The pace quickened.
Without a moment's hesitation, it was clear that Tachyon had initiated this sudden burst of speed.
"Let me lend you a hand," she declared, showcasing her incredible speed as she surged to the front in the blink of an eye. With Tachyon leading, the race's tempo escalated at an alarming rate.
"How did Tachyon end up in the lead?"
Her limited race records showed no aptitude for front-running. This was evident in her technique; she wasn't coordinating her breathing with her stride. Her front-running style resembled a spontaneous surge, akin to the extreme tactics of a Front-Runner.
This mad scientist made no attempt to conceal her true nature, even during the race.
Ryan and Kousei immediately sensed the shift in rhythm. Behind them, a Gate, stretching across the entire track, was closing in at breakneck speed.
Panic gripped them. "A chase? This race shouldn't have a Front-Runner! Who's in the lead?"
Their bodies reacted faster than their minds. Kousei and Ryan simultaneously veered outward. No longer concerned about conserving energy, they had to reach safety before the Gate crushed them.
Unlike Kousei, the abrupt shifts in pace and relentless chase-or-be-chased rhythm threw Ryan's breathing into disarray. Her coordination with her strides deteriorated, and her overall posture began to falter.
At this critical moment, the strength of the Mejiro Bloodline shone through. Though Ryan appeared to be expending tremendous energy, her stamina reserves remained remarkably strong.
The Perfect Mejiro: McQueen possessed seemingly inexhaustible stamina. In an endurance battle, Ryan was undoubtedly inferior to McQueen. However, this didn't mean Ryan was inferior to everyone else. Though Tachyon seemed to be leading the race effortlessly and Kousei handled the pace changes with ease, their stamina was actually being drained rapidly.
No matter how carefully they rationed their energy, how could a cup of water compare to the vastness of the sea?
Kousei's only chance to neutralize the Front-runner was the instant the Gate opened. By letting Tachyon lead, Kousei was gradually putting both herself and Tachyon at a disadvantage.
I'm barely keeping up. Is Tachyon the Front-runner? As expected, this is what a Genius looks like. Ryan hovered anxiously before the Gate, knowing that being struck by the guillotine would mean losing any chance of catching up to the leaders and securing victory.
The gate's dividing line marked the threshold. As long as she remained behind it, a chance at victory remained.
"Tachyon was the first to pass through, so she must be leading now. I've never heard of her using a Front-Runner strategy before. Is she hiding her true strength? Should I try to break through on the next turn? No! What if I get blocked?" Ryan's bad habit of becoming timid when falling behind resurfaced.
As mentioned before, Umamusume races are influenced by numerous factors. Ryan exemplifies this perfectly: despite possessing immense talent, her own personality has always prevented her from giving her all.
The strong are invariably arrogant. With rare exceptions, nearly every Umamusume carries a degree of self-assuredness. At the pinnacle stand Symboli Rudolf, the seven-crown monarch, and Tamamo Cross, the white lightning.
Below them reign the undefeated Tokai Teio and the celebrated Grass Wonder and Mejiro McQueen.
Though their styles differ, all radiate an indomitable fighting spirit and an aura of "it's me or no one else."
Leo Durban, Dicta Striker, Kousei, Tachyon—any Umamusume active in racing and attracting attention bears this mark.
Ryan was in a state of complete readiness, lacking only the final catalyst, much like the rain that had awakened McQueen. She needed a catalyst to fully unleash her potential.
The simmering heat behind her never faded, fueled by the relentless summer. The figure behind her seemed inextricably bound to the Mejiro Bloodline.
That look?
An expression that screamed, "This one is also Mejiro!" devoid of any superfluous emotion, her eyes burned with a fierce desire to defeat them.
Do you acknowledge me as a Mejiro?
The blazing comet hurtled forward, its target unwavering. Even in this critical moment, she still sought to challenge the Mejiro Family.
Here it comes!
Ryan's nerves tensed to the breaking point. The dazzling aura of this attack far exceeded anything she could have imagined.
Every muscle in her body braced for the impending impact, but the collision never came.
"Hehehe~ Fooled you~"
As Kousei flashed past Ryan, their eyes met, and Kousei playfully stuck out her tongue.
"The mark's been lifted!"
Not just Ryan, but everyone present froze in surprise. Everyone had assumed Kousei would collide with her, and Kousei had exploited this assumption to slip past Ryan with ease.
Kousei effortlessly broke past Mejiro, a stark contrast to the Herculean effort she had once exerted in her failed attempt to surpass McQueen.
"Am I imagining things?" Ryan still hadn't recovered from the shock. "That overwhelming force aimed at me felt all too real."
Gazing at Kousei's retreating figure, Ryan couldn't discern whether it was a mere deception orchestrated by her Gate Technique.
Without pausing, Kousei bolted straight toward Tachyon.
"It's about time," Tachyon murmured.
The team's pace began to slow, signaling Tachyon's stamina was waning. To conserve energy for the final sprint, she needed to pace herself.
The lead changed hands again, and Kousei gradually closed the gap on Tachyon as their positions overlapped.
"Kousei~, are you here~?" Tachyon's voice remained light and cheerful, betraying no hint of fatigue.
"Of course! I've been eager to witness your full power all along!"
"Hmph... hmph... hahahaha!"
On the track, Tachyon suddenly erupted into mad laughter. The surrounding Umamusume and spectators looked on in bewilderment. Then, Tachyon's eyes began to glow with an eerie light, as if some forbidden power was being unleashed.
"Don't get cocky, brat!"