The race had begun.
Though everyone's starts were impressive, the early stage passed at a steady pace.
No competitor chose to burst ahead yet—even the front-runner Legacy World opted for a more stable rhythm, not mindlessly employing breakaway tactics.
Though virtually every front-runner dreamed of a glorious breakaway.
But such tactics weren't easily executed.
Setting aside how breakaway tactics inevitably drew everyone's ire, one needed either outstanding speed or stamina, or the strength to overwhelm opponents.
Otherwise, it was tantamount to handing victory to others.
"Approaching the first turn! As expected, Legacy World leads, followed by Detours Galore, then Summer General!"
"Rice Shower is here, trailing User Friendly by a small margin, with Tokai Teio behind these two!"
Only after the commentary's reminder did many notice that Tokai Teio, who'd been behind earlier, had already caught up.
Somehow, she'd quietly slipped behind Rice and User Friendly.
And her current position was expertly chosen.
From here, she could either continue catching slipstream on the inside or break out toward the outside.
In the spectator stands, Team Spica's members breathed sighs of relief at this sight.
Daiwa Scarlet said happily, "As expected of Teio."
Despite that unlucky guy Okino drawing the worst gate position, she remained unaffected, perfectly demonstrating her caliber as the Strongest.
Vodka added, "From this position, Teio can easily break through in the middle stage."
"That's true, but the other competitors are also running cautiously. And Naturalism, two positions behind Teio, seems to be watching her."
Hearing Mejiro McQueen's warning, everyone finally noticed that Naturalism in the trailing group did indeed have her eyes fixed on Teio.
Seeing the faint red glow emerging from Naturalism's body, Team Spica's expressions grew tense again.
"Is she planning to use interference skills on Teio from behind?!"
"It would be strange if she didn't. Unlike our domestic races, overseas competitions—due to track conditions—emphasize interference-type skills much more."
Because foreign racetracks typically resembled their heavy tracks, interference skills proved far more effective than speed skills.
Compared to domestic competitors who pursued greater speed, foreign competitors had a different philosophy: If you make your opponents slow down, you win.
So today's heavy track wasn't actually ideal for Teio.
Even if she possessed heavy-track adaptation skills.
Realizing this, Spica's members couldn't relax.
"But what's disadvantageous for Tokai Teio is advantageous for Rice—with her stamina and guts advantage, plus her own interference skills..."
Elsewhere in the stands, Rice's Trainer P was thinking along similar lines.
He believed the overseas competitors who excelled on heavy tracks would still be inferior to Rice because he knew they didn't surpass her in speed skills.
Rice's biggest weakness was that her speed skills fell short of Tokai Teio's.
Therefore, with both possessing heavy-track adaptation and interference skills, these conditions favored Rice the most.
Moreover, the overseas competitors weren't in peak condition.
But after adequate rest, Rice's condition had recovered excellently.
Add in her extraordinary stamina and willpower, and P couldn't imagine how those overseas competitors could outrun Rice on this terrain.
But Tokai Teio was different.
With her speed and explosive power, if she performed perfectly today, Rice's current abilities absolutely couldn't catch up.
Now P could only hope these overseas competitors would step up and use their skills to restrict Tokai Teio, denying her any chance to explode.
In the VIP section, Tracen Academy's Emperor was watching this race alongside foreign dignitaries.
Symboli Rudolf immediately noticed Naturalism's movements.
After all, she'd been keeping close tabs on Teio's situation.
"Facing opponents with completely different racing styles—this is what distinguishes the Japan Cup from other domestic G1 races. Only by overcoming this can you truly step onto the world stage."
This year's Japan Cup differed from previous years. Among the overseas competitors, multiple ZONE-wielders were present.
Not pseudo-ZONEs activated through special methods or drugs, but genuine ZONEs.
The competitor now marking Teio—Naturalism—was one of them.
This was far more difficult than the Japan Cup McQueen had competed in years ago.
And even McQueen had nearly lost that race.
Though she'd ultimately won through ZONE overdrive, she'd needed recovery time afterward.
Today's opponents were stronger than those from that race.
Even Symboli Rudolf couldn't predict this race's final outcome.
Zenno Rob Roy watched the race expressionlessly.
But her peripheral vision caught her beaming disciple beside her, and she thought unexpectedly that this race's quality was quite high. Had she known, she would've thrown Turf Dream in as well.
Though Turf Dream had only just debuted, Zenno Rob Roy had great confidence in her disciple's strength and talent. If only her personality were a bit more serious, she'd be perfect.
Rigantona's gaze fixed on the dark figure in the race.
Though Rice's current performance wasn't outstanding, Rigantona instinctively sensed something unusual about her.
Everything—her running form, breathing, and aura—felt wrong.
"With such strength, why run like this?"
Rigantona couldn't understand.
Because from her perspective, Rice's "strength" should make winning this race quite simple.
Even the spotlight-commanding Tokai Teio seemed unremarkable to Rigantona.
Physical abilities that hadn't reached their limits weren't worth her attention.
But Rice was different.
Possessing similar physical attributes herself, Rigantona understood.
Just how powerful Rice's body—with all stats at SS—truly was.
The race continued.
"Entering the turn, Legacy World starts to accelerate!" announced the commentator.
Legacy World, already in the lead, activated skills the instant she entered the turn—the current gap felt far too dangerous.
As a front-runner, being controlled by second place?
Even knowing the risk, she couldn't hold back any longer.
If she didn't fight here, continuing at this gap would guarantee a crushing defeat!
"Let me show you my speed!"
Turn acceleration skill activated, immediately followed by a Flash skill!
