"Your luck runs out this time!"
The Golden Lion lunged again, assuming a predator's stance. With an explosive burst of footwork, she became a golden flash. In the blink of an eye, the lion's fangs were upon Kousei.
A faster, more powerful impact.
Kousei was dangerously close to the barrier. Making a split-second decision, she charged forward to meet the attack head-on.
"Fool!"
When it came to physical clashes, Amel feared no one. But at the moment of contact, Kousei's body shifted, tapping Amel's as lightly as a dragonfly skimming water.
Amel's posture visibly crumbled, collapsing before her very eyes.
"What?!"
Amel's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You're not the first person stronger than me," Kousei said calmly.
Balance Disruption—one of the fox's tricks for toying with prey. Among all the techniques for escaping physical confrontations, only Twilight Cloud's school relied solely on skill to break through a blockade.
"It's that damned fox's trick!" Amel roared, her fury ignited.
She recognized Kousei's technique—it belonged to that annoying trio always trailing Caesar. For some reason, this realization only fueled Amel's fighting spirit.
The moment she regained her footing, Amel launched a desperate, almost reckless assault. Yet this hasty attack was exceptionally lethal—a blinding golden flash, a strike from a true prodigy.
Her powerful strides tore through the rain, illuminating the gloom as the lion's roar surged toward the sky.
"I'll bite your throat out!"
I can't evade!
In that split second, Kousei dug in her heels, using sheer speed to counter Amel's charge. She absolutely could not let Amel seize the lead.
In the fierce pursuit, Amel maintained her position, relentlessly pressuring Kousei. This transcendent speed left Kousei struggling.
"Kousei looks like she's having a hard time! Why doesn't she just give up the lead?"
Endure the temporary hardship, submit to the momentary constraint, and seek stability.
Kousei was already ill-suited for long-distance races, and with the heavy track conditions, clinging to the lead made no sense at all.
"Kousei's acting strangely," Yurei murmured, her expression uneasy.
She couldn't understand Kousei's actions. Why waste stamina so needlessly when she could save it for more critical moments?
Genbao and Rohan, both Trainers, also recognized how irrational Kousei's strategy was.
"Don't worry, Little Belle," Rohan said. "All we can do now is trust her."
Despite their unease, they chose to believe in Kousei. This Umamusume had overcome countless setbacks; she must have her reasons.
The lion's fangs were intimidating, but most Umamusume who excelled in explosive bursts shared a common weakness: poor stamina.
After Kousei stubbornly withstood the assault, Amel clearly began to falter. Such a powerful charge inevitably consumed a significant amount of stamina.
Damn it, my legs are getting heavy.
Even for a prodigy like Amel, the super-heavy track—the likes of which hadn't been seen in a decade—took its toll. They had already passed the 1000-meter mark, and stamina was draining constantly. Whether charging or maintaining pace, every action demanded energy, and Amel's hasty, reckless attack had only accelerated her exhaustion.
The true horror of a heavy track reveals itself when an Umamusume's stamina begins to wane.
Kousei's condition was even worse. Though she had barely held off Amel's offensive, her heart rate and breathing were in chaos, a testament to the ferocity of Amel's attack.
Calm down. I need to regulate my breathing, or I'll waste even more stamina.
For an Umamusume, unstable breathing is a fatal flaw, slowly bleeding them dry.
"You think I'll let you get away with that?!"
The scent of blood excites a predator. Amel sensed the fear hidden within that scent and pressed her advantage, giving her prey no room to breathe.
Her Lion's Gaze pierced Kousei's very soul. The fatal blow struck with pinpoint accuracy, and Kousei staggered on the track, on the verge of collapse.
"This should be enough. At least I've restricted her before the curve."
Amel's offensive on the straight hadn't been fruitless. While her own condition had declined, Kousei was in no better shape. Knowing this, Amel had seized the opportunity before the curve to prevent Kousei from entering it at optimal speed and angle.
As long as I don't get shaken off in the curve, the advantage is mine.
Amel realized she had acted rashly and resolved to be more cautious from now on.
They entered the curve.
The curve on a heavy track demanded extreme caution; one mistake could have unimaginable consequences. This instinctive fear of injury made runners especially careful on a heavy track.
Caution inevitably led to a slower cornering speed.
Amel didn't rush. While ensuring her own safe entry into the curve, she observed Kousei's movements. Kousei was still staggering, seemingly yet to recover. The pre-curve collision had clearly taken its toll.
Damn it, my head is spinning.
It was true. Amel's attack had been so sudden that Kousei only regained her senses as she entered the curve. She knew that if she couldn't create distance here, she would be completely pinned down by Amel once they exited it.
She was used to being the one ambushing others in the curve. This was the first time she had entered it as the prey.
Amel was certain victory was hers. Kousei's staggering form couldn't possibly recover before the curve ended. But the next moment, Amel's expression changed. Kousei's swaying grew even more violent.
"Something's wrong. That swaying... it's not from my attack."
Graceful as a lotus, light as a feather, Kousei flowed with the momentum, dancing along the curve.
The protagonist was performing a solo dance on the track—a perfect, unorthodox counter.
"Another dance technique! Just how many curve tricks do you have?!" Amel couldn't help but feel a grudging admiration. Whether on the straight or the curve, mastering any route required unimaginable effort.
Few could handle such a desperate situation. Kousei's strength was undeniably real.
"It seems the rumors were true. You are a worthy challenger."
The supreme radiance that pierced the world flared. Golden eyes blazed, bathing the beast in holy light, bestowing divinity upon her. It seemed all creation would dissolve in this brilliance.
"You cannot evade this strike."
The lion's full-power attack was coming!
"What?!"
In an abrupt instant, the offensive halted. The light dissipated into the rain as deep crimson chains bound Amel's feet.
Simultaneously, a Flame Wheel slowly rose, its sparks eclipsing the holy light.
Gate Technique, activated.