Kitasan Black ignored her opponent's taunts.
Honestly, she was a little impressed—the nerve it took to open your mouth while running in conditions like these.
That last stretch alone must have earned her a mouthful of muddy water.
Stray thoughts flickered and were instantly suppressed.
A pale silhouette materialized over Kitasan Black's form, as though trying to take her place.
The True Lady (Flash): Massively increases speed when in the lead during a race!
In an instant, Kitasan Black's speed climbed again.
(What?!)
The Arc veteran's jaw dropped. How many skills had that girl used by now?
How could she still have a Flash-tier skill left to activate?
Damn it!
How is this possible?!
She ran herself ragged trying to close the gap, but the distance refused to shrink by even a fraction.
And her heartbeat was growing louder—heavier—the searing pain spreading through her entire body.
(Wait—no—just hold on a little longer!)
She didn't want to lose!
But her body had reached its limit.
In the next instant, as if a string had snapped, the Arc veteran clutched her chest, her face twisted in agony.
Her speed plummeted.
The other racers blew past her. In the span of a heartbeat, she dropped from second place to dead last.
"An unsurprising outcome."
Up in the stands, Symboli Rudolf seemed to have foreseen this racer's fate all along.
Maruzensky turned her gaze toward the leader with a serious expression. "That girl really is something."
And unless her eyes were deceiving her, Kitasan Black's current state was Flow.
"Honestly, even I'm surprised she can perform at this level."
Symboli Rudolf had always believed Kitasan Black would win, but the sheer scale of her dominance was still shocking.
She had the feeling that even if she herself stepped onto the track right now, she'd probably lose. This girl was absurdly overpowered.
"Number 7 has lost speed!"
"The leader is still Kitasan Black!"
"And behind her—Kiwami!"
Kiwami's expression wavered with uncertainty.
(Should I use it now?)
She'd mastered ZONE—that was the confidence that had given her the courage to enter this race.
But only now did she realize how naive she'd been.
Even though she'd grown stronger, this monster called Kitasan Black still seemed to have no ceiling.
(The gap is five lengths. That distance—I can close it!)
Besides, Kitasan Black had just burned through that many skills. Even a monster like her had to be in a state where she couldn't activate new ones, right?
This might be the best chance. If she wanted to steal first from Kitasan Black, there was only this one window.
But should she really do it?
Setting aside whether it would even work—once she committed, she'd have to abandon any realistic shot at winning the overall race.
While Kiwami wrestled with the decision, Gentildonna suddenly activated an interference skill from behind.
Well, well. If you're going to sit there hemming and hawing, let me make the decision for you.
Having locked onto Kitasan Black, crimson light flickered in Gentildonna's eyes.
In the last race, Kitasan Black had used Fusion to negate the interference effect. But according to Gentildonna's trainer's analysis, that wasn't an ability she could use lightly—otherwise, there was no reason Kitasan Black wouldn't have deployed it sooner.
The trainer's conclusion: interference skills did affect Kitasan Black. Gentildonna trusted her trainer's analysis.
Kitasan Black, who had just descended a slope, felt the chill wash over her and immediately knew someone was targeting her with an interference skill again.
The emotional disruption was enough to knock her out of Flow. At the end of the day, she was only mimicking McQueen-senpai's mindset—she couldn't truly become McQueen-senpai.
Hit by the interference, Kitasan Black felt a wave of nausea.
She had to admit, Gentildonna's trainer had been right on the money.
Kitasan Black possessed no innate resistance to interference skills. Unless she borrowed the power of her senpais' domains—their ZONE—she had no choice but to eat the full effect.
And since she still couldn't control ZONE, she was stuck.
(How annoying!)
She suddenly understood why even someone as easygoing as Teio-senpai despised interference racers.
You people absolutely ruin the racing experience!
And for a front-runner like her, encountering interference mid-race was especially infuriating.
Running along perfectly fine, and then—wham—out of nowhere!
Seriously!
She wanted to curse!
"Something's happened!"
"Kitasan Black's speed is dropping! Has someone deployed an interference skill on the field?!"
Compared to other skill types, adaptability skills and interference skills were the hardest to spot. Even commentators struggled to catch them in real time.
Usually, the only way to determine who had used interference skills—and when—was to review the race footage afterward.
So right now, the commentator and most of the audience could only tell that Kitasan Black had been affected by another racer. They didn't know who.
"Kitasan Black's incredible Explosive Breakaway has stalled! Will the other front-runners have an opening now?!"