Explosive waves burst from Legacy World as she pulled away from her pursuers with stunning momentum.
Seeing this burst, second-place Detours Galore followed without hesitation.
This move puzzled many spectators.
Legacy World sensed the presence following behind and felt surprised.
She couldn't understand what purpose this served.
Did this competitor really have such confidence in her own abilities, following a front-runner so closely?
But in the stands, Detours Galore's trainer was already face-palming.
Because Detours Galore's rhythm was completely chaotic.
Her condition today hadn't adjusted properly!
Third-place Summer General, caught off guard by the suddenly quickening pace, hesitated momentarily.
Her speed slowed slightly as a result.
In a blink, User Friendly surged past her.
But upon reaching third place, User Friendly also hesitated.
The middle straightaway lay just ahead.
She wanted to push forward and mark first place, but she also didn't want to let Rice run freely behind her.
That competitor just felt dangerous to leave unchecked.
Yet if she waited behind to match explosive power with Tokai Teio, User Friendly lacked absolute confidence.
"What do I do?"
Her mind still processing, User Friendly's body had already instinctively begun accelerating.
"User Friendly is pushing forward now—isn't this a bit premature?"
Observing her movement, the commentator sensed something unnatural.
In the stands, User Friendly's trainer's eyes went wide.
How could such a basic mistake occur during the race?
He couldn't understand why someone of User Friendly's caliber would space out during competition.
Hearing the commentary, User Friendly realized her rhythm had broken.
This amateur mistake momentarily panicked her.
But she didn't let this throw her into chaos, quickly deciding to take a gamble.
She'd push ahead and mark first place!
Decision made, User Friendly's speed rose again.
She charged forward to trail the two leaders, opening distance from the main pack.
It was undeniably a bold decision.
"Entering the middle stage! Currently leading, Legacy World is one length ahead of Detours Galore!"
"User Friendly has surged forward, now marking first place alongside Detours Galore!"
Hearing this, Legacy World felt she might go numb.
These two were actually going to stay this close?
If you planned to run like this from the start, why not join her in front-running?
Complaints aside, she obediently continued accelerating—she didn't want to lose so pathetically.
Even if she'd lose, she at least had to demonstrate her own running style.
If you're going to run like this, prepare yourselves!
No holds barred, Legacy World activated another skill.
She would show these two the consequences of bullying her like this.
"Legacy World accelerates again—is she trying to shake off her pursuers?"
"But can this pace really be sustainable?"
How could it possibly be sustainable?!
Legacy World wanted to curse.
If not for these two lunatics behind her, she wouldn't be running so aggressively.
"Detours Galore is still pushing forward!" the commentator exclaimed in surprise.
Second-place Detours Galore showed zero hesitation.
Hearing this, Legacy World's expression turned fierce.
I'll fight you to the end!
Thus Legacy World and Detours Galore sprinted furiously.
Third-place User Friendly, watching the two ahead, couldn't help widening her eyes.
She absolutely couldn't understand what purpose their acceleration served.
Was this some kind of tactic?
But why didn't she know such tactics existed?
Though she'd just decided to gamble, watching Legacy World and Detours Galore run like maniacs, she hesitated briefly before immediately changing her approach.
No—I can't follow their pace.
Seeing User Friendly slow down, the commentator immediately noted, "User Friendly seems to have finally calmed down."
In the stands, User Friendly's trainer breathed a sigh of relief. Watching Legacy World and Detours Galore go berserk, he'd genuinely feared User Friendly would follow suit.
Fortunately, her condition today wasn't that poor.
"Passing 1000m!"
"Legacy World still leads, but Detours Galore is fighting to keep up!"
These two were really going at it.
Though the early stage had been cautious, once they entered the turn, the race's tempo went haywire.
Under the competition between Legacy World and Detours Galore, it seemed like two breakaway runners had emerged, completely capturing the spectators' attention.
But after the supporting cast had their moment, wasn't it time for the protagonist to appear?
Tokai Teio's lips curved upward.
She could certainly sense the threat from behind.
But so what?
It didn't matter.
Want to use interference skills on me? Go ahead and try!
"User Friendly is currently third, followed by Summer General, but other competitors are also starting to push!"
The ongoing competition between Legacy World and Detours Galore had inevitably drawn spectators' attention.
Especially with second-favorite User Friendly seemingly wanting to join their contest—it was impossible to look away.
So only with the commentary did people realize the race was already past halfway, and trailing competitors were due to make their move.
Just as User Friendly was adjusting her breathing and rhythm, Tokai Teio suddenly burst from the outside!
Naturalism had also somehow positioned herself behind Tokai Teio.
Technique Master (Gold)
Flashing Steps (Gold)
Unstoppable (Gold)
A triple skill burst!
Tokai Teio executed a stunning triple activation, instantly surging past the competitors ahead to reach third position.
Naturalism caught Tokai Teio's slipstream to reach fourth.
User Friendly and Summer General were directly overtaken.
Summer General couldn't react in time.
User Friendly hadn't recovered yet.
"Damn!"
User Friendly knew her earlier mistake had created serious consequences.
Her rhythm now completely lagged behind those two.
But she couldn't wait any longer.
At their current speed, the remaining 1000-plus meters wasn't such a long distance.
Even if it meant taking risks, she had to catch up now!
Fierce presence surged from User Friendly, red lightning crackling in her eyes.
ZONE!
The race's first ZONE-state competitor had appeared!
The instant she entered ZONE, her disrupted rhythm immediately corrected, and more terrifyingly, her speed instantly surged again.
Some spectators only now perked up with attention.
Because the true fierce battle of this race had only just begun!
...
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