely for the final right-hander (T14), completing the first racing lap well ahead, with Burak now following, trying to close the gap. ''Oh, my god, his defense is scary!'' Burak thought, recalling how Fatih had made that clever braking move into T1 to take the lead, and then how he''d masterfully controlled the kart through every subsequent complex. This became the pattern for the next laps. Fatih defended as if he had eyes in the back of his head, never once looking back, instead using the sound of Burak''s approaching kart to judge his position and speed before executing perfectly timed defensive moves, blocking Burak''s attacks. Since their karts were closely matched in performance, the concertina effect in the corners played a role. Despite all Burak''s efforts like late braking, trying to force mistakes by applying immense pressure, even giving Fatih a slight nudge to induce panic while Fatih drove as if he were seasoned driver, defending corner after corner, lap after lap, for the next twenty minutes without a single significant mistake. ''With his racing instincts and tactical acumen, if someone beats him during the actual championship, I don''t know what my reaction will be,'' Burak mused, feeling it was enough practice for now. He silently peeled off into the pit lane. Fatih realised this as he crossed the start/finish line and heard Burak''s engine note fade, looked back and saw his instructor waving from the pit entry. He completed one final cool-down lap before joining Burak in the pit lane, marking the end of their first intense practice session on the outdoor track. [Mission Complete!!!!!] [+10 SP] Chapter 15: Predictions and Preparations Chapter 15 - Predictions and PreparationsThe television commentators'' voices crackled with escalating excitement, narrating the drama unfolding on the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne: Jonathan Legard: {He''s got a good run on him now... Oooh, Vettel went very deep into that corner!} Martin Brundle: {Indeed, he has. He''s kept track position, though, and he''ll just... Kubica trying to go around the outside... they''re side-by-side!} (On screen, Vettel''s Red Bull and Kubica''s BMW Sauber were locked in a desperate battle for second place.) Martin Brundle: (His tone becoming more analytical, almost a warning) {Always brake it early there... It''s brake very early for that one...} Jonathan Legard: (Voice spiking with urgency) {There''s gonna be contact there, surely! Yes, there is! They''re coming together! There goes Kubica! There goes Vettel!} The images on Fatih''s television showed the two cars making heavy contact, both skittering off the track and into the run-off area, their podium hopes evaporating with just laps remaining. Jonathan Legard: (Lamenting) {Oh, the last thing they needed to do! Vettel''s lost his front wing! And Jenson Button will be romping clear now! That''s the last thing Red Bull and BMW Sauber needed.} Martin Brundle: {So, the Safety Car will be instantly deployed, no doubt about that. And Jenson Button surely is the victor of this Australian Grand Prix! That moves Barrichello up into second place for a Brawn GP one-two! And Vettel... look at him, nursing that car, shredding his left front tire there... and well, that was clumsy stuff from the pair of them, really. A disaster for both Vettel and Kubica who were looking set for a podium.} Burak, watching the first race of the 2009 season at nine in the morning, had a look of utter disbelief etched on his face. The race had ended exactly how Fatih had predicted it would yesterday. Fatih had forecasted a Brawn GP one-two finish, and until three laps before the race concluded, that had seemed highly improbable. Then, the crash and the subsequent safety car ensured it happened. Even if the one-two hadn''t materialized, another of Fatih''s predictions would still have been correct: he had confidently stated that the race winner would be Jenson Button of Brawn GP. This was a team resurrected from the ashes of Honda (who had decided to completely pull out of Formula 1) for the nominal price of one pound, making them the least likely contender for this year''s championship. Yet, instead of being backmarkers or even midfielders, they had gone on to win the very first race. "One correct prediction is luck, but getting two of them right... that''s insane luck," Burak muttered to himself as he turned off the TV. He had to get to the academy for his morning driving lessons. "If I had bet on that outcome, how much would the payout have been?" he wondered as he closed the door of his apartment and walked down the corridor to call for the elevator. If he had placed bets on both Jenson Button winning and Brawn GP securing a one-two podium, he was sure he would have earned at least a tenfold return. But what intrigued him most wasn''t the potential betting returns; it was how Fatih could have possessed such confidence in Brawn GP''s performance. Their financial situation was precarious, their engine supply from Mercedes was a last-minute deal (requiring McLaren to forgo their exclusive engine supply agreement), Honda had agreed to finance their year''s operations only as part of the exit, and they faced numerous other challenges. "I''ll just ask him during the next practice class," Burak resolved as he boarded the elevator, already looking forward to Monday, Wednesday, and especially the upcoming Sunday ¨C the first race weekend of the TOSFED Minik Kart ?ampiyonas?. The academy had already ensured everything was in place for Fatih and their other four competitors in the championship. Only Fatih was on a full scholarship while the rest were covered their own participation fees and expenses through the academy, whose prices had risen slightly this year to discreetly cover Fatih''s costs ¨C a measure the academy director had implemented to avoid any financial losses from the scholarship. ........... "I told you so," Fatih said, turning to his mother with a triumphant smile as they watched the Brawn GP cars take their one-two finish behind the safety car. As usual, when his mother had found him in the living room earlier that morning, already awake and waiting for the race to start, she had asked him who he thought was going to win. Fatih, ever the opportunist, had replied, "Will I get something if I guess right?" R¨¹meysa, used to his playful nature, chuckled. "What do you want this time? Let''s hear it first," she said, settling down beside him to watch the race together. "I want a computer as my birthday gift, and I want to use the money from winning the karting championship to buy a camera," Fatih declared, trying to put on a serious negotiating face, which, with his lingering baby fat, came out as nothing but adorable. "Why are you already thinking of spending money you don''t even have yet?" R¨¹meysa asked, a smile playing on her lips, though she genuinely wondered where his unwavering confidence in winning the championship came from. "I''m confident that I can win," Fatih stated firmly. "So, does that mean you agree to my terms?" "Only if you can correctly guess the top three finishers of this race, in order," R¨¹meysa countered, sure she had him. "If you get even one wrong, you''ll only get a computer if you win the championship, and I''ll keep any prize money safe for you to use on normal things when you''re older. Okay?" She had asked him for winners before, but never the full podium. "First place will be Jenson Button, Brawn GP. Second place, Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP. Third place, Jarno Trulli, Toyota," Fatih recited with a serious expression knwoinng that the third place is going to be very controversial. "Wait, let me write that down," R¨¹meysa said, feigning utmost seriousness to not forget, though internally she knew that even if his guess was wrong, she was already planning on buying him the computer for his birthday. She could use it for her work from home, and she recognized that computer literacy was becoming increasingly essential; an early start for Fatih would be beneficial. "But what do you need the camera for?" she asked as she jotted down the names and their finishing order. "I want to be a YouTuber!" Fatih exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement at the thought. "Why? Don''t you want to be a racing driver anymore?" R¨¹meysa asked, surprised that her son was showing such keen interest in something other than becoming a racing driver. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Because I can be both," Fatih said simply, "and make more money." But in his mind, there was a deeper reason. He aimed to build an undeniable reputation for his strategic vision in motorsport. By consistently demonstrating uncanny insight into race outcomes and strategy, he would ensure that when he became an F1 driver, his calls wouldn''t be met with resistance. Teams would learn from his proven record to trust his judgment most of the time. This would eliminate the need to force unconventional strategic actions, like pitting when told to stay out and demanding specific tires based on future knowledge of impending rain or other factors, which, while they may be considered legendary later, could easily create a difficult or unreliable impression early in his career before he''d built that pattern of perfect calls. Furthermore, building a wide audience from social media''s infancy would dramatically enhance his appeal to the public and sponsors, making him a highly attractive asset for any team. It would also provide an independent source of funds he could use to exploit his memories further. He was, in essence, killing many birds with one stone. Chapter 16: TOSFED Mini Kart Championship Day Chapter 16 - TOSFED Mini Kart Championship DayThe Bambino kart screamed as Fatih, at full throttle, navigated La Conca''s sweeping Turn 13. He hugged the left side of the track, preparing for the final right-hand hairpin. Leaning his body outwards to maximize grip on the outer tires, he braked hard, turned in, and clipped the early apex. The rear right tire lifted momentarily as the kart drifted towards the middle of the track. He smoothly reapplied the accelerator, but perhaps a fraction too aggressively; the kart gave a slight twitch on the slick, rain-soaked surface. His Catlex-enhanced reflexes and Invictus-honed sensitivity allowed him to catch the slide almost instantly, his hands a blur on the wheel. He corrected, then pressed the accelerator again, taking the final straight slightly off the drier racing line. A timing screen flashed in his vision: [Lap Time: 01:53.846] Simultaneously, his mission counter updated: [Rain Mastery Progress: 993/1000] He didn''t lift, pushing straight into another hot lap. [Lap Time: 01:53.620] [Rain Mastery Progress: 994/1000] On the next lap, disaster. He tried to carry more speed onto the main straight by using the conventional dry line through the hairpin, but the moment he accelerated, the rear snapped. He fought it, but the slide was too pronounced, scrubbing off precious time. [Lap Time: 01:55.323] The time was outside the mission''s required 01:55:000. No progress. He refocused, nailing the next two laps. [Lap Time: 01:53.946] [Rain Mastery Progress: 995/1000] [Lap Time: 01:53.106] [Rain Mastery Progress: 996/1000] The moment lap 996 registered, he began a cool-down lap. He didn''t even complete half of it before his consciousness was abruptly pulled from the Simulation. His allotted time was up, returning him to the peaceful darkness of sleep. ....... "...atih... Fatih... Fatih!" R¨¹meysa''s voice gently pierced the remnants of his dreams. Fatih cracked an eye open, finding his mother looking down at him. "Five more minutes..." he groaned, turning over and burrowing deeper under the covers. "You can sleep five more minutes," R¨¹meysa said, a teasing lilt in her voice, "but we''ll be late to the track, and you might not be allowed to enter the championship." Vwhump! Fatih shot upright as if spring-loaded, eyes wide, all traces of sleep instantly banished. He whipped his head towards the bedside clock: 07:19. He leaped out of bed. "Good morning, Mom!" he chirped, already halfway to the bathroom, leaving R¨¹meysa trying to stifle a laugh at his sudden transformation. "Morning, Grandma," he greeted G¨¹ldane, who was preparing the breakfast table, as he passed her on his way to the bathroom to brush his teeth before calling his mother to help him with his bath. "I really wanted to finish that mission last night," he said with a hint of disappointment that he couldn''t complete it when he was so close. He had been at it for over nine months, which might seem like plenty of time to accomplish it. However, more than five thousand of his laps had either not met the minimum lap time or had been abandoned due to mistakes ¨C slides, crashes from carrying too much speed, or being too cautious. These "deleted laps" happened frequently at the start, with the mistakes reducing significantly the longer he practiced. Thanks to his Invictus (Ultimate) and all his other abilities, he had learned and adapted incredibly fast, reaching a point where he sometimes sustained more than twenty consecutive laps in rain and changing conditions, often more than two seconds faster than the minimum required lap time. Normally, he wouldn''t have complained, as he could just complete the remaining laps today. But the sight from the small bathroom window ¨C large raindrops continually pelting the glass ¨C was the reason he was a bit sad he didn''t have Aquaman (Good) yet. "You can just finish the remaining laps on the track if it is wet," Apollo said, interrupting Fatih''s thoughts and causing the hand that was brushing his teeth to pause, his face covered in surprise. "I can do that?" he asked, wanting to be sure. "Yes," Apollo affirmed, his translucent figure materializing beside the sink, visible only to Fatih. "The mission parameters never stipulated completion solely within the Simulation, nor exclusively at the La Conca circuit. It only specified the lap time benchmark, which was determined by La Conca''s layout. The System will adjust the required lap time for the Istanbul Karting Park circuit. Should the real-world track conditions meet the ''wet'' criteria, your laps will count." As Apollo spoke, the relevant lines from the mission text highlighted themselves in Fatih''s system interface: [Objective: Complete one thousand (1,000) laps under these rainy conditions with a lap time of 01:55:000 or below (Benchmark: La Conca).] The key was "these rainy conditions," not "this specific simulated track." "Good," Fatih said, spitting and rinsing his mouth before going to call his mother, telling her he was ready for his bath. Everything from his bath to breakfast was completed in less than an hour. Soon after, he, R¨¹meysa, and G¨¹ldane descended to the underground parking lot, took their car, and started heading to Istanbul Park Karting, where the first round of the TOSFED Minik Kart ?ampiyonas? was to take place on Saturday, April 4th. Having left home around eight, the journey took nearly an hour and a half. ''Looks like the rain reached here as well,'' Fatih thought, peering out the window from his rear seat as they passed through the security gate and drove towards the parking lot. The asphalt was dark and glistening. "We''re not late, are we?" R¨¹meysa asked Burak, her voice tinged with anxiety after exchanging greetings. Burak had come to meet them at the parking lot, having received her call about their arrival. "Still half an hour before Group A''s practice starts," Burak reassured them, shaking R¨¹meysa''s hand and giving Fatih a welcoming wave. "Fatih is in Group B, so he has at least fifty minutes before he''s on track." "Ah, thank God," R¨¹meysa sighed, visibly relieved. "I was worried the unexpected traffic and this rain would make us miss the practice session." "Yeah, the rain hasn''t helped anyone''s schedule," Burak chuckled as they began walking towards the paddock for Fatih to complete the final verifications. ...... Inside a bustling organizer''s tent, Fatih stood with Burak and R¨¹meysa before a table where a race official meticulously reviewed their documents. "Parental consent form, check. Racing license, check. Participation type: Academy. Academy registration form, check. Kart scrutineering pass, check..." The official ticked off items on his checklist, his pen scratching against the paper. "Okay, everything checks out," the official finally declared, signing an approval form and placing it in a dossier marked with a large ''213''. "His championship number will be 213. Head over there and pick up his number stickers." He pointed to an adjacent tent, handing them a stamped document. "Good luck," he added, offering Fatih a smile and a small wave as they departed. After collecting a set of ten stickers of various sizes, all bearing the number 213, they made their way to their team''s tent. A large banner proclaimed ''FATIH KARTING ACADEMY,'' the academy''s name coincidentally matching Fatih''s own, as well as the name of the municipality where he lived. Inside, five brand-new karts stood on stands, gleaming under the tent lights, each bearing the academy''s livery and the driver''s name. Four already had their number stickers applied; Fatih was the last of the academy contingent to arrive. "Nice to meet you," R¨¹meysa said warmly, joined by G¨¹ldane, as she approached the parents of the other four participants. Burak handled the introductions before excusing himself to greet the other young drivers before moving to attach the sticker on Fatih''s Kart. Fatih would be meeting his teammates for the first time, as they were in different training classes, and no one else from his specific group was participating in the championship. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 17: Race Weekend | Saturday Chapter 17 - Race Weekend | SaturdayA look of pure surprise plastered Fatih''s face. It was quite the opposite reaction one might expect from a child who had just been subtly belittled by the group of boys he had approached. "No, I don''t have a father," Fatih stated, looking directly at the tallest of the four boys. From their brief exchange, Fatih had already assessed him as the group''s leader ¨C arrogant, and clearly believing himself to be the best driver competing today. "So, the answer to your question about whether I''m here because my rich father forced the academy to include me among its representatives is... no." "So, how are you here? You''re just a newbie, aren''t you?" the boy, named Sel?uk, scoffed, not even bothering to acknowledge Fatih''s answer about his father. "Or is your grandfather rich? Or did the teacher just pity you?" "The teacher recommended me," Fatih calmly replied, pointing towards Burak, who was currently engaged in conversation with the lead instructor for this particular group. "He said I''m talented." "Talented? You?" Sel?uk scoffed, tilting his head back so far that he could barely see Fatih''s face without straining. His lackeys immediately chimed in, finishing his thought. "He came ninth last championship! And he''s expected to win this year! And you say you''re talented?" ''Hahahahahahahahahahhahaha,'' Fatih heard Apollo''s familiar, booming laughter echo in his mind. He pinched the bridge of his nose as his Mentor floated around him, clutching his stomach as if struggling to breathe. ''His parents should have taught him manners by this age, but I''m sure they''re the ones encouraging this arrogance,'' Fatih thought to Apollo, a sigh escaping him. He quietly turned and started walking towards his kart. As an adult mind trapped in a child''s body, he could only handle so much childishness. He wasn''t about to engage in a verbal spat. "Korkak (Coward)!" one of the boys taunted as they saw Fatih turn and leave without a retort. ''Why didn''t you fight back?'' Apollo questioned, floating beside him. ''Isn''t it better to do the talking on the track?'' Fatih mentally retorted, a small smile touching his lips. He finally had a clear target, an additional spark of motivation. But before he could formulate another thought, a massive System screen materialized in front of him, causing him to stop dead in his tracks. [URGENT MISSION!] The truly great do not argue; they do their talking on the track. Objective: Finish every session in this race weekend ahead of SEL?UK as a direct response to his arrogance. Reward: 15 SP Punishment in case of failure: -10 SP (It will be deemed their arrogance was warranted.) He accepted the mission without a second thought, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. ''I should thank them instead!'' ''Looks like the System might issue missions related to people''s actions around me,'' he mentally noted. ''This is something I could potentially exploit for hundreds of additional SP, depending on the scale of future situations.'' "How did the conversation with your new friends go?" Burak asked as Fatih arrived at his kart. Burak had just finished meticulously placing the final number sticker on the side bumper. "Not well," Fatih replied, touching the kart, which looked completely new, from the chassis all the way to the wheels. "Yeah, that was expected," Burak said, patting Fatih''s shoulder. He''d anticipated that outcome, given the behavior of Sel?uk and his clique. ''Thankfully, they''re not in my class,'' Burak thought. ''I couldn''t deal with that behavior. Sel?uk''s own instructor is far too lenient, probably trying to get closer to Sel?uk''s father, who owns a lucrative car spare parts business, including go-karts.'' "Do we use new karts for every competition?" Fatih asked, steering the conversation away from the other kids. "No, we use new kart chassis every two championships," Burak explained. "Once the wear and tear reduces a chassis''s performance, we convert it into a rental kart and replace it with a new one for the following championship. This season, we''re using new ones because Sel?uk''s father donated these to the academy. Otherwise, we would have been using last season''s chassis." As they conversed, R¨¹meysa and G¨¹ldane joined them, having finished their conversation with the other parents. They then moved towards the grandstand to watch Group A''s free practice, which was about to begin. ..... [P1 - Group A FP1 - Lap Time: 01:33.547]The temporary screen displayed the fastest lap time set by the current P1 driver in Group A''s free practice, a kid named Jackson. "He is last season''s championship winner," Burak informed Fatih, who was intently watching the other kids'' hot laps. "He is good," Fatih commented, but internally, he completed the sentence: ''...for a kid his age.'' Although Jackson was currently P1, Fatih noted his apparent difficulty driving on a wet track, forcing him to drive slower than optimal. That was Fatih''s assessment, at least, as he had yet to drive on this specific track in wet conditions to gauge the true level of grip. "You''re better," Burak said, adjusting Fatih''s race suit collar, which was crooked. "Thanks," Fatih replied, as both R¨¹meysa and G¨¹ldane watched the interaction with proud smiles. Time sped by, and before long, Group A''s fifteen minutes of free practice were nearing their end, prompting Burak to say, "Our time is approaching, so let''s get ready." "Good luck!" "I''ll be cheering you on from here!" Both his grandmother and mother enthusiastically wished him well as he acknowledged their cheers, walking towards the garage and pit lane. As he walked, he glanced at the screen one last time to check Sel?uk''s time, which had just been registered while they were walking. [P2 - Sel?uk - Lap Time: 01:33.924] was Sel?uk''s lap time, instantly putting him in second place on the screen. Fatih silently acknowledged that Sel?uk was indeed good for someone his age, but that didn''t deter him from wanting to respond to his arrogance on the track. Upon arriving at the paddock, only a few minutes remained before Group B''s free practice was about to start. Fatih hurried to put on the final pieces of his racing gear, including his rib protector, balaclava, and helmet. He and Burak then walked as they pushed Fatih''s kart towards the pit lane for final technical inspections and a headcount. The inspection was done very quickly, just moments after Group A''s free practice concluded. All the Group A participants entered the pit lane but were stopped at the entry point, waiting for Group B to enter the track before they would be allowed to proceed to the rest of the pit lane. "Get in," Burak said, as soon as he finished placing the kart down for Fatih. The moment his body settled into the new kart''s seat, a massive System screen appeared in front of him. [YOU ARE ABOUT TO PARTICIPATE IN TOSFED MINIK KART ?AMP?YONASI] [A Championship Mission has been generated] [SEASONAL MISSION: THE FIRST CROWN] Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Your journey to becoming the Greatest Of All Time begins not with a single lap, but with a season of unwavering performance. The Minik Kart ?ampiyonas? is your first arena. Your task is to conquer it. Mission Objectives: Milestone 1: Participate in all of the sessions of the race weekend. Milestone 2: Achieve Pole Position. Milestone 3: Set the Fastest Lap. Milestone 4: Finish the Race (Score Points). Milestone 5: Become Driver of the Weekend (System Award). Rewards: Milestone 1 Completion Reward: 10 SP Milestone 2 Completion Reward: 10 SP Milestone 3 Completion Reward: 5 SP Milestone 4 Completion Reward: SP equal to points earned in the Race. Milestone 5 Completion Reward: 5 SP Additional Rewards: Overtake: +1 SP Brilliant Overtake: +5 SP Defense: +1 SP Brilliant Defense: +5 SP A Perfect Weekend (All Milestones Completed & Consistently Dominant Performance): Additional50 SP Punishment in case you fail to meet any of the milestones in at least one session of a championship weekend: -100 SP This mission will continue until the end of the championship, where all rewards will be tallied and a completion rate will be given. Depending on the overall rating, additional rewards will be granted. Additional SP can be earned if you complete hidden milestones during the championship period. [ACCEPT] [DENY] Chapter 18: Race Weekend | Saturday II | First Practice, First Statement Chapter 18 - Race Weekend | Saturday II | First Practice, First StatementIt was a no-brainer for him to accept the mission. However, a punishment of losing 100 SP if he failed to achieve at least one of the milestones during a race weekend felt brutal, yet understandable. For him to become the Greatest Of All Time, he needed to consistently deliver peak performance. So, he immediately clicked accept, finally having a mission that could potentially allow him to rake in over a hundred SP per weekend, adding up to nearly a thousand SP over the short championship season. While Burak was starting the kart, and Fatih waited for it to heat up and for the green flag from the pit lane, he accessed the [Rain Mastery] mission details. He noticed the description had changed slightly. [Rain Mastery Mission] All true racing greats excel in the rain. You must master it as well. Mission Objective: Complete one thousand (1,000) laps under these rainy conditions with a lap time of 01:55.000 or below in La Conca Karting Circuit | 01:30.000 or below in Istanbul Karting Park. [Rain Mastery Progress: 996/1000] ''Four laps,'' he thought to himself. ''I need to put them in early before the track dries enough that it exits the conditions needed for the Rain Mastery mission.'' He revved the kart with his foot on the brake, further warming up the engine. A moment later, the green flag was waved, and the pit lane exit opened. Fatih and nineteen other kids in Group B immediately started entering the track. The very first kid, accelerating too quickly, instantly slid, spun, and ended up facing the wrong way ¨C a stark warning to the others not to be overly ambitious on the damp surface. ...... "Come here, I prepared a seat for you," Sel?uk''s mother beckoned to him. Sel?uk had just returned from his Group A practice session, handing over his kart to the academy for cleaning and minor setup checks. The moment he took a seat, his mother pulled out a bottle of juice, opened it, and handed it to him to rehydrate. As he began drinking, she took out a towel and gently dabbed the sweat from his face and hair, carefully avoiding his mouth. "So, did you manage to get used to the track?" his father asked him, undeterred by his wife who was still wiping Sel?uk''s brow. "Yes, I''m getting more confident," Sel?uk replied with conviction. "You better be, or I would have rented the track last week for nothing," his father stated, his tone matter-of-fact, taking his son''s answer as expected. "Since the track was wet, I could only get P2, but as it''s drying, I''m sure I''ll be contending for pole position in qualifying," Sel?uk said, looking at his father for his reaction. When he saw the look of satisfaction, he felt a warmth, acknowledged by his father. But the look of acknowledgment on his father''s face lasted only a second before he spoke again. "I should expect that you will be a contender for the title this year, and not disappoint me like last year, right?" "Stop putting pressure on him, or you''re going to be the reason he makes mistakes," Sel?uk''s mother interjected, choosing to defend her son. "I''m just saying that, if he''s not going to bring good results, what''s the point of him wasting money and time on this when he can spend it on something he''s actually good at?" his father retorted, as if to him, any endeavor was only worthwhile if it yielded significant returns, either financial or emotional. "But he needs to get past the learning curve before he gets results, and you are putting pressure on him while he is still in the learning phase!" his mother responded, not wanting Sel?uk to be put under undue stress. "I can say the same about that foreign kid, Jackson. He won the championship in his second year, while he''s now on his thi¡ª..." But before he could finish his sentence, Sel?uk''s father paused, his gaze fixed on something in the distance. This sudden pause caused Sel?uk, who had been looking down while listening to the back-and-forth between his parents, and his mother, who had an annoyed expression, both to look up. They followed his line of sight, and what they saw made Sel?uk''s heart plummet. There he was: the new kid from his academy, kart number 213, on his final approach, exiting T12 (left hander) and entering the straight flat out. This clearly indicated he was going to start his hot lap after a few laps of track reconnaissance, assessment, and tire warm-up. ...... As he passed the start/finish line, Fatih was already at the maximum speed possible, utilizing his mini-DRS effect and carrying full momentum without a tow. He moved and hugged the right side of the track until he neared a few meters before T1 (Left-hander). He braked heavily for a moment as he entered the bend, clipping the apex while he leaned outwards to increase grip on the outer tires. He then powered out of the corner, accelerating onto the longest straight on the track. (Track layout Image Here) Instead of sticking to the conventional dry racing line, he strategically moved outside of it, seeking the fresh, less rubbered-in tarmac where his tires could find more purchase in the wet conditions. As he did so, he leaned ahead, creating a mini-DRS effect for maximum straight-line speed. Thankfully, the traffic ahead moved out of the way as he neared the heavy braking zone for T2 (Left-hander). He hit the early apex and went wide, smoothly flowing through T2 before accelerating for a moment as he took T3 (Left-hander), which looked like a continuation of T2, requiring only a slight lift. He entered the following short straight before he took T4 (Left-hander), gaining speed on exit before flowing it into the next straight that came with a significant change of elevation. He drove up a rising slope that carried him over a bridge, experiencing a brief moment of weightlessness at the peak before the track fell away dramatically. In a show of bravery, despite not knowing if someone was on the racing line on the other side of this falling elevation, he kept his foot flat out. Thanks to the maximum speed of these karts and his weight, he didn''t go flying, but he felt a moment of weightlessness when the elevation hit the peak and started falling. He didn''t have time to enjoy the feeling, as the most technical part of the track was immediately ahead. Right after the rise and fall of the elevation, he was instantly met with a double hairpin (T5 Left-hander and T6 Right-hander). He had to immediately adjust to the changes in elevation, brake optimally, and precisely enter the T5 left-hand hairpin while setting himself up to take the following T6 right-hand hairpin, before entering a short straight leading to T7, which he knew he could take flat out. And that is exactly what he did. As if he had practiced it ahead of time, he executed everything perfectly, losing as little speed as possible through the double hairpins and managing to take T7 (Left-hander) flat out, entering the second longest straight on the track. He successfully took T8 (Wide Left-hander) flat out, perfectly clipping the middle apex, going wide on exit, and hugging the right side of the track as he set himself for the second double hairpin (T9 Left-hander and T10 Right-hander). Like the first, he took them as optimally as possible. However, he lost a bit of time having to overtake a slow kid who was on his line during the exit of T10, the second hairpin, leading to the underpass of the intersecting track parts. He took this underpass flat out, together with T11 (Wide Left-hander). He lifted for a moment on the approach of T12 (Left-hander) before accelerating after hitting the apex and moving his head forward for a final mini-DRS run to the start/finish line. [P1 - #213 Fatih Y - FP1 - Lap Time: 01:28.945] [Rain Mastery Progress: 997/1000] The timing screen lit up, immediately pushing Fatih to the top of his group, capturing the attention of nearly everyone who had observed him take that lap. But they could only stare for a moment before they had to turn their heads back to the track, as it seemed Fatih had no intention of stopping. He hadn''t even done a cool-down lap and had immediately started his second lap. This time, more people were watching him. With each corner, more and more spectators craned their necks, some even standing, to get a better view of the entire track as he completed his second flying lap, losing as little speed as possible even when encountering slower traffic that sometimes tried to move out of his way to the wrong side. [#213 Fatih Y - FP1 - Lap Time: 01:29.235] [Rain Mastery Progress: 998/1000] His second lap was a few tenths behind, but it was understandable as he was met with more traffic than on his previous lap. However, he didn''t seem to want to end it there, having started his next lap immediately. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [#213 Fatih Y - FP1 - Lap Time: 01:30.017] (This lap does not count towards the mission, as it is over 01:30.000) [#213 Fatih Y - FP1 - Lap Time: 01:28.832] [Rain Mastery Progress: 999/1000] [#213 Fatih Y - FP1 - Lap Time: 01:28.465] [Rain Mastery Progress: 1000/1000] [#213 Fatih Y - FP1 - Lap Time: 01:26.537] By the time he completed his sixth lap, nearly everyone on the track was watching him as he finally lifted for the first time since he started his hot laps and began his cool-down lap. It was understandable, as he had spent nine minutes of the fifteen-minute FP1 session doing hot laps, and only a few seconds remained, making further push laps unnecessary. Chapter 19: Race Weekend | Saturday III | The Benchmark Chapter 19 - Race Weekend | Saturday III | The BenchmarkA hush fell over the observers in the grandstand, quickly broken by murmurs that escalated into exclamations of disbelief. "God damn! Did you see that?!" "Oh my god! He''s unbelievable!" "He is so good!" "Is this really his first time participating in a championship?!" "He did that on a wet track?!" "His slowest lap time is over three seconds faster than Jackson''s fastest! Damn!" Sel?uk sat motionless, his face pale, listening to the cacophony of praise directed at Fatih. He glanced at his father, who was still fixated on the track, his eyes glued to Fatih''s kart. His father hadn''t spoken or even looked at him for the past ten minutes, making Sel?uk wonder what thoughts were swirling in Amir''s mind. He lowered his head again, biting his teeth in frustration. "Who is he?" Amir''s voice cut through the air, sharp and demanding. "He is Fa¡ª" Sel?uk started, about to offer an excuse, but he realized the question wasn''t directed at him. His father was looking at Adam, Sel?uk''s teacher, who was sitting at the next table. "He is Fatih, our new scholarship student," Adam answered. "New? Scholarship student?" Amir asked, surprise lacing his tone, unsure which detail shocked him more. "Yes, this marks the start of his fourth month in the academy, and yes, he has the academy''s full scholarship," Adam confirmed. "Three months? Did he transfer from another academy?" "No. From what I know, this is his first academy. He''s only five years old," Adam said, allowing a slight dramatic pause before delivering the last part, a subtle flicker of pride in the academy''s student. "Five years old?! Are you kidding me?!" Amir exclaimed, turning his head to stare at Sel?uk for a moment, then back to his wife, Fatma. "Three months of training compared to three years, Fatma! Do you see the difference in talent now?" Adam, sensing the turn in conversation, quickly interjected. "Mr. Amir, I think he only improved so significantly ¨C the three-second gap ¨C because the track had dried and rubbered in from Group A''s free practice. He had an advantage there. I think it would have been even better for your son had he been in Group B." Adam realized Amir''s questioning wasn''t coming from satisfaction about a chassis he sponsored being in P1; it was rooted in deep dissatisfaction with his own son''s performance, even in equal machinery. "He would still have been behind Jackson anyway," Amir scoffed, slumping back in his chair with a sigh of disappointment. He then added, a frustrated edge to his voice, "I supplied the best chassis, going so far as to sponsor the whole academy, and rented the tracks in the championship a week before the race to get the feel ahead of everyone! But he''s still behind a five-year-old kid?!" "Enough, Amir!" Fatma, his wife, cut in sharply, not wanting her husband to further shatter Sel?uk''s already fragile confidence. "Are you going to tell me this is still about the learning curve?!" Amir retorted, unwilling to be silenced. "Three months compared to three years? How long does his learning curve need to be before you accept he has no talent in motorsport?!" "But he is your son, Amir! And you don''t have enough information about this other kid!" Fatma argued, pushing her chair closer to Sel?uk and covering his ears with her hands. Sel?uk couldn''t bring himself to raise his head. "That''s precisely why I''m being critical!" Amir shot back, looking directly at Sel?uk, who was now fiddling with his fingernails, head still lowered. "He needs to come to terms with this faster if he''s to start looking for something he''s actually good at and not waste any more time." "But