While Rampage spent his time at the academy venting his frustrations and meeting with Light Hello, the year-end spectacle—the Arima Kinen—was reaching its fever pitch at Nakayama Racecourse. This year's field was legendary, packed almost entirely with G1 winners or those so talented it was a mere matter of time before they claimed a crown. With such a lineup, the atmosphere was nothing short of electric.
"And here they come! Rounding the first lap into the home stretch! Taking the lead is, unsurprisingly, Twin Turbo! Turbo refuses to yield! Following in second is the Melbourne Cup champion, Mejiro Palmer, with the Double Crown girl Mihono Bourbon right on her heels. These two are setting the pace, but as expected, it's a suicidal high-speed sprint! You can feel their desperation—it's as if they're trying to tear Mejiro Rampage's world record to pieces!"
"Turbo... full throttle—!!"
"Man, Turbo, you're incredible... even at this pace! But I'm not losing today!"
"This is still within my calculated margins."
Two of the three leaders, Turbo and Palmer, were the definitive "Great Escape" specialists of the Japanese racing world. Their goal was simple: total domination and a new world record. They had spent their careers staring at the back of the one who always ran ahead of them, a silhouette burned into their retinas. Even for Bourbon, that shadow served as a lighthouse—the ultimate goal.
"About three lengths back, we have a dense pack: Ikuno Dictus, Mejiro McQueen, Rice Shower, Tokai Teio, and Biwa Hayahide. Following them are Matikanetannhauser, Nice Nature, Winning Ticket, El Casa River, and Narita Taishin. As they head into the second corner, Twin Turbo continues to pour on the speed! Can the 'Turbo Engine' possibly hold out on this grueling Nakayama track!?"
Turbo burned through her stamina with everything she had. She refused to let her hands rest or her legs falter. Her running style—as if screaming that she would cease to exist if she ever slowed down—captivated the crowd. Her desperate, grit-teethed sprint gave strength to everyone watching. In fact, among this elite field, Turbo's popularity rivaled or even eclipsed icons like the invincible Triple Crown winner Teio, or the beloved McQueen and Rice Shower.
"Turbo... FULL THROTTLE—!!!"
"The Turbo Engine has hit secondary ignition! There's still a long way to go, but Twin Turbo is trying to break away early! Is she going too fast? Does she really have the confidence to stay ahead?! On a personal note—I absolutely love this girl's spirit!"
"Keep the commentary professional, Akasaka... though, I have to admit, I love her too!"
Perhaps having finally unburdened herself after her "tug-of-war" with Rampage, the announcer Akasaka had begun letting her personal feelings bleed into her play-by-play. However, since her outbursts mirrored the collective heart of the fans, the audience welcomed it. No one hated Turbo. And yet, no racer dared to underestimate her.
"The field is being dragged along by this blistering pace, but the chasers aren't falling behind! There's barely ten lengths between the lead and Narita Taishin at the back. They enter the third corner as a single, stretching line! And there goes Biwa Hayahide! She's making her move! One of the 'BNW' trio is launching her assault, and the other two are responding in kind! The BNW generation is rising up! They're boldly challenging the seniors! The three powerhouses who defined this year's Classics are surging forward! Narita Taishin is closing the gap on the leaders! Here we go—the final corner is coming up!"
"I won't... I won't lose!"
"We still have the stretch to go, Ticket! Can you really maintain this intensity?"
"Ha! You've got enough energy to worry about others, Hayahide? You must be feeling good!"
"Taishin, you too!"
"I won't be defeated... I have to show Brian the way. For the sake of the senior I respect...!"
"""LET'S GO!!!"""
They kicked off the earth in unison. The BNW trio surged toward the lead group. Turbo's stronghold was still intact, but it was only a matter of time. At that breakneck pace, she shouldn't have anything left—and the chasers weren't about to miss their chance. Watching them come, Ikuno Dictus couldn't help but smirk. The next generation is growing up fast.
