As soon as the race started, Jane flapped her wings and launched herself miles ahead of Rias. The force released by her wings was so powerful that she sent shock waves to the sea, which caused a mini-tsunami.
Luckily, no habited islands were nearby, so no one was hurt.
Rias, who knew something like that would happen, launched herself up into the sky instead of moving forward. Had she moved forward, she would have been pushed by the shock wave created by Jane's flap.
Jane was already miles ahead of Rias the moment the race started, but they still had a long distance to fly.
Rias had limited vampiric power, so she could do tricks like Jane, but she was a master at using her weakness for advantage and adapted to any situation— just like Rudy.
Although Jane was better than Rias in every aspect, Rias' skills, talent, and experience could beat anyone more powerful than her. Rias was Jane's primary source of motivation to do better.
Rias had almost caught up to Jane in less than a minute, and they both tried their best to get ahead of each other.
However, neither of them was using their full power yet; they saved it for the last. Just like humans, vampires had stamina. If they got the best of themselves and used their full power at the start, they wouldn't be able to do anything at a critical time.
Of course, Rias was at a major disadvantage at that, so she had no choice but to save everything for the last.
'This is one challenge I can't afford to lose… it's my only chance to get Rias' forgiveness. This race is in my favor, but if I end up losing this challenge… I am finished. I don't deserve the title of the third strongest vampire in the world if I can't even win a simple challenge to prove my love.'
Jane was taking this challenge seriously, and so was Rias.
Rias had given one chance to Jane, even though she knew Jane could defeat her. Still, Rias loved Jane, and she couldn't stand to see her in pain, let it be physical or emotional pain.
It wasn't as though they had never fought before; they always did— even for small things such as for the last slice of the blood moon fruit. And they always settled the score with a challenge, leaving no hard feelings behind.
Rias was well aware that Rudy would have a harem in the near future— when they first met in 1989. So finding out that Rudy had a harem in 2008 didn't come as a shock to her.
However, never in her wildest dream had she thought that her own twin sister would also be a part of his harem. Jane was a cold, merciless, and ruthless girl, and her falling in love with the same man she loved was out of the question.
Perhaps, she was a little envious of Jane as she got Rudy without doing anything. Rias had fallen in love with him in 1989, and even when her memories were sealed, her heart had a hole that only Rudy could heal.
She waited for that to happen for 18 years, and when she finally reunited with him, she was once again separated from him and punished. Her only crime was that she fell in love.
Jane, however, didn't have to go through anything and got Rudy without putting in much effort. Since Rias and Jane always challenged each other for the same thing ever since they were kids, Rias felt betrayed when they had no challenge to have Rudy.
Rias couldn't accept that. She felt it was unfair. She thought she was a victim for no reason. Not to mention, Jane tried to keep a secret about her relationship with Rudy. So when Jane challenged Rias, she was happy.
She accepted her challenge so she could be at ease that Jane at least put an effort for her relationship with Rudy. It didn't matter if she won or lost the challenge, Rias had already forgiven Jane.
Still, Rias had no intention of backing down from her grand plan to take revenge on Jane with Rudy.
Jane was leaving trails of white aura as she flew, while Rias left faint crimson trails. They were flying over a sea— an open area so they had nothing to worry about. They could fly wherever and however they wanted.
'The real challenge starts when we are near the city. That's my best chance to leave Rias behind and win the race, but I will have to make sure that she doesn't pass me. Rias didn't set any terms for this challenge, and there are no rules either.
I could pull dirty tricks such as releasing shock waves or using water on Rias, but I won't. I would have done that if it was an ordinary challenge, but this is a challenge of love. I have to win this to prove my love for Rudy!'
After flying fast for thirty minutes and passing each other once in a while, the city was in their sight.
'I will go all out as soon as we are above the city. I will go above the clouds so I will have an open area. If I stay low, I will run into tons of buildings and such. Fortunately, I have roamed the city in my free time, and I know a straight way to the pool house.
I am sure Rias knows about that too. Rias plans to do the same thing and get above the clouds. As long as I have the headstart there, I will win. I am so close to getting what I want!'
When they reached near the seaport, Jane flew above the clouds and did what she planned to do. She enhanced her wings using her powers and boosted her speed. The trails of her aura had painted the sky white, and they seemed awfully similar to the aurora.
'I love Rudy as much as you do! And I will prove it!'