I''m sure the entry age requirement was six. How did a five-year-old even get in?" Amir turned and asked Adam, before his wife could retort. "The regulations allow for those who turn six within the duration of the championship season to participate, provided they have the proper license," Adam explained, scratching his head. He knew that the more he answered, the more sour Amir would become, but he had no choice. "How the heck did he¡ª" ....... While that tense conversation unfolded, R¨¹meysa could be seen jumping, clapping her hands with a wide, radiant smile. She was incredibly happy that her son, despite it being his first time in a championship, was already showcasing such undeniable talent. G¨¹ldane shared her daughter''s joy, but due to her age, she couldn''t muster the energy to jump. All she did was stand and clap, their enthusiastic celebration attracting the attention of other parents and attendees in their vicinity. They didn''t care; they celebrated Fatih''s stellar performance as if he had just won the race, not merely a free practice session. As for Burak, who had been with them throughout the free practice session, he had returned to the pit lane about a minute ago as the session neared its end. ...... [MISSION COMPLETED!!!!!] [Aquaman (Good) Unlocked] Fatih, completing a final cool-down lap, finally saw the System prompt. He had successfully completed the [Rain Mastery] mission after more than nine months of relentless effort. The new ability, Aquaman (Good), had immediately gone into effect on his final hot lap of the session, which was nearly two seconds faster than his previous best! Thanks to Invictus (Ultimate), his senses didn''t improve, but his level of dexterity and control on wet surfaces had dramatically increased. He could now not only keep everything even more on edge but could estimate the grip level in real-time. Nine out of ten times, he was right, and when he wasn''t, his guess was only slightly off the actual estimate, making significant mistakes far rarer. He was the last driver to complete the cool-down lap and return to the pit lane. Only then did he realize that nearly everyone in the paddock was looking at him. "You really went out there and made everyone wary of you," Burak said, extending his hand and pulling Fatih out of the kart before beginning his inspection. "It''s my first time on this track, so I needed to try and see what the limits are, didn''t I? Isn''t that what free practice means?" Fatih replied, offering a half-truth. While it was a legitimate reason, the primary motivation had been completing the [Rain Mastery] mission, and there was no need for anyone to know about that. "I can''t argue with that logic," Burak chuckled, raising the kart onto its stand. They then started dragging it back to their academy garage tent as the final Group C was finally allowed entry onto the track. There were a total of sixty participants in the championshipndivided in thre groups A, B & C, but in the Final race, only forty will compete. The bottom thirty drivers will be eliminated following qualifying. Those eliminated drivers will then get an opportunity to mount a comeback by participating in a Pre-Final race, with the top ten finishers in it recovering and being able to participate in the Final round with the rest. "Any setup changes you want for Free Practice 2?" Burak asked. "No, the current setup is good enough," Fatih said, knowing that only a few minor changes were possible on a Bambino kart. If it had been the KF1 kart, significant adjustments would be possible, but with his current kart, the basic setup Burak had created (factoring in Fatih''s body weight and ballast to meet the minimum weight) was perfectly fine. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "If there are no changes, then we can place the kart and head back to your family and wait there with them, okay?" Burak said as they entered the academy''s garage tent. ...... Group C''s free practice went ahead without much problem, and their times improved even more than Group A''s average times as the track was nearing dry conditions. But despite that, no one even got close to Fatih''s fastest lap. Jackson only improved on his time in Group A''s Free Practice 2 by more than five seconds, thanks to the track now being completely dry. But before Jackson could smile, believing he was now leading with the fastest lap of a session, Fatih went ahead and once again set the fastest lap of any group in FP2: [P1 - #213 Fatih Y - FP2 - Lap Time: 01:19.937]. It was a time over two seconds faster than anyone else in the entire session, proving that his earlier FP1 time was no fluke. Championship participants who had been watching all this unfold felt a massive wall being erected by Fatih. This feeling intensified for those in the combined FP2 time session, who had come here hoping to win the race, preparing to fight against Jackson, only for a new and even bigger monster to appear who made Jackson look beatable. As for Sel?uk, if he could have sabotaged Fatih''s car, he probably would have. He once again had to listen to his father''s words of disappointment, despite currently being third overall in both FP1 and FP2 times. Normally, that would have been enough for his father, but not now, when someone from the same academy, on the same chassis, but with even less experience, was leading his son by more than two seconds. As a child desperately wanting his father''s approval, Sel?uk''s simmering hate was now fully directed at the one acting as a dam to that affection: Fatih. Chapter 20: Race Weekend | Saturday IV | The New Apex Predator Chapter 20 - Race Weekend | Saturday IV | The New Apex PredatorThe commentator''s voice boomed through the grandstand speakers, his excitement palpable as he described the action unfolding on the track: Commentator 1: "And once again, Jackson, the young Englishman and last year''s champion, shows what he is capable of as he takes provisional pole for Group A!" Jackson''s lap time immediately catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard. Commentator 1: "And as he slows down and starts his cool-down lap, his challenger, last year''s top-ten finisher and this year''s contender, Sel?uk, is showing remarkable improvement in Sector Two as he takes the double hairpin! He goes wide on the entry, using as much space as possible as he sets himself for the second hairpin. OOOohh! He''s impeded! He''s forced to take the dirty side of the track, but still recovers as he enters the narrow straight! Is there anyone to hinder his lap? No, the track is clean now! He moves his head to induce a mini-DRS effect, but due to the impediment he experienced on the double hairpin, he''s down by three-tenths compared to defending champion Jackson''s Sector Two! He brakes, takes Turn eight, hitting the early apex, going wide, hugging the right side of the track on the short straight as he accelerates, moves to the middle of the track, brakes once again as he starts negotiating the second double hairpin, and thankfully the driver in front of him moves from the racing line as he accelerates and passes the underpass, taking T11 straight, going wide before getting the middle apex in Turn Twelve and goes flat out! Did he manage to take pole position from Jackson?" Both the commentator and all the attendees turned to the screen to see the lap time Sel?uk had set. [P2 - #247 Sel?uk A - QL - Lap Time: 01:20.637] Commentator 1: "Noooooo! He loses pole position by half a second!" His voice was strained for a moment as he answered his own question, but the excitement in it didn''t wane even for a moment, as if he were commentating on a Formula 1 qualifying. It was then that the co-commentator took over. Commentator 2: "That impediment on the first double hairpin clearly disrupted his whole rhythm, and he ended up missing pole position by half a second ¨C a very small margin for the current level of karting, but interesting nonetheless. It seems like it''s something that needs to be addressed, but since they are kids and are learning about racing, you can''t be too harsh." Commentator 1: "Looks like the only chance for Sel?uk is to settle this during the Qualifying Heats." He commented, as Sel?uk went around the track one more time due to the placement of the pit lane entry being right at the opposite side of T1, meaning only those who were near it could immediately enter. Commentator 2: "Yeah, I agree, but you have to remember there''s a new threat at play: Fatih. From the information I received from the officials, this is his first competition, and he''s only been training at the Fatih Academy for about three months. He''s also the youngest participant in the championship at 5 years, 10 months, and 20 days old ¨C younger than the second-youngest competitor by more than seven months!" Commentator 1: "He is a very big threat indeed. I just checked my notes, and Fatih''s fastest time in Free Practice Two (01:19.937) is still fast enough to put him on pole position by two-tenths of a second to Jackson''s P1 time in this qualifier (01:20.149). So, these three are going to be the most interesting drivers to watch in tomorrow''s qualifying heat races to decide the pole-sitter for the Final race, which will take place at 16:00 tomorrow." Commentator 2: "I can''t wait for the race! I''m pretty sure these three will be neck-and-neck tomorrow, and depending on the circumstances, any one of them can win." His words set the perfect entry point for the first announcer to take over. Commentator 1: "I agree. But first, Fatih needs to take pole position in his group to have an easier route in tomorrow''s Qualifying Heat races. So, let''s see if he has an easier time dealing with the traffic and doesn''t face impediments on the track like Sel?uk and Jackson had to navigate around. And it looks like he''s very much in a hurry to set a lap time on the screen. With more than thirty seconds still remaining until the start of Group B''s qualifying, he is already lining up near the pit exit, waiting for a green flag." Commentator 2: "It is a smart move. He can use the first lap to immediately bring his tires to optimum temperature before he sets out for a hot lap while the whole group is still doing their first out-lap, which should allow him to have a good gap for a clean run." ........ The moment the green flag was waved and the Group B qualifying session began, Fatih immediately hit the accelerator and shot onto the straight. He instantly started weaving like a snake, trying to put in as much heat into the dry compound tires as possible. He repeated this process throughout the track, effectively slowing the pack that had come out with him, making it look as if they were performing a safety car restart by the way they were moving in unison. As he reached the second hairpin of the second double hairpin, transitioning into the short underpass straight, he immediately got into full power, taking both T11(Wide left-hander) and T12 (Left-hander) flat out. He entered the start/finish straight, immediately starting his qualifying lap. Commentator 1: "Oh, looks like he''s really doing it as you suggested! He''s on the power and immediately starts his qualifying lap! This takes us into it!" (He handed over to Zakir, his co-commentator, as Fatih passed the start/finish line.) Zakir: "For T1 (Left-hander), you need a good exit, as the following straight''s maximum speed before T2 (Left-hander) and T3 (Left-hander) is determined by that exit. And, unsurprisingly, he aced it! He took the apex with a perfect rear-left lift, inducing a slide, allowing him to carry more speed into the corner and have a better exit." "Into this straight here, the more speed you have, the better, and he knows it! He moved his head forward to reduce drag, and he subtly moves his body back to increase the weight on the rear tire. Now that he''s near the corner, he goes wide, trail-brakes while leaning outward into the corner, taking T2 and T3 in sequence as he enters a short straight. The track widens here a bit, so you can take the inside line before moving wide for T4 (Left-hander) in order to have a good exit leading to the straight with a bridge and elevation. It seems like he timed his lap perfectly as he actually found the track empty, and as expected, he goes purple on Sector One, which is comprised mostly of straights! Let''s see how he does on the most technical Sector Two." "And he brakes, going wide on the entry of the first double hairpin (T5 Left-hander and T6 Right-hander). A good exit is necessary to set for the second hairpin. And ooooh god! He is really taking risks as there were mere millimeters between him and the tire wall that would ruin his lap in the narrowest part of the track! But having perfectly placed it, he managed to get a good entry into the second longest straight! And he knows that as he floors it! He brakes a little, hits the early apex, goes wide on exit, but the track allows and encourages it as he heads into the second double hairpin (T9 Left-hander and T10 Right-hander)! He places the car perfectly on the exit of the second hairpin, lighting the screen purple on Sector Two as he enters the straight underpass, taking T11 (Wide Left-hander) flat out, goes wide before taking T12 (Left-hander) with a slight lift! He enters the final straight! He moves his head forward to reduce drag as he pushes to the maximum on the final straight! And he lights up all three sectors purple! And moves to provisional pole with more than a second to the pole lap time of Group A! FATIH YILDIRIM SETS THE FASTEST LAP OF THE QUALIFYING SO FAR AND RIGHTFULLY TAKES HIS POSITION TO P1!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [P1 - #213 Fatih Y - QL - Lap Time: 01:19.001] The first commentator immediately took over from the overly excited Zakir, who was practically shouting in excitement. Commentator 1: "This young boy, in his first qualifying session of his life in an official competition, is showing composure and talent of the greats, and paints a shining future for what he can be! And, unsurprisingly, he doesn''t go around for another lap. He immediately returns to the pit lane, following the waves of his coach, Burak, as there is no need for him to do more laps or waste his tires. He has set the fastest lap across all sessions until now, and until someone breaks that lap time, he will most likely not come back to the track. Wow, we came here expecting Sel?uk and Jackson to be the contenders for the championship, but this kid has now turned himself into the most exciting individual of this new championship! And if he keeps this form, then this championship is going to be very, very interesting." Chapter 21: Race Weekend | Saturday V | A New Challenger Chapter 21 - Race Weekend | Saturday V | A New Challenger"....." "You see? I told you we should wait and see if someone good showed up," Aron Michael remarked, his gaze fixed on his son, Jackson. The boy''s eyes were locked on Fatih, who was slowly making his way back to the pitlane after setting a blistering single lap early in Group B''s qualifying session. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "He''s good," Jackson conceded, his young face attempting a serious expression that made his father chuckle inwardly, "but I had people hindering me on my lap, unlike him. I''m confident I can still win." Aron was privately pleased; his son finally had a rival to truly push him. This was Jackson''s third and final year in this category. His assignment as a director in Turkey had brought the family here, and Jackson, already training at a karting academy in England since he was four, had quickly made his mark. He''d been runner-up in his first year at six, the champion then an eight-year-old, and had decisively won the championship the following year. Aron had worried his son might grow complacent, only to be humbled upon returning to England''s more competitive scene. Now, it seemed, a solution had presented itself: a younger, potentially better competitor. This would undoubtedly force Jackson to train even harder. "Do you want to watch the rest of qualifying, or should we go pick up your mother from work?" Aron asked. Jackson seemed to have lost interest in the other karts, many of which were struggling on the still-damp track, inadvertently highlighting the brilliance of Fatih''s clean, early run. "Can we go talk to him before we leave?" Jackson asked, a spark of excitement finally lighting his face. "We can try," Aron said, slinging his bag over his shoulder, "but don''t be disappointed if he''s not available." He suspected Fatih would be in high demand or deep in discussion with his team. To their surprise, they found Fatih still sitting in his kart in the pitlane, his helmet visor slightly raised. His foot remained on the brake, the engine intermittently revving as if he were poised to re-enter the track should anyone dare challenge his lap time. ''He''s not just doing this for enjoyment,'' Aron mused, observing the boy''s intense focus. They approached Burak, Fatih''s coach, who stood just beyond the divider rope in the designated viewing area. As Aron introduced himself, explaining his son''s wish to meet Fatih, the track commentators'' voices filled the air. .... "And it seems there''s no need for Fatih to return to the track!" the first commentator announced as the Group B karts began to file into the pitlane, their qualifying session concluded. "His single lap time is enough to put him on pole for his group and secure the top spot in the current overall qualifying rank! No one in his group came even within a second of his time!" "I know I''m repeating myself," the second commentator chimed in, "but this is shaping up to be a very interesting championship! Fatih is the dark horse against two relatively more experienced drivers. I can''t wait for tomorrow! There''s a real chance we could witness the youngest race winner ever in this championship, and on his first official race weekend!" Their voices faded into a lively discussion about karting as they awaited Group C''s session. .... Jackson, however, had already made his way to Fatih. "I look forward to racing you tomorrow," he declared, his voice clear and confident. "And winning." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Fatih, visor still open, staring after him. "..." Fatih appeared speechless at the sheer audacity of the kid who had just introduced himself with a direct challenge. Internally, however, a different sentiment was brewing. ''I need more people to challenge me,'' Fatih thought, a familiar System prompt flashing before his eyes the moment Jackson had spoken. [CHALLENGE MISSION!] The championship title defender has challenged you after seeing that you have the capability to make his title defense difficult. The greats do not back down from a challenge. Objective: Finish every remaining session in this race weekend ahead of JAKSON as a direct response to his challenge. Reward: 30 SP Punishment in case of failure: -50 SP [ACCEPT] [DENY] "The prompts only appear for those the System evaluates as talented enough to mount a genuine challenge against you," Apollo''s voice echoed in Fatih''s mind. His mentor''s translucent form materialized beside him, visible only to Fatih, as he watched Jackson rejoin his father. Aron offered an apologetic smile. "I apologize for his words," Aron said to Fatih and Burak. "He''s just excited to finally have someone who can match him." "I like a challenge," Fatih said, a smile touching his lips, hidden by his helmet, as he mentally clicked [ACCEPT]. "See you tomorrow," he called out to Jackson, who, now slightly less bold, waved from behind his father''s legs. Fatih and Burak then began pushing the kart on its stand back towards their garage, ready to store it for the next day''s battles. .... "Here comes our pole-sitter!" R¨¹meysa exclaimed, opening her arms wide as Fatih finally reached the grandstands. He readily accepted her hug. "Was it exciting, dear?" his grandmother, G¨¹ldane, asked as he moved to embrace her too. "Yes, Grandma," Fatih replied, taking a seat between them. Murmurs and curious glances still came from those nearby, but the family paid them no mind, engrossed in their own quiet celebration. "Do you want to watch the Group C qualifying, or should we head home now?" R¨¹meysa asked. "I want to watch, to see how they drive," Fatih said, his eyes already fixed on the track where the next session had just begun. One driver attempted to emulate Fatih''s strategy of leading the pack out slowly for a clean run, but fumbled the execution, misjudging his pace and running into rear traffic, losing over five seconds. Fatih observed that this group seemed to comprise many amateurs. ''Perhaps this group was deliberately composed of individual entrants, not those from academies,'' he pondered. ''It would ensure at least ten independent kids make it to the final races, rather than being eliminated early if mixed with more seasoned, academy-supported drivers.'' It was a shrewd thought, showcasing his developing tactical awareness. The session was punctuated by a few stoppages as karts became stranded, and the tire walls took enough of a beating to subtly alter parts of the track, requiring repairs before the next day. Once Group C''s chaotic session concluded, the combined qualifying list for all three groups flashed on the main screen. [COMBINED QUALIFYING STANDINGS] P1 - #213 Fatih YILDIRIM - GROUP B - Lap Time: 01:19.001 P2 - #200 Jackson MICHAEL - GROUP A - Lap Time: 01:20.149 P3 - #247 Sel?uk ASLAN - GROUP A - Lap Time: 01:20.637 P4 - #115 Huzeyfa TA?KIN - GROUP B - Lap Time: 01:21.472 P5 - #188 Emre KAYA - GROUP C - Lap Time: 01:22.150 P6 - #210 Ay?e YILMAZ - GROUP B - Lap Time: 01:22.880 (Further positions followed, with lap times decreasing accordingly) Chapter 22: Race Weekend | Sunday | Dominance in the Wet Chapter 22 - Race Weekend | Sunday | Dominance in the WetThe smile didn''t leave Fatih''s face for the entire ride home. Peering through the car window, he replayed the qualifying session in his mind. Not even the third group had come close to his lap time, cementing his pole position for tomorrow''s qualifying heats. Starting at the front meant he could avoid the chaotic midfield battles; while the track allowed for overtaking, not needing to fight through the pack was always preferable. "Are you that happy, dear?" his grandmother G¨¹ldane asked, noticing the persistent grin. "Yes, Grandma! Very happy that I''m getting closer to getting a camera!" he chirped. Both his mother and grandmother laughed, amused by his reasoning. They had expected him to be thrilled about starting P1, not because it made winning easier, thereby increasing his chances of R¨¹meysa buying him the promised camera. "I''ll keep my promise as long as you keep your end of the deal," R¨¹meysa said, her eyes meeting his in the rearview mirror. "So, make sure to do your best." "Why are you saying it like that? You''re just increasing the pressure on him," G¨¹ldane interjected gently. She turned to Fatih. "Don''t listen to her, sweetie. Just focus on enjoying yourself. Even if you don''t win, I''ll make her buy you the camera." "Are you going to be the one paying for it then?" R¨¹meysa teased her mother. "I''m not his mother, you are!" G¨¹ldane retorted with a laugh, while R¨¹meysa just shook her head, a smile playing on her lips as she refocused on the road. The rest of the journey home was filled with lighthearted chatter. The evening concluded on a happy note, and Fatih went to sleep with eager anticipation for the races ahead. True to his routine, however, he still entered the Simulation for his nightly practice, a discipline he never skipped. ...... The next morning, the Istanbul Karting Park was slick with fresh rain. "I don''t see this first qualifying heat ending without a few slides! Oooooh, and it seems I''m right! The track is thoroughly wet from last night''s downpour," the main commentator exclaimed as a line of forty karts embarked on their formation lap. "It''s certainly a challenge for many of these young drivers," Zakir, the co-commentator, took over. "For some, this is their first-ever heat race, and to do it in these conditions, with little to no rain experience, must be incredibly unnerving. Surprisingly, Fatih, starting from P1, looks remarkably stable. He and Jackson in P2 are at the very front, effectively becoming the first to test the track''s grip, yet they''re handling it well." The screen showed Fatih and Jackson slowing the pack into a neat double file as they approached the T11 left-hander, preparing for the rolling start. "This is where experience can often triumph," the main commentator resumed, his voice building anticipation. "Jackson, and Sel?uk who''s right behind Fatih in P3, have prior race experience. But this is a first for Fatih, meaning the pressure on him is immense, especially starting from the front." The karts crawled towards Turn 12, engines buzzing, drivers poised. "And they approach the final turn, feet hovering over the accelerators, waiting for the green flag... AND THE FLAG DROPS! Fatih gets a phenomenal start down the straight! Sel?uk immediately tucks in behind him, while Jackson tries to close the kart-length gap Fatih has already opened as they drag race towards the first corner!" "Fatih shows his bravery, keeping the power down, while Jackson lifts slightly and slots in behind him, Sel?uk following in third! Fatih goes off the usual dry racing line for Turn 1, trail-braking expertly... OOOOOH! Sel?uk attempts a divebomb from the conventional line but goes wide! Fatih holds his nerve and keeps the lead, followed by Jackson, then Huzeyfa, as Sel?uk loses a position for his audacious but ill-fated move! A brave attempt nonetheless!" "Fatih now leads onto the longest straight ¨C two hundred and fifty meters to Turns 2 and 3! Jackson, tucked neatly into Fatih''s slipstream, benefits from the tow, even inducing a mini-DRS effect by ducking his head, reducing the gap Fatih was punching in the air for him," the first commentator paused for a quick breath, allowing his colleague to jump in. "They''re nearing the end of the straight, Jackson has caught right up!" Zakir''s voice rose with excitement. "But it seems he''s learned from Sel?uk''s earlier mistake! He aborts his overtake attempt and tucks back in behind Fatih, letting the leader carve the path. But unlike Jackson''s caution, Sel?uk is still pushing! He dive-bombs on the inside of Turn 2 again! AND IT WORKS THIS TIME! He masterfully overtakes Huzeyfa and regains P3 through Turn 3! Wooow, this is thrilling racing!" "It looks like Fatih has weathered that early storm perfectly," the main commentator observed. "The pressure we anticipated doesn''t seem to have hindered him at all. He''s now leading this qualifying heat at the end of lap one by more than five kart-lengths, as both Jackson and Sel?uk appear to be having a much harder time navigating this treacherous wet track. The same can be said for the rest of the field." "Oooooooh, and it seems the commentator''s curse is in full effect!" Zakir interjected. "We have another slide-out further down the pack in lap one! Since he was already last, he hasn''t lost a position, but a significant gap has opened between him and the kart ahead. And speaking of gaps, one is certainly opening at the very front! Fatih seems to be reveling in these conditions, pulling away decisively from P2!" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Indeed! His proficiency in the wet, showcased yesterday in FP2, clearly wasn''t just because the track was drying then," the first commentator agreed. "He''s proving it now on an even wetter surface. It''s as if he''s driving on a dry track while his competitors are struggling for grip, despite their wet tires! He crosses the start-finish line to begin his second lap! Let''s wait for Jackson to complete his... YES! Three seconds! In a single lap, Fatih has opened a gap of three seconds! Now that is what you call being comfortable in the wet! One lap down, nine more to go in this ten-lap heat race!" ..... Once Fatih took the lead, he never looked back. Lap after lap, he consistently widened the gap, making minimal errors while his rivals struggled. By the fifth lap, he had already established an astonishing ten-second lead over P2. ''This kid is a monster,'' Burak thought, watching Fatih navigate the second double hairpin ¨C T9 (left-hander) and T10 (right-hander) ¨C before powering onto the straight. Fatih expertly kept to the drier racing line, a stark contrast to the sodden off-line sections. He lifted only slightly for T11, carrying incredible speed for the wet conditions ¨C another area where he was gaining significant time, as other drivers lacked his bravery on the edge. He executed the final corner, T12, with similar precision before blasting across the line to complete his sixth lap, extending his lead over P2 by another second. Burak had always considered Fatih exceptionally talented. He''d expected him to be a front-runner, but this level of dominance, especially in the wet, was beyond anything he''d anticipated. He had never tutored Fatih specifically on wet-weather driving; there simply hadn''t been an opportunity. Yet, here was his student, driving as if born to race in the rain, outclassing competitors who had far more race weekend experience than Fatih had total training days at the academy. ''Looks like I need to request the academy to increase their investment in him,'' Burak mused, a determined glint in his eye. ''He might just be our golden goose if he maintains this form.'' He made a mental note. ''But first, let''s observe him for the entire weekend.'' He refocused his attention on the track. .... "You see? Even Jackson is having trouble!" Sel?uk''s mother, Fatma, said pointedly to her husband, Aslan. His gaze was fixed on the track, watching Fatih, now on his way to completing his ninth lap, his lead over P2 an almost unbelievable fifteen seconds. "Are you going to berate Jackson now and say he isn''t talented either?" "....." Aslan didn''t respond. He knew his wife was right but found it hard to accept. A lifelong motorsport enthusiast, his own impoverished upbringing had denied him the chance to race. He had poured his unfulfilled dreams into his car equipment shop chain and, later, into his son when Sel?uk showed an interest in motorsport. He''d vowed to give his son every opportunity, but it was becoming painfully clear that Sel?uk''s passion wasn''t matched by transcendent talent ¨C good, yes, but perhaps not exceptional enough to secure a long-term future in the cutthroat world of motorsport. Still, he''d ensured Sel?uk had ample practice and training. ''Maybe I should.......'' His thoughts were shattered by the commentators'' booming voices, their excitement reaching a fever pitch. "And Fatih, having not put a single wheel wrong, has already completed more than two-thirds of his final lap! He exits T10, enters the straight, and despite it being his final lap and holding a lead of over fifteen seconds, he shows no signs of easing off! He only lifts slightly through T11, enters the short straight before taking the final corner... He started this race from the lead, and he finishes it in the same commanding fashion! FATIH YILDIRIM WINS THE FIRST QUALIFYING HEAT RACE OF HIS FIRST-EVER CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND! WOOOW!" Chapter 23: Race Weekend | Sunday II | Jealousy Chapter 23 - Race Weekend | Sunday II | JealousyChapter 23 - Heat Race Triumphs and Unexpected Overtures "With the qualifying heat between Groups A & B now complete, we''ll have a twenty-minute break before the second qualifying heat, this time featuring Groups B & C. That will be followed by a heat with Groups A & C, after which the full starting grid for the Final will be determined," the first commentator announced as the applause from the attendees subsided and the karts completed their cool-down lap, heading towards the pitlane. Zakir immediately took over, elaborating for the audience: "For those who might be unfamiliar with how these heats work, let me explain. Qualifying heats are designed to ensure that a single mistake during the initial timed qualifying doesn''t derail a driver''s entire weekend. Karting is, after all, considered training for higher levels of motorsport, so drivers are given multiple opportunities to prove themselves. The starting grid for the Final is set by awarding points based on finishing positions in all heat races. The winner of a heat race receives zero points, with each subsequent position earning one additional point, and so on, down to the last finisher. This system applies to all heats a driver participates in. At the end of all qualifying heats, the driver with the least total points will start on pole position for the Final, the one with the second-least will be P2, and the rest follow the same principle down to P30." He paused for a breath. "As for what happens to those in the bottom thirty of the combined points list? They will be eliminated from direct entry into the Final but will get one last chance in a Pre-Final race. The top ten finishers in that Pre-Final will then join the main grid, starting from P31 to P40, which is the maximum number of karts this track can safely accommodate for a race." The main commentator seamlessly picked up. "So, as it stands, Fatih currently tops the leaderboard with zero points, followed by Jackson with one, and then Sel?uk with two. Our top three are shaping up as expected, though the performance gap Fatih has demonstrated, especially in these wet conditions, is quite jarring." Zakir followed up, "I agree. However, I suspect the significant gap is largely due to the rain, forcing other drivers to be more cautious to avoid spinning and losing positions. Even Sel?uk''s bravery, while commendable, resulted in a costly error in the first heat, serving as a warning to others. I believe the Final, which should be on a dry track, will be a much closer contest. Fatih has shown incredible bravery and car control in the wet, but a dry track presents a different challenge." .... A short while later, the excitement in the main commentator''s voice was undeniable. "And once again, he proves the first time was no fluke! Fatih Y?ld?r?m wins his second and final qualifying heat of the day!" he shouted as Fatih''s kart streaked across the start-finish line, securing another dominant victory in the Group B & C heat. "But this time, he wins with a similarly commanding gap, despite the track having dried considerably since the first heat!" Zakir added, his tone still buzzing with enthusiasm. "This truly showcases his remarkable ability to adapt to constantly changing track conditions." "I believe this performance solidifies it," the main commentator declared. "The first win wasn''t luck, nor was it a one-off. If he continues to deliver at this level, we are witnessing the emergence of a true racing prodigy!" "Indeed! If he can drive like that in the wet, I can only imagine his performance when the track fully dries," Zakir mused. "And judging by the schedule, it should be completely dry by the time the Final race begins later today." "With him winning both his heat races, he has unequivocally secured pole position for the Final," the main commentator confirmed. "Barring any unforeseen disqualifications ¨C which seems highly unlikely given he hasn''t had any contact, always being at least five seconds ahead ¨C he''s the man to beat." As the commentators continued their effusive praise, discussing Fatih''s future prospects based on the raw talent displayed, Fatih himself was calmly climbing out of his kart. Burak immediately began his post-race inspection, then lifted the kart onto its stand. Together, they started wheeling it back to their team tent, the eyes of many in the paddock following their every move. "We have about four hours before the Final race," Burak said once they reached the tent. He was already beginning to disassemble parts of the kart. "You can go join your mother and grandmother. I''ll come find you once I''m done with these deep inspections, cleaning, and ensuring everything is perfect for the Final." "Okay, thank you, Burak," Fatih replied. He carefully placed the wet-weather tires Burak had just removed onto the designated rack before changing out of his race suit and heading to find his family in the grandstands. ...... "Looks like there''s no need for me to force your mother to buy you that camera after all!" G¨¹ldane said, welcoming Fatih with a warm smile and a hug. "Hahaha," Fatih chuckled, returning the embrace before moving to hug his mother. "What do you think, sweetie?" R¨¹meysa asked, her eyes shining with pride. "Do you think you can win the Final race?" "Ye¡ª" Fatih began, but before he could finish, a voice interjected from behind them, causing all three to turn. "I''m pretty sure if he doesn''t win, it will be a very surprising outcome indeed." A man stepped forward. "Ah, where are my manners? My name is Aslan," he said, extending a hand. "I''m Sel?uk''s father, a student from the same academy as your son is from." "Ah, nice to meet you. I''m R¨¹meysa, Fatih''s mother, and this is my mother, G¨¹ldane," R¨¹meysa replied, shaking his hand before Aslan politely greeted G¨¹ldane as well. "I couldn''t help but want to see the talented student of this academy up close," Aslan continued, his gaze shifting to Fatih, who listened calmly, though inwardly wondering why this man was approaching them instead of being with his own son. "His driving is quite an impressive advertisement for my company''s chassis." "Ah, so you are the one who sponsored the karts. It''s a pleasure to meet you," R¨¹meysa said, recalling her earlier research into the cost of new racing karts. "Seeing your son''s talent," Aslan said, getting straight to the point, "I came to discuss the possibility of sponsoring him directly. In return, he would, of course, advertise my company. I''m quite interested in supporting talented individuals, and if it benefits my business simultaneously, it''s an avenue I''m keen to explore." He watched for their reaction, gauging whether his proposal would be met positively. "Ah, that is... quite a surprising proposal," R¨¹meysa responded, her demeanor shifting instantly from proud mother to sharp lawyer. "I hadn''t considered anything like this before..." