"Amazing, truly amazing! This is Seiun Sky's Great Lead!"
"Although I want to say her stamina won't hold, this lead is just too terrifying!"
The live commentator and analyst were both shocked by Seiun Sky's rampage.
Although they were psychologically prepared for this race to be intense, they never expected Seiun Sky to ignite and explode right at the start. They believed everyone was frightened by Seiun Sky now.
They had only seen that kind of Great Lead running style in Short Distance and Mile races. It was rarely seen in Medium Distance races, let alone in this 3000m Long Distance race.
A Great Lead isn't something achieved just by running fast. It is a super-high-difficulty running style achieved only by running at a speed far exceeding the normal race rhythm of other competitors in the early stages.
Why has the "Great Escape" running style always been a phantom-level running style in the circle?
It's because this running style not only has the highest spectacle but is also not easily mastered.
The reason Seiun Sky could achieve this running style this time was that she entered the state of Zone and Flow right from the start of the race, and she caught the other competitors off guard.
Otherwise, wanting to perform a Great Escape in this kind of Stakes race would be simply a fool's dream!
Unless all competitors chose not to stop it, there would be a certain chance to realize this running style.
But Seiun Sky wasn't an unknown weak competitor. If her explosive power wasn't enough, then wanting to realize a Great Escape would definitely be stopped by other competitors.
This wasn't a world without skills. In a situation where everyone possesses skills, stopping a Great Escape is not difficult at all.
Under this worldview, there are only two situations where a competitor can still perform a Great Escape.
One: Strength is powerful enough to sweep aside opponents.
Two: Weak enough that other competitors don't pay attention to them at all.
"Truly astonishing. To think there are so many talents entering this realm in the same year."
Maruzensky was a little surprised.
This situation was rare even in history; this generation could already be called a Golden Generation.
If not for the anomaly of Tokai Teio, she would probably find it very hard to determine who the strongest competitor of this generation was.
But perhaps precisely because Tokai Teio appeared, it catalyzed these talents, forging such a Golden Generation.
"Yes. In comparison, Teio's progress seems a bit behind."
Symboli Rudolf regretted being too conservative; she should have told Teio about the Zone earlier.
Hearing this, the corners of Maruzensky's mouth couldn't help twitching twice.
Good grief, really good grief.
Luna still hasn't discovered Teio's hidden strength even now? Teio clearly used that move in the Japanese Derby.
Wait, could it be Luna thinks that move was really a technique Teio realized by coincidence?
It really makes one curious. Being blind to this extent, how on earth did Luna excavate that child Tokai Teio back then?
She remembered Luna seemed to have been paying attention to that child Tokai Teio very early on.
Or could it be, this guy... is playing dumb?
"Luna, you aren't worried Teio will lose, are you?"
"Hm? No, Teio won't lose."
Symboli Rudolf didn't know why Maruzensky asked that. Although Teio indeed hadn't entered the world of the Zone, why would she think Teio would lose?
"Didn't you say before that only a Zone can defeat a Zone?"
"Stop talking about that!"
Please forget that dark history!
Symboli Rudolf's face turned black.
That was a big mistake she made when she was young. At that time, having just discovered the Zone, she confidently inflated, thinking she was the chosen Horse Girl.
But she found out later that the power of the Zone couldn't form a crush.
Some skill combinations could even burst out with power surpassing the Zone. She had recognized reality very quickly back then.
"Zone is not invincible; I've been very clear on this for a long time. You don't need to remind me specifically."
"Yes~ I know. But it is undeniable that the ability of the Zone is indeed powerful, plus they have all entered the state of Flow now..."
Maruzensky felt it was a bit tricky.
"If this were the Satsuki Sho or the Japanese Derby, I would be worried. But this is the Kikuka Sho. I can't imagine a possibility where that child Teio loses."
Symboli Rudolf certainly knew what Maruzensky was worried about, but she completely lacked that worry.
Although she felt Teio's learning progress was a bit behind, this had nothing to do with this race.
The long-distance track was destined to make unexpected situations unlikely to occur. This was a track that only powerhouses with true strength could conquer!
And Teio was immune even to the only possible accident—physical accidents. That perfect physical talent had been certified by super-class doctors.
"The burden of the Zone ensures no one can use this power with high intensity throughout a race. As for Flow, maintaining that state is even more difficult."
Symboli Rudolf's view aligned with Mejiro McQueen's.
