The Great Steeplechase

Endmin! You're here! Surprised to see me? Are you getting all excited and stuff?

'Cos I got myself a rare little vacay! I headed right over to this place when I heard that everyone's here.

I actually wanted to keep it clandestine, greet you with my Tweety-Bomb, and give you an actual heart attack...

That being said, toasting you on Baker felt unwise. I should have toasted you directly with a Tweety-Bomb!

ANYHOOOOO, this isn't important. Now listen close, Endmin. I found out these Wulingers got a super fun activity — the Steeplechase!

It's a ... uhm. Hold on. Lemme check their travel brochure for the most accurate definition...

"An integrated athletic and competitive event of the highest caliber for the joggers of Wuling. The track is simple but the steeplechase is not. Run with panache and beat the records..."

Hmm. Sounds a little dull to me.

Well, I wasn't about to spoil you with my surprise, but here goes. The "super fun" part can only be experienced on the track.

So, Endmin, interested in some competitive jogging?

Darkmask! You're right on time!

Yvonne and I spent days drawing some serious designs. None of us took a break for days. The fourth track is now ready!

Heheh. The details don't matter. Let's not waste time on chatting. Try it out. I think it's called Cloud-Something-Troll... The no-lifers in the committee came up with this weird name...

Ugh. Just try running down the track! You'll see!

Many have tried, but none of their results are good enough! QUICK! You're up next, Darkmask...!

Endmin, ready for the race? Let's do it!

Try to make it quick!

How's that, Endmin? "Fun" enough for you?

That's right! Check out the runner's manual. It used to be a city-wide jog last year but they added some crazy parkour segments! How dare they!

I thought the Wulingers were super fit, but the race got them all panting and wheezing...

Alright... Now it's got me burning for an ABSOLUTE WIN!

The fun's just getting started! I gotta beat every single track!

Come on, Endmin! Let's keep running!

I knew it! They spiked the difficulty of the track!

Ready to experience the new track?

Fine. I'll wait for you.

How's that, Endmin? Tired? Thirsting for some energy drinks?

I don't think you'll have any problems with the track. But, Endmin, did you notice some ... details? Like those "leap sequences"?

Before I tried the second track, I thought the event committee was planning to recreate some wuxia movie scenes.

But now I'm convinced they gave it more thought. The track designer is definitely an expert in field bouncing and mobility devices!

That leap sequence felt so wild and adventurous. A brave attempt in truly unexplored territory...

The designer actually integrated features of the natural environment into the track. Very impressive.

Check this out, Endmin. I'm gonna look for a way to get some face-to-face time with this talented individual.

Such designs can be introduced for my next iterations of Tink-a-Bella and Frost-e-Bytee...

Once I get the designs ... can be added to my chip-building algorithms. It'll completely overhaul my circuit routing game...

Alrighty! I'm gonna do this! So, Endmin, let's try out the next track!

I'll definitely find out more about this track designer if I keep attending this event. Wait for my amazing discovery!

Ready to show off some skills on the track, Endmin?

Still snooping around but I got a lead. Be patient, Endmin...

This feels like detective work and it's pretty interesting. Heheh. Oh, and if you know who the designer is already, PUH-LEASE! Don't spoil it for me.

I gotta solve this mystery on my own.

Endmin! It's time to hunt down the track designer!

Details are a little fuzzy on my end. But they told me it's a pretty young lady...

Welp, whatever. Let's go! Monitor the key choke points and keep your eyes peeled. We'll find her for sure.

I don't know why but the event staff isn't keen to tell me more. Perhaps they're worried about breaking some NDA.

Come one, come all! Prove your skills at the latest track!

Sure thing. The track will be here.

This is why you're the Darkmask. You made the track look too easy. Maybe I should up the difficulty some more.

Care for another try, Darkmask?

Heheh. No rush. I found an assistant. Team Soupreme is doing things really fast.

Endmin, found any new leads?

Tangtang? Sounds like a young, adventurous kid to me. I haven't formally met her yet.

But Fiona told me something about her before I came to Wuling...

Anyways, I know what you're on to, Endmin! I'm gonna meet this super prodigy!

Are you ready?

Well said. Come by once you're ready.

How did you manage to beat our insane track in the sky!

Wait. I should've known! Team Darkmask does nothing but run around impossible places and collect funny things.

Ugh. And Yvonne forgot to warn me about this! Hmph. She owes me a Hotpot Soupreme!

The feast can wait. Don't forget your prize.

The medal looks a little mid, but it's good enough for a true Good Fellow of the Stockade.

Back then you were all lost and confused in Wuling. A simple gate could keep you trapped for ages. I was almost worried you'd end up in some marshy gorge and never be seen again.

Your performance is now giving me a peace of mind.

There's no need for such politeness... You completed the track, Darkmask. But look at these sorry Wulingers. Some of them are getting emo already.

I heard people saying how a fast completion would get them some ... G-P-A boost or something. What's that? Why is it so important?

Maybe you can teach them how to run this track. Perhaps I should tweak it a bit?

Yeah ... I should tone it down... I don't think anyone can easily master your skills.

Don't worry, Darkmask. I'll keep the toughest race track around, just for you.

Anyway, some mad woman wants me to slog around for a few more days. Talk to Yvonne if you're interested in more running.

Endmin, you're here!

Sure. Get the blood pumping and move those limbs.

Endmin! Did you get a proper warm up?

Great. Do the stretches properly, okay?

Darkmask?! You actually have time to see people jogging around?

Wait. I got it. You heard about the super awesome race at this place, right?

Here to compete? HMPH! See the flying stuff, the floaty stuff, and the balloons? Plopped them down myself!

Hey. Stop making that face of "I don't believe you"!

Aiya, don't mention it. I passed by the place two days ago. I tried making a fool of the mad woman ... but I kinda slipped and she threw me into the slammer.

Pranking takes true skill, and there's no excuse for failing. So I didn't complain when she forced me to do her hard work.

So, what do you think of the tracks? Very smart, right?

Back then, some random nobodies in the race committee came out and complained how the track is too hard and too tall and too smart for them...

But I forced them to follow me lead and run a lap. It finally got everyone convinced...

You should've seen their faces, Darkmask. They knew it was wild but they gotta admit that my routes are super.

It's not just the balloons, see. I used some special tricks to build this route.

I grew up hopping around lotus pads of Sword Quenching Marsh and rolling down the trails of Burdosnout Hill. These Chubby Lungs will teach them how I did it!

Today's track is something special too. Looks simple, but it'll teach my tricks for dodging mad woman charging at you at rabid speeds.

How about a try, Darkmask?