Passing the first corner, and halfway through the second corner, the leading competitor was Mejiro McQueen, suppressing the trailing Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black with an advantage of two body lengths.
Behind them, Mejiro Ramonu and T.M. Opera O exploded with ZONE and initiated a sprint. These two competitors were approaching the leading group at an astonishing speed, though they couldn't threaten the leading Mejiro McQueen for the time being.
The trailing Tokai Teio also started accelerating, but she seemed to be conserving her strength, accelerating only to avoid being shaken off too much by the competitors in front.
Following closely behind Tokai Teio, Narita Top Road continued to mark her; the gap between these two competitors was currently minimal, less than one body length.
Further back was Satono Diamond, trailing Narita Top Road by three body lengths.
Seeing the competitors in front accelerating, this competitor also started increasing her speed, keeping the distance within this range.
Next was Mejiro Ryan.
Her position was similar to Satono Diamond's.
Then came Admire Vega, Duramente, and finally Gold Ship at the very back of the pack.
The chasing group was currently still in a state of accumulating power.
However, because of the fierce battle in the leading group, the rhythm of the entire race had been accelerated.
Plus the skill released by the Demon King at the start, most competitors' stamina was currently burning rapidly.
The coordinated cooperation of Team [ ] successfully dominated the flow of this race.
The combination of Great Escape and Great Debuff dealt a huge blow to other teams.
This is the charm of team races.
Members skilled in different fields achieve a certain chemical reaction through coordinated cooperation, making the fierce battle in the race even more intense.
No one knows what kind of big killer move the opposing team can bring out.
And currently in this race, undoubtedly Team [ ] dominated the direction of the race.
Competitor Gold Ship, possessing a super big debuff skill like a Demon King, and competitor Mejiro McQueen, now displaying supreme Great Escape strength—they had already dominated the direction of this race!
Host Kojiro said: "Now the race enters the middle leg, but the leading competitor is still Mejiro McQueen. Not yielding an inch to challengers—what an amazing lead!"
Mejiro McQueen's performance could be called terrifying.
Facing two self-destructing opponents, she actually defeated them fair and square with royal road strength. This development completely exceeded everyone's expectations.
Being able to do this meant this wasn't this competitor's limit yet.
In fact, this competitor hadn't entered the ZONE state yet.
He continued: "Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black failed to challenge for the first position, and their stamina was consumed severely due to using ZONE. Could this be a huge strategic error?"
No.
Not a problem of strategy.
If one must say, it was a problem of strength.
Mejiro McQueen's strength exceeded all opponents' expectations.
Who could have expected that after displaying that kind of Great Escape footwork, Mejiro McQueen could still increase her speed when facing the subsequently self-destructing Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black?
This strength was shocking, and at the same time, it made clear the fact that Mejiro McQueen was the strongest in Team [ ]!
Although Tokai Teio, currently conserving strength, was also concerning.
But Tokai Teio didn't even have the aura reaction of a ZONE on her. Even if she really had hidden strength, it shouldn't surpass Mejiro McQueen.
As for Gold Ship...
In the opponents' subconscious, Gold Ship had already released her ultimate move and was the least threatening opponent.
Therefore, currently, whether Mejiro Ramonu or T.M. Opera O, they were very clear on one thing: they must take down the strongest of Team [ ] (Mejiro McQueen) first.
Can't be helped. I leave the rest to you two, my close friends.
T.M. Opera O's speed increased again.
Her expression became ferocious. In a state of full explosion, she went a step further and used power beyond what her body could bear.
Multiple Skill State Buffs.
This was a technique mastered by all competitors present, but this technique wasn't completely without side effects.
But now, she could only give it her all.
T.M. Opera O didn't think that magnificent Mejiro McQueen would self-destruct in the final stage of the race; such things wouldn't happen to competitors of their level.
With flowing red flames sweeping over her body, T.M. Opera O charged toward the leading group with full dominance.