(A chance!)
Kiwami's eyes lit up as she watched the gap shrink to three lengths. Light blazed from her horseshoes, and a skill activated.
She'd made the decision instinctively—because the desire for revenge burned too fiercely.
BOOM!
A gold-lit horseshoe stamped an imprint into the turf. Light erupted from Kiwami's legs as she launched her charge toward the figure ahead.
"Kiwami isn't letting this opportunity slip by!"
The commentator's voice surged with excitement.
But beside him, the host couldn't resist tempering expectations.
"No—the timing isn't ideal. I hope Kiwami can stay calm."
Kiwami, who had been closing in on Kitasan Black, heard the host's words, and her excitement was instantly swallowed by alarm.
Because the host was right. She'd been too hasty. They were only at the second straightaway—barely past the halfway point. Even if she caught up, what would it accomplish?
Kitasan Black had actually been preparing to activate a skill and re-accelerate when she sensed footsteps closing in behind her.
She didn't share McQueen-senpai's obsessive tendencies.
But unfortunately, most of McQueen-senpai's skills only reached maximum effectiveness when she was in the lead. So even just to maintain optimal skill performance, she couldn't surrender first place.
Yet the racer behind her had… hesitated? Right when she was about to catch up?
Seriously?
As a front-runner, you're hesitating at a moment like this?
Kitasan Black couldn't comprehend it.
But she seized the opening without a second thought.
The gap widened again.
"What a shame! Kiwami's burst fell short—she came so close to catching Kitasan Black!"
Hearing the commentator, Kiwami's face twisted with frustration. What had she been doing just now?
She'd been too hasty, yes—but she shouldn't have pulled back!
(At a time like this, I still have this overwhelming desire to win? Give me a break.)
Because that might have been her only chance to pass Kitasan Black—and she'd thrown it away for the sake of a victory that was never realistically within reach.
She wanted to win!
Even knowing it was impossible, she still wanted to win!
Kiwami fought down the tears threatening to spill, clenching her jaw.
It's not over!
I haven't lost yet!
The race isn't finished!
Kyoei, Shuneichi—you're watching your big sister's race right now, aren't you?
Then I can't run a performance I'd be ashamed of. I can't let my emotions control me—I have to master them. Turn this feeling, this frustration, into fuel.
Not yet. Hold steady.
Kiwami recalibrated her state.
The gap to Kitasan Black had grown again, but something in Kiwami's eyes locked on like a predator refusing to release its prey.
Up in the stands.
Kiwami's two younger sisters watched in astonishment.
"That's… beautiful, Kiwami-nee." Kyoei spoke from the heart.
Takao Shuneichi said nothing.
(Even after all that, you're still going to chase the finish line called 'victory,' nee-san?)
Just like Kyoei said—it truly was beautiful.
Even knowing she couldn't win, she still refused to give up.
Could she ever become an uma musume like Kiwami-nee?
...
Behind the leaders, Gentildonna noticed Kiwami's sudden composure and spared her a longer glance than usual.
Surprising. She'd expected Kiwami to charge recklessly at Kitasan Black and play the role of disruptor.
Her plan had been derailed, but Gentildonna had no intention of giving up.
She wanted to challenge that monster!
In fact—who wouldn't want to?
If an uma musume truly didn't feel the urge, then Gentildonna had only one thing to say: You have no business being a racer.
The desire to win. The need to prove you're the strongest.
That was an uma musume's instinct!
So how could you not feel excited when faced with a monster like this?!
Since Kiwami had passed on her chance at revenge, and Orfevre still hadn't committed—then Gentildonna would step up herself!
Kitasan Black!
Allow me to personally experience your power!
Dark crimson light blazed in Gentildonna's eyes as a bewitching yet overwhelming aura surged around her.
ZONE!
Dance magnificently!
The racers around her felt the shift in Gentildonna's presence and couldn't help but shudder.
She looked like an elegant young lady—but what was this aura? It was like a pink tank!
The ground cratered beneath her footfall. Accompanied by thunderous footsteps, Gentildonna charged forward!
Orfevre glanced at Gentildonna from behind.
Donna—she's MY opponent. This insolence will not stand.
Orfevre's eyes burned red.
She unleashed her interference skill with no restraints and maximum range.
In that instant, the expressions of every nearby racer—Gentildonna included—changed.
(Damn it! What is she doing?! She's interfering with us NOW?!)
The other racers stared at the Tyrant in disbelief.
