"First turn, currently leading is Mihono Bourbon! The Chestnut Express at full throttle!"
"But Tokai Teio behind is working hard to keep up, and half a length behind her is Rice Shower!"
"An intense clash, but is it really okay to run like this when the race has just begun?"
One could see that just now, the three leaders had already opened a significant gap from the pack behind them.
Though the Arima Kinen's 2500m long-distance course wasn't as grueling as the 3200m Tenno Sho Spring, it wasn't a distance that could be run easily either.
No problem! Tokai Teio answered affirmatively in her heart. "I won't lose anymore!"
The taste of defeat was enough to experience once—her career didn't need a second defeat!
Blue starlight appeared around Tokai Teio.
[Room to Spare (Gold): Small stamina recovery, reduces fatigue throughout the race!]
Not a complete recovery effect but a skill that increased her condition while recovering a small amount of stamina!
After using this skill, the effect was roughly equivalent to raising her stamina cap and reducing average consumption!
While it might not be enough for the 3200m Tenno Sho Spring, it was sufficient for the 2500m Arima Kinen.
This was Tokai Teio's confidence.
She had worked incredibly hard to improve her stamina.
Now she had the confidence to win the race even facing Bourbon's breakaway, even while being controlled by 'Rice Shower's' interference skills!
Perfect!
Strongest!
This is me—
Tokai Teio!
Her intense confidence made Tokai Teio's presence even more powerful.
Her mental state now was even stronger than at the Japan Cup—she didn't seem at all like a competitor whose winning streak had been ended!
That blazing fighting spirit could be felt even by Mihono Bourbon in the lead, leaving her deeply impressed.
So this is what it means to be a famous competitor standing at the summit.
That was the goal she and Master had been chasing.
Truly powerful.
But her goal today wasn't to deal with Tokai Teio—she wanted to recreate the scene from the Satsuki Sho in this race.
Rice Shower, let me feel that again—my... hero!
Prismatic light appeared beneath Mihono Bourbon's feet once more.
Before Tokai Teio's astonished gaze, she accelerated again!
[G00 1st.F∞ (Flash): Speed increase, stamina recovery!]
Tokai Teio, who had been following behind, was instantly left behind.
Damn it! Bourbon's speed is even faster than before!
Tokai Teio suppressed the urge to use another skill.
She wasn't running a breakaway—she wasn't even a front-runner.
If she kept matching Mihono Bourbon's recklessness here, she wouldn't have much left to deal with 'Rice Shower.'
Then it could end up like the Japan Cup.
"The race reaches the middle stage. Mihono Bourbon is in a massive breakaway, completely shaking off the competitors behind!"
Even Tokai Teio couldn't keep up with Mihono Bourbon's current speed, falling four lengths behind.
Honestly, this made Tokai Teio feel terrible given her urgency to prove herself, but 'Rice Shower' right behind her forced her to stay calm.
Wait a little longer, wait a little longer. I'll prove myself—with this race— Tokai Teio thought anxiously.
She didn't notice that despite already activating her stamina-reduction skill, her current rate of sweating was completely abnormal.
That overly anxious mindset seemed like peak condition but was actually having the opposite effect.
Of course, if she had been able to smoothly demonstrate her abilities earlier and run her ideal race, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way.
But reality was otherwise.
Mihono Bourbon, stronger than ever, had once again employed breakaway tactics.
The Overlord was stalking behind her, watching like a predator.
Facing this double pressure, it was already incredibly difficult for Tokai Teio just to hold on.
Even Zenno Rob Roy, watching this race, couldn't help but give high praise.
"Such a willful and courageous child."
Without such willpower, she couldn't have bounced back so quickly after that crushing defeat at the Japan Cup.
Much less dare to risk competing with a breakaway while knowing the opponent who had defeated her and given her the humiliation of loss was in this very race.
However—
"She'll lose if she keeps running like this."
Even without opponent interference, Tokai Teio's current state would lead to self-destruction.
Not to mention The Overlord seemed to be targeting Tokai Teio.
Symboli Rudolf remained silent. How could she not see such things? But right now, no one could help Teio in the middle of a race.
She could only hope Teio would discover the problem herself.
Turf Dream beside her didn't think so much about it.
She simply felt the competitors of this country weren't as weak as her friend had said—some were surprisingly strong.