But Mejiro Ramonu beside her wasn't weak at all either.
If T.M. Opera O was like an ignited flame, then Mejiro Ramonu was like a cold sharp knife.
In that elegant footwork, there wasn't a trace of superfluous distracting thoughts.
Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black heard two sets of footsteps from behind, and the expressions on their faces changed for a while.
Although they knew the target of those two wasn't them, they still felt the pressure.
Especially Kitasan Black felt it deeper.
Because Mejiro Palmer had long known she wasn't Mejiro Ramonu's match, but Kitasan Black hadn't expected there to be such strong competitors behind.
In this situation, even without encountering Miss McQueen, the probability of her winning this race would likely be very difficult.
Although with the ZONE's supplement, her weakness of insufficient explosive power was improved, compared to the explosive power of those two behind, she was still weaker.
Is this the Grand Prix watched by the Goddesses? Everyone is indeed so strong...
Kitasan Black was covered in sweat, looking unwillingly at the unmoving figure in front.
Compared to the two behind, she still felt Miss McQueen was stronger.
That figure was simply too cool, too strong!
Couldn't imagine how to defeat such a Miss McQueen at all.
This was the first time she had this feeling.
Just then.
Kitasan Black suddenly realized Senior Palmer deactivated the ZONE effect and slowed down with a relieved expression.
Mejiro Palmer didn't intend to give up the race just like this.
Although the challenge failed, the two catching up from behind restored her confidence.
Leaving aside to what extent that competitor T.M. Opera O could perform, she believed Sister Ramonu could absolutely challenge McQueen.
So currently, let's readjust the posture first.
Although the hope of winning the championship herself was slim, she could still do things like helping teammates hinder other teams' aces.
And although thinking this way was a bit disrespectful, Mejiro Palmer felt that Sister Ramonu, after challenging McQueen, would likely have no hope of winning the championship either.
After all, the race was only in the middle leg now, but everyone's consumption had become severe.
This was due to the influence of the skill released by that competitor Gold Ship at the start, and also because McQueen's Great Escape drove the race rhythm too fast.
Stamina consumption was no joke.
Mejiro Palmer hadn't expected that competitors of their level would also encounter situations where stamina wasn't enough during a race.
Two powerful figures quickly passed by Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black. Kitasan Black, who was originally unwilling to give up, also stopped the ZONE explosion completely at this moment.
Damn it!
Kitasan Black couldn't be happy.
Because if this were before the final straight, the current her would have no hope of winning.
Although she was the popularity #3 competitor of this Grand Prix, her strength wasn't truly third.
Of course, the reason Kitasan Black performed so poorly in this race was also because she completely failed to run at her own rhythm in this race.
Originally, she was a competitor who used stamina to pull open an advantage against trailing competitors in the early stage, then used ZONE to maintain speed and win the race later.
But because the rhythm of this race was driven by Mejiro McQueen, before Kitasan Black's running style could unfold, she was already overtaken by T.M. Opera O and Mejiro Ramonu from behind.
But even if she could display her running style rhythm, facing that Mejiro McQueen, she had absolutely no chance of winning.
Because Runner tactics have no unpredictability.
There are too few strategies and tactics usable in this running style.
Especially the Great Escape running style—it's more purely a matter of strength!
And Mejiro McQueen's strength... that is the strongest in the true sense!
"Passing the 1000m marker, Mejiro Ramonu and T.M. Opera O broke through Mejiro Palmer and Kitasan Black; there is still one horse length gap to the leading Mejiro McQueen!"
That intense competition silenced the audience seats.
This race completely broke all their past perceptions; they never imagined a Horse Girl race could be intense to this degree.
The audience nervously watched the three figures in front.
Currently, the positions of the three formed a triangle: Mejiro McQueen at the very front, T.M. Opera O chasing straight in the inner lane, and Mejiro Ramonu following closely in the outer lane.
Mejiro McQueen, currently in the race, felt two auras from behind, and her expression was no longer relaxed.
