"Don't wait until the final straight... why is that Trainer?"
A week ago, during Meisho Doto and Wada's discussion about what they should do against T.M. Opera O, Meisho Doto clearly remembered Wada emphasizing this step. It was even more crucial than getting ahead of T.M. Opera O at the start.
But Meisho Doto didn't understand. Wasn't the best time to unleash her final spurt during the final straight? With such a good opportunity, why should she accelerate on a Corner, which would affect her sprint? Wouldn't that be a net loss?
"Meisho Doto, your final spurt's explosive power is excellent. It can be said that you and T.M. Opera O, whether in speed, preferred styles, or strategies, are very similar. Your running styles and preferred distances are nigh identical."
Wada, having noticed Meisho Doto's confusion, spoke calmly, "Meisho Doto, do you think your final spurt can produce a stronger acceleration compared to T.M. Opera O's final spurt?"
"...No."
Meisho Doto opened her mouth, wanting to confidently say she could do it. However, thinking back to the Yukinayanagi Sho, where T.M. Opera O, still unfamiliar with the Pace Chaser style, relied solely on a single final spurt to close the wide gap with the first-place Uma Musume, ultimately winning by a third of a length... she recognized her own limitations.
"Meisho Doto, although your final spurt has progressed to the point of surpassing Mejiro McQueen's during this period of targeted training. But compared to T.M. Opera O, who's best quality is her final spurt, we are still a step below her."
Seeing that Meisho Doto had understood this point, Wada was greatly relieved. His biggest fear was Meisho Doto being overconfident, believing her final spurt could contend with T.M. Opera O's, and then not following his instructions when on the track, thereby letting the small glimmer of victory slip away.
Competing with T.M. Opera O in a battle of final spurts might be possible after her peak period wanes, but she is still currently in her ascendant phase, capable of achieving a new final spurt record at any moment. At such a time, competing with T.M. Opera O in final spurt... would truly be an idiotic choice.
But there was simply no other way to win without competing in a battle of final spurts. Wada thought for a long time before finally coming up with a feasible solution.
"Meisho Doto, you need to unleash your final spurt earlier than T.M. Opera O. Before she finds a suitable spot to accelerate, quickly establish a large enough lead. This way, even if T.M. Opera O's final spurt can catch up to you after a while, we still have a chance to win."
"We have no chance of winning by competing with T.M. Opera O in a battle final spurts. Instead, let's try to create a gap. Meisho Doto, as long as you can create a large enough gap within a limited time, T.M. Opera O might not be able to catch you."
This was an incredibly crude method. If Meisho Doto was a Runaway Uma Musume like Silence Suzuka, then Wada wouldn't have to worry about T.M. Opera O catching up. Unfortunately, Doto's best running style is almost the same as T.M. Opera O's.
If one had to describe it, Meisho Doto was a lesser version of T.M. Opera O—of course, such words couldn't be said in front of Meisho Doto; it would make her cry instantly.
But now, if Wada wanted to use this lesser version to defeat the better version, he absolutely could not fairly compete with T.M. Opera O in her strengths; that would just lead to a guaranteed loss. So, it would be better to use a strategy similar to a Runaway in the middle of the race, creating as much distance as possible. T.M. Opera O's final spurt also has its limits. As long as the distance created is large enough, even T.M. Opera O would find it difficult to catch up.
"But where should I accelerate?" Meisho Doto, hearing this, understood Wada's tactics but still asked with some unease:
"I don't know where T.M. Opera O will accelerate at all. How can I know in advance where I should unleash my final spurt to quickly create a gap?"
"—I know."
However, suddenly, before Meisho Doto's murmur faded, Wada's extremely decisive words made Meisho Doto instinctively flinch, staring blankly at Wada in front of her.
And the next moment, Meisho Doto saw a confident smile on Wada's face that she had never seen before... "Trainer really did it! He correctly predicted T.M. Opera O's acceleration point. The gap between me and T.M. Opera O is constantly widening!"
At this moment, Meisho Doto, having unleashed all her power, was making her final sprint without reservation, pushing against the wind pressure. She had already passed the last corner and was now leading all the Uma Musume in the final straight!
"What an unexpected sight! Meisho Doto has unleashed an astonishing final spurt and is leaving T.M. Opera O behind!"
"Can she maintain this speed all the way to the finish line? T.M. Opera O hasn't caught up in time. Is she still waiting for the correct time?"
"This is... unexpected." T.M. Opera O also didn't expect Meisho Doto to unleash her final spurt early, attempting to win by creating a large enough lead.
The explosive power of a final spurt also has its limits. If it's during the final straight, she could most likely sprint all the way to the finish line. But if she starts sprinting on the final corner, even she had to admit that maintaining her speed all the way to the finish line was impossible.
