"Welcome to the Japan Cup! Let's take a look at this race's most popular runners. The number one favorite is, of course, this runner! She is a competitor from overseas, and she is also the winner of last year's Arc de Triomphe—Venus Park!"
Trêve's appearance caused a massive stir in the stadium.
Such was the status of an Arc de Triomphe champion.
The gold standard of the world's strongest.
The other runners looked seriously at the horse girl, whose physique was not large, perhaps even a bit frail. Though she didn't look the part, her record was no fake.
The moment Trêve stepped onto the track, she walked straight over to [McQueen] and said, "Hello, I am Trêve. I'm looking forward to racing you today. I will make sure you remember me."
"..."
[McQueen] was speechless.
She had a good idea why this champion had her sights on her.
Just then, Demon King Ship also moseyed over.
"Get ready. Let her soul descend upon you again. That is your mission in this race!"
[McQueen] felt completely numb.
Do either of you even care about my feelings?
"All runners are in the gate! The countdown begins..."
"The race has started!"
The gates opened, and the runners burst out.
[Mejiro McQueen] was in the lead. Although she wasn't originally an 'escape' runner, after the "other McQueen" had used her body a few times, she felt she had gotten used to this running style and decided to use it.
Trêve, watching [McQueen]'s start from behind, couldn't help but frown.
'Is she not in good form today?'
Her start was like that of a completely different person from the one at the school event. The form, the acceleration... it was all wrong.
Just then, the commentator's voice cut in.
"Oh, no! Runner Gold Ship has missed the start! She hasn't even begun to run!"
'Huh?!'
Trêve was shocked.
Seriously? A late start is one thing, but this late? The race has been going for a while! How can a runner who hasn't even left the gate be in a G1 race?
Some of the runners who knew the "inside story" were also shocked.
Wasn't that girl... the 'foreign support' the President was counting on?
In the stands, Symboli Rudolf, Air Groove, and the others were also stunned. Wait, were we all tricked? Is she... actually weak?
Over in Team Spica's section, [Gold Ship] (this world's) also looked regretful.
'If I'd known she was just a paper tiger, all bark and no bite, Lord Goldie-chan shouldn't have dodged her challenge! Now I'm the one who's going to be embarrassed! She's using my name!'
"Heh."
A smirk spread across Demon King Ship's face.
The next moment, the "Heavy Track" descended!
All the runners felt a weight on their backs, and their minds simultaneously filled with anxiety. In an instant, they all made various mistakes—some nearly ran off the track, others saw their speed plummet, looking as if they were drunk. It was total chaos.
At the same time, Demon King Ship made her majestic exit from the gate.
"What's happening?"
"The runners... they don't seem to be in the right state!"
Only a few could feel it: the abnormally terrifying "bewitching" power and the impossibly large "domain" that now enveloped the entire track.
Montjeu, watching Trêve clutch her head, couldn't help but stand up from her seat, her eyes fixed grimly on the horse girl who had just left the gate.
'That level of bewitching... and a domain to match... who in the world is she?'
Gold Ship? This was definitely not the Gold Ship she knew!
Symboli Rudolf's eyes were also wide.
This kind of domain... it only existed in theory. It's... real?
As the person who had researched domains the most, she of course knew the nature of Demon King Ship's domain. The prerequisite for awakening such a domain was having the aptitude and an intense sense of self, but also, you had to believe from the bottom of your heart that you were the strongest, without a shred of doubt. Only then could a domain of this type be awakened.
Otherwise, you would awaken a domain similar to her own.
This wasn't to say this type of domain was the "strongest," but it was the most difficult to awaken. No normal person could truly, deep down, believe they had no rivals.
But was it the strongest? Not necessarily. Its only advantage over other domains was its cost. Because it didn't enhance the user's own abilities, its stamina drain was practically zero. But for that same reason, it offered no self-enhancement. Rudolf thought of Mejiro McQueen. If she were to face McQueen, this domain would be useless.
