"Stardust Illusion really is amazing—that explosive running style showed up again!"
Zhuofu's eyes widened. Through the curtain of rain and the damp bangs clinging to her face, she strained to peer ahead.
At the back half of the pack, Zhuofu was quietly shadowing Wangzu; neither of them was in a hurry to sprint.
Up front, the two runners who had gone for a great escape were locked in a fierce duel.
Wangzu, running alongside, glanced back—Zhuofu was muttering under her breath just then.
Wangzu knew who Zhuofu meant: Stardust Illusion, currently battling toe-to-toe in that double great-escape. This was also the main reason Wangzu had paid out of pocket to come here.
Zhuofu was a runner Wangzu only discovered after boarding the plane to Japan.
Her build was completely different from the current French mainstream—she was petite.
But what caught Wangzu's eye had nothing to do with body type. The biggest reason she'd suddenly selected Zhuofu to join this meet was her feet.
Those feet that seemed to ignore gravity!
Even now, Zhuofu wasn't focused on the run; almost all her attention was fixed on Stardust Illusion ahead. And yet…
Wangzu could see it clearly: every step Zhuofu put down on the sodden, puddled turf failed to kick up even a splash.
Her running form was unlike anyone Wangzu had ever seen.
If not for the bent blades of grass after each hoofstrike, you might suspect she'd mounted a set of maglev skates.
Thinking that, Wangzu smiled and asked:
"How does it feel, Zhuofu? This is your first race, isn't it?"
"Mm! I'm really grateful, Lady Wangzu. To be able to run on the track, to compete with Stardust Illusion and the others—that's exactly what I've wanted most!!"
Hearing the question, Zhuofu snapped out of it and answered quickly.
Unlike Zhuofu, who had never truly raced, Wangzu—as the tyrant who dominated the French scene—was rich in experience.
She could tell that Zhuofu wasn't truly invested in the race yet. Zhuofu was simply enjoying the running—enjoying this hard-won opportunity.
But Wangzu also noticed that since the race began, Zhuofu hadn't shown any intention to exert herself. Even when the two great-escape runners began to pull away from the field, Zhuofu made no move to accelerate.
That told Wangzu one of two things: either Zhuofu had already planned out exactly how to apportion her speed and wouldn't be rattled by anything—or she simply didn't know how to pursue victory.
(That won't do. She hasn't yet seen what a race really is—just enjoying yourself isn't enough. Even I once lost to a Japanese runner because I was careless…)
(If I want to see Zhuofu's potential clearly, I have to push her to fight in earnest.)
Just as Wangzu was weighing this…
Zhuofu suddenly cried out, as if she'd had a revelation:
"Variable speed!"
"That earlier video too—at the final sprint of that race, Stardust Illusion's speed suddenly changed."
"When Taiki Shuttle thought she'd caught up to Stardust Illusion, the next moment Stardust Illusion shook her off with ultra-high speed…"
"I get it! That's the source of Stardust Illusion's… that explosive running style!"
"So strong—she really is incredible! Has Stardust Illusion evolved her running again?!"
Wangzu had a perfect view of Zhuofu's face—a moment ago relaxed and content, now utterly feverish. Zhuofu's eyes were glued to the runner in front—Stardust Illusion.
(Perhaps… I don't need to prod her after all?)
Seeing this, Wangzu thought so.
Next, Zhuofu's footwork began to change.
"In that case I need to find a way too… I'm going to catch up and have a proper match with Stardust Illusion!"
The runner whose figure was even a touch slighter than Tokai Teio's said it so lightly with her lips—
—but her feet skimmed forward with a nonchalant step, leaving Wangzu behind in an instant.
Zhuofu became a pale-pink bolt of lightning, arrowing straight toward the head of the pack!
——————————
Narita Brian—the shadow-veiled monster—still hadn't found a way through the wall in front.
Her situation differed from Mejiro McQueen's. Right now, two powerfully built runners were running shoulder to shoulder ahead, leaving not the slightest gap.
Even if she wanted to imitate McQueen and force her way through, there was no opening at all.
(Can I only wait for the back-half straight to try a breakthrough?)
When it came to overtaking space, her forte was launching on the straight.
But this track layout was also unfavorable to her. Right after the start came two consecutive curves; only after 900 meters would the course enter a straight.
Add in the distance needed to break out of the encirclement—if she only began then, she might just be grabbing a forward position when the race already reached the back half.
(Damn it. These big lugs are such an eyesore.)