Therefore, T.M. Opera O always chose to unleash the power of her final spurt when she had covered about a quarter of the distance in the final straight. This allowed her to maximize the power of her final spurt, quickly close the gap, and ultimately win by a small margin—this was how T.M. Opera O had been winning her races.
Although Hana Toujou, as her Trainer, knew T.M. Opera O's tactics, on one hand, Hana Toujou wouldn't tell Wada T.M. Opera O's tactics. And on the other, even Hana Toujou herself didn't know where T.M. Opera O's acceleration point was.
A Trainer can only set tactics and determine running styles; timing, however, can only be grasped by the Uma Musume themselves. An Uma Musume's timing for when they accelerate is based from their own feelings, insights, or even a sudden instinct. No one other than the Uma Musume themselves could know where or when they would accelerate.
But now, this rule had just been broken.
"Wada... do you understand me even better than I understand myself?" At this moment, a bitter smile appeared on T.M. Opera O's face. She suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness... this feeling of being read like an open book, with all her actions being completely predicted... But even so, T.M. Opera O only felt helpless, not angry. And soon, an inexplicable sense of pride and arrogance deep within her began to brew.
—But, as the Overlord, I WILL NOT GIVE UP VICTORY LIKE THIS!
T.M. Opera O suddenly opened her eyes wide. As she rounded the corner, all the muscles in her legs tensed, her gaze fixated on Meisho Doto in front, and, like a spring coiling and launching, she surged forward!
"T.M. OPERA O IS GOING FOR IT! SHE IS GOING IT! HER ACCELERATION IS UNBELIEVABLE! THE GAP BETWEEN HER AND MEISHO DOTO IS QUICKLY CLOSING! THREE LENGTHS!"
"!"
The commentator's voice undoubtedly ignited the atmosphere of the entire stadium to its peak. Meisho Doto's heart also skipped a beat, but at this moment, her final spurt had reached its limit, and there was still a short distance to the finish line.
She felt tired, her entire body was feeling as if it was on fire, her legs and feet ached, and even breathing caused a sharp pain in her lungs... How could this be? It was an 1,800-meter turf race; she hadn't even struggled this much in the 2,000-meter mock race. Why did she feel so exhausted this time?
However, despite this, she did not give up. She wanted to keep running!
"MEISHO DOTO! DO YOU FEEL IT?! MY FULL POWER AS THE OVERLORD!"
Behind Meisho Doto, T.M. Opera O, who was quickly closing the distance, also shouted breathlessly, "Now— you, who block the path of the Overlord, FALL!"
As soon as T.M. Opera O's words fell, an unprecedented pressure surged towards Meisho Doto. This was T.M. Opera O's long-hidden final trump card—the Aura of the Overlord.
A few exceptionally talented Uma Musume naturally possess an Aura that makes other Uma Musume feel fear. This Aura, with continuous training, will steadily increase, thereby exerting immense psychological pressure on other Uma Musume on the track. For example, Symboli Rudolf, the Emperor, Air Groove, the Empress, and Narita Brian, the Shadow Roll Monster. The Aura they emit naturally were enough to make other Uma Musume nervous, with their Auras on the track being even more oppressive. (T/N: It's literally just Conqueror's haki)
Of course, a few Uma Musume can also unleash Auras as powerful as them under special circumstances. T.M. Opera O knew that an Uma Musume called Orfevre had such potential but had simply not found a suitable training method to unleash it.
T.M. Opera O also possessed this ability though it was still largely incomplete, and she would usually never use it. But now, for victory, to uphold her pride as the Overlord, she chose to use it. Because she knew this was also Meisho Doto's weakness. Meisho Doto was much braver on the track than in daily life, but if the pressure exceeded Meisho Doto's stress level, she would unintentionally reveal her timid nature.
It was the cause of her defeat back in the mock race. Meisho Doto should have won against Mejiro McQueen, but due to Tokai Teio's sudden intrusion, she panicked and dropped from first to third place. And now that T.M. Opera O had used her final trump card, it also indicated that T.M. Opera O was truly giving her all; she had no more moves left to employ.
Just as T.M. Opera O thought her Aura could affect Meisho Doto, she saw Meisho Doto in front involuntarily tremble. However, the next second, Meisho Doto gritted her teeth tightly, squeezing out aggressive words that shocked even T.M. Opera O.
"DON'T— GET IN MY FUCKING WAY!!!"
Accompanied by Meisho Doto's unprecedented roar, suddenly, the faint phantom around Meisho Doto, which had been slowly dissipating, became even clearer. T.M. Opera O even heard a roar from that phantom, as if angrily venting its fury, glaring aggressively at T.M. Opera O.
At this moment, Meisho Doto's mind was instantly filled with many... inexplicable things.
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This literally just Blue Lock bro.
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.