"After the intense competition, the race has now reached the first corner. We can see that leading is still competitor Mejiro McQueen!"
Host Kojiro finished this sentence quickly and with clear articulation.
At the race venue, Mejiro McQueen was far ahead, leading the second place Mejiro Palmer by a gap of five horse lengths, entering the corner in a completely solo state.
It could be seen that the moment Mejiro McQueen entered the corner, golden light spread out like ripples beneath her feet.
Her running speed increased again.
That posture was so magnificent, so elegant!
It was as if a dreamy Pegasus had descended into this mortal world.
And most importantly—
That speed, that domination over the race rhythm, brought an unparalleled feast to the audience.
Clearly not feeling that Mejiro McQueen did much, but this competitor had been in an ascending state since the start, reaching a point now where people couldn't take their eyes off her.
That endless running, that realm of infinite evolution—
Does such a Horse Girl really exist in reality?!
Mejiro McQueen's footsteps were simply too beautiful.
So much so that the originally lively audience seats subconsciously fell silent at this moment, attracted by Mejiro McQueen's performance. In this moment, Mejiro McQueen was undoubtedly the most dazzling competitor at the scene!
Host Kojiro and commentator Musashi's commentary continued.
"Following closely behind is Mejiro Palmer, trailing by five horse lengths!"
This gap was truly terrifying.
One must know that the initial straight track at Nakayama is very short; the distance from the starting gate to the first corner is only a little over 200m.
Few competitors can occupy such a leading position right from the start on this track.
And Mejiro Palmer herself hadn't expected to be pulled open by such a large distance.
Although she did eat a debuff, she didn't think the biggest reason for this result was being debuffed.
Although the Demon King's debuff was indeed powerful, even if affected by it, Mejiro Palmer didn't think she would become too much weaker.
After all, the race had just begun. In the early stage of the race where everyone's stamina was very abundant, even if interfered with by a debuff, they could still put up effective resistance.
Unlike in the middle and late stages of the race, where everyone's stamina has been consumed a lot; in that situation, being hit by a debuff would indeed have a great impact on one's running rhythm.
So the skill the Demon King released at the start honestly didn't show much effect.
Its only function was merely to ensure Mejiro McQueen secured the leading advantage.
Although Mejiro Palmer did feel that running now was more strenuous than usual and stamina consumption was higher, because her stamina was still sufficient now, her speed actually wouldn't be much worse than usual. Yet under these circumstances, the gap between her and Mejiro McQueen couldn't be closed, and instead was getting wider and wider!
After seeing Mejiro McQueen's performance, Mejiro Palmer finally understood why Gold Ship chose to use the skill at the start even knowing it would affect the maximum effect of that skill. Everything she did was just to give Mejiro McQueen a better environment to display her strength!
An ordinary Horse Girl competitor, even if occupying a leading advantage at the beginning, cannot guarantee she will definitely win in the end.
But Mejiro McQueen is not an ordinary Horse Girl competitor!
Not good, McQueen's state is very wrong!
Can't let this go on; must stop her!
Although she didn't know exactly what was going on with McQueen's state.
But Mejiro Palmer instinctively sensed that she couldn't let McQueen continue running at this rhythm.
Here we go, Sister Ramonu; I leave the rest to you!
Her eyes lost all emotion in an instant, her spirit entering a state of hyper-concentration, and traces of electric sparks flashed deep in her eyes.
Flow! ZONE! Full Power, Full Throttle!
Mejiro Palmer began to explode in all aspects to increase her speed.
Although she hadn't ruled out the possibility of becoming the winning hand herself, at this moment when she discovered something was wrong, she had already made the resolve to sacrifice herself!
Trailing slightly behind, Kitasan Black looked at Mejiro Palmer's explosion in shock, a look of astonishment on her face.
N-No way? How can someone enter a full-scale explosion at the first corner!
From the broadcasting tower came host Kojiro's voice: "Competitor Mejiro Palmer has started accelerating; exploding at this time?!"
