The race approached the second corner.
Right before the second corner was exactly where the positions easily shifted. By common sense, whoever was leading or trailing at this point wasn't really important—the gaps were small. Even if someone was running going for an escape, how far could they possibly get ahead right now?
What truly mattered…
Was the final corner and the straight stretch after it.
Every racetrack was designed with this feature.
A stretch where Umamusume could unleash everything on the grass, an honest, face-to-face contest of pure speed!
Unless it was already a crushing domination at first glance.
But right now…
Someone was already turning every step of the race into a decisive, obvious domination.
Narita Top Road had started accelerating—!
Accelerating, and accelerating even more! She simply kept running like this, widening the gap between herself and the pack!
Faster… and faster!
It definitely wasn't a foolish move, exploding out at the second bend only to leave herself no stamina for the final straight. Narita Top Road was feeling great; stamina, speed, everything about her condition was telling her she could do this—and even more.
So, she simply followed that feeling.
She didn't think this alone would guarantee victory… but at the very least, it was a clear message to Garden Gale:
If she wanted to fulfill her promise and defeat her, then she'd better come and catch her now!
...
What the heck is she thinking?!
This exact thought flashed simultaneously through the other Umamusume's minds…
They stared at Narita Top Road's back, full of confusion.
But an unfiltered sense of crisis surged up in Garden Gale's heart—she knew instinctively…she absolutely had to find a way to break through the pack! This race would never be decided by the main group.
Did these idiots…really not sense even a hint of the crisis?
…She's speechless.
Garden Gale knitted her brows tightly.
She had to find a way to break free! She had to catch that golden-haired figure ahead.
Otherwise…
The worst scenario flashed through Garden Gale's mind—then she bit down hard on her lip, the pain clearing her mind instantly… The second corner.
Right, it had to be at the second corner, she had to break out then.
Garden Gale kept analyzing.
She suppressed the restless agitation in her heart, shifting her gaze from the blonde-haired Umamusume to the second corner itself, and started to pay close attention to the rhythm of everyone around her—searching for any tiny flaw amid the flowing, breathing rhythm that might let her break out.
But…
But these idiots were tightly clustered together, boxing her in quite thoroughly!
Grinding her teeth slightly, she vented the annoyance she felt inside.
Still, she had to break out on the second corner and chase after Narita Top Road. If she waited until the third corner, it'd be far too late! These Umamusume's pacing was so slow that Garden Gale couldn't even be bothered to comment.
Were they really here to race?
Are you sure they're not just taking a stroll in their backyards back at home?
That'd be fine but they had the nerve to block her!!!
...
"The path is completely blocked…" Tokai Teio murmured, anxiously gazing at the track.
Seeing Garden Gale trapped, Tokai Teio couldn't help but worry deeply. She was different from those other Umamusume; whether it was Rudolf or Teio, both could sense Narita Top Road's explosive push, detecting the faintly dangerous scent in the air.
"Her decision-making on the first corner was far too poor," Symboli Rudolf frowned slightly, quickly reconsidering—actually, this was a tricky situation. The other Umamusume were running at such a steady rhythm that breaking free wasn't easy.
But it was only tricky.
For an someone like her, escaping such a bind would be easy.
Except…
It wasn't the Emperor running on the track, but an unknown nobody named… Garden Gale.
Could she do it?
If it were Teio…
Just as Symboli Rudolf pondered—
She suddenly heard scattered gasps from the audience and a bewildered announcer shouting:
"One Umamusume broke through! Straight through the middle!—Incredible! Is she aiming to catch up to the front-runner? It's Garden Gale! Garden Gale! This second-most-popular Umamusume has locked her sights onto the leading Narita Top Road!"
Already?!
Symboli Rudolf raised an eyebrow, genuinely startled by this nobody's unexpected move.
Not bad at all…
...
Garden Gale on the track… had sniffed it out.
A scent full of openings.
The moment her heart quieted, clarity exploded within her mind.
Calm…you must be calm. Panic doesn't make you stronger—it only drags you further from your goal...
A PRODIGY'S INTUITION!
As previously stated, this was a skill of pure instinctive analysis. Instantly—truly in a single heartbeat—Garden Gale saw every Umamusume's running around her, her vision widening drastically.
It was like activating a bird's-eye view—an eerie sensation like looking at yourself as a spectator.
This was the moment.
With an angle no one could clearly see, she broke through like a phantom! Rushing straight out ahead of the pack, continuously pouring more force into each step! Her calves tightened further and further.
Her whole body leaned forward, her center of gravity dropping lower and lower.
This time…
She wouldn't fall.
Garden Gale held it firmly. Relying on experience gained through repeated failures, she charged forward completely unaffected—indeed, accelerating further. She began speeding up even more, despite it being only the second bend, still far, far from the finish line.
Narita Top Road…
I'm coming for you!
Narita Top Road felt it clearly, as if a predator had locked onto her from behind. She didn't need to look back or even split her attention—she instantly understood exactly who was chasing after her.
…Then let's see it.
See if you can really catch me!
The remainder of the race would become a pure competition of speed! A direct showdown of raw ability!
...
All the other Umamusume only thought those two had gone utterly insane.
They didn't even realize that they didn't exist in these two's minds anymore.
...
Symboli Rudolf clenched her fists tightly.
She was so startled she nearly stood up.
There was no mistake.
Absolutely none—this was unbelievable! Her form... Isn't it Teio's?! Why—how did Garden Gale's running form look identical to Teio's? No, it wasn't exactly identical... just close to identical, just a bit less polished than Teio herself.
If one ignored other factors and focused purely on the way she runs...
Even Rudolf herself might've mistaken the figure on the track for Tokai Teio...
Unbelievable!
Forget Air Shakur never having seen something like this—even Symboli Rudolf herself hadn't ever encountered something like this. Being able to mimic how someone else runs and being able to use it as your own? This wasn't even in a practice race, but in something crucial! A debut race!
Interesting.
Truly interesting!
The Emperor was fascinated, staring intently at Garden Gale on the track.
She unconsciously licked her lips.
Even Teio herself noticed what was happening on the track.
She recognized something familiar... causing confusion to rise up within her.