With no chance in sight, Narita Brian could only endure and focus on controlling her steps to conserve stamina.
She knew that in the previous race she'd lost the power for the final kick because the great escape had wrecked her rhythm.
So this time, she must control herself well and avoid that outcome.
Bring out the strongest posture, and answer her!
Answer that runner who shines in every race—Stardust Illusion!
And just then—
Out of nowhere, Narita Brian felt a faint breeze brush up from behind.
But she was running forward at nearly 70 km/h; at that speed, you only feel a headwind. How could there be a breeze from behind?
—No, not a breeze!
Brian turned her head to look—her eyes flew open.
She saw the source: a runner striding in the outermost lane.
The girl's face wore a radiant smile as she raised her speed and closed in.
Her burning gaze leapt past Brian, past the Maginot Line ahead, past Mejiro McQueen farther up—to the two runners at the very front—
Brian already knew her target.
She had her eyes fixed on Stardust Illusion's back!
(What was her name again… Zhuofu?)
Brian thought of the newcomer's file—but was startled to realize that in the dossier Tojo Hana had given them before the race, there was nothing on her at all.
(Does she want to give chase?)
Looking at those eyes, Brian guessed as much.
But she did not rate the newcomer's chances. The race was barely one-third done; if you go hard to catch a great escape now, you'll burn stamina at a multiple.
Given that tiny frame, she didn't look like a stamina type at all—likely to be put at a disadvantage.
And even if stamina weren't an issue, to catch Stardust Illusion she'd at least have to get past Brian herself + the French runners ahead + Mejiro McQueen—a triple barrier.
In an individual event like this, even without malice, no one's going to just gift you a lane—
Give it up!
Zhuofu didn't hesitate.
Watching her barrel closer, Narita Brian suddenly felt an inexplicable irritation.
Why won't she stop? Does she really think she can pass everyone in one go?!
Brian could already hear Zhuofu murmuring as she ran:
"—Stardust Illusion, Zhuofu is coming to chase you!"
But in the next four seconds, here's what happened.
After the first second…
The Zhuofu who was right on her heels suddenly vanished from Brian's sight.
After the second second…
A pink-brown afterimage seemed to flash across Brian's field ahead.
After the third second…
One of the runners blocking the way cried out in surprise.
After the fourth second…
Only then did Narita Brian catch the cry and swing her head back forward.
(…?)
Even seeing it, she couldn't comprehend what she was seeing.
Something completely against common sense had just happened on this track.
A few seconds ago, Zhuofu was closing from behind. Now she was already ahead of Mejiro McQueen.
Neither Brian, nor the French runners in front, nor McQueen herself had made any lane-clearing motion—and yet…
"She… ran straight through them?"
Brian muttered.
Chapter 82: A True Genius: Zhuofu
"Alright, you can see all runners have cleared the first three furlongs—the race has officially entered mid-game."
"Up front, the two great-escape runners, Stardust Illusion and Miho Bourbon, have stabilized their speed. Looks like they've decided to keep this safe eight-length gap!"
"Leading the second echelon remains Mejiro McQueen. The Mejiro runner is very composed—saving it to decide the race in the back half?"
"Behind that, the six French runners still occupy the remaining forward positions. Their running is very steady—power plus stamina. Is this the strength of the French exchange team?!"
"Then it's Narita Brian and Taiki Shuttle. Their situation doesn't look good—if they can't break through the front… wait!"
The announcer was in full flow, painting the race.
But he suddenly realized something was off in the picture.
In the next instant, a pale-pink lightning bolt ripped through the rain—from third-last all the way up—blurring to the back of the second echelon almost in the blink of an eye!
Only then did the host catch up and clutch his mic, shouting:
"It's Zhuofu! The French runner Zhuofu has caught up!!!"
"Zhuofu, who had been holding a stalking position, suddenly accelerated in the second curve—she's dropped Wangzu and the closers Hishi Amazon and Gold Ship—her speed is incredible! And her movement is unbelievably light!"
"She's on Narita Brian already! Is she going to join the front echelon?!"
"Wha—"
The host fell silent again.
In the stadium, spectators following the race also fell silent in unison; the once rowdy stands were hushed.
Right before their eyes, Zhuofu passed three runners in one breath and arrived in front of Mejiro McQueen.
What on earth had happened?!
The whole crowd was too stunned to speak.
(Since I was little, this is a first… Granny Hyde!)
(I finally stood on this track again, competing with other opponents!)
