The gate swung open, officially starting the final leg of the Triple Crown Race, the Kikuka Sho.
Bourbon, as usual, attempted to seize the front-runner position with her precise start. Seeing her in her usual form, her fans felt a measure of relief, reassured that everything was proceeding as expected.
If nothing unexpected happens, something unexpected will definitely happen.
"Mihono Bourbon!"
With a thunderous roar, a beast surged forth from Bourbon's side.
"Kyoei Bowgun! What's she doing?!"
The stands erupted into chaos, an undercurrent of unease rippling through the crowd.
"Look at this spectacle," Leo Durban remarked quietly. Beside him, Black Bullet smiled, but her eyes were filled with scorn.
The sudden disruption threw Bourbon off her stride. Kyoei Bowgun, charging aggressively forward, showed no intention of relinquishing the lead. She gradually squeezed inward, forcing a fierce early struggle for position between the two Umamusume.
In this grueling 3,000-meter marathon, the pace was astonishingly rapid from the start.
"Come on, Bourbon! This time, I won't back down! I'll fight you to the bitter end!"
A chilling, feral aura emanated from Kyoei Bowgun, causing Bourbon's pupils to contract. Even she could discern a flicker of madness in Kyoei Bowgun's eyes—a demon who had completely abandoned reason and surrendered entirely to her emotions.
This was unprecedented since the Satsuki Prize—the first time anyone had challenged her so fiercely, forcing her to stop almost instinctively.
"Re-evaluating. Initiating evasive maneuvers," Bourbon declared emotionlessly, her brain processing the situation at lightning speed to make the most advantageous decision.
Her premonitions had come true: a formidable rival had suddenly emerged early in the Kikuka Sho, snatching the lead from Bourbon.
This was the worst-case scenario. As the undisputed champion of her generation, Bourbon had inevitably become a target, her weaknesses laid bare through relentless analysis.
"I know you, Bourbon! Once you lose the lead, you can't think straight. My Trainer has spent countless hours studying your races. I won't let his efforts be in vain! I'll prove at this Kikuka Sho that my Trainer and I are the strongest!"
The ultimate proof of generational supremacy would be decided at the end of the Kikuka Road.
Kyoei Bowgun's assault didn't stop there. After seizing the lead, she didn't slow down to pace herself; instead, she accelerated, making everyone gasp for breath.
"Could it be—?!"
"Exactly what you think!" Kyoei Bowgun snarled, her face twisted into a ferocious grin. She was planning to use the All-Out Escape Tactic at the Kikuka Sho!
As the horseshoes struck the turf, a chilling aura settled over the Kikuka Sho.
Slaughter them all, down to the last one.
In the blink of an eye, the racetrack transformed into a battlefield. One by one, Umamusume vanished behind Kyoei Bowgun's relentless advance. The monstrous leader, sprinting ahead, devoured her pursuers without hesitation, extracting their strength like vital nutrients. With each Umamusume she crushed, her speed surged further.
"Hahahaha!"
Driven by manic glee, she ran tirelessly. The sight was horrifying, leaving onlookers breathless, as if even breathing was forbidden.
"No, this isn't an All-Out Escape," McQueen said, her brow furrowed with deep concern.
"Huh?"
Bright and Dober turned to McQueen in surprise, seeing her brow furrowed with deep concern.
Similarly, Umamusume from different Generations displayed varying degrees of apprehension. Leo Durban's worry was particularly evident, while Black Bullet's usual smile vanished.
Tokai Teio watched coldly from the VIP seats, her eyes fixed on the unfolding spectacle. Beyond the screen, Kousei, sensing something ominous, found it hard to breathe.
Crack!
A crisp sound shattered the silence as a cup shattered on the floor.
"Kousei!" Just a Way, startled by the commotion, rushed to help her up, but Kousei waved her off.
"I'm fine, just a sudden palpitation," Kousei insisted, though her pale face betrayed her unease.