Weren't they supposed to be finding a way to stop Kitasan Black's Breakaway? What was the Tyrant thinking?
Gentildonna was initially caught off guard, but one look back at Orfevre's expression told her everything she needed to know.
(Heh. Arrogant as ever, Orfevre. But don't get confused about who's in your way. Keep this up, and before I even get to challenge that monster, I won't mind reminding you what defeat tastes like.)
Kitasan Black could hardly believe it. Before they'd even gotten around to challenging her, Gentildonna and Orfevre had started fighting each other.
Still, she was suffering too. Why did everyone keep spamming interference skills? And how were there this many interference specialists in a single race?!
Even in the game, you'd never run into this many in a Grand Prix.
If only she could use her senpais' ZONE… but remembering the agonizing pain from before, she abandoned the thought.
Damn it!
If you're all going to play dirty, then don't blame me!
Demon King Aura (Flash)—activate!
In an instant, the entire world went quiet.
...
Up in the stands, Gentildonna's trainer let out a weary sigh.
What a miscalculation.
She hadn't anticipated the Tyrant interfering with Donna.
She'd assumed the other competitors would cooperate—at least tacitly—to contain Kitasan Black.
But she'd underestimated the pride and ego of these racers.
And Kitasan Black's own interference skill needed to be reassessed in terms of potency.
On the track, Gentildonna broke into a cold sweat the moment Demon King Aura hit her.
Are you serious? This interference skill has maximum range AND covers every effect category?!
"..."
Orfevre fell silent too. If Kitasan Black had used this in the last race, she probably would have lost even more badly.
She could now guess the truth: Kitasan Black hadn't used her full power in the Tenno Sho.
Then—was she even going all out now?
Further back, Sweep Tosho—who had been trying to sneak in her own interference amid the chaos—suddenly found her breathing rhythm thrown off.
(This is bad—my stamina is giving out!)
Was she really going to compete in two consecutive races without leaving any impression on Kitasan Black at all?
Last time she'd been eliminated like a nobody. Was this race going to be a repeat?
No! I refuse to accept that!
Come on, magical inspiration! Do something!
Isn't a magical girl supposed to be able to do anything?!
Up in the stands, Nice Nature smiled with a hint of relief.
Thank goodness I didn't enter this race. Otherwise, she'd be the one suffering right now.
...
The commentator and host spoke up.
"The rain and heavy track conditions are clearly taking a massive toll. We can see that even before the final stage, every racer's speed has begun to drop."
"Yes—by now, they must have burned through stamina equivalent to a full long-distance race."
"The final straightaway is just ahead! Kitasan Black still leads—and she's an incredible seven lengths ahead of second place!"
"You can only say: that's Kitasan Black for you!"
The venue erupted in cheers. The finish line was in sight—400 meters of final straightaway. The moment of truth was at hand!
(I am the KING!)
(I want to WIN!)
(Victory belongs to ME!)
(Now's the time! Gold Ship, weigh anchor!)
Four racers erupted simultaneously, breaking free from the pack.
The four pillars of light from their Supreme Domains were almost blinding. Up in the stands, Symboli Rudolf felt a surge of excitement.
But in the next moment—those heavy, thundering footsteps rang out.
The aura that exploded forth in that instant eclipsed all four of their lights in a heartbeat.
Before that presence, their four ZONEs seemed like nothing more than tiny, flickering candles.
To the Edge of the Sky (Flash)!
Gold Ship's Bizarre Adventure (Flash) → Demon King Aura (Flash)!
A shockwave of pressure detonated as Kitasan Black pulled away by yet another length.
Rainbow light blazed across her entire body. With nearly every stride, a new skill fired off.
Stake It All on Being the Strongest (Flash)!
Ultimate Realm (Flash)!
A Hero's Resolve (Flash)!
Black Assassin (Flash)!
In that moment, Kitasan Black slipped back into Flow. The pain from the rapid-fire skill activations was suppressed to its absolute minimum by Flow's mental state.
As long as her body could hold up, this kind of eruption was possible!
And once in Flow, she could easily modulate skill intensity and reduce skill consumption.
That instantaneous burst—no one alive could keep pace.
The audience watching the race—in person and on television—stared at Kitasan Black as she continued to widen her lead, momentarily losing themselves.
Then the commentator's exhilarated voice cut through.
"She's crossed the line!"
"The winner of this year's Japan Cup—and the new Grand General—is Kitasan Black!"
"And as expected, the race record has been shattered!"
"Is this truly the power of the current strongest?!"
...
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