Zhuofu gulped air.
She'd just blown past three in a row; now she was resetting her breathing rhythm.
She dipped her head slightly and drove after the front.
(This is nothing like pair-running practice or secretly training by myself—)
In her mind, Zhuofu replayed running side by side on the track with her older sisters, and all those years pounding the streets of Paris.
Her eyes prickled—but it didn't affect her state.
(Behind me lurk strong foes who can close at any time; ahead, the opponents I want to defeat…)
(This feeling… I did it—I can finally compete with everyone on the track!!!)
She had never felt such exhilaration; the corners of her mouth curled up where no one could see.
Even the tears sliding at the corners of her eyes couldn't blur her aim; in Zhuofu's sea-blue, jewel-bright eyes, only one back remained—
Stardust Illusion!
————————
In the VIP box, Maruzensky and Symboli Rudolf hadn't missed the scene.
Both straightened in their seats, watching intently.
"She… just went through them?" Maruzensky turned to Rudolf. "Who is that runner?"
With her keen eye, she understood what that overtaking meant.
Rudolf frowned slightly and didn't answer at once.
Only now did she understand why Wangzu had to add this filly to their lineup at the last minute.
Zhuofu was very likely the highest-ceiling runner in this meet.
Perhaps even above Stardust Illusion!
Rudolf and Maruzensky had both the strength and experience at the pinnacle—and they were born with extraordinary eyesight.
So, unlike the crowd now boiling over, neither believed Zhuofu literally passed through bodies.
Rudolf replayed the scene.
Charging up, Zhuofu had slipped under Narita Brian's right-side visual blind spot at the last instant.
Before Brian could grasp what happened, Zhuofu had slipped by.
Next came the two French runners; Zhuofu did the same—hiding along the left of one, even steadying a hand at the opponent's waist to avoid contact, then flowed past.
Finally, Mejiro McQueen—because the previous two passes were so quick, McQueen didn't have time to sense what was happening behind. Just as McQueen turned left to look, Zhuofu had already gone around on the right and broke through.
The deluge itself seemed wholly co-opted by Zhuofu, the perfect curtain to obscure her petite form and light footwork.
And in front of everyone, she staged a piece of passing magic!
"Her style is nothing like Stardust Illusion's wrecking-ball, broad-stroke run."
Maruzensky savored the replay, then sighed:
"With the smallest possible steering and the purest speed—like flowing water—she slid past each opponent's field of view and twisted free… such feather-light feet!"
"And the key difference—Stardust Illusion disrupts the opponent's judgment with sudden speed changes, then hits her top speed in that instant."
"But Zhuofu, by contrast, uses weightless, pixie-light steps to twist past anyone in her way… all while holding top speed!"
Maruzensky's eyes were shining, battle lust rising—she almost wanted to plunge into the race and test this unbelievable runner herself.
"Her name is Zhuofu," Rudolf said, closing her eyes briefly with a sigh. "A newly scouted runner from the French academy."
Seeing Zhuofu's run, Maruzensky's swelling war-spirit, and recalling Wangzu's regard, Rudolf had to concede: this runner was almost certainly a nailed-on torchbearer for the next French era.
Which also meant… Zhuofu—along with her miraculous steps—would likely take over from Wangzu, barring the way of Japanese challengers to the Arc de Triomphe for years to come.
(Symboli Sirius, the Golden Master…)
Rudolf thought of her two friends now campaigning overseas.
Because of certain regulations, they couldn't easily keep in touch from abroad, so she didn't know their latest status.
But she knew this: before leaving, both had told her with fire in their eyes they would take world titles and bring glory home.
Meeting evenly matched—or stronger—opponents in a race is something to rejoice in.
But what of their dreams…
Symboli Rudolf had no answer for herself.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you so much for reading until the end.
If you'd like to read more, you can Joining to my Patreon.
My Patreon:
patreon.com/Hydran_Tea
Chainsaw Man: The Covenant of Flame Demon [Ss2 161 Chapter ]
Uma Musume: Wait—you want me to pop my Christmas Hat Ultimate? [Ss2 152 Chapter ]
Honkai star rail:Invincible From the Moment I Started Playing as Jing Yuan [ 89 Chapter ]
The Problem Child Starts from Gensokyo [ 80 Chapter ]
FGO: Handcrafted Lostbelt, the Strongest is the Real History [ 60 Chapter ]
Honkai World: Kiana Doesn't Need Redemption [ 53 Chapter ]