Yurei led the charge alone, her steps light and agile, swaying with the wind like a pristine white flower blooming in a secluded valley.
Kousei's previous impressions of the Front-Runner had been shaped by desperate races like Speedstar's and Suzuka's All-Out Escape, and Twin Turbo's near-berserk flight.
But Yurei's demeanor now radiated unmistakable tenderness. Her gentle rhythm felt like a warm spring breeze, and even following her from behind, the pace was perfectly comfortable.
To allow Yurei to run so boldly, reveling in the wind and energy brushing against her face, Genbao must have poured immense effort into protecting her.
But she had been sheltered too well.
So well that even a slight external force could snap her delicate roots.
Kousei gradually adapted to Rukomachi's grassland, her footing growing more precise. Her body's sway normalized, and her speed steadily increased.
Moving with unhurried focus, Kousei kept her eyes fixed on Yurei's left foot.
"Excellent. We've cleared the initial stage smoothly. At this rate, we can almost certainly declare Miss Yurei the victor!"
The people of Rukomachi were exceptionally excited, drawn in by the novelty of Kousei's arrival. Their excitement stemmed purely from the thrill of defeating an outsider, a raw and unadulterated desire.
"I can do it! I can live up to Rukomachi's expectations!" Yurei, having gained the upper hand, couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. Suppressing the Central Umamusume in the early stages had bolstered her self-assurance immensely.
As Yurei basked in her momentary triumph, Red Snake was steadily closing in.
Though pleased with her progress, Yurei remained vigilant and quickly noticed Kousei's advance.
"The Trainer warned me: 'Never run alongside Kousei. Never ignite her fighting spirit. Avoid confrontation at all costs.' In that case, I'll accelerate and put some distance between us."
Yurei made her decision, confident she could outmaneuver Kousei using the terrain to her advantage.
"Excellent! Miss Yurei, keep it up! Don't let her catch you!"
The crowd's cheers only reinforced Yurei's conviction that she had made the right choice. Yet, the louder the cheers grew, the tighter Genbao's brow furrowed.
"She's picking up the pace."
Second turn.
Kousei suddenly surged forward, her abrupt acceleration lacking finesse. This slight misstep gave Yurei just enough time to react.
"So she's trying to gain an advantage in the turn!"
Through rigorous training, Genbao had analyzed that Kousei excelled in turn tactics. During races, he emphasized the importance of observing her movements before entering the turns.
"It's no use! The Trainer has already seen through your plan!"
Yurei shifted to the left, strategically positioning herself. This blocked Kousei's attempt to cut through the inner lane while forcing her to move two lanes over to attempt an outer lane overtake—a maneuver that would inevitably drain a significant amount of Kousei's stamina.
As expected, unable to pass through the inner lane, Kousei immediately moved to the outer lane. She needed to reach the optimal entry angle before the turn to ensure a smooth exit and successfully overtake Yurei on the bend.
"Overtaking me won't be that easy!"
Having been forced to the outer lane, the requirements for overtaking had skyrocketed. It would require Kousei to exert even more stamina and severely test her physical capabilities, with minimal buffer space remaining before the turn. This would severely test her explosive power and speed—the only way to complete the overtake within Rukomachi's fleeting curve. Furthermore, Kousei's grip strength would be pushed to its limits.
Although the turn wasn't a particularly sharp hairpin, accelerating through it required enduring the centrifugal force.
Kousei lacked the technique for accelerating through turns. Her arc technique favored stability, prioritizing safety and conserving energy.
Moreover, Yurei wouldn't be without countermeasures.
As Kousei moved, Yurei accelerated as well, further compressing the already dwindling buffer zone. Kousei had to react immediately.
Despite Kousei's acceleration through the turn, she couldn't create the conditions for an overtake. Yurei pulled ahead first, and thanks to her superior positioning, she managed to widen the gap between them after exiting the turn.
If it had been Mejiro McQueen instead, she might have been able to overtake Yurei on this turn.
"A brilliant response! She's blocked Kousei's attack once again!"
With her repeated successes, Rukomachi's morale soared.
Kousei's eyes blazed crimson as she unleashed her chains again.
"Who would fall for the same trick twice?!"
Having already fallen for Kousei's Gate Technique once, Yurei had accurately gauged its capture range. She accelerated again to evade its grasp.
Kousei pursued relentlessly, the floating chains trailing closely behind Yurei. She was always just a hair's breadth away from capturing her, yet never quite close enough.
"Great! Looks like Kousei can't catch me!" Yurei exclaimed in delight.
Though she couldn't decipher the exact mechanics behind Kousei's technique, Yurei surmised there must be some limitation, such as immense physical exertion. Kousei couldn't possibly maintain this for long; all she needed to do was stall until the chains vanished.
In the stands, Aoi suddenly asked Reiko, "Is Kousei using a Gate Technique?"
Reiko looked surprised. "You can sense that?"
Aoi shook her head. "Just a feeling—her aura has become more turbulent."
Reiko nodded without pressing further.
"With Kousei's eyes, wouldn't using a Gate Technique at this point be dangerous?" Aoi voiced her concern.
"At this level, it's fine. Besides, Gate Techniques primarily consume Mental Power, which then drains physical stamina. As long as she avoids using specific eye-based techniques, she should be safe."
"As expected of you, Miss Reiko—your knowledge is truly remarkable."
"Well, it's my responsibility as a Gate Technique Fighter."
"But information on Gate Technique Fighters is quite scarce. Where did you acquire such detailed knowledge, Ms. Reiko?"
"Don't forget, there's one legendary figure who was also a Gate Technique Fighter."
"Who?" Aoi couldn't guess immediately.
"Our invincible Emperor, of course."
The moment those words were spoken, the symbolic figure of Symboli Rudolf violently seized Aoi's mind, followed by the Emperor's overwhelming aura.
"Just from watching videos, the Emperor's aura is truly terrifying."
If Reiko had to describe Symboli Rudolf in a single phrase, it would be:
The Berserker Bound by the Crown
A prodigy of dazzling brilliance, vengeful to the core, her arrogance and self-confidence mirrored those of Tokai Teio today.
She coined the classic line: "It doesn't matter who the Trainer is, I'll win anyway."
Truly a Leo through and through.
On the racetrack, the fierce competition between Kousei and Yurei had been raging for some time. The chains were straining dangerously, on the verge of breaking.
Kousei proactively deactivated her Gate Technique, but her attack didn't relent. With a sudden surge of power, her churning hooves found purchase on the Earth, channeling explosive force to its peak as the Red Comet surged forward.
"Don't even think about it!"
Third Turn.
Yurei refused to let Kousei pass her on the turn, countering with an equally powerful acceleration.
Having been silent for so long, Kousei calmly regarded the accelerating Yurei and said coldly, "Time's up. Clear the path."
Her tranquil declaration struck like a verdict.
In that instant, Yurei felt a wave of paralysis wash over her, her body involuntarily tilting to the left.