Regression - Second Chance At Life Chapter 317: Born To Do It

The Stratosurge crossed the finish line, and a wave of stunned disbelief washed over the pit room as everyone fixed their gaze upon the lap timer.

The numbers displayed seemed unreal.

6:59:57.

This astonishing time shattered the existing circuit record, crowning Adam with the fastest lap ever achieved on the Eylendra Circuit by a road-legal car.

He had surpassed the legendary Carlos Diega, whose previous best stood at 7:02:09.

Adam’s new record was nearly three seconds faster. In the fast-paced world of motorsport, three seconds represents a monumental lead. Cars cover vast distances in mere moments, so Adam’s substantial gap meant Carlos would be left in the Stratosurge's wake.

A driver with a three-second advantage typically maintains their lead easily, barring catastrophic errors, and rarely faces being overtaken.

However, Adam's three-second margin over Carlos was all the more remarkable considering Carlos himself had delivered a peak performance. To achieve such a lead against one of the world's premier drivers, who was at the height of his abilities, spoke volumes about Adam’s extraordinary skill.

Dante remained frozen, his eyes locked onto the mesmerizing figures on the lap timer.

The time Carlos had set was already considered the absolute edge for a road-legal car on this track, yet Adam had arrived and defied all expectations.

He had achieved a flawless run, utterly demolishing the prior record.

As Dante’s initial shock subsided, a potent new excitement surged through him; he had just witnessed the dawning of motorsport's next titan.

With Adam racing under his team’s banner, they could dominate every major driving competition globally. The ensuing honor, glory, and wealth would secure their prosperity for generations.

Any sponsoring brand would undoubtedly invest billions more if Adam consistently replicated the phenomenal performance he had just displayed.

Driven by this revelation, Dante immediately departed his station, hurrying from the pit to greet Adam as the Stratosurge slowly coasted to a halt.

Beside Dante, Danny, equally thrilled, was eager to speak with Adam.

Danny had initially hoped Adam would secure him a top ten record; Adam had not only met but exceeded this expectation. His fourth and final run culminated in an incredible lap time, securing 4th place, much to Danny's delight.

He was already thrilled to own the car that achieved that 4th place, but Adam had gone far beyond his wildest dreams. Adam had not just broken records; he had obliterated them, achieving the all-time fastest lap with an almost three-second lead.

And now, Danny stood as the proud owner of the fastest road-legal car to ever conquer the Eylendra circuit.

Danny could barely contain his excitement, already envisioning the envious glances from his circle of motorsport aficionados as he recounted his incredible acquisition.

Wealthy individuals often possess a vast array of possessions, cherishing only those items that are uniquely theirs – a final masterpiece by a renowned artist, a singular luxury timepiece, a one-of-a-kind vintage automobile, a flawlessly graded trading card, and so on.

Because they can acquire almost anything, these unparalleled items command an even greater significance in their eyes.

What Adam accomplished today was the creation of precisely such an item: a lap time so extraordinary it seemed untouchable, a testament to Adam pushing the very boundaries of physics. Short of a road-legal car capable of flight, no one would ever eclipse Adam’s record, making Danny’s particular Stratosurge an unparalleled artifact.

As news of this car’s incredible feat spread, the value of Danny’s Stratosurge would undoubtedly soar, with billionaire collectors eager to bestow vast sums upon Danny for the chance to add it to their collections. However, knowing Danny’s character, Adam held little doubt that selling it was not an option.

Adam guided the Stratosurge to a complete stop and disembarked.

Removing his helmet, he surveyed the assembled crowd, noticing their collective gaze fixed upon him as if he were a mythical creature.

‘Perhaps I pushed things a bit too much,’ Adam mused inwardly.

He recalled the intense state he entered behind the wheel – a state of absolute focus, a transcendent realm where he danced on the precipice of physical possibility. Had he ventured even slightly further, the Stratosurge would have been reduced to scrap, retaining only its base material value.

Therefore, the astonishment etched on their faces was entirely justified.

“Holy fucking shit! You actually did it! You broke the fucking record!!!” Danny exclaimed, lunging towards Adam and vigorously shaking his hands.

Witnessing the overwhelming elation radiating from Danny, Adam felt a profound sense of satisfaction, knowing he had successfully achieved his initial objective: elevating his standing in Danny’s eyes.