Although the leading group indeed looked like they were being suppressed miserably by competitor Mejiro McQueen, Mejiro Palmer exploding so early was still beyond his expectations.
"The distance between competitor Mejiro Palmer and competitor Mejiro McQueen is closing. Can she catch up?"
Commentator Musashi's voice rang out.
"The trailing Kitasan Black—she's following up!"
Although Kitasan Black genuinely couldn't understand Senior Palmer's thoughts.
But being left behind all alone was something she absolutely couldn't accept.
Is the winner to be decided right here? Fine! Miss McQueen, Senior Palmer, bring it on!
Her explosion at this moment was also not to be underestimated.
That speed didn't look like something Kitasan Black, who lacked explosive power, could burst out with.
After all, this wasn't the Kitasan Black from the destined world line, but an Undefeated Triple Crown Horse Girl who broke the original fate and realized another possibility!
Lacking explosive skills? Just use the ZONE to make up for this weakness!
Kitasan Black's ZONE effect was incredibly powerful acceleration, and it also had a "Super Armor" (Iron Will/Endurance) effect that forcefully locked her state.
In this state, Kitasan Black was also unaffected by debuff skills.
The only drawback was that her move was a burst skill, not a permanent passive effect.
Caught up?
Mejiro Palmer wasn't surprised at all that Kitasan Black could keep up, because competitors who could participate in this race couldn't be weaklings.
While their bodies burned with flames (aura), multiple flashes of light lit up simultaneously beneath their feet.
Their speed climbed to the limit they could reach in the blink of an eye!
Truly passionate~
T.M. Opera O behind watched the race in front.
An eager expression appeared on her face.
Although she knew it wasn't time for the Opera King to appear yet, she really felt itchy.
She wanted to participate in that hot-blooded battle too, but not yet; this position was still too early.
Moreover, the dangerous Mejiro McQueen already had people stopping her, so there was no need for her to waste her power here.
Beside T.M. Opera O was Mejiro Ramonu. She occupied the outer lane position, her cool expression unmoved by the commotion ahead.
If Palmer hadn't made a decisive choice just now, she might have had to change her strategy.
In fact, she and T.M. Opera O beside her had both prepared to make a move just now.
Because they both sensed that Mejiro McQueen in that state was too dangerous.
Palmer, leave the rest of the race to me and Ryan.
T.M. Opera O and Mejiro Ramonu didn't doubt that the two in front could interrupt Mejiro McQueen's rhythm.
Because Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black's current self-destructing explosion wasn't an ordinary chase. Even if Mejiro McQueen was strong, she wouldn't have a very good solution facing this situation.
Mejiro McQueen could certainly continue to explode, but in doing so, her competitiveness in the late stage of the race would become smaller.
Trailing one body length behind the two was Tokai Teio.
She felt the fluctuation of auras from Mejiro Ramonu and T.M. Opera O in front, knowing she was being guarded against by these two. They had absolutely no intention of giving her a chance to go over and support McQueen.
Because of the successive performances of the Demon King and McQueen, part of the hidden strength of her, a team member who had done nothing, was passively exposed.
But this was a result foreseen from the beginning, and she had never thought of going forward to support McQueen from the start.
Tokai Teio didn't care too much about this situation.
If she wanted to break through, no one could stop her; she had absolute confidence in this. And she wasn't worried about McQueen's situation.
Because she simply didn't think Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black could stop that McQueen.
The competitors behind also felt the two bursts of aura in front.
Satono Diamond and Duramente were somewhat surprised.
Unexpectedly, Kitasan Black would give up her own victory and sacrifice herself for the team's victory; it was truly touching.
Your resolve, I have indeed received it.
Kita-chan, leave the rest of the race to me.
Duramente felt the stage afterward should belong to her, and Satono Diamond had the same thought. These two didn't care what Kitasan Black's thought was at all.
"Caught up! There's still one horse length gap! Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black have caught up!"
Kojiro shouted excitedly.
"Can they overtake?!"
Musashi was also shouting.
In the second half of the first corner, Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black caught up within this 100m track section.