After all, Demon King Ship's domain was just a "gate" (debuff). Even if it looked strong, its massive range and power meant its "efficiency" was far lower than a single-target "gate" like Oguri Cap's "Devour." And Mejiro McQueen's domain could immunize her from even that. There was no reason it couldn't immunize her from this.
As for the "bewitching" power... that Mejiro McQueen didn't seem to be affected by that, either. After all, Rudolf's own domain, which was imbued with bewitching power, had no effect on her.
But... only that Mejiro McQueen was immune.
As it stood, Demon King Ship's domain was broken-level strong. It had zero cost and terrifying power.
Even the champion of the Arc de Triomphe, the horse girl named Trêve, was being affected by this "domain-and-bewitching" combo.
This proved that Demon King Ship's strength was, without a doubt, world-class.
If only she hadn't had a late start...
No... perhaps the domain has a restriction? Can it only be activated from a late start?
Symboli Rudolf considered the possibility.
(But the real reason was just that Demon King Ship wasn't being serious. While she did have one skill that required a late start, it didn't need to be this late, and her domain and debuff skills had no connection to it. She was, quite simply, playing.)
Demon King Ship began to run. Her powerful, explosive burst was unbelievable. Despite a massive late start, she caught up to the main pack in just a few seconds, and she looked completely relaxed. This meant that even without her domain and debuffs, she possessed absolutely overwhelming strength. A true monster.
Montjeu, watching her explosive power, was reminded of one of her own seniors... a former "world's strongest." The form was just too similar. That senior also had such powerful burst and physical stats; in the Arc de Triomphe, she didn't even need to use her bewitching power or her domain to easily beat her powerful opponents.
'A second monster?'
Montjeu couldn't help but look at [Mejiro McQueen] at the front.
[Mejiro McQueen]'s current performance was... pathetic.
It made her frown.
This is definitely not the girl I saw at the school event. The rumors... I didn't believe them... "Mejiro McQueen from another world." But strength doesn't lie. If this were that McQueen, she would never be in such a disgraceful state.
On the track, only Trêve was currently able to withstand the "Heavy Track's" power and maintain her original rhythm. But from the way she occasionally pressed her head and wiped at her sweat, she was clearly struggling.
'So strong. This is bad. If I stay in this position, my stamina recovery will be overwhelmed by this bewitching power. Should I fall back, behind her? But her catch-up pace proves her explosive power is no joke. If I fall back now, it might be impossible to catch up later...'
'No... I have no choice!'
Trêve grit her teeth and made her decision.
This "bewitching-plus-domain" combo was too terrifying. The stamina drain was inhuman. She couldn't guarantee she'd have any energy left for a last spurt. She had to fall back, let that girl get in front of her. Only then could she escape the combo's attack.
Demon King Ship watched Trêve drop back, her expression slightly surprised. 'This one's not simple. As expected of the world's strongest. She found the weakness to my combo that quickly. That's right. To dodge my 'gate', you just have to fall behind me.'
But... that's hardly the "correct" solution.
After all... once you fall behind, you'll never catch up again.
Demon King Ship shook her head.
A 'Hero' should charge into danger and overcome it. If you can't do that, you'll never be a true Hero. The so-called 'world's strongest'... she's still a long way from being a Hero.
Once Trêve fell behind Demon King Ship, she immediately felt the pressure of the "Heavy Track" lift. She let out a sigh of relief.
She stared at Demon King Ship's back, her expression incredibly grim.
She also had a bewitching skill, but it didn't have such an overbearing effect. She had to save it for a critical moment. Right now, she could no longer relax and focus on [Mejiro McQueen] at the front. This "Demon King Ship" was now the most terrifying enemy!
And at the front, [Mejiro McQueen] felt as if her body was bound by countless chains. She couldn't exert any strength. She had never experienced a race this difficult.
'So heavy... My body... won't listen...'
...
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