This multi-pilot take on the Zone mode is unique, and has not appeared in the WipEout series before or since.
Zone Battle is based on Zone mode, but Zones are gained and treated differently. Like in Zone mode, they represent your speed, however, in Zone Battle, the objective is to reach a certain Zone instead of surviving for as long as possible. Zones increment much slower than in Zone mode, so the player has to perform Zone Boosts to speed up while avoiding Light Barriers placed by other pilots. The player can also respawn indefinitely in Zone Battle.
Whenever the player goes over a Speed Pad - formally called Zone Pads here - they increment the charge of their Zone Bar. The player then gets the option to either use that charge to perform a Zone Boost, or to absorb it. Performing a Zone Boost increases the player's Zone and leaves an obstacle behind them on the track: a Light Barrier. If hit, Light Barriers reduce your Ship Energy, deplete some of your Zone Bar and slow you down like a weapon impact. Absorbing the charge restores some of the player's Ship Energy and activates a Shield, which negates wall impact damage and allows the player to go through Light Barriers undamaged for a short bit.
Zone Battle can be played against AI or online opponents that also own the Fury DLC, with the ability to set the target to between 15 and 55 Zones in increments of 5 Zones.