Honestly, even she felt somewhat tricky in the current situation.
Different from official races; this situation wouldn't appear in official races at all.
Opponents desperately wanting only to interrupt her running rhythm.
Your methods are a bit too dirty!
Although even if she temporarily gave up first place, it wouldn't actually have a huge impact on her race rhythm, after all, she wasn't a competitor who could only run one style.
But the problem was, her self-esteem and pride didn't allow her to give up first place; this position belonged to her!
Deep purple flames flashed in her left eye.
The power of the ZONE was leaking out; this was enough to show how irritable McQueen's mood was now.
Gold Ship and Tokai Teio had absolutely no intention of making a move.
Mejiro McQueen's heart was heavy.
Because she knew very well, don't look at how these two were nominally her teammates now, but once there was a chance, they absolutely wouldn't mind snatching her first place.
Even if winning like this was dishonorable, none of the three were people who would care about such small things.
There is no honorable or dishonorable in a race.
As long as it's within the rules of the event, what means are used doesn't matter, because victory is everything!
Tokai Teio and Gold Ship behind were both paying attention to the commotion on Mejiro McQueen's side; one could see their eyes contemplating something.
Undoubtedly, Mejiro McQueen's hunch was correct.
Although their primary goal for this race was indeed to win the championship.
But if there was a chance, they wouldn't mind at all if the person taking first place was themselves!
Gold Ship suppressed the idea of using skills to support McQueen.
Because the current situation was favorable to her. Even if Mejiro Ramonu and T.M. Opera O successfully interrupted McQueen's rhythm.
The fact that the final victory of this race belonged to their Team [ ] would not be shaken!
But as long as McQueen's Great Escape rhythm was interrupted, even if McQueen could switch running styles, against McQueen in that state, she had absolute confidence!
Hahahahaha, the clowns did well; go take out that guy!
The malice in Gold Ship's eyes was almost overflowing.
Duramente and Admire Vega both felt the aura of that person behind become even more dangerous.
They completely couldn't understand what was going on with Gold Ship's aura change.
Was it anxiety from seeing a teammate in danger?
No.
It felt like something much more different.
Tokai Teio, a bit ahead, also revealed a smile.
Under that warm spring-breeze-like smile, endless darkness was hidden. Who said the sun can't turn black?
Everything was within her expectations.
When she saw the rules of the team race, she had guessed things would develop like this.
McQueen's running style attracted too much aggro.
No opponent would be willing to let her continue running at that rhythm; being targeted was almost inevitable.
In official races, because there is only one winner, competitors still need to consider their own running styles and rhythms, unable to deal with McQueen without burden.
In that situation, with McQueen's strength, she could indeed cope easily.
But the rules of the team race are different. The victory of the team race is: as long as someone in the team gets first place, it's the whole team's victory.
So those competitors in front could target McQueen without burden.
Because they didn't care at all whether they could win in the end, pinning the hope of victory on their teammates.
The only thing they were thinking about now was how to stop McQueen's Great Escape.
Facing opponents wholeheartedly wanting to stop her like this, even McQueen would probably feel a headache.
Not to mention the strength of the competitors in this race wasn't bad.
Average stats were between S~SS, all having configurations of 2 Flash and 2 Gold skills or more, plus ZONE and FLOW—they weren't the small fries McQueen dealt with in the past.
Checkmate, McQueen. Allowing the Demon King to choose the team race was your biggest mistake!
Tokai Teio's aura also began to change at this time; Narita Top Road following closely behind immediately became serious.
But what surprised Narita Top Road somewhat was that Tokai Teio actually let T.M. Opera O and Mejiro Ramonu deal with Mejiro McQueen.
She originally thought Tokai Teio would intervene to stop them.
After all, judging by the current situation, as long as Mejiro McQueen continued to lead, Team [ ] would very likely win this race.
The race had entered its climax, and Mejiro McQueen had fallen into a desperate situation!
...
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