"What should we do, Reiko? Should we call Mr. Takuya over?!" Just a Way frantically turned her head, only to see Reiko staring intently at the television with the same grave expression.
Their strange behavior immediately alerted Just a Way to something amiss. Fortunately, Kousei didn't exhibit any further unusual signs.
"Sister McQueen, if it's not an All-Out Escape, then what is it?" Bright asked.
The young Mejiro, still in her fledgling stage, couldn't comprehend the true meaning. Only trailblazers who had stepped through the Forbidden Gate into another world could truly grasp it.
A self-destructive sprint, reckless abandon, the Kyoei Bowgun's relentless pace was dragging everything on the track toward annihilation.
Beep... Beep...
Bourbon and Rice Shower reacted simultaneously. The time bombs implanted in their hearts were inescapable, even for themselves.
The countdown had begun, leaving no room for complacency mid-race. No retreat was allowed, no escape permitted.
"I've sacrificed everything! Come and try to win if you dare, Mihono Bourbon!"
At such extreme speeds, no one could keep up with the Kyoei Bowgun's relentless stride.
"Analysis complete. Restrictions lifted. Systems unlocked. Navigation confirmed. Thrusters at 30%. Mihono Bourbon engaging."
Brilliant flames erupted in cascading rings. With the Blue Unit fully operational, Bourbon surged forward like a Gundam, her movements precise and flawless, a cyborg incarnate.
Thanks to her sprint specialization, Bourbon possessed explosive acceleration unmatched by other Front-Runners. Even against Kyoei Bowgun's relentless pace, she wasn't without countermeasures. Bourbon locked her sights on the next turn.
"Alright! Come on! Bourbon!"
Kyoei Bowgun and Bourbon stood in stark contrast, embodying opposite extremes of personality. The race had now evolved into a head-to-head showdown between the two Front-Runners.
"Gyro-stabilizer activated. Calculating lean angle. Pre-run complete."
Bourbon's tail lifted, her ears subtly adjusting to maintain balance. Entering the turn, she leaned slightly inward, maintaining a delicate equilibrium along the curve. Her exit was seamless, clean, and efficient—a showcase of high-grade mechanical beauty. Her emotionless eyes radiated cold arrogance.
Thump! Thump!
On the other side, the scene was drastically different. Kyoei Bowgun's approach to the turn was not only aggressive but reckless. She poured every ounce of strength into each stride, struggling to maintain speed while resisting the centrifugal force threatening to hurl her off course. Brashly bracing herself with her knees, she endured excruciating pain.
Finally, Kyoei Bowgun edged ahead of Bourbon within the turn.
"What?!"
"Don't think you can escape, Bourbon!"
Bourbon's AI swiftly analyzed the situation, concluding: No escape route available.
Forced into a disadvantageous position in the turn, Kyoei Bowgun pressed her advantage at the exit. Bourbon could almost feel the sparks flying as Kyoei Bowgun's wing scraped against the guardrail.
The ten thousand spectators gasped in shock as Kyoei Bowgun unexpectedly trapped Bourbon with her powerful crossbow.
Her devastatingly aggressive running style and relentless parallel pressure brought back memories of a long-sealed past. Once, another Umamusume had dominated this very track with the same ruthless approach.
A crimson flame blazed from Kyoei Bowgun's left eye, her expression growing ever more savage.
Gods choose the talented, while demons choose the mediocre. Only the mediocre are willing to gamble everything. Whether she succeeded or failed, Kyoei Bowgun's future was destined to burn.
"Armor unlocked. Engine warm-up initiated. Turbocharger activated. Control transferred. Propellant injection at 60%."
A blue luminescent light emanated from the expressionless Kyoei Bowgun as she pushed back against Bourbon. As her armor opened, massive plumes of steam erupted. If Kyoei Bowgun thought she could overpower Bourbon physically, she had chosen the wrong opponent.
Mihono Bourbon was a true muscle monster, forged through relentless training.