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, Sel?uk stood a short distance away, daggers in his eyes as he watched his father engage Fatih''s family. His father, who rarely showed him such focused attention, was now smiling and conversing animatedly about Fatih. A knot of an unfamiliar, bitter emotion tightened in Sel?uk''s chest. It was clear his father''s interest in Fatih stemmed directly from the younger boy''s undeniable talent. With only fifteen minutes before his own second heat race, Sel?uk should have been preparing. Instead, he was rooted to the spot, observing. ''All I have to do is prove I''m better than him,'' Sel?uk resolved fiercely. He turned abruptly and strode towards the academy''s garage. The better he performed, the greater his chance of disproving his father''s burgeoning interest in Fatih, and perhaps, reclaiming that coveted attention for himself. Chapter 24: Race Weekend | Sunday III | Messy Start Chapter 24 - Race Weekend | Sunday III | Messy Start"With Fatih not participating in this final heat qualifier, the expected contenders had their chance to shine. Jackson ultimately wins, followed very closely by Sel?uk, easily securing their P2 and P3 grid positions respectively for this evening''s Final race!" the first commentator announced with enthusiasm as Jackson and Sel?uk crossed the timing line, still battling fiercely. "They were fighting for P1 from the very first lap of this heat," Zakir took over, providing an overview. "And Sel?uk made sure Jackson had no peace of mind throughout the entire race." "Yes, Sel?uk was noticeably more aggressive this time," the main commentator agreed. "He was even bumping Jackson''s rear at times, trying to force an error or create an outbraking opportunity. But Jackson, perhaps expecting such pressure, kept his composure admirably and led them to the finish." "This kind of close-quarters racing is the norm in karting, especially in this age group," Zakir elaborated. "Fatih seems to be the anomaly, consistently able to create a significant gap, seemingly unfazed by pressure from behind. If anything, he uses it as fuel. For the drivers who finished in the bottom thirty of the combined heat points, their journey isn''t over. With the final heat qualifier now complete, they''ll participate in the Pre-Final race at 14:00, in about two hours. The top ten from that race will earn their spot in the main Final at 16:00." "And it looks like the official starting grid for the Final is ready!" the main commentator declared as the list appeared on the massive screen. "As expected, Fatih, with a perfect score from his heats ¨C zero points ¨C secures pole position! He''s followed by Jackson with one point for P2, and Sel?uk with three points in P3. Huzeyfa takes P4 with five points, the same as Emre Kaya in P5. Huzeyfa gets the higher grid slot due to his superior initial qualifying lap time, which is our tie-breaker rule..." He continued reading down the list. (The list would be will be in this paragraph comment) ...... Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the grandstands, Aslan was seen clapping enthusiastically as his son, Sel?uk, crossed the line in P2 for the heat. It was a stark contrast to his earlier demeanor when he''d been pushing Sel?uk to consider sports other than motorsport, deeming his talent insufficient. "Can''t you act that way when he''s actually here?" Fatma, his wife, asked, turning to him after she finished her own applause. "And what real difference does P2 or P3 in a heat make to suddenly change your attitude towards his karting?" "This time, no significant gap was opened by the leader, and Sel?uk exerted pressure until the very end," Aslan explained, his brief smile vanishing as he saw his son jogging towards them, beaming. "It means that in a longer race, like the Final, he''d have a genuine chance to overtake and win if the leader makes a mistake or leaves an opening. In the previous sessions where Fatih was involved, Sel?uk was consistently seconds behind. That, I cannot accept when they are in equal machinery." "If you actually told him that, don''t you think it would encourage him to work harder, instead of you constantly trying to make him quit?" Fatma countered, then noticed her husband''s expression sour again as his gaze shifted. She followed his line of sight. "Haaaaa," Fatma scoffed, raising an eyebrow at his predictable behavior but said no more, turning instead to congratulate Sel?uk on his strong finish. ........ "What do you think?" R¨¹meysa asked her mother, G¨¹ldane, as they had lunch with Fatih and his coach, Burak. They were discussing Aslan''s sponsorship proposal. "From what he said, there didn''t seem to be anything nefarious or underhanded," G¨¹ldane mused, "though I''m no expert in these matters. We should certainly hear Burak''s opinion before making any decisions." Their bond with Burak had strengthened over the race weekend; he''d spent considerable time with them, explaining technicalities and sharing conversations, allowing them to learn more about each other. "If there are no hidden conditions, and based purely on what he offered, I think you should consider it," Burak said after a moment''s thought. "However, you''ll need to discuss it thoroughly with the academy. Many aspects of his offer overlap with Fatih''s obligations as a scholarship student. If you, or Aslan, can reach an agreement with the academy, then there''s no harm in accepting. It would alleviate a significant financial burden and allow Fatih to continue pursuing his passion without you worrying about funding." Burak knew the academy''s agreement was crucial. If they refused, R¨¹meysa could theoretically unenroll Fatih and use Aslan''s sponsorship at another academy. However, any academy aware of Fatih''s performance this weekend would likely offer a full scholarship, perhaps even pay him to race for them. He was confident the current academy would readily agree. He wouldn''t suggest leaving yet, though. Not only did he wish to continue coaching Fatih, but withdrawing mid-season would end Fatih''s current championship participation, as he was registered under the academy''s name. Any reputation he was building would vanish if he exited after just one round. After lunch, they returned to the grandstands for the Pre-Final race. It was an engaging spectacle, with the backmarkers fighting fiercely for the top ten spots that would grant them entry into the Final. The racing was close, peppered with slides and numerous overtakes, keeping the crowd entertained until the very end. "And Mustafa has a slide as he gets on the power too early! But it doesn''t matter! His slide inadvertently blocks his nearest challenger, and in the drag race to the finish line, he comes out on top! Mustafa wins the Pre-Final, securing himself P31 on the grid for the Final race!" the main commentator''s excited voice boomed through the speakers. "And now, we are only an hour away from the main event!" Zakir announced. "And look at those skies! It seems the weather isn''t clearing as expected. Heavy clouds are approaching the track rapidly. I think we''re in for heavy rain either before or during the race!" As he spoke, attendees looked upwards, noticing the darkening sky as ominous clouds began to obscure the sun. "This is going to make the Final incredibly interesting!" the main commentator declared, a clear note of glee in his voice. "It might be the first time this weekend they''ll be racing in active rainfall, not just on a track still wet from earlier. The constantly changing water levels will mean the grip on track will be in constant flux, rewarding drivers with superior technical ability and punishing those who lack it. With forty karts on track simultaneously, it''s going to be a nerve-wracking experience for the drivers and their parents, but a thrilling spectacle for us neutral viewers!" It seemed a bet on the weather would have paid off. With only twenty minutes remaining before the race start, the dark clouds unleashed a torrential downpour, as if attempting to flood the circuit. "Let''s go! Time for final preparations!" Burak appeared, holding a large umbrella, having just completed his final checks on Fatih''s kart. "Good luck, sweetie, and be careful," R¨¹meysa said, placing Fatih''s juice bottle on the table. "Go and crush them for me!" G¨¹ldane urged, offering him a fist bump. ..... "The rain is expected to continue into the race, so put this on," Burak instructed, handing Fatih a clear, waterproof overall to wear on top of his racing suit. It would prevent the suit from absorbing water and becoming uncomfortably heavy. Once Fatih was kitted out, they began wheeling the kart towards the grid. Only ten minutes remained. Being P1, they were among the first allowed onto the track, followed closely by Sel?uk and Jackson with their respective coaches. Sel?uk, starting directly behind Fatih in P3, had an intense look of determination; if one could see beneath his visor, it would be clear he intended to win and prove his superiority to his father. Grid attendants with umbrellas greeted them as they reached their starting slots. They had six minutes to make final adjustments before all non-drivers had to clear the track. With only the race remaining, his final obstacle to a potential grand slam weekend, Fatih sat in his kart, a thrill of anticipation coursing through him. Time flew by. Soon, only two minutes remained. Coaches and assistants retreated, engines were running. A grid official received a green flag and began waving it, signaling the start of the formation lap. Karts began to roll past her. "We''re on the final corners of the formation lap!" the main commentator''s voice crackled. "We can see Fatih weaving aggressively, trying to get as much temperature into those tires as possible. More temperature means more grip, crucial on this soaking track. With thirty-nine karts behind him, he''ll be clearing the water for those immediately following, but that''s one of the burdens of pole position in the wet." "From this angle, it looks like he''s sitting in a veritable puddle of water compared to Jackson''s side of the grid!" Zakir observed as the camera focused on Fatih''s P1 slot. "It''s often the better position in dry conditions, but in the wet, it can be the worst place to be on the front row," the main commentator explained. "He''ll need perfect throttle input to avoid wheelspin and losing precious ground at the start." "And the final driver is taking his position... one of our grid officials is waving the green flag... the starting lights begin to illuminate!" Zakir built the tension, handing over to the main commentator for the race start. "LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO! Fatih, needing that sensitive throttle input to avoid wheelspin, gets a slightly slower start compared to Jackson, who has what looks like a perfect launch! They drag race towards the first corner! Fatih still maintains the lead as he moves right to cover Jackson, trying to negate his rival''s better start... they''re meters from the braking point... Fatih outbrakes him! AND OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH! SEL?UK DIVES DOWN THE INSIDE, ATTEMPTING TO EXPLOIT FATIH''S DEFENSIVE MOVE ON JACKSON! THERE IS CONTACT BETWEEN SEL?UK AND FATIH! FATIH IS SENT SPINNING INTO THE WALL! SEL?UK SNATCHES THE LEAD OF THE RACE, FOLLOWED BY JACKSON, HUZEYFA, EMRE, AY?E, BORA! FATIH''S POSITION TUMBLES TO LAST! HE HAS TO WAIT UNTIL THE ENTIRE FIELD PASSES BEFORE HE CAN SAFELY REJOIN THE TRACK! OH MY GOD! THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING ANYONE IMAGINED! THE PRE-RACE FAVORITE IS NOW DEAD LAST!" The main commentator was practically shouting, words tumbling out like a machine gun, the sheer excitement and shock of the first-corner incident evident in every syllable. Chapter 25: Race Weekend | Sunday IV | IN THE ZONE Chapter 25 - Race Weekend | Sunday IV | IN THE ZONE"Hay????????????r!" The anguished cry of "No!" echoed from Burak, R¨¹meysa, and G¨¹ldane in unison as they shot up from their seats in the grandstand. Fatih''s kart was spinning, a victim of the first-corner chaos. A collective gasp, a symphony of "Aaaaaaaaaaaah!" rippled through the crowd ¨C a mix of sympathy from neutral onlookers and a sudden, sharp intake of breath from those who now saw the race thrown wide open. The initial shock quickly gave way to intense curiosity: how would Fatih react? "As he waits to rejoin safely, Fatih looks eerily still," the main commentator observed, his voice returning to Fatih''s plight after quickly running through the new top ten order. "I''m not sure if he''s just incredibly calm or has simply given up. It''s a terrible shame; he''s now completely out of contention for the win." "It''s more likely he''s furious," Zakir countered, his tone tinged with genuine disappointment rather than any relish at Fatih''s misfortune. "It''s nearly impossible to expect a driver, especially one so young, to remain calm in a situation like this. As someone hailed as a genius, I''m sure this is his first time experiencing such a setback, made even worse by the immense weight of expectation. I truly hope this doesn''t result in a prodigy like him developing a hatred for karting." ........... VWOOM... VWOOOM... VWOOOM... The sound of karts whizzing past was a dull roar to Fatih. He remained preternaturally calm, his breathing even, as he waited for the entire field to stream by before he could safely rejoin. His focus wasn''t on the departing pack, but on the System prompts that had flared into existence the moment he''d realized Sel?uk wasn''t braking. He''d seen Sel?uk barreling towards him, still on power, with almost zero grip on the rain-pelted track. Evasion was impossible. His only option had been to angle his kart to minimize damage and avoid being collected by the karts following behind. [ZONE HAS BEEN TRIGGERED] S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Invictus (Ultimate)] ¡ú [Invictus (Limit Break)] [Sponge Brain (Good)] ¡ú [Sponge Brain (Excellent)] [Sponge Body (Good)] ¡ú [Sponge Body (Excellent)] [Catlex (Good)] ¡ú [Catlex (Excellent)] [Aquaman (Good)] ¡ú [Aquaman (Excellent)] His perception of the world warped. For a fleeting moment, time seemed to stretch, allowing him to absorb every minute detail of a passing kart, even as his senses simultaneously processed a flood of information from his entire surroundings without conscious effort. But that wasn''t all. A new situational mission had also appeared: [Recovery Drive Mission (Situational Mission)] An accident has taken you out of contention, but accidents are a part of racing. The greats don''t complain; they make the best of any situation, no matter how dire. Objective: Recover to the highest possible position. Reward: A 5X SP multiplier for P1, 3X for P2, and 2X for P3 on all System Points earned this weekend. A 10X SP multiplier applied to points earned during this race, should you recover to point-earning positions but not podium positions. Punishment for failure:[Zone (Good)] will be impossible to trigger for three championship weekends. Just as the last kart was about to pass, Fatih finished reading. He mentally slammed [ACCEPT]. The reward was incredibly enticing, and the punishment, while severe, was for an ability he was already used to living without. This was the first time [Zone] had ever triggered since he''d acquired it, making him wonder if it had been a defective purchase. It seemed, however, that [Zone] had a flair for dramatic entrances, activating at the most pivotal moment. The instant the final kart cleared his path, Fatih floored the accelerator, wrenching his kart back in the right direction. By then, the leaders, with Sel?uk at the helm, were already navigating T3. The surge of power, the heightened senses ¨C the difference with all his abilities upgraded was immediate and profound. With Invictus (Limit Break) active, it felt as if he could feel the track through his very hands, discerning every patch of grip and every treacherous slick spot, rather than just through the seat of his pants. To any onlookers, his immediate, aggressive pace on the still-raining track might have seemed like reckless abandon born from the accident. ............ "It seems we were mistaken! He rejoins the track and is driving as if his life depends on it!" the main commentator shouted, his voice cracking with renewed excitement. "He''s cut down the gap by more than three seconds in just two corners! OH MY GOD, HE IS DRIVING LIKE A MAN POSSESSED! He deftly avoids a driver who spun off track right in front of him, moving him up to P39! Thirty-eight more positions to reclaim his rightful P1!" "His driving is bordering on reckless, yet he''s somehow keeping it pointed in the right direction without a hint of caution!" Zakir took over, his voice a mix of awe and concern. "But how long can he maintain this pace without making a critical mistake? He''s bidding to recover to at least point-scoring positions, which are still a daunting twenty-three places away!" As Fatih approached T4, the lowest point of a straight with a mid-elevation change and thus the most waterlogged, the commentators held their breath. "Unlike others who are tiptoeing through, he enters it at near flat-out speed, considering the conditions!" the main commentator roared. "He''s gone completely off the optimal racing line and found grip where others haven''t! He accelerates hard onto the next straight, unafraid of the elevation change, lifting only slightly! He''s cut another two seconds to the pack! OOOOH! There''s a small pile-up of three karts in T5, but Fatih skates around it as if on ice, skillfully navigating the first of the double hairpins! He enters the narrowest part of the track, T6, but it''s no worry for him! He maintains delicate throttle control through T7, still on full power as he exits onto the straight! He sees the group ahead nearing T8, still struggling for grip, but he''s closing rapidly! He''s up to P36! The gap to the main pack is down to a meager three seconds as he approaches T8! He attacks it as if he designed the track himself, perfectly positioning his kart for the second double hairpin complex (T9-T10)! And as has been the case all weekend, he executes it flawlessly! On the short underpass straight, he''s finally caught the tail end of the main pack! He slows patiently for T11, then T12, knowing these narrow sections are too risky for overtaking with so many karts bunched up. By the end of the very first lap, he has already undone so much of the damage, overtaking four karts and closing a ten-second gap created by the accident, rejoining the pack in just eleven corners! What a driver! What a recovery drive this is shaping up to be!" The main commentator had barely paused for breath, his voice radiating pure, unadulterated excitement. Zakir took over, allowing his colleague a much-needed moment. "He is astonishingly calm. If this single lap is any indication, we might be on the verge of witnessing one of the all-time great recovery drives from this young genius." "As if he can hear your words, he out-drags three more karts on the main straight!" the main commentator burst back in. "He''s benefiting from their caution as they rediscover the track, which has gotten even wetter than the previous lap! He has incredible courage, going into T2 side-by-side with another kart... and he comes out ahead! That''s four more positions gained between two corners, bringing him up to P32! And he''s not stopping there! He does the same into T3! His opponent spins the wheels, over-applying power trying to stay ahead, and Fatih sails past! He''s up to P31! Now he has a bit of clear air to chase down the next pack as he enters T4. He repeats his earlier mastery of this section, then uses the run towards the first of the double hairpins (T5-T6) to close in, biding his time through the narrow complex." Zakir added, "He''s driving with a maturity and racecraft far beyond his age and experience. He knows precisely where to hunt and where to stalk his prey, applying pressure, forcing mistakes. One might almost say he''s bullying these older drivers, making it look deceptively easy. Meanwhile, Sel?uk, the instigator of all this drama, still leads in P1, with Jackson close behind in P2. They''re slowly starting to build a small gap to the karts behind them." "The composure of both Fatih and Sel?uk is remarkable, albeit for different reasons," the main commentator mused. "Sel?uk is performing well under the pressure of leading, despite a potential penalty looming over him for the first-corner incident. And Fatih is carving through the field as if they''re standing still! The accident, while unfortunate, has transformed what might have been a dominant, perhaps even processional, win for Fatih into a breathtaking masterclass in recovery driving! He