"Whoooooa!!!"
"Zhuofu!!!"
"She's so pretty! And so fast! So strong!!"
"That pass—wasn't that literal magic?!"
"Go! Run down Stardust Illusion in one go and take the lead!!!"
Not everyone in the stands reacted like that man—measuring Japan vs. France.
Most were simply enjoying the race.
Seeing "Zhuofu," from third-last, storm past ten runners in a row and reach second—
And that visually shocking passing method—
It all set the place ablaze.
Even though she hadn't launched from a true closer's position, the stew of factors had the crowd incandescent.
The stadium roared for her, the cheer deafening, the rain seeming to pause in midair. Even the three trainers at trackside had to raise their voices to talk:
"This is trouble," Tojo Hana frowned.
Though Stardust Illusion and Miho Bourbon weren't her partners, as Draco assistant she couldn't help but worry.
From her experience—even without seeing clearly—she could guess Zhuofu had been threading through visual dead angles.
But that wasn't the point. The reason that tactic worked was Zhuofu's superlative speed.
"That speed… might be up there with Taiki Shuttle's top-end sprint."
Beside her, Nishizaki Ryu judged.
"Stardust Illusion has to be ready—especially about tactics."
"Does she fight Zhuofu head-on here? Or lift the pace and try to drop her?"
Hotoyama Scarlet had lost her earlier calm; her eyes were locked on the track, and she was chewing her right index finger.
The intensity had exceeded her estimates.
She'd guessed from the start that after Ines Fujin's pep talk, Stardust Illusion might again choose the great escape.
But Zhuofu's current speed blew past any scouting video or dossier.
If she chased down a great escape with this speed, and Stardust Illusion didn't stay cool, she might completely lose her rhythm!
"A race-type runner… like Stardust Illusion?" Scarlet could only reach for that explanation.
Seeing Scarlet actually worry, Tojo Hana didn't tease her but analyzed:
"You still have to guard against Wangzu exploding at any time… In this spot, yielding the lead might be best for both of them."
Scarlet didn't hear a word, switching fingers to chew, murmuring:
"Bourbon, Stardust—you have to hold on—this race so far is just an appetizer."
"The real demon king… Wangzu has been lurking the whole time!"
——————
"Hey now, this is getting ridiculous, Zhuofu."
Caizhigao was still running conservatively in the second line, saving strength.
She too had watched Zhuofu blow by a string of runners, and her face was bent in a grin.
She'd known Zhuofu over three years.
Standing side by side with her—beauty and beast by build—Caizhigao knew how huge that potential was.
Knowing was one thing; seeing it on the track was another.
"What will the leader choose?"
"Face Zhuofu head-on? Or avoid the edge? She'll yield, I suppose. Pity… if only she weren't afraid of Zhuofu."
"Impossible!"
Mejiro McQueen, running ahead of Caizhigao, shot back.
"I still don't understand how Zhuofu passed me—but I believe in Stardust Illusion!"
"She won't dodge any challenge!"
Caizhigao gave McQueen a surprised glance and let a cruel smile curl at the corner of her mouth:
"If it's like you say, she'll witness Zhuofu's unbelievable running up close… and the race will be fascinating."
In Caizhigao's eyes, Zhuofu radiated a presence so dense it was almost suffocating.
That pressure could smother anyone who tried to contest space with her.
Maybe that "Stardust Illusion" thought speed could escape that pressure?
The spine-snapping weight of it would force her into unwise choices.
Like a fly in a spider's web.
What can you do but struggle?
And at that moment…
(You should've caught that feeling already.)
(Exactly how to run—don't let that Japanese runner look down on us, Zhuofu!)
————————
Stardust Illusion could feel that inescapable presence.
But the notion of retreat never crossed her mind.
A near back—terrifying speed—blazing fighting spirit—
All of it only set her heart alight.
You want to pass me?
You want to take the view from the front, from my hands?
No.
I won't give it to you, Zhuofu—
(Let's test that weightless, fluttering run of yours—right now!!)
She stamped, mud spraying.
Her features turned feral; the stamina she'd been scraping by with, she threw on the fire.
She had no intention of losing this duel because of "allocation."
There was only one thing to do now—
Run!
Fight the opponent she'd long awaited!
Throw it all behind and let Zhuofu see all her might!
A scatter of tangled thoughts blew clean; a mirror rose in her heart, and in her sight a phantom runner appeared—
Ines Fujin.
A figure built entirely from the booklet's theory after she'd devoured every page.
But—
"Synchronized!"
Boom!
Stardust Illusion locked on the phantom Ines; her form changed.
In the next second, every step slammed into the ground.
As if she wasn't running, but striking the track.
The phantom Ines at her side began to overlap—moving in perfect concert—step for step, strike for strike—
A crushing aura piled with each stamp.
(If you want to beat me with that method—come try, Zhuofu!!!)
And then it discharged.
A gale spun up turf flecks; muddy water flew from her pounding hooves.
At that instant, the tailwind from Stardust Illusion's explosion coiled into a huge vortex behind her—shoving her forward!
[Skill "Game Over"—learned!]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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