She really wanted to go down and run with them right now.
Being stuck watching from the stands was just too torturous.
Turf Dream's tail twitched restlessly behind her.
Zenno Rob Roy glanced at her disciple and knew exactly what she was thinking.
"The 1000m marker has been passed!"
"Currently far in the lead is still Mihono Bourbon. The Express, returning to the track, has displayed incredible speed!"
Hearing the announcer's praise, many of Mihono Bourbon's fans began cheering loudly.
Look—even without having beaten Rice Shower, Bourbon's strength was formidable!
Wasn't Tokai Teio the one being suppressed right now?
"Four lengths behind is Tokai Teio, but she looks somewhat anxious."
"Following her is Rice Shower, calmly trailing behind Tokai Teio."
Behind her, that pitch-black figure continued following like a specter.
No matter what Tokai Teio did, she couldn't seem to shake off The Overlord.
That performance gave the impression—
It was as if she was merely taking a stroll.
"This is bad! That 'Rice Shower' seems to have completely controlled Teio's pace!"
Everyone at Team Spica wore serious expressions.
They knew exactly how much Tokai Teio cared about this race, how much she wanted to prove herself again.
But The Overlord's running style, her performance targeting Teio, made them sense something was wrong.
Teio in the race might not have noticed yet, but these spectators could clearly see that from the start until now, the gap between The Overlord and Teio hadn't changed—always half a length. This pace control was terrifying.
Unlike Teio's clearly taxed performance—
The Overlord's posture was far too relaxed.
"Come to think of it, have you all noticed Rice Shower seems like a different person lately?"
Gold Ship had noticed some differences.
Though the original Rice Shower had also liked avoiding others, always hiding alone, the feeling was different from the current 'Rice Shower.' The old Rice Shower felt more like a shy, timid little sister, while the current 'Rice Shower' felt more like someone who treated others as air.
"I'm not very familiar with that girl Rice Shower."
Daiwa Scarlet thought about it and realized she hadn't paid much attention to Rice Shower in private before.
The others were roughly in the same situation.
After all, Rice Shower had always deliberately avoided contact with others.
Besides the dorm leader and her roommates, she didn't have many close friends.
"..."
"Nice Nature is currently maintaining stamina in the back."
Nice Nature in the rear noticed the competitors around her all seemed somewhat low in spirit. Though thinking this felt like kicking someone while they were down, she felt she might have a chance. While she knew she couldn't possibly compete with the three geniuses ahead, she could at least try for top five, right?
Nice Nature wasn't the only one who noticed this. The reason many competitors had suppressed the urge to follow was to see if there was a chance to pick up scraps—to fight for a top five spot. But not everyone was that confident, because The Overlord might once again explode with the speed from the Japan Cup.
No one could possibly keep up with that monster's explosive power.
The race passed the halfway point.
Mihono Bourbon's speed finally began to slow—her explosive skills had been mostly depleted.
Tokai Teio's gaze instantly sharpened.
But she didn't immediately use skills to charge forward. Instead, she used her normal speed to gradually close the gap, wanting to completely control the race's rhythm.
Though her mindset was indeed wrong, as an elite, she remained sufficiently calm at this moment. Mihono Bourbon, no longer at peak condition, was no longer a concern. What remained was—'Rice Shower'!
Even now, how long do you plan to keep following, 'Rice Shower'? Come, let's decide this!
Do you think you can beat me again like last time? Don't be ridiculous! I'll save my ZONE until the very end!
Last time, she had carelessly failed to notice 'Rice Shower,' getting controlled by 'Rice Shower's' interference skills after using ZONE's effects.
But this time was different.
This time she would save her ZONE until the final moment!
[Unparalleled Racing Talent (Flash): Major stamina recovery, speed increase!]
[Genius Technique (Flash): Free lane switching, acceleration increase!]
[Gust of Wind (Gold): Major straightaway speed increase!]
ZONE First Stage [Wave: Speed increase, reduced fatigue!]
Then—
ZONE Second Stage [Momentum: Mental focus, speed and acceleration increase, reduced stamina consumption!]
Let me show you—
My full power!
Sky-blue aura erupted from her body!
Tokai Teio's figure charged forward like a storm.
"So fast!"
"In this moment, Tokai Teio begins her acceleration!"