"Coming around the fourth corner, it's a free-for-all! Here they come, here they come, HERE THEY COME! Ikuno Dictus, Mejiro McQueen, Nice Nature, and Matikanetannhauser have bared their fangs! The veterans are meeting the Classic challengers head-on! Mihono Bourbon is desperately chasing Twin Turbo! Turbo is still in the lead! But Mejiro Palmer is finding another gear! Can the 'Great Escape' wave hold? Biwa Hayahide is climbing—she's into third! Is she going to show us the grit of the strongest girl, the Kikuka-sho winner?! Just as she tries to claim the long-distance throne, the Great Actor McQueen moves to suppress her! No, the Derby winner Winning Ticket is in the mix! Nice Nature and Ticket are trading blows in a fierce sprint! From the back, Matikanetannhauser is flying—is she going to catch Taishin?! Turbo is hanging on! She's still hanging on! But Ikuno Dictus is charging! Is the heroine of the Rampage generation going to take it?! Who will win!? WHO WILL WIN!?"
The announcer's scream was the roar of the entire stadium. It was a chaotic dogfight—a clash of pride and power as these elite racers sprinted for the summit. Every one of them was noble, every one of them was starving for the win. The spectators didn't know where to look. Was the story about Turbo at the front, or the giants rising from behind—?
Then, as if leaping over the very concept of the struggle, one girl soared past the rest, closing in on the lead in a single, blurred heartbeat.
"Wait... TOKAI TEIO! TOKAI TEIO IS HERE!! Teio surges from the far outside! A lightning strike from Tokai Teio! The invincible Triple Crown winner is rising! She passes Biwa Hayahide! She blows past Mihono Bourbon, Mejiro Palmer, and Ikuno Dictus! Tokai Teio is neck-and-neck with Twin Turbo! It's a collision of Triple Crown legends!"
"I'm... I'm going to win! I'll win this, and then I'm going to the world stage!"
"Turbo... Turbo is gonna win! I'm gonna win just like Ran did!!"
"Less than a hundred meters to go! Will it be the Triple Tiara?! Or the Classic Triple Crown?! Turbo or Teio?! It's too close to call! Twin Turbo fires her final reserves! Tokai Teio is still accelerating! Mejiro Palmer is refusing to drop off from behind! Ikuno Dictus is closing in! Biwa Hayahide is gritting her teeth and staying in the fight, but look at the front! LOOK AT THE FRONT—!"
"—TOKAI TEIO! Tokai Teio has her nose in front! Just a bit more... a bit more... GOAL IN! In second is Twin Turbo, third is Mejiro Palmer, fourth is Biwa Hayahide, and fifth is Ikuno Dictus! The one who will wrap herself in the Arima Kinen silks and fly to the world stage is Tokai Teio! Following in the wake of the Sovereign Tyrant is the Indomitable Emperor—TOKAI TEIO!"
The victor's name was the Indomitable Emperor. Having cemented her status as the invincible Triple Crown winner, she was now ready to challenge the world. As one of the "Kings" following the path of the Great Tyrant, she thrust her fist toward the sky. It was a silhouette of majesty, perfectly befitting an Emperor.
"Now... I finally have the confidence. President, watch me. I'll show them—as Tokai Teio—that I can win on the world stage."
"Teio!"
"Whoa—!?"
A sudden impact nearly blew her resolve away. She tumbled to the ground, but when she saw Turbo clinging to her, any urge to complain vanished. Turbo's face was glowing with a radiant, satisfied smile.
"I'm so frustrated, Turbo! But I won't lose next time! Turbo's gonna be the first one to win overseas!"
"Haha... I give up. You beat me fair and square, Teio. If you could handle me, you'll be just fine overseas."
"Palmer, thank you."
"That was truly spectacular. Heh, it seems I still have a long way to go."
"Hayahide, you were amazing too. For a second there, I really thought I might lose."
Amidst the deafening "Teio!" calls echoing through the stadium, Teio felt a sense of clarity she had never known. The world was next. With a heart dancing in anticipation, she looked up at the sky through a waterfall of pure joy.
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