The moment Sakura Baimu saw Rice Shower accelerate, her composure crumbled. Her slightly languid, azure eyes widened, and her face contorted with shock.
"How is this possible?!"
Rice Shower's burst of speed was significantly faster than during the last Spring Tenno Sho.
This rapid acceleration even surpassed Tokai Teio's acceleration on the final straight.
While Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen were fast, Rice Shower were even faster.
Judging from Rice Shower's change, Sakura Baimu deduced that she had activated her Zone, and a strong sense of unease arose within her.
This unease wasn't directed at Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, who were closing in, but rather at Rice Shower, who had activated her Zone.
Sakura Baimu didn't believe Rice Shower's Zone could be this powerful; activating a Zone puts a tremendous strain on the body.
Judging from her performance in the last Spring Tenno Sho, Rice Shower took a considerable amount of time to recover after activating her Zone, proving her mastery of it was still incomplete.
Now, Rice Shower's burst of speed was much faster than before, undoubtedly indicating an increase in the strength of her Zone.
"What's going on? Rice Shower hadn't fully mastered her Zone before, so how is this one even more exaggerated?" Sakura Baimu wondered, her worry for Rice Shower growing stronger.
...
At this moment, tangible blue flames burned in Rice Shower's eyes. Her unique beastly aura affected Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen in front of her.
While Mejiro McQueen was shocked by the change in Rice Shower's aura, her steps were unaffected.
But Tokai Teio, running ahead, was completely stunned.
"This... is this the Zone the chairman was talking about? Could it be that what McQueen defeated before was something like this?"
Of course, Tokai Teio didn't know that Rice Shower was currently displaying the most powerful Zone Mejiro McQueen had ever encountered among the Umamusumes.
Tokai Teio's heart pounded faster and faster, and her breathing quickened accordingly.
However, Tokai Teio's mind wasn't as fragile as Dantz Seattle's. Having undergone repeated training with Sakura Baimu, her mental fortitude far surpassed that of many Umamusumes in her year.
Tokai Teio gritted her teeth, using the pain to dispel her fear, allowing her legs, which had slowed slightly, to regain their rhythm.
In the audience, Mr. CB, Symboli Rudolf, and even Maruzensky—three Umamusumes—paled simultaneously.
These three were Umamusumes who had also mastered the Zone. These Umamusumes who could clearly see the changes in Rice Shower at that moment.
"What's going on?! How could Rice Shower's Zone suddenly become so powerful?"
Maruzensky's eyes widened as she stared intently at Rice Shower, whose entire body was enveloped in a dense black aura. Her voice was unusually loud, a stark contrast to her usual cheerful demeanor.
Not to mention Mihono Bourbon from the recent Spring Tenno Sho, Rice Shower, now in her Zone-activated state, was essentially a simplified version of a gray-haired "monster."
How could Rice Shower's physical abilities, now in this "monster" Zone, possibly compare to Oguri Cap's?
This situation left Symboli Rudolf and the other two both horrified and bewildered.
"Activating a Zone of this level will cause immeasurable damage to her body!" Mr. CB spoke anxiously, watching Rice Shower catch up to Tokai Teio.
"Who? Who told Rice Shower how to forcibly open a higher level of Zone?"
Symboli Rudolf realized the problem in an instant. A surge of rage welled up within her, her words filled with boundless fury.
Unless they were Umamusumes of their level, they would deliberately avoid discussing Zones with other Umamusumes.
There are two key reasons for this.
First, Zones must be comprehended through one's own efforts. Telling someone directly how to open a Zone is not only meaningless but also places greater strain on the Umamusume who knows the truth, making it even harder to grasp the Zone.
Second, the increase in Zone strength is not like training, which is gradual. Simply put, it relies purely on intuition. The energy unleashed once a Zone is opened is terrifying.
If the Zone's progression is too rapid and the Umamusume's physical abilities don't keep pace, then her body might not be able to withstand the cost of activating the Zone. This isn't just a simple matter of injury and a few days of rest; the damage could be irreversible.
This is why Umamusumes who have mastered Zones never tell those who haven't activated their Zone, or have just activated it, how to activate or increase their Zone strength, only hinting indirectly.
It's simply because the cost of excessive information about Zones is too high.
"I remember Rice Shower took a long break after the Tenno Sho last year, right? So this time..."
Symboli Rudolf gripped her other arm tightly with both hands, her worry about the race now entirely focused on Rice Shower.
Unlike the Umamusumes currently filled with worry, the audience and commentators were utterly shocked after witnessing Rice Shower's astonishing outburst.
They all simultaneously stopped cheering for Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen because Rice Shower was simply too dazzling and terrifying at that moment.
"Rice Shower is catching up! Rice Shower is catching up! One Length behind Tokai Teio!"
Mejiro McQueen didn't slow her pace at all, but hearing that Rice Shower was about to catch up to Tokai Teio filled her with immense worry.
"The trainer said that in a real race, you can't worry about others, otherwise your own rhythm will be affected... Teiō and I aren't teammates now; we're opponents!"
Mejiro McQueen desperately resisted the urge to turn around and check on Tokai Teio.
But the next moment, the commentator's voice, filled with deep horror, and the heavy sighs from the audience sent a chill down Mejiro McQueen's spine.
"Rice Shower has surpassed Tokai Teio! Rice Shower has surpassed Tokai Teio! The three-time champion, Tokai Teio, has been overtaken by Rice Shower!"
"Is this the strength of the 'Black Assassin'?! So strong! Rice Shower has surpassed Tokai Teio."