"Isn't that Kousei's signature dance step?"
Though Kousei was renowned for her Gate Technique, her footwork was equally impressive. No one would expect a runner so reliant on Power to execute such agile steps.
Used by Gold City, Kousei's footwork appeared even more elegant and beautiful. It was rare to see such refined grace within such flamboyant gold.
"As expected of Gold City—beautiful and captivating, no matter the time or place!"
The racetrack erupted in cheers. Even first-time spectators couldn't help but cheer for Gold City. With just a brief display of her skills, she drew thunderous applause. Her charisma seemed innate.
"I finally pulled it off. It took so much effort to go from zero to one, but I finally broke through." In reality, Gold City wasn't as effortless as she appeared.
From the moment she witnessed that performance, Gold City had practiced tirelessly, day after day. Even with expert guidance, mastering the technique proved far from easy.
It was during this rigorous training that Gold City gradually gained a deeper understanding of Kousei.
This wasn't a level one could reach with casual practice. Kousei had merely mentioned practicing dance as a child, neglecting to mention the immense difficulty in achieving such mastery.
Her dedication to training had long surpassed mere hard work. The world called her a mediocre talent, but perhaps in another domain, she could have been a shining star.
"This is my selfish wish," Gold City confessed, "I want to compete against you as an Umamusume." Even the dazzling Gold City had her own struggles, and the answers she sought could only be found beneath her own hooves.
Gold City surged ahead, momentarily distracting the trailing runners. Seizing the opportunity, Kousei accelerated before the others could react, hoping to break free from the pack. But just as she made her move, two figures closed in on either side.
"Who are these people? Their reaction time is incredible!" Kousei thought, startled. She glanced left and right, meeting two mischievous smiles.
"Let's introduce ourselves," one said. "I'm Double Entanglement."
"White Grimoire, the little brat from 'Villains of the Century'! You didn't think you could outmaneuver us so easily, did you?" the other taunted.
The duo had completely anticipated Kousei's move, tightening their encirclement. The pack now surged like a raging river.
"They saw through me! These seasoned competitors aren't fooled by such simple tricks!"
Kousei found herself trapped in the center, hemmed in by Double Entanglement and White Grimoire.
"What about the others?!"
Umamusume gradually closed in from all sides, instinctively taking their positions as if guided by unspoken understanding.
"This is a cage!"
The formation, centered around Kousei, with countless iron chains entangling her ankles, formed a suffocating encirclement.
"The situation is dire! This perfect formation leaves no gaps whatsoever. How will Kousei break free?!" the commentator exclaimed, instantly ratcheting up the tension.
It wasn't unheard of for a single Umamusume to endure multiple markers, but that usually happened to Star athletes. Their target, however, was just a mere commoner.
"What should you do, Kousei?" Gold City, having escaped the encirclement, didn't immediately advance, maintaining a safe distance to observe the situation behind her.
"This formation is airtight, on a completely different level from the Rookie Grade. No wonder Boss T said the mid-pack is the most chaotic and challenging position."
The most striking difference between the Rookie Grade and the Classic Grade was the sheer presence. In past races, Kousei had focused her attention on a single rival, like Mejiro McQueen. Throughout the entire race, the overwhelming pressure—or even all of it—came solely from McQueen, while the other Umamusume faded into the background.
The Classic Grade was entirely different. On the G1 racetrack, there were no mediocre contenders; every breath brought an overwhelming sense of pressure.
"What's wrong? Out of tricks already?!" Double Entanglement pressed close, their breaths mingling.
"You must have more than this up your sleeve, right? After all, you defeated the Monster from the Shadows. And trust me, 'monster' isn't just a figure of speech when it comes to that thing," White Grimoire added, maintaining pace.
As White Grimoire had pointed out, Kousei hadn't been giving it her all. She hadn't yet unleashed her signature Gate Technique. Kousei knew Double Entanglement and White Grimoire were trying to bait her into using it. Perhaps they believed reserving her trump card wasn't her style.
But Kousei had her own reasons. Before the race, Trainer T had instructed her to see how far she could go without resorting to her Gate Technique.
Kousei found this decision puzzling. How can you become a true master without using your best weapon?
Despite her confusion, she followed her Trainer's instructions and held back.
"Fine, let's try this then!"
A crimson glint flashed in Kousei's eyes as she suddenly unleashed her full power. The pace-Chaser running style demanded immense strength, and Kousei's naturally powerful physique made her a perfect fit for this technique.
Raw power and physical dominance had always been her most reliable weapons.
This time, the brute force that had dominated the novice ranks proved surprisingly ineffective.
"Just as I thought! I knew you'd try to force your way through!"
"This position isn't yours to take! Just stay put!"
Kousei strained with all her might to break through, but the combined assault of Double Entanglement and White Grimoire pinned her in place.
"I can't even budge them?!" Kousei was genuinely astonished.
In physical confrontations, Kousei had never lost to any Umamusume except McQueen. At the Japan Cup, she had single-handedly held off Tenmile Cloud and Twilight Cloud, and at the Seishun Cup, she had completely suppressed Narita Brian.
Kousei took immense pride in her physical prowess. Though she had never publicly voiced it, she secretly believed that few Umamusume could match her in physical combat.
"Wait! Something's wrong here!" Kousei immediately sensed foul play.
"You've finally realized it," Double Entanglement and White Grimoire exchanged knowing smiles.
"The pushback feels unnatural... they must be using some kind of technique." Kousei noticed a slight shift in the positions of Double Entanglement and White Grimoire.
"They've widened the gap slightly. Is that where the trick lies?"
Kousei tried to break through again, but White Grimoire's blockade remained impenetrable.
"Same result... Am I missing something?" Kousei asked, her agitation fading as she focused on analyzing the situation after yet another failed attempt.
"Good instincts. You didn't resort to brute force after all. It seems your worries were unfounded," Rudolf praised.
"Sort of. She was about to try brute force, but she failed," T countered, immediately pouring cold water on Rudolf's enthusiasm.
"So strict!" Rudolf retorted. "If you have the power, you should use it. I've never doubted the use of my strength. I always give it my all, make bold pronouncements, and crush my opponents. That's how the Emperor survives."
"Tokai Teio, Symboli Rudolf—aren't you both cut from the same cloth?" T chose to remain silent.