[DROP] hold on to your hats

There's CHAOS on the track towards the back of the race. Maea shoots herself forward using her Scorch, but Thalassa is hot (lol) on her heels, managing to swerve and dodge the flurries of melting snow that are kicked out behind the pale Ancient's sled. And evidently Thal has revenge on her mind, because she wastes no time in tossing a fireball of her own towards Maea. Unlike the latter, though, there's nothing accidental about the captain's attack, and it clips the back of her opponent's sled, sending her spinning off in an arc, directly out of the race!

(Her exit looks fun, at least).

Meanwhile towards the front, Melita's snowball goes wide just as Damien focuses on the blockade created by Deimos. And wouldn't you know, Halovian born and bred, where some might see a hindrance, he sees a ramp. Deimos ought to be proud, because Damien gets MAD AIR as he sleds up and over the blockade--

Just in time to get his shit rocked by a fireball from Astaroth. 

And thus Damien, like Zavien before him, learns the price of that initial burst of speed. (It's that everyone wants you dead afterwards, apparently).

Finally, Nova, who is actually focused on the race, manages to jet forward and overtake Mel to reach third place!

Up ahead, the remaining contestants will be able to make out a few cheerfully billowing flags representing the finish line. You're on the home stretch!

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Maea and Damien are OUT of the Drop! The leaderboard now looks like THIS:

1. Deimos
2. Astaroth
3. Nova
4. Melita
5. Thalassa

WHATCHA GONNA DO TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE?

You have 48 hours to decide.