"I'm taking the lead!"
As the trumpet sounded, Speedstar shot out ahead of the pack. From the advantageous inner gate, she showed no mercy.
On the sidelines, Just a Way pressed her stopwatch and started timing.
2000 meters, counter-clockwise, snow.
All the Umamusume present were somewhat accustomed to the wind and snow. However, the Executioner's guillotine hung over their heads, forcing the pace to a blistering speed.
Speedstar maintained her position as the Front-Runner, leading by three horse lengths over Caesar Rose. Kousei and Twilight Cloud settled into the Mid-Pack, with Tenmile Cloud at the rear.
"Oh? A race?" Reiko and Takuya had just arrived at the training track.
"A free-for-all! A rare opportunity. Let me observe," Reiko said with keen interest, leaning against the railing. Takuya, who had been about to say something, wisely held his tongue.
Though it was only a mock race, Kousei felt a familiar surge of excitement after her long absence from the track. She had run alongside Caesar countless times, but parallel running could never compare to a real race.
As usual, Kousei positioned herself in the Mid-Pack, observing the positions of the others.
Speedstar will likely lead from start to finish. The key is when she'll accelerate. I need to keep a close eye on her position. As for Caesar... I've seen her run far too many times.
Just as Speedstar had said, she and Caesar had grown tired of racing each other. The focus of this mock race was on the other three. Caesar knew this well; she didn't use her signature abilities, Sovereignty and Future Eye. In this race, she was playing more of a supporting role.
Because it was a mock race, the number of Umamusume was different from a standard competition. Speedstar and Caesar's running styles didn't conflict, allowing them to effortlessly secure the inner lane.
This left the strategic battle in the Mid-Pack to Kousei and Twilight Cloud.
"How wonderful, a private date with my Senpai~"
Twilight Cloud stared fixedly at Kousei, her excitement palpable.
"I don't mind a date, but could you pay me back first?" Kousei retorted, her gaze just as unwavering.
"Dates are a girl's privilege, you foolish Senpai."
Amid their banter, illusory figures of a red serpent and a fox materialized. Tenmile Cloud and Caesar noticed the shift in atmosphere in the Mid-Pack. Indeed, only kindred spirits could truly resonate.
It's starting.
The King sat calmly upon her throne, observing the beasts' struggle.
Unlike in the Japan Cup, a savage grin spread across Twilight Cloud's beautiful face as she excitedly stuck out her tongue.
Her true nature, completely exposed.
"Before we cross the finish line, I'll tear you to shreds!"
Twilight Cloud suddenly accelerated, abandoning her advantageous inner lane to surge ahead. Caesar made no move to block her, allowing Twilight Cloud to pass freely.
The dangerous aura was like an invitation to a deadly, sweet trap.
"Hmph~" Caesar's eyes curved into a smile.
The crimson blur shot past her without hesitation.
This mere mock race wasn't the main stage for either of them; they excelled in chaotic melees. In a one-on-one duel, Kousei felt she had the upper hand. After all, she was skilled at close-quarters combat and quite confident in her ability to handle a single opponent.
Her stride isn't long, but her cadence is incredibly fast. Based on her performance in the Japan Cup, both her footwork and her mind are remarkably agile, Kousei thought, studying Twilight Cloud ahead. Should I use a Gate Technique to catch her?
Kousei dismissed the idea. This was a rare opportunity, and she wanted to see Twilight Cloud's true capabilities.
They were approaching the first turn.
Both Kousei and Twilight Cloud prepared in advance, each intending to seize the advantage on this corner.
Twilight Cloud lowered her posture, adopting an acceleration stance. Kousei's heart skipped a beat. Accelerating? Like McQueen?
But that was a feat only McQueen should be capable of. Before Kousei could process it, Twilight Cloud had already entered the turn.
Her entry angle is off. That means her next move should be...
Twilight Cloud gradually drifted outward, exposing the inner lane. Just as Kousei moved to seize the opening...
Twilight Cloud suddenly leaped lightly into the air, tucking her legs slightly as she hovered.
The bizarre sight caught Kousei completely off guard. While still at a full sprint, she was about to collide with the seemingly stationary Twilight Cloud.
Damn it! Kousei instinctively tried to slow down.
"One, two, three!"
Twilight Cloud vanished from Kousei's sight. The next instant, she reappeared—one step, two steps, three steps. Her leaping, bounding stride resembled a forest fox, and on the third step, her aura shifted dramatically.
An explosive burst of leg strength left a deep crater in the ground. Like a predator pouncing on its prey, she surged forward with unstoppable force, instantly pulling several horse lengths ahead of Kousei and closing in on Speedstar.
In contrast, Kousei's form was now strangely unbalanced, revealing a slight lack of coordination.
What was that?!
Kousei could feel the abnormality in her own movements. She had stumbled through the turn—her first "mistake" without any direct interference from another runner.
I understand now, Kousei realized almost the moment she exited the turn, grasping the principle behind Twilight Cloud's interference.
It was a derivative of the Gate Technique: Induction.
Induction wasn't a new technique. It had first appeared not in her Derby against Mejiro McQueen... no, it was first used by Leo Durban against Teio in the Kikuka Sho.
Kousei had used Induction herself in the Derby, but Twilight Cloud's application was entirely different from both hers and Leo Durban's. That was precisely why Kousei couldn't react in time.
The first step is the physical movement, sending false information to the mind through body language. The gambit plays out in an instant. As the mind tries to formulate a countermeasure, its self-preservation instinct issues a command to hold back.
The second step is that mid-air leap, the slightly tucked legs clouding judgment. Like a coiled spring, she uses the downward force from her leap to launch herself forward, accelerating while avoiding a foul.
The third step is that unique three-step acceleration, rapidly creating distance.
After she vanishes, you try to accelerate again. The two conflicting impulses clash abruptly, and the resulting micro-conflict disrupts the gears of your motion.
Unlike Leo and me, who gradually lure opponents into specific actions, Twilight Cloud's Induction directly targets the mind. She loves to strike down her foes before they even realize what's happening.
The blood-red light reappeared, flames reigniting. Amidst the swirling chaos, the Flame Wheel blazed like the sun.
Run, my steed. You cannot escape the reins.
A strange, unbearable heat flared in her right leg. The unstoppable excitement surged—no words were needed; she already knew.
"Marked."
She glanced back, their eyes meeting.
A narrow path in a dense forest. The predators' greed spread silently between them.
The Great Python coiled to strike; the Fox had already sharpened its claws and fangs.
As she prepared to kick off again, chains shot up from the ground. The lasso had been thrown. Who was the hunter, and who was the prey?