now goes around the outside into T8, outbraking his opponent, getting on the power earlier, cleaner, and emerges ahead with minimal wheelspin! He''s chasing the driver in front, who glances back nervously! Fatih feints to the inside on the short straight before T9, then darts to the outside, tricking his next opponent into defending the wrong line and brushing the wall! Fatih slips through before T9, already targeting his next victim, who''s struggling through the second of the double hairpins (T9-T10)! He takes full advantage, diving down the inside, forcing his rival wide, and emerges ahead onto the underpass straight! He''s up to P28!" "He takes the final two corners flawlessly and completes his second lap, having gained more than twelve positions! There are still over sixteen minutes plus one lap remaining in this twenty-minute-plus-one-lap Final! If he maintains this incredible performance and doesn''t put a foot wrong, he might just have a chance to recover to the point-scoring positions by the end of this race!" Chapter 26: Race Weekend | Sunday V | A MAN ON THE HUNT Chapter 26 - Race Weekend | Sunday V | A MAN ON THE HUNT"Does he have glue on his tires or something? For a second consecutive lap, he executes another three-car overtake on the first straight in Lap 3, moving him up to P25! He''s relentlessly cutting down the distance to the next pack!" The main commentator''s voice vibrated with disbelief. Fatih, with his exceptional understanding of gripology and the track, was achieving the best traction possible in the current downpour, allowing him unparalleled speed and effortless overtakes. These maneuvers would have been significantly harder on a dry track, where the only differentiators would be minute engine power differences and superior corner entries and exits, heavily relying on slipstream. "If I didn''t know better, I''d say this was an exhibition drive, considering how slow others appear on the straights compared to Fatih," Zakir chimed in. "But you can only truly assess grip conditions by looking at the average speed of all drivers on the same straight. And from the data, they''re all maintaining similar speeds. Fatih is the stark outlier ¨C he seems to have the best grip of anyone out there! OOOOH! As you can see, anyone trying to imitate him simply goes off the track! And as always, Fatih is there to capitalize on the situation! He gains one more spot into T2, bringing him now up to P24! And there are still ten corners of this lap remaining for him to work his magic!" Zakir, who had taken over to explain Fatih''s seemingly reckless bravery, was proven right the instant a kart ahead spun. The driver had attempted to cover Fatih, who was stalking him, but braked on a slippery patch, inducing a slide that sent him into the barriers, allowing Fatih to gain the position effortlessly. ... The architect of this electrifying display, the one responsible for the frenzy in both the grandstands and the commentary booth, was currently experiencing something akin to pure euphoria. Thanks to Invictus now being at Limit Break, Fatih was driving with a borderline supernatural sense. If he were to describe the depth of sensation coursing through his body, he might say he was feeling the fuel mixture process and even the ignition taking place ¨C that''s how acutely sensitive his current body was. It was like moving from differentiating things in single percentage digits to discerning nuances in decimal percentages. ''So this is the ability I would still have if I hadn''t downgraded it to buy Simulation,'' he mused. He still drove at the absolute limit, yet because he was currently closing the distance to the next pack, he had enough mental capacity to entertain such thoughts without compromising his drive. ''But even at its current level, it''s still overkill compared to Simulation and Mentor,'' he reflected as he took a wide entrance to the T5 hairpin, effortlessly overtaking the next driver, who, like the previous one, clipped the wall. Fatih moved to P23. He then entered the T6 hairpin before being met by an even narrower short straight, a result of the shunt the earlier driver had sustained. It posed no problem, and he threaded his kart through, entering the second main straight. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He tucked in behind the kart ahead, benefiting from the slipstream, his superior grip-finding ability rapidly closing the distance. Before long, he abandoned the tow; he now had enough speed and grip to complete the overtake. He darted out, passing the two karts that had been slipstreaming each other. ....... "Is he really a five-year-old kid?!" someone in the grandstand exclaimed to his friend. "The commentators said the information came from the officials, so it must be true," his friend replied, equally astonished. "But even I''m having trouble believing it. He''s driving like an adult in a child''s body!" Both he, his friend, and many others in the grandstand erupted in applause as Fatih completed a triple overtake into T8, propelling him to P20. Even parents whose own children were racing clapped, impressed by Fatih''s sheer skill and the confidence he exuded. "Do they keep the recordings for later viewing, or do we have to request a race replay?" the first fan asked, pointing to the massive screen that had been showing Fatih''s kart for nearly seventy percent of the race since the incident. "I don''t know," his friend replied. "I don''t think they''re broadcasting it live anywhere, but I imagine if you request it, they''ll provide you with the recording." ..... "In just five laps, he''s climbed twenty positions, overtaking half the grid! HAHAHAHAHAHAH! And there are still about seven to eight laps before we enter the final lap, based on the current lap times!" the main commentator announced, his voice carrying a hint of utter disbelief at what he was witnessing. Zakir immediately took over, adding to the staggering statistics: "And check this out! Of the five laps completed, Fatih has set the fastest lap in four of them! Despite constantly having to overtake and fight through traffic, he''s still at least two seconds faster per lap than the front-running pack of Sel?uk and Jackson, even though they have clear air!" "For the umpteenth time, he''s caught the next pack in just a few corners!" the main commentator bellowed, his voice growing hoarse. "This one''s the largest yet, an eight-car train, with four drivers currently in point-scoring positions and the other four desperately trying to get there. The fight here is absolutely fierce! But does it matter for Fatih? NO! He immediately feints to the right the moment the driver in front of him glances back, before ducking behind him again! AND AS THE DRIVER IN FRONT MOVES TO DEFEND THE LINE HE THINKS FATIH IS GOING FOR, HE FINDS NO ONE THERE! IT WAS JUST A BLUFF! Fatih remains on the grippy side of the track, moves into position, and now they''re side-by-side in a drag race! But they''re not alone! There are other variables, drivers still ahead of them! OH, THE PACK IS BEING COMPRESSED BY THE LEADER, WHO''S BEING CAUTIOUS! DOES THIS HINDER FATIH? NOOOO! He moves further right, turning it into three karts side-by-side as they barrel towards the corner! Is Fatih brave this time? YESSS! While others brake early, he keeps his foot down, moves inward to the gap opened by their earlier braking, takes the apex, forcing the driver ahead wide, and completes a QUADRUPLE OVERTAKE IN A SINGLE MOVE! IN A SINGLE CORNER! He''s overtaken four cars and is now just one position away from the points! And there are still four people in this pack, Fatih exerting immense pressure as they take Turn 3 and enter the short straight! The driver in front buckles under the pressure, attempting to create a gap between himself and Fatih, gets on the power too early, and causes wheelspin! Fatih doesn''t allow him to recover from the mistake and goes to the left side of the track, completing the overtake! HE IS FINALLY BACK INTO THE POINTS! There are still three people remaining ahead of him in the pack, but does that matter for Fatih? NO, IT DOESN''T! As they take Turn 4 and enter the wettest part of the track due to the upcoming rise in elevation, the three drivers ahead reduce their throttle to avoid going out of control. BUT FATIH MAINTAINS IT! He moves to the left side of the straight! The driver in front responds and moves to cover him, but does Fatih let it hinder him? NO! He remains behind the driver, knowing he''s going to lift when they reach the peak of the elevation and the track starts falling! The driver in front also knows this but also knows they are now heading into the narrowest part of the track, and if he can just manage to enter the first double hairpin (T5-T6) safely, he might be able to keep his position for a few more corners! BUT WILL FATIH ALLOW HIM TO DO THAT? NOOOO! Fatih moves to the side, benefiting from the driver in front slowing down, and now they''re side-by-side as they go down through the falling elevation, drag racing as Fatih slowly pushes the driver closer and closer to the left wall of the track, putting the driver in a situation of either braving it out or pulling back! And he does exactly that! Fatih now moves ahead, uses the left part of the track to do a switch-back but doesn''t hug the chicanes and goes wide, benefiting from the higher exit speed to complete an overtake over the leader of the pack as he takes the second hairpin of the first double hairpins of T5 and T6 and comes out of the double hairpins in the lead of the pack! IN FIVE CORNERS HE OVERTOOK EIGHT CARS! I CAN''T BELIEVE WHAT I''M SEEING! HE IS NOW UP TO P12! Having overtaken twenty-eight karts in five and a half laps, and he''s still chasing and cutting down his time to the next pack, he should be with them within just a few corners!" The main commentator had been shouting so much that his voice was hoarse, but he seemed not to care, pushing forward, narrating the exhilarating spectacle unfolding before them. Zakir, the co-commentator, immediately took over to lessen his burden and allow him a moment of respite, knowing Fatih was still a few seconds away from the next pack, meaning there would be no immediate action involving him. "He is yet to be satisfied with what he has done so far," Zakir said. "He''s still relentlessly chasing those ahead. For a moment, he turns his head, looking at the race leader, who is now only twelve positions ahead of him, before returning his focus to the track. He is still a man on a mission ¨C a man on the hunt." Chapter 27: Race Weekend | Sunday VI | A MAN ON THE HUNT II Chapter 27 - Race Weekend | Sunday VI | A MAN ON THE HUNT II{The upload schedule will return to the previous one starting today} "As he completes his sixth lap and starts his seventh, he is finally on the cusp of the top ten!" the main commentator announced, his voice now hoarse but still passionate. "He executed ten overtakes on that last lap alone to bring him to P11! What more can I say about this drive that hasn''t already been said? We''re now watching the young Fatih chase down Zeynep ?elik, who started P8. She is one of the two female competitors in this championship, and both have shown outstanding capability by qualifying in the top ten. A top-ten finish would be a dream result for her, but Fatih has other ideas! He''s already caught her on the straight, cutting the distance even further through T2 and T3! As they enter the short straight leading to the elevation change ¨C the wettest part of the track ¨C Fatih, who has proven to be a master of these conditions, pushes hard! Zeynep lifts cautiously, and Fatih bumps her kart, just enough to break her focus for a split second! That''s all he needs! He moves side-by-side as the track rises! Who will be braver? Without question, it is Fatih! Zeynep releases the throttle at the peak of the elevation, but Fatih maintains a higher speed as the track drops away, emerging ahead as he enters the first of the double hairpins! He''s now in P10, chasing the group of four ahead: Deniz, Bora, Can, and the second female driver, Ay?e. They''ve been racing as a pack since the start, exchanging positions and conserving energy for the final laps. But Fatih, a man on a mission, has no time to accommodate their plans. Many, myself included, believed he would lead this race from start to finish, but racing, like any sport with multiple participants, has no absolutes. Upsets are always possible. Yet Fatih, who suffered the most unexpected upset at the very start, looks intent on rewriting that narrative. He''s already caught them by the short underpass straight, and like an experienced hunter, he tucks in behind them, applying immense pressure." The main commentator, having strained his voice, finally took a moment to drink, allowing Zakir to take over as the five-kart train started Lap 7. "How will he approach this? Will he remain behind them, applying pressure to force mistakes, or will he maintain his aggressive driving style at the risk of nullifying all his recovery efforts... Oh, okay, that''s surprising. Why are they not defending?" Zakir broke from his own commentary, genuinely perplexed by what he was seeing. The group of four was hugging the right side of the track, leaving the entire left side open for Fatih. "Are they opening the way to let him pass? Are they afraid to fight him, or is this some kind of trap?" the main commentator asked, having thrown his water bottle aside, captivated by the on-track drama. "I don''t think they currently have the capacity to orchestrate a trap," Zakir reasoned. "They''re kids, aged six to eight. And if this is a taught strategy, why use it now and not in any of the previous instances? It seems Ay?e, leading their pack, made the move first, and the rest simply followed her lead." "So they''re just letting him pass?" the main commentator repeated. "I think they''re being extremely cautious, aware of the lack of grip on the left side, but also keeping in mind the upcoming heavy braking zone at the end of this long straight. We should have our answer now!" As Zakir finished, the main commentator took over, his voice rising again as the karts neared T2. "And Fatih, having assessed the situation, makes his move! He takes the open left side, keeps his foot on the power longer, and passes Deniz and Bora by forcing them to brake heavier, sending them slightly wide! Fatih keeps it on track, albeit with a lower cornering speed, but it doesn''t matter! On the short straight, he catches up to Can and Ay?e as they exit T3! He tucks into Can''s slipstream! Into T4, HE DOES THE OPPOSITE OF HIS LAST MOVE! He remains on the outside while Can covers the inside and hits the apex! BUT FATIH, CARRYING MORE SPEED ON THE WIDER LINE, COMPLETES THE OVERTAKE! He closes the door on the inside at the corner exit, forcing Can to check up and allowing Fatih to secure the position! Now he focuses on Ay?e! Will he repeat his foolproof plan on this straight with the rising elevation? YES, HE DOES! During the falling elevation, he completes the overtake! HE''S UP TO P6! He''s taken the first of the double hairpins, and now only four karts are between him and Sel?uk! With the time remaining, it''s possible for him to accomplish his goal! He''s now chasing the next group: Emre, Huzeyfa, and Faris! If he overtakes them, only the top two will remain! But they are already over ten seconds ahead of this pack! And from the look of the lap times, only two and a half laps remain for him to achieve that! He has to not only catch this group but overtake them within this lap or the next to have enough time to hunt down the two leaders and have any chance of victory before the race is over!" The main commentator seemed to have forgotten his sore throat entirely, his voice returning to its previous strength, coarse but powerful, as if conveying the sheer spectacle on track was more important than any physical discomfort. .... Burak, R¨¹meysa, and G¨¹ldane were currently speechless, watching the race unfold. They had been this way for the last two laps, finding it difficult to believe what they were seeing. For Fatih''s mother and grandmother, it felt like a dream. They were witnessing their talented child, their grandchild, prove himself a genius in something he loved, outclassing everyone his age. They almost hoped they would awaken soon, lest they place even more weight and expectation on him in the real world. Every parent believes their child is a one-of-a-kind genius, but nearly all know this is just wishful thinking. For R¨¹meysa and G¨¹ldane, who weren''t deeply knowledgeable about motorsport, it was now obvious that what they were seeing their son and grandchild do was something only a true genius could accomplish. They were struggling to process the dizzying reality that their wishful thinking had turned out to be true. A completely different line of thought was consuming Burak. ''I have to make sure we do everything in our power to keep him,'' was his singular focus. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The initial surprise had slowly numbed, at least externally, but he was still constantly being impressed by his young student, who was driving as if a seasoned professional had possessed his body. Though he''d had similar thoughts since the free practice sessions, he was now fully prepared to resign if the academy director didn''t do his absolute best to retain Fatih. He was certain that every karting academy in Istanbul, if not the whole of Turkey, would be trying to poach Fatih after his performance today. While signing a young talent can be a gamble, as they might not develop as expected, Fatih was different. What he was showing was not the mark of someone who would decline easily. Even if he didn''t improve at all for the next five years, his current ability would still place him ahead of his peers in that age group. ........ "AND HE LEAVES THAT GROUP BEHIND AS WELL, HAVING SPENT ONLY HALF A LAP WITH THEM! HE STARTS THE CHASE FOR JACKSON AND SEL?UK!" the main commentator roared. "THE TIMER HAS FINALLY HIT ZERO, MARKING THE LAP AFTER THIS AS THE FINAL LAP OF THE RACE! BUT FATIH IS STILL TEN SECONDS BEHIND THEM! CAN HE DO THE IMPOSSIBLE IN THE ONE AND A HALF LAPS REMAINING?!" He shouted at the top of his lungs as Fatih finished overtaking the group of three and began his desperate, final pursuit. Time was not on Fatih''s side. The situation was both thrilling and nerve-wracking for the commentators, the viewers, and the family, who watched Fatih drive as if he hadn''t given up at all, still pushing relentlessly despite the seemingly insurmountable odds. Chapter 28: FATIH, the Conqueror of Istanbul Chapter 28 - FATIH, the Conqueror of Istanbul"The standing water on the track is reaching a dangerous level! Officials are inspecting the track now; it seems they''re considering ending the race early before it becomes too hazardous for the drivers, many of whom are sliding more and more frequently!" the main commentator announced as TOSFED officials in high-visibility vests could be seen at various points, assessing the conditions without entering the circuit itself. "I''m sure the top two would love for that to happen right now, but I really hope they let this race continue! It''s far too interesting to end prematurely!" Zakir responded, but before he could even finish his thought, he saw the officials retreat. "And it seems they''re withdrawing! They''re going to let the race go to the end! One and a quarter laps remain!" The main commentator immediately took over. "And Fatih, having already shaved three seconds off the lead in the quarter-lap since clearing that last group, is now powering through the second double hairpin! He gains an additional two seconds in that complex alone, reducing the gap to just five seconds! He brings the two leaders into his view as they all exit T12! Rediscovering the track every single lap is incredibly intensive, demanding immense concentration, but Fatih makes it look easy! He reduces the gap by another second as he practically swims while they struggle for grip! They start the final lap, and the official waves the last lap board! That must be the worst news imaginable for the top two, who now have Fatih just four seconds behind them and closing fast! They take T1 and enter the longest straight, doing their absolute best to maximize speed while being careful to avoid any wheelspin that would lose them precious time! But Fatih, the man driving as if possessed, continues to devour the gap! He gains another half-second on the straight! As the leading pair brakes for T2 and T3, Fatih has already closed the gap by another eight-tenths! He carries more speed into T2 than the two in front, maintains it through the corner, and accelerates the moment he hits the apex, his throttle input absolutely perfect! He shaves another half-second in those two corners alone! He is now less than three seconds behind Jackson! He continues the chase, gaining another tenth on the short straight, then another two-tenths into T4! He enters the straight with the rising and falling elevation ¨C the section where he has been utterly dominant! And he doesn''t disappoint! He maintains a significantly higher average speed than the leaders, shaving a full second off the gap and bringing them into touching distance! They are now separated by less than half a second! But unlike his previous moves, he remains calm, not attempting a daring overtake at the start of the double hairpin, choosing instead to apply pressure! It''s immediately proven to be the right decision! The two leaders, Jackson and Sel?uk, cover the inside lines as they enter the first of the double hairpins, T5 and T6, cooperating to prevent him from passing through the narrowest section of the track where overtaking is virtually impossible! Fatih closes the gap to zero, slightly bumping Jackson''s rear as they exit T6, a clear message as they head onto the next straight!" Zakir took over as the main commentator took a desperate breath. "This straight and the following double hairpin are the only areas left where he can complete a successful overtake! If he fails here, there''s nothing he can do in the final two corners! I''m sure he knows that, hence the immense pressure he''s now exerting on Jackson, who is forced to do the same to Sel?uk ahead!" But just as he was about to continue his analysis, he was interrupted by the main commentator, whose voice exploded with excitement. "AND FATIH FEINTS TO THE INSIDE! JACKSON MOVES TO THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK TO COVER, LEAVING A TINY GAP! BUT FATIH, AS IF HE PLANNED THIS ALL ALONG, EXECUTES A PERFECT SWITCHBACK TO THE OUTSIDE! JACKSON TRIES TO DEFEND, BUT THIS TOO SEEMS TO BE PART OF FATIH''S CALCULATION! He forced Jackson to change direction more aggressively than he wanted, causing him to lose grip for a split second and slide wide! FATIH HAS COMPLETED A DOUBLE FEINT, A DOUBLE SWITCHBACK! HE MOVES SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH JACKSON AS THEY DRAG RACE TO TURN 8! WHO IS BRAVER? AND LIKE EVERY TIME BEFORE, IT IS FATIH! HE BRAKES LATER, PURPOSEFULLY GOES WIDE, SHUTTING THE DOOR AND FORCING JACKSON TO EITHER BACK OFF OR CRASH THEM BOTH OUT OF THE RACE! A DARING MOVE WITH A PERFECT RETURN! FATIH IS IN P2, CHASING SEL?UK! The leader is now looking back as they enter the short straight before the final double hairpin! These are the final chances for Fatih to overtake and for Sel?uk to defend! And Sel?uk seems intent on doing exactly that! He slows more than usual in the middle of the track, backing Fatih up and allowing Jackson to close the gap, inducing the concertina effect! BUT FATIH HAS OTHER PLANS! HE DOESN''T EVEN TOUCH THE BRAKE, using Sel?uk''s defensive braking to slow his own kart! He continues into the corner, taking a very late apex, the opposite of Sel?uk''s middle apex, while Jackson takes an early apex! All three drivers are on three different racing lines! WHO IS RIGHT? IT LOOKS LIKE FATIH IS! He attempts to use his superior exit speed on the outside, but Sel?uk deliberately goes wide to block the line as they exit T10! If he successfully holds this, he will win the ra¡ª BUT FATIH HAS OTHER IDEAS! THAT TOO WAS ANOTHER BAIT! HE TUCKS TO THE INSIDE OF T10, BARELY BRAKES, AND INDUCES A DELIBERATE, CONTROLLED SLIDE! IT WORKS! HE ROTATES THE KART PERFECTLY AND IS NOW SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH SEL?UK, HOLDING THE INSIDE LINE FOR THE EXIT OF T10! THEY ENTER THE UNDERPASS STRAIGHT, DRAG RACING, NEITHER GIVING AN INCH! SEL?UK GLANCES AT FATIH, BUT FATIH''S EYES ARE LOCKED FORWARD! WHO WILL LIFT FIRST INTO T11? THIS MIRRORS THE FIRST LAP, BUT THE STAKES ARE INFINITELY HIGHER! The track width here barely accommodates two karts and requires cooperation, which is why no overtakes have happened here all race! BUT THEY ARE BOTH INTENT ON BEING THE ONE TO ENTER THAT STRAIGHT AHEAD! THEY BOTH BRAKE INCREDIBLY LATE! SEL?UK, WHOSE WIDE LINE FROM T10 HAS NOW BECOME THE INSIDE LINE FOR T11, HAS A LOCKUP! HE CAN''T MAKE THE CORNER! HE''S GOING TO TAKE FATIH WITH HIM! BUT FATIH BRAKES PERFECTLY! HE PERFORMS A SWITCHBACK AS THEY SWAP LINES, FATIH MOVING TO THE INSIDE, SEL?UK FORCED TO THE OUTSIDE! THEY ENTER THE CORNER AT THE SAME TIME, BOTH AGGRESSIVE, BUT GIVING EACH OTHER JUST ENOUGH SPACE! THEY DRAG RACE ONCE AGAIN TO THE FINAL CORNER, T12! FATIH BRAKES LATER, KEEPS THE INSIDE LINE, AVOIDS A LOCKUP UNLIKE SEL?UK, AND COMES OUT AHEAD! HE''S BACK IN THE LEAD OF THE RACE ON THE FINAL CORNER! HE REMAINS CALM AND GETS ON THE POWER! SEL?UK GETS AGGRESSIVE, TRYING TO CHASE HIM TO THE FINISH LINE, BUT FATIH''S PERFECT EXIT KEEPS HIM AHEAD! AND FATIH YILDIRIM, THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD, THE ONE WITH THE NAME MEANING ''THE CONQUEROR'' OR ''VICTOR,'' COMES HOME VICTORIOUS! THE ONE WITH THE NAMESAKE OF THE CONQUEROR OF CONSTANTINOPLE HAS CONQUERED THE ISTANBUL PARK KARTING TRACK! HE WINS THE FIRST RACE OF THE 2009 MINI CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON! OOOOOOOOOOH MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! I CAN''T BELIEVE THIS! HE HAS ACHIEVED THE IMPOSSIBLE, THE IMPROBABLE, WHAT WAS CONSIDERED UNACHIEVABLE! IN HIS FIRST RACE, NO LESS! THIS IS A MARK OF THE GREATS! A PERFECT START FOR WHAT MIGHT TURN OUT TO BE THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME! YOU MIGHT SAY IT''S AN EXAGGERATION, BUT REMEMBER, THIS IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL RACE OF HIS CAREER! HE WAS SENT TO THE BACK OF THE TRACK BY THE MISTAKE OF ANOTHER, BUT THE FIVE-YEAR-OLD, ON HIS FIRST-EVER RACE, DIDN''T GIVE UP! HE FOUGHT HIS WAY BACK TO HIS RIGHTFUL POSITION, HIS DESERVED POSITION, AND WINS THE ISTANBUL PARK RACE!" The commentator didn''t even know what he was saying anymore, his mouth having taken over, spitting words of pure, unadulterated shock and awe. No one stopped him, not even Zakir, who seemed to believe every single word. "As you can see, the crowd is on its feet, clapping for him," Zakir finally managed to say, his voice much calmer but filled with reverence. "For the performance he has shown them, for the drive he has given them. It was not the drive of a rookie, but the drive of a very talented monster. Or rather, I should say, the drive of a champion. A drive that will be referenced in his future career as the first sign of his greatness." "You think he''s already clenched the championship?" the main commentator asked, his voice raspy. "Yes, I believe so," Zakir replied confidently. "He has shown the signs all weekend. Had it not been for the accident, this would have been a grand slam weekend where he led every session. But I think the accident was for the better. It answered the questions many would have had about his racecraft, or if he was only good when leading from the front. I don''t see anyone causing him an upset after this. His perfect, mistake-free drive on a soaking wet track, while everyone else was affected, was masterful. He drove as if he created these conditions himself and had hidden the grippiest parts of the track for his own personal use. This race answered every question: How is his racecraft? How is his overtaking? Is he strategic? How is his driving in the wet? Can he handle force majeure situations? Can he handle pressure? Can he handle things not going as planned?" The main commentator took over, answering the rhetorical questions. "And I''m sure everyone present will answer ''yes'' to all the yes-or-no questions and ''perfect'' to the rest! He showed no mistakes at all! Ooooh, I''m being told the replay of the first-corner accident is ready. Let''s watch it again!" The massive screen switched from showing Fatih on his cool-down lap, one hand raised in celebration, to a slow-motion replay of the race start. The perfectly edited sequence, showing multiple angles, explained why it had taken so long to prepare; Fatih''s relentless recovery drive had left no window to play it earlier. "Looks like I need to add another thing about him," Zakir said as he watched the replay. "He is incredibly aware of his surroundings." "Why do you say that?" the main commentator asked. "Look at Fatih''s kart carefully," Zakir instructed. "His steering, throttle, and braking inputs a few moments before the impact. He used all of those things to turn the kart and reduce the potential damage as much as possible, to keep his race alive." The director, hearing this, replayed the accident again, this time zoomed in on Fatih. The viewers could now clearly see it. In slow motion, they saw Fatih''s head turn, followed by an immediate lift of the throttle, his other foot hitting the brake as he shifted his body weight to force the rear-left of the kart to rise, ensuring the tire would receive the brunt of the impact. The chassis would bear only the remainder of the force, already reduced by the deforming tire. But it didn''t stop there. As the hit was taking place, Fatih was already counter-steering, not only to control the direction of his slide but to ensure that when he hit the tire wall, the entire left side of the kart would do so at once, distributing the force uniformly and keeping him out of the path of the oncoming karts. "Holy sh¡ª" the main commentator had to stop himself from finishing the curse, but the sentiment was echoed in the minds of everyone watching. "Is he really a five-year-old rookie in his first race, or are we being trolled? Because it doesn''t make sense any other way for him to be able to do that at that age!" He found himself asking the question aloud. What they were seeing was not something a five-year-old should be able to do ¨C not only to make a decision in a split second but to devise and perfectly implement a complex course of action to minimize damage and prevent a larger pile-up. "The greats are often incomprehensible," Zakir said, a wry smile in his voice. "For them, what we see as difficult and impossible might just be a Tuesday." He paused for a moment before adding, in a sarcastic tone, "Maybe we can ask him what was on his mind during the interviews. They''re setting up the podium now." "Oh, right! You have to go ask the top three questions!" the main commentator said. "What wouldn''t I give to be the one asking those questions! Looks like you''re the lucky one, so ask them for us!" Zakir nodded, leaving the commentary booth and heading towards the pitlane, where the podium was being prepared on the main straight. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 29: Race Weekend | Sunday VIII | Wrap Up Chapter 29: Race Weekend | Sunday VIII | Wrap UpHaving completed his celebration lap, Fatih finally returned to a bustling pit lane. More than thirty karts were already there, undergoing the mandatory post-race inspections and weigh-ins. The process of checking if both the driver and the kart were over the minimum weight set by the organizers would take a very long time for the whole field. That, however, was not Fatih¡¯s concern. As the winner, he, along with the other two podium finishers, was directed to the front of the queue for an express weigh-in. He found Sel?uk just stepping off the scale, helmet in hand. Fatih, still wearing his own helmet with the visor cracked open, met his rival¡¯s gaze. Sel?uk stared at Fatih for a few seconds, then dropped his head, a clear look of shame on his face for his actions during the race. He didn¡¯t say a word, simply taking the official weigh-in slip handed to him and walking away with his coach. The official then called for Fatih. "I can¡¯t even be angry at him," Fatih said quietly to Apollo as he stepped onto the scale. "His actions ended up benefiting me." "Rivalries are what push people to become their best," Apollo replied, his translucent form floating effortlessly through the busy officials, visible only to Fatih. "The rivalry between Lauda and Hunt is a prime example. The System is using this dynamic to create similar effects, but only with individuals it deems talented enough to be worthy competitors at your current level." "Will the System trigger rivalry missions even if I¡¯m the one causing trouble?" Fatih asked, his mind already calculating. Depending on the answer, he could potentially farm SP by cultivating an infamous or arrogant reputation. "No," Apollo stated firmly. "I don¡¯t know the exact criteria for triggering those missions, as I am limited to providing tasks related to your training. However, I am confident that if you go around creating problems just to trigger missions, the System will not generate them. You would be the instigator, not the one being challenged. It will only create missions when it discovers someone genuinely stronger than you, or, as is the case now, when someone it deems talented challenges you, even if they have yet to reach your level." Apollo¡¯s explanation concluded just as Fatih reached the interview area, a large backdrop filled with the names and logos of sponsors. Sel?uk was already being interviewed by Zakir. "I made a mistake, and I will be more careful in the future," Sel?uk said, his voice subdued, answering a question about the five-second penalty he¡¯d received for the Lap 1, Turn 1 incident. The penalty had officially demoted him to P3, behind Jackson. "Thank you, and good luck in the next round," Zakir said, then welcomed Jackson, who was now officially P2. The look on Jackson¡¯s face, however, showed none of the happiness one might expect from a post-race promotion. "How difficult was it racing on a wet track while it was still raining?" Zakir asked after congratulating him. "I tried my best... but it was difficult," Jackson answered in broken Turkish. Despite the language barrier, his deep dissatisfaction with the outcome was palpable, the raw emotion of a seven-year-old who hadn¡¯t gotten what he¡¯d worked so hard for. "As the defending champion, how do you feel about finishing P2, and how was it racing against Fatih this weekend?" Zakir asked, patting the boy¡¯s shoulder sympathetically before continuing his work. "Not good. I wanted to win," Jackson answered bluntly, not sugarcoating his feelings. "Not happy about Fatih. But I promise to win the next round." After a few more questions, Zakir bid him farewell and welcomed Fatih to the interview board. "Congratulations on winning your first-ever race," Zakir said, extending his hand for a firm handshake. "Thank you very much." "How difficult was it for you to recover after finding yourself at the back of a forty-kart pack on Lap 1?" Zakir asked, getting straight to the most interesting part. "It wasn¡¯t difficult," Fatih answered calmly, trying to filter his words to sound like a child, but failing slightly. "The only thing that came to my mind was that I had to overtake thirty-nine karts to win. So, I knew I had to be calm and do my best, which I did." The maturity of his answer surprised Zakir and the viewers watching from the grandstand. "You answered very well, surprisingly so. Are you really only five years old?" Zakir asked with a chuckle. "Yes, I¡¯m five." "I believe you. When we saw the replay of the incident, we saw how you reacted to minimize the damage to your kart. Can you walk us through what was going through your mind?" "I saw Sel?uk coming and realized he wasn¡¯t going to be able to stop in time," Fatih explained simply. "So, I just followed my instincts, and they worked out." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "¡¯Instincts,¡¯ you say?" Zakir repeated the word, almost wanting to cry. He had expected a detailed, technical breakdown, but Fatih had shattered that expectation by attributing it all to instinct. He quickly reminded himself he was interviewing a five-year-old, not a seasoned professional, and continued. "Were you using those same instincts during the race? You set five of the top ten fastest laps today, putting you in a different league than everyone else." "Yes," Fatih answered, nodding his head. "Sel?uk received a five-second penalty for the incident. Do you think that¡¯s enough, or should he have been punished more?" "It doesn¡¯t matter, since I won the race," Fatih stated plainly, stopping there. He continued the answer in his mind, ¡¯I wish they¡¯d do this at every race. Thanks to him, I got the 5X multiplier for winning. Why would I complain about his penalty when my gains were a direct result of it?¡¯ Only he and Apollo, who was now laughing heartily, could hear. "You don¡¯t care because you won. What a way to see things," Zakir mused. "I¡¯d love to ask you more, but unfortunately, we¡¯re out of time and need to get you to the podium. Congratulations on your debut, your win, and good luck in your future career." He gestured towards the podium area. "Thank you," Fatih said, heading towards the podium as the audience applauded. One by one, Sel?uk, Jackson, and finally Fatih were called to the stage. The Turkish national anthem played, followed by the head of the TOSFED Mini Championship division handing them their medals and trophies, their finishing positions engraved upon them. The largest trophy, of course, was given to Fatih. He was also awarded the "Driver of the Weekend" trophy and the "Fastest Lap of the Race" trophy. He couldn¡¯t carry them all at once, requiring Burak to come up and help him with the larger ones as he celebrated, waving to his mother and grandmother, who were clapping proudly in the grandstands. After the ceremony, Burak took Fatih back to the academy¡¯s tent. He changed his clothes and took off the sponsored racing gear, which, other than his personal helmet, would be returned to the academy for cleaning before the next race. Once he was done, he ran to his mother, who was waiting for him outside the tent, hugging her and his grandmother tightly. Burak had a small chat with them before they bade him farewell and headed to the parking lot. They started their journey home at exactly 17:00, the awards, interviews, and celebrations having taken nearly half an hour to complete. ........ "He¡¯s really tired," R¨¹meysa said, glancing at the rearview mirror to find Fatih with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep. Despite losing an entire weekend she could have used to rest, a smile never left her face. She was far too happy to even consider it a burden. "Yes, he should be tired mentally, after finding himself in that situation," G¨¹ldane added, remembering the pit in her stomach when Fatih had fallen to last. She couldn¡¯t imagine how he must have felt and wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if he had quit in anger. But he had kept his calm and fought his way back to victory. While they thought Fatih was sleeping, he was doing the exact opposite. Even if he wanted to sleep, he couldn¡¯t; he was buzzing with excitement. He was finally looking at his winnings from the race weekend, the rewards the System had granted him the moment the race ended. He¡¯d had to postpone checking them until now, and the anticipation was electric. Chapter 30: The Spoils of Victory Chapter 30: The Spoils of Victory[RACE WEEKEND DEBRIEF COMPLETE] [SEASONAL MISSION: THE FIRST CROWN (WEEKEND 1)] STATUS: COMPLETE Milestone 1 (Participation): +10 SP Milestone 2 (Pole Position): +10 SP Milestone 3 (Fastest Lap): +5 SP Milestone 4 (Race Finish - 25 pts): +25 SP Milestone 5 (Driver of the Weekend): +5 SP Additional Rewards (Per-Action): Overtake: 39 overtakes = +39 SP Brilliant Overtake: 5 overtakes = +25 SP Defense: 1 successful defense = +1 SP Perfect Weekend Bonus: +50 SP ["THE FIRST CROWN" SUBTOTAL: +170 SP] [URGENT MISSION: vs. SEL?UK] sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. STATUS: COMPLETE REWARD: +15 SP [CHALLENGE MISSION: vs. JACKSON] STATUS: COMPLETE REWARD: +30 SP [RECOVERY DRIVE MISSION] STATUS: COMPLETE (P1 FINISH) REWARD ACTIVATED: 5X MULTIPLIER [FINAL CALCULATION] Base Weekend Earnings: 215 SP Recovery Drive Multiplier: x5 TOTAL SP GAINED: +1,075 SP [Current System Points: 1,386 ¡ú 2,461 SP] Fatih, who was looking at the system¡¯s breakdown of his points, had a difficult time restraining the smile from spreading across his face, which would surely reveal to his mother and grandmother that he was not, in fact, asleep. ¡¯I should really send Sel?uk a gift basket or something,¡¯ he thought with a private, cold amusement. The final SP tally had skyrocketed from an expected 215 to over a thousand, all thanks to the situational mission triggered by the crash. The incident had erased any lingering negative feelings he might have had, even subconsciously. "Are you going to upgrade anything, or are you planning on accumulating more points?" Apollo asked, his form seated calmly next to Fatih in the car. "There¡¯s no benefit in waiting. Having experienced what these abilities feel like one level higher during the [Zone] activation, returning to their base level feels like going from a 1080p display back down to 720p," Fatih explained. "When 720p was all I knew, it was fine. But now, having experienced the upgrade, all I can notice is the difference." He mentally pulled up the System Shop and opened his abilities tab. [Invictus (Ultimate)] ¡ú 10,000 SP [Invictus (Limit Break)] [Sponge Brain (Good)] ¡ú 2,600 SP [Sponge Brain (Excellent)] [Sponge Body (Good)] ¡ú 2,600 SP [Sponge Body (Excellent)] [Catlex (Good)] ¡ú 1,800 SP [Catlex (Excellent)] [Zone (Good)] ¡ú 2,000 SP [Zone (Excellent)] [Aquaman (Good)] ¡ú 1,500 SP [Aquaman (Excellent)] He took a deep breath. Even after earning over a thousand SP in a single weekend and diligently completing his daily missions for nearly a year, he still couldn¡¯t afford to upgrade his top-tier learning abilities. "What do you think?" he asked Apollo. "Should I wait until the next race weekend to earn the remaining SP for a Sponge ability, or should I spend it on Catlex now?" "While the Sponge abilities are powerful, their current versions are more than sufficient for your age," Apollo replied without hesitation, as if he¡¯d already considered the question. "I suggest you upgrade Catlex to Excellent. Its effects on your reflexes and decision-making are immediate and universally applicable in racing, unlike the other two, whose full effects will become more pronounced as you continue to grow and train." "Makes sense. Let¡¯s do as you suggest," Fatih agreed, mentally confirming the purchase. The number 1,800 vanished from his SP pool, making him squint as the total dropped. [CATLEX has been UPGRADED (Good ¡ú Excellent).] [System Points: 2,461 ¡ú 661 SP] The effect was subtle, yet still perceptible thanks to his Invictus ability. He opened his eyes. The trees passing by the car window at high speed seemed to resolve with greater clarity than before. He had enough time to not only distinguish them but also to process and think about potential reactions if needed. The sensation lasted only a fleeting moment before it disappeared. His Sponge Brain ability immediately digested the new information, and his mind recalibrated, seamlessly integrating the heightened perception until it felt like the new norm. He closed his eyes again, hoping to benefit from the "teleportation" of being carried to his bed when he felt the car go over the familiar bumps that indicated they were close to home. ..... "Aaaaah, La Conca, I missed you!" Fatih said, standing arms outstretched in a T-pose within the Simulation. He had logged in the moment he¡¯d finished dinner and his other nightly routines. His ploy to be carried to bed had failed spectacularly; his mother had woken him up, complaining that he was getting too big and heavy for her to carry him anymore, even as he¡¯d pretended to groggily awaken from a deep sleep. "Stop wasting time. We need to begin your new training," Apollo materialized, interrupting Fatih¡¯s moment of reminiscence, despite him having been on this very track just last night, testing his Aquaman ability. "Now that the rain mission is over, what¡¯s next?" he asked excitedly, curious about the next step and any potential missions. "Nothing special," Apollo stated, though his tone suggested otherwise. "Just the art of tire management. You will learn to deal with every compound, every situation: tire degradation, marbles, graining, blistering, losing grip. Everything you will face in a single-seater." As he spoke, different compounds of tires materialized behind him, from hard slicks to full wets. "I don¡¯t remember experiencing tire degradation of that level in karting," Fatih said, wondering if it was something he¡¯d encounter in higher categories. "No, not to this extent," Apollo confirmed. "This is to give you a foundational understanding of tire dynamics. The more comprehensive your knowledge, the greater your advantage at every competitive level. While there are no pit stops in karting, there is still some level of tire degradation. The performance difference isn¡¯t huge, but learning to manage it will still give you an edge. Like all fundamentals, it is best to start early. Now, get in the kart and start experiencing the different compounds." "What are you doing?" Apollo asked, noticing Fatih was just standing there, waiting. "Waiting for a mission prompt to appear so I can accept before we start," Fatih answered, remembering the lucrative Aquaman mission. "I will only assign a mission once I deem you have mastered the basics," Apollo stated firmly. "Even if I gave you one now, you would not be able to accomplish it without the foundational knowledge. So, get in the kart and follow me." Apollo boarded his own kart and headed onto the track. Fatih¡¯s next lesson, a deep dive into the world of motorsport tires, was about to begin. Chapter 31: Returning to his Normal Life Chapter 31: Returning to his Normal Life"I thought you¡¯d be resting today," Burak said, a surprised look on his face as Fatih emerged from the locker room, fully suited and ready for practice. "Why would I do that?" Fatih asked, zipping up his suit and making a final adjustment to his collar. "You just came from a championship weekend. You participated in at least three intense races, not to mention all the other sessions. Aren¡¯t you tired?" Burak asked as they began walking towards the outdoor track. "All I did was race, and it wasn¡¯t that tiring," Fatih answered simply. What he really wanted to say was, I spent my entire previous life confined to a bed, and you want the new me to laze around after a single race weekend? Don¡¯t you understand the blessing I have, to not feel constant pain, to do what I love? You want me to waste that time? He kept the thoughts to himself; it would be unfair to Burak. Besides, with his young body and the [Sponge Body] ability, any fatigue that might have accumulated had vanished with a single night¡¯s sleep. Burak just shook his head with a fond, disbelieving smile. "To be young. Oh, and the race recording you requested a copy of has been delivered to the academy. Remind me after the lesson to give it to you." "Thank you," Fatih said, his own smile hidden by his helmet. "What are you going to use it for? A memento?" "That, and a few other things," Fatih replied as they arrived at the pitlane, their karts already prepared and waiting. "I want to see my performance from a third-person point of view." "Good idea," Burak nodded. "Since I¡¯ve seen you¡¯re very good at overtaking, even in the wet, today we¡¯re going to practice defending. And unlike our previous sessions where our karts were matched, today my kart has a few more horsepower than yours. I¡¯m going to push you to your absolute limits so we can see where your weaknesses lie and start fixing them." He started both their karts. Fatih gave him a thumbs-up, the engine noise drowning out any verbal reply. He boarded his kart, and after letting the engines warm up for a moment, they headed out onto the track, which was completely empty just for them. ....... For the first time in a long while, Mehmet, the director of the Fatih Karting Academy, was watching the track not out of boredom, but with a rapt, almost morbid curiosity. From the window of his office, which overlooked both the indoor and outdoor circuits, he could see Fatih and Burak engaged in their training. It was clearly a defensive driving drill, a dance of mismatched power. On the long start-finish straight, Burak, with his superior horsepower, would inevitably blast past Fatih. But then, a fascinating game of cat and mouse would ensue for the rest of the lap. Fatih defended as if his life depended on it, masterfully using his lower-powered kart to his advantage. He would brake later, get on the power earlier, and do everything in his power to disrupt Burak¡¯s rhythm. He used his defensive moves at the last possible second, borderline on the gray line of the rules, parking his kart on the apex as if it belonged to him and daring Burak to find a way around. He would retain his advantage through the technical sections, only for the raw power difference on the main straight to erase his hard-won gap in seconds. As he watched, Mehmet recalled viewing the race recording Burak had brought him earlier, deliberately without revealing the results. He¡¯d been surprised to see Fatih on pole, but what followed was an experience that left him with a massive, excited smile on his face. Not only because of Fatih¡¯s incredible drive, but because two of the top three finishers were from his academy. He finally understood what Burak had meant when he¡¯d said that if nothing out of his control happened, no one would defeat Fatih. Something had happened, and despite that, the kid had done the nearly impossible. "The silence is unnerving," he murmured to himself. He knew that if he had watched this race, then the directors of all the other academies had done the same. Anyone with a semblance of a racing mind would see the raw talent in Fatih, and the potential increase in sponsorship revenue and academy prestige that such a prodigy would bring. The fact that no one had contacted him yet, now that the recordings were widely available, could only mean one thing: they were planning to poach Fatih behind his back, willing to pay whatever penalty fee was required for the few months of training the academy had provided. "I have to keep him here," he said, the decision crystallizing in his mind. He immediately returned to his desk and called the reception. "Is Fatih¡¯s guardian, his grandmother, still here?" he asked when the call connected. "Good. Please bring her to my office if she is free." He ended the call and waited. ...... "Thank you, and I will be waiting for your response," Mehmet said, shaking hands with G¨¹ldane. Fatih, having just finished changing, arrived just in time to see the handshake, wondering what the conversation had been about. The academy director then extended a hand to Fatih. "I¡¯m Mehmet," he introduced himself. "I expect great things from you in the future, so keep up the hard work." He offered a warm smile before bidding them farewell, leaving Fatih even more curious. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After collecting two copies of the race recording and saying goodbye to Burak and the receptionist, they started their journey back home. Once he arrived home, his routine remained unchanged. He greeted his mother, who had already returned from work and was preparing dinner, then went to wash up. He carefully stored the two copies of the race recording in a safe place in his room before joining his family for dinner. Afterwards, he spent some quality time with his mother and grandmother before finally heading to bed. The moment his head hit the pillow, his consciousness slipped away from the real world and into the familiar, limitless space of the Simulation. His next round of training, a deep dive into the fundamentals of tire management, was about to begin, bringing the eventful day to a close. Chapter 32: The Game Behind the Race Chapter 32: The Game Behind the RaceWhile Fatih slept, his mother and grandmother were wide awake, deep in discussion. G¨¹ldane had just finished bringing R¨¹meysa up to date on the details of her meeting with the academy director. "So, what do you think we should do?" G¨¹ldane asked, seeking her daughter¡¯s opinion. R¨¹meysa was silent for a moment, digesting the information, her legal mind already processing the various angles. "For now, we don¡¯t make any decisions," she said finally. "We¡¯ll have conversations with both the academy and Aslan to get the full picture, but we won¡¯t commit to anything. We wait. This will give other academies time to make their own offers, which will give us better leverage in any negotiation." She leaned forward, her voice taking on a more strategic tone. "It also buys Fatih time. Time for him to perform again and prove that his first win wasn¡¯t a fluke. The better he performs in the upcoming races, the more his value increases. That will make them want to close a deal as early as possible, afraid that someone else might make an offer we can¡¯t refuse. They¡¯ll be forced to give us a deal that¡¯s closer to their bottom line, with a greater degree of freedom for Fatih." Her expression softened slightly as she shifted from lawyer to mother. "We can also use this time to see if there are any signs of him losing interest in the sport, no matter how unlikely that seems. The moment we sign one of these contracts, his career path is locked in for the duration of its term. If he changes his mind, the penalties for breaking contract would be financially crippling. To avoid that, we might have to require him to continue driving, which would be cruel." As a lawyer, she needed to secure the most benefits for her client. As a mother, she had to remember that Fatih was just a child, and children can be fickle. Although Fatih had shown an obsessive level of concentration for over a year, she couldn¡¯t ignore the possibility. "I don¡¯t think he is going to lose interest in karting for a very long time," G¨¹ldane said with the quiet confidence of someone who had raised one child and was now helping raise another. "I know the difference between a temporary interest and a deep-seated passion. Fatih is obsessed with motorsport, and I haven¡¯t seen a single hint of that changing." Her mother¡¯s assurance was enough. "Then we¡¯ll start having formal discussions with the academy and with Aslan," R¨¹meysa decided, her plan solidifying. "We¡¯ll see how things go as we wait for other offers to use in negotiations." "Good," G¨¹ldane said with a warm smile. "It would remove the monetary burden of his hobby from you, leaving you only responsible for the emotional one." "But he¡¯ll have the pressure to perform." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Only if he knows about it," G¨¹ldane countered with a chuckle, taking a sip of water. "And he can perform perfectly well without that knowledge. Both he and the sponsors want the same thing: to win. He¡¯s already motivated enough." Unaware of these high-stakes conversations, Fatih continued his routine for the remainder of the month. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays were for the academy. On the other days, he completed his daily missions, drove his kart in the park, and played with Emir, enjoying the simple life of a child not yet burdened by school. His nights were spent in the Simulation, diligently learning the fundamentals of tire management. While his life went on without any apparent changes, R¨¹meysa¡¯s was a whirlwind of meetings and phone calls with different academies, with Aslan, and with others who had reached out to sponsor Fatih. At night, she spent her free time poring over child labor laws, sponsorship contracts, and relevant tax codes. Fatih, who had already taught himself to read Turkish by correlating the English alphabet with the sounds of Turkish product names, realized what his mother was doing. He saw the stacks of documents and the late nights she was putting in. As a result, he made a conscious effort not to bother her, trying to reduce her stress while she was already doing so much, all while continuing her own demanding job. In return, he was making steady progress in his training with Apollo. However, due to the sheer volume of information he needed to absorb about tire management, he was still not even halfway through the basics when the end of April arrived. May, his birthday month, had begun, and only one day remained before the second race weekend of the championship, set to take place in Ankara. R¨¹meysa, having prepared well in advance, took Fatih and her mother to the Esenler Bus Terminal to begin their journey. She saw no reason to drive for hours when the academy was handling all the equipment transport; all they needed to bring were their clothes. What R¨¹meysa didn¡¯t tell Fatih was that for all the parties she was in contact with¡ªregarding sponsorships, scholarships, and other opportunities¡ªthis race was crucial. She, and they, were holding off on signing any agreements until after this second weekend was complete. For her, it was about peace of mind and increasing Fatih¡¯s value even further by proving his first win was no fluke. For the sponsors, it was about ensuring they weren¡¯t being duped into backing a one-hit wonder. Upon their arrival in Ankara, they took a taxi to a hotel they had booked in advance. After a quick dinner, R¨¹meysa sent Fatih and her mother to their room to rest. Her own night, however, was just beginning. She had meetings scheduled with the representatives who had flown to Ankara specifically for the race weekend and the contracts. The goal was to go through the draft agreements, clarifying terms and making final adjustments, ensuring that by the end of the race weekend, the only thing remaining would be a signature. Since they had already discussed the broad strokes of the contracts in their previous conversations, the actual changes were minimal. R¨¹meysa spent the first part of her evening meticulously combing through the documents one last time, her eyes searching for any ambiguous language or hidden clauses. Once satisfied with her own review, she forwarded the finalized drafts to a specialist lawyer she had hired, an expert in sports sponsorship contracts, for a final professional opinion. With her due diligence complete, she finally returned to her room, ready for the crucial day ahead.