Although Mejiro McQueen's speed was already very fast now, her current speed still couldn't compare to these two who were exploding fully.
Mejiro McQueen felt the two auras from behind, and a trace of impatience finally appeared on her indifferent face.
It had to be said, even Mejiro McQueen in the Flow state felt somewhat tricky at this moment.
After all, one wouldn't encounter this situation in ordinary races.
But this is a team race. However, since it's a team race, logically speaking, shouldn't she have teammates at this time too?
But she could sense Teio's aura still behind.
That guy was still hiding her strength, having absolutely no thought of standing out now.
Whatever, I never thought of relying on them anyway.
Mejiro McQueen never thought of any team coordination from the start.
Gold Ship's performance was completely spontaneous.
And Gold Ship's action might not necessarily be truly to cooperate with her.
After all, outsiders don't know, but could she not know?
Gold Ship has no restriction of using a skill only once per race.
That guy has a Flash (Unique) Skill that refreshes skill usage limits, so unleashing an ultimate move at the start of the race is completely standard operation for Gold Ship.
Caught up!
Mejiro Palmer looked at Mejiro McQueen in front of her, her spirit roused.
Just as she planned to rush up in one go, suddenly she saw the glow of a Flash Skill, and the source of that glow was Mejiro McQueen's body.
For real? But even facing us committing suicide, you still want to ensure your lead? Since that's the case...
Then it's confirmed!
McQueen's race rhythm is importantly linked to the leading position, so as long as she can rush up and interrupt it—
Don't be too arrogant.
Just as Mejiro Palmer was about to rush past Mejiro McQueen, she suddenly saw Mejiro McQueen's cold eyes.
Palmer never expected such a look to appear on McQueen; that was a McQueen she didn't know at all!
[Mejiro's Wisdom] activated!
The distance was temporarily maintained.
But it wasn't over yet.
Several golden flashes lit up in the next moment. The air waves on Mejiro McQueen's body also turned into deep purple momentum at this moment, shaking the two off behind her again in an instant.
Using multiple Advanced Skills simultaneously does indeed burden the body.
But if even Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black can do it, can't she, Mejiro McQueen, do it?
Not doing so before was because it wasn't necessary, but—
What made you think that was my upper limit?!
Mejiro McQueen entered the state she once was in again at this moment.
She had to admit, she did feel a little pressure just now, but it was only to that extent.
Are Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black strong?
Strong.
But not strong enough to make her feel dangerous.
Is this a system Grand Prix level competitor?
Ultimately, was I too cautious before?
Can't catch up!
Kitasan Black hadn't expected that in just the blink of an eye, the distance with Miss McQueen was pulled open again.
Damn it, Miss McQueen hasn't even fully entered the ZONE state.
Miss McQueen only used the second stage of Momentum.
So unwilling!
But Kitasan Black knew clearly this was her full power.
How can I accept this kind of thing!
Mejiro Palmer gritted her teeth.
She had given everything to catch up; just missing this little bit of distance, and finally failing to catch up?
Kitasan Black and Mejiro Palmer had only one thought at this time: It's too painful!
The ZONE was still burning their bodies, but the physical pain couldn't compare to the pain their hearts felt right now.
"Competitor Mejiro McQueen also used burst skills!"
"The front position is temporarily defended!"
Just as Kojiro's voice fell.
Musashi quickly followed up: "The competitors behind are starting to exert force; T.M. Opera O and Mejiro Ramonu are chasing fiercely!"
Clearly the race hadn't reached the middle leg yet, but not only had the Runners entered a state of complete explosion, now even the Leader (Preceder) competitors began to move.
A dangerous red star flashed in T.M. Opera O's eyes, and she chased the competitors in front fiercely, as if flying on the grass.
A cluster of deep blue flames ignited in Mejiro Ramonu's left eye, sprinting forward with explosive power not losing to T.M. Opera O at all.
Seeing Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black's challenge fail, they decisively chose to take over.
Because Mejiro McQueen's momentum was simply too scary!
...
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