At the final turn entrance, Tokai Teio caught up to Mihono Bourbon.
But Tokai Teio's acceleration wasn't over.
[Teio Step (Flash): Major speed and acceleration increase!]
In an instant, Tokai Teio overtook Mihono Bourbon from the outside. Mihono Bourbon silently watched Tokai Teio's confident profile. Though Tokai Teio's face was now covered in sweat, that confident and dashing attitude earned even Mihono Bourbon's admiration.
But immediately after, Mihono Bourbon sensed a familiar yet foreign chill.
The moment Tokai Teio charged past, a specter-like black shadow followed behind her.
Rice Shower?!
Mihono Bourbon thought of what she had glimpsed in that instant.
Those were empty, void eyes—completely lacking the light that should have been there.
"Tokai Teio and Rice Shower have burst forward at this moment! Can any other competitors follow?!"
Though the announcer said this, the two ahead were still accelerating—how could anyone catch up?
[Professor of the Arc (Gold)!]
Tokai Teio gritted her teeth and pressed on.
Multiple skill uses, even with intervals, were taking their toll.
But it still wasn't enough!
Come on, Rice Shower!
I'll win!
As if hearing her thoughts, The Overlord's footsteps suddenly shifted from light to heavy. The next moment, her shadow appeared from the side in front of Tokai Teio. Just as Tokai Teio's heart skipped at seeing that shadow, The Overlord's profile suddenly appeared beside her.
Those emotionless eyes looked coldly at Tokai Teio: 'Is this already your limit?'
Red light flickered in The Overlord's eyes: 'Then let's end this game.'
Terrifying chills appeared instantly.
Tokai Teio instinctively entered ZONE, trying to counter The Overlord's power with ZONE's strength.
'Too naive, Rice Shower—I've still got this!'
'I win!'
Just as Tokai Teio's eyes were beginning to go vacant, thinking this—
The next moment, the sound of shattering came from her domain!
The Overlord's pitch-black figure effortlessly broke through Tokai Teio's domain!
ZONE's state shattered instantly.
Tokai Teio's spirit trembled.
Those eyes that should have been highly focused were now filled with panic.
'Impossible—my ZONE failed?'
No!
That wasn't all!
Tokai Teio suddenly felt all her skill effects had vanished.
Her power was weakening!
'What is this? What's happening?!'
She could only stare wide-eyed at the figure that had already run ahead.
If Tokai Teio had a system panel—
She would have seen all her attributes had dropped by one rank in that moment.
And several skills, including ZONE's skill panel, had changed from their original colors to gray, with a black line struck through them.
This could only mean she had once possessed these skills, but now they had all vanished.
In game terms, she would need to reacquire these skills.
And even in a game, this situation couldn't be simply fixed by re-spending PT points—she would have to obtain them anew.
Because she had completely lost the power of these skills!
Even the related memories had vanished entirely from her mind.
"What's happening? Tokai Teio has lost speed!"
Many people stood up involuntarily.
Symboli Rudolf and Zenno Rob Roy were shocked to find that Tokai Teio no longer had any trace of ZONE's aura.
It wasn't simply that ZONE's state had been released—the traces of ZONE had completely ceased to exist!
"What just happened?"
Something completely beyond control had occurred.
Tokai Teio's speed was plummeting, easily overtaken by Mihono Bourbon behind her.
Then Nice Nature charged up too.
Tokai Teio's ranking continued to fall!
Until she dropped to dead last!
Though one could see Tokai Teio running desperately, her current performance couldn't compete with G1-level competitors—even newly-debuted rookies at Central Tracen ran faster than her now.
The race ended.
The Overlord hadn't used the explosive power from the previous race—the entire race had been merely a stroll.
Yet—
Tokai Teio had been shot down.
Tokai Teio, who barely made it to the finish line, recorded the worst result since her debut.
And that wasn't all—because of her desperate effort combined with her physical decline, her left leg was trembling unnaturally.
If she had chosen to give up after being consumed by [Fusion], perhaps she wouldn't have been injured.
But she hadn't. Her desperation not only failed to change anything but plunged her into an even more hopeless abyss.
"..."
Lost?
I lost?
Tokai Teio looked at her trembling left leg, her eyes filled with panic in that instant.
"Teio!"
Trainer Okino rushed onto the track at that moment.
...
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