When you mention Mejiro McQueen, many people immediately think of elegance and glamour.
Just like her white-based finale outfit, which perfectly embodies the style of a high-society lady, Mejiro McQueen is the epitome of luxury.
Beneath her lithe, graceful, and dignified appearance lies a terrifying strength that rivals her outward elegance.
The audience was already intimately familiar with Mejiro McQueen, a true paragon of a high-society lady.
Every time that elegant and noble figure stepped onto the final bend, everyone witnessed a breathtaking burst of speed from Mejiro McQueen.
Without any elaborate starting posture, the moment her white boots touched the grass of the final bend, Mejiro McQueen seemed to switch on, her speed increasing dramatically.
Mejiro McQueen's long, pale purple hair billowed gracefully in the wind. A visible white aura swirled around her before flowing down her pale purple ponytail.
In just over a second, the distance between her and Mejiro Palmer vanished.
"Accelerating! Mejiro McQueen is accelerating!"
"She's overtaken the leading Mejiro Palmer and taken the lead!!"
The commentator's excited shout was accompanied by cheers from countless spectators.
"Mejiro Palmer has lost speed again; she's been overtaken by Tokai Teio!"
"Following Mejiro McQueen, Dantz Seattle has also exploded with speed! The gap between her and Tokai Teio is closing rapidly! Only 3 Lengths... no, 1.5 Lengths!"
Umamusume Dantz Seattle, with brown hair and having returned from America, also began to accelerate as she entered the final corner.
Having already secured two consecutive wins, she possessed formidable strength.
Even Tokai Teio, who hadn't been overtaken from start to finish, was now finding her position precarious.
"Hmph, Tokai Teio, Mejiro McQueen, watch me end your legend!"
Dantz Seattle thought to herself as she watched the approaching red figure in her line of sight and quickened her pace.
"400 Meters left to the finish line!"
"She's overtaken her! Dantz Seattle has passed Tokai Teio! In second place!"
"Mejiro McQueen has reached the final straight with Dantz Seattle is right behind her!"
The audience was already very familiar with Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, but when they heard the commentator announce that Dantz Seattle had overtaken Tokai Teio, they couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
Many spectators were incredibly tense, unable to remain calm and watch the match quietly. They all moved to the front railings, peering into the arena.
"Heh heh, so this is the 'undefeated triple crown' Teio? Seems like nothing special."
Dantz Seattle chuckled as she watched Tokai Teio gradually fall behind her, then, with a smug look, turned her attention to Mejiro McQueen at the front.
"Huh?"
Dantz Seattle suddenly froze. She realized that even with her burst of speed that surpassed Tokai Teio's, the distance between her and Mejiro McQueen hadn't shortened at all.
In fact, the gap between them was widening.
"Is Mejiro McQueen that much better than Tokai Teio? I've clearly surpassed Teio…"
Dantz Seattle's shocked thought had barely formed when she was suddenly interrupted by the deafening cheers that erupted again in the stadium.
"Teiō—!!!!"
Suddenly, countless spectators shouted Tokai Teio's name at the top of their lungs.
"What's going on…?"
Before Dantz Seattle could understand what was happening, she heard a loud "thump" behind her.
She couldn't help but turn around, but in that instant, a figure as red as flames shot past her like an arrow.
It was Tokai Teio.
"Here she comes! Here she comes! Here she comes!"
The announcer shouted three times.
"The undefeated triple crown winner, Tokai Teio, has unleashed her explosive power on the final straight!!"
"With her dazzling Teiō dance, she instantly overtook Dantz Seattle and reclaimed second place!"
"And the distance between her and Mejiro McQueen is still closing! Four Lengths! Three Lengths!"
Dantz Seattle had barely turned her head when she heard the commentator repeatedly announcing that Tokai Teio was gradually closing the gap with Mejiro McQueen.
She was giving it her all, but she couldn't even maintain her distance from Mejiro McQueen.
But at that very moment, Tokai Teio easily closed the gap with lightning speed.
"What kind of monster is this?! They're only middle school Umamusumes, so why is there such a huge difference in strength?!"
Dantz Seattle felt her long-built confidence crumble. At that moment, she truly realized the gap between herself and Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio.
"Are these the two strongest Umamusumes currently active? But it's okay, I can still get third place..."
Dantz Seattle muttered to herself, trying to encourage herself, but before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly felt her heart leap in her chest.
In that instant, the whole world became silent.
Thump
A clear heartbeat echoed in Dantz Seattle's mind.
At that moment, she felt she couldn't hear anything else.
Her legs felt like lead, completely unable to move, and even began to tremble uncontrollably.
Thump
Another heartbeat rang out. Dantz Seattle felt a ferocious, beastly aura emanating from behind her, an aura that seemed to tear her apart.
Thump
As Dantz Seattle's third heartbeat sounded, a figure enveloped in black energy darted past her.
Although the figure was considerably smaller than the towering Dantz Seattle, the beastly aura emanating from her was overwhelming.
It was a primal, instinctive fear that left her unable to move.
Tears welled in Dantz Seattle's eyes. A powerful urge to flee surged within her, but her legs seemed to have no will to obey her.
"Tokai Teio is about to catch up with Mejiro McQueen, just two more Lengths..."
The commentator abruptly stopped, then shouted in utter astonishment.
"What speed!! Rice Shower is catching up! Rice Shower is starting to unleash her power too!"