His gaze drifted to the lap timer, a first for him as well. The display read 6:59:57, a time nearly three seconds faster than the previous record. Carlos, the legendary driver, had achieved an astonishing, near-perfect run, but Adam’s was the absolute perfect performance.

A smile graced Adam’s lips, contentment blooming as he experienced a true glimpse of his body’s inherent capabilities.

Despite all his prior activities, Adam had never managed to push himself to his absolute physical limit. This moment, however, offered him a profound taste of what was truly possible.

"Congratulations, Mr. Grant. With this incredible feat, your name will undoubtedly become the main topic in the world of motorsport. I am certain that every major brand will fiercely compete to sign you," the Circuit Manager stepped forward, extending his congratulations. Beside him stood Kelly, her face still tinged with a faint flush.

Adam’s eyes met the Manager’s, then shifted to Kelly, whose gaze held a flicker of undeniable desire. She had never anticipated Adam possessing such extraordinary talent. Not only was he an exceptional lover, capable of making her see stars, but he could also drive like a consummate professional, surpassing one of the sport’s historical greats.

As an avid motorsport fan herself, Kelly’s desire for Adam intensified further. Yet, this realization also brought a sharp understanding: a relationship between them was impossible, as they inhabited entirely different spheres of existence, with Adam being far beyond her reach.

She felt fortunate to have shared mere moments of intimacy with him.

Adam seemed to perceive Kelly’s thoughts but was not preoccupied with her at that moment.

"Regarding that, could you please maintain my anonymity? I have no desire for such widespread attention," Adam stated.

His words left the Manager utterly bewildered. Why would anyone refuse such an opportunity? Adam’s performance was beyond exceptional. The fame and fortune that would follow him once his name was revealed were immense; for him to dismiss it all simply because he disliked a bit of attention struck the Manager as utterly preposterous.

"What on earth are you talking about, boy? Have you lost your mind?" Dante exclaimed, confronting Adam with disbelief etched across his features.

"I don’t believe so," Adam replied, feigning ignorance.

"You cannot conceal what you just accomplished out there. The world must know. Do you even comprehend the magnitude of your achievement? You have made history. This sport needs you. The world needs to witness your greatness," Dante insisted, forcefully placing his hands on Adam’s shoulders and shaking him vigorously.

Adam was taken aback, never expecting such fervent intensity from the older man.

"I apologize, Dante, but I have no ambition to become a professional driver. I only participated to assist my friend here," Adam explained, gesturing towards Danny, who currently appeared as bewildered as a child, unable to grasp the unfolding situation.

"Nonsense! I couldn't care less if you aspire to be a professional driver or not. You were born for this sport. Do you realize how many young individuals dream of achieving what you just did? They begin their training as children, yet many still fail to reach the pinnacle of this sport. You, however, defeated one of the best without any prior training. Do you understand how utterly absurd that is? It’s so beyond comprehension that I still struggle to process it. But regardless, you are destined for racing," Dante declared.

Adam had to acknowledge Dante’s knack for motivating someone, but he simply could not fulfill Dante’s request at that moment, as his aspirations lay in a different career path.

"I am truly sorry, Dante, but I already know what I intend to do. Perhaps we can revisit this conversation in a few years," Adam suggested.

In a few years, Adam was confident he would be at the zenith of the MMA world. Then, perhaps, he might consider pursuing other endeavors.

Dante stared at Adam as if he were simple-minded.

"No, I will not permit that. I will ensure that everyone knows your name. Let’s see how you plan to evade everyone," Dante vowed, his tone bordering on obsession.

Adam felt a headache brewing. He had not anticipated that going all out would transform Dante into such a determined adversary.

His attention turned to Uncle Ben, who had remained silent throughout the exchange.

"Mr. Ben, I trust you had everyone present sign NDAs before they were brought here, correct?" Adam inquired.

"Yes, Mr. Grant," Ben responded professionally.

"Then I would like to ensure that my name does not become public knowledge. Can you guarantee that for me?" Adam asked.

"As you wish," Ben affirmed.

Adam preferred not to resort to such measures, but he was certain Dante would create significant, unwanted trouble for him, necessitating a legal means to silence him.