Within this track distance, the strength of abilities is ultimately limited; the strongest thing is always one's own body.
"But, Luna, don't forget, in a race, a competitor's condition is uncertain."
"I haven't forgotten, but don't underestimate that child Teio either!"
Symboli Rudolf smiled confidently.
Maruzensky couldn't help rolling her eyes.
Damn it.
She clearly knows nothing, yet Luna still managed to act cool.
Although she was refuting Luna just now, Maruzensky herself knew clearly that the possibility of Tokai Teio losing was infinitely close to zero.
Because whether in physical strength or ability strength, Teio was the strongest existence among the competitors.
Teio's only lag was the awakening of the Zone, but the ability of the Zone could be said to be the most useless on this track.
If exploding the Zone early, it would cause stamina consumption to reach its limit faster.
And even if choosing to save the Zone explosion for the end, by then, with stamina consumed significantly by the long-distance track, the Zone explosion couldn't reach maximum effect.
Although recovery skills could make up for this, the difficulty of learning recovery skills wasn't low.
And don't forget there was a guy like Nice Nature among the competitors. Under the influence of demonic skills, the stamina required by other competitors would multiply.
So no matter from which aspect she thought about it, Maruzensky couldn't imagine a possibility of Teio losing.
Because Tokai Teio had no weaknesses. That child was just as she said herself: the most perfect Horse Girl.
"Passing the second corner, the currently leading Seiun Sky has opened a gap of nine body lengths from the second place. This is simply too shocking!"
"But... does she really not need to slow down and rest a bit?"
The analyst felt Seiun Sky's running style was just too scary.
One must know the rhythm of other competitors wasn't slow at all; it could even be said to be very fast. In this environment, Seiun Sky was still Great Escaping.
That pressure—even she, who was extremely familiar with Horse Girls, couldn't imagine.
Just what kind of desperate running style is that?
Seiun Sky ran at the very front, gritting her teeth.
"So painful..."
Even her breathing felt stinging now, and sensation in her face had nearly disappeared, but she couldn't stop here yet.
This isn't a place to rest. More! More! Even further ahead—I have to run as far as possible!
"It hurts, but it doesn't matter. I've done targeted training for this. This isn't my limit yet!"
Biwa Hayahide's expression was grim.
She had tried her best to chase the distance without affecting her own rhythm, but the distance from Seiun Sky was still widening constantly.
"Is this your rampage? Or are you actually hiding some scheme?"
She had studied intelligence on this competitor.
Seiun Sky's current running style was obviously inconsistent with the past, but not completely inconsistent.
Inconsistent because the past Seiun Sky wouldn't choose such a desperate running style. Consistent because in the past, Seiun Sky also had records of Great Leading in the early stages of a race.
But that was because back then, Seiun Sky's opponents weren't them!
Biwa Hayahide didn't think the running style Seiun Sky used in the past could work on her.
Seiun Sky's past running style was a Great Lead in the early stage, stopping when nearing the finish line, and then exploding again in the final leg of the race. This tactic could be said to be quite beautiful.
But this tactic could only work on opponents weaker than herself or of equal strength.
And in this race, leaving aside Biwa Hayahide herself...
Just Tokai Teio alone was a high mountain that Seiun Sky's tactic absolutely couldn't cross.
So what was the purpose of Seiun Sky's Great Lead?
Would that competitor skilled in tactics really rampage in this race because of the losses in the previous two races?
Biwa Hayahide tried to put herself in her shoes; she felt this possibility was minuscule.
That meant Seiun Sky's running style must contain some chance of certain victory that Seiun Sky believed in!
"Tokai Teio..."
Biwa Hayahide observed behind her with peripheral vision.
There was no aura of a competitor about to rush out, meaning Tokai Teio still chose a conservative running style.
No, perhaps because Tokai Teio has already seen through Seiun Sky's tactic and isn't worried at all about it affecting her victory, she chose not to act.
"Then should I trust Tokai Teio's judgment? No, ultimately, can I really choose to follow Tokai Teio's decision?"
Biwa Hayahide thought of those competitors who chose to follow behind Tokai Teio in past races; those competitors couldn't even make it into the top three in the end.
Seiun Sky's tactic might not threaten Tokai Teio, but it wasn't necessarily the same for her.
Moreover, who dared guarantee that Seiun Sky's tactical goal was first place, and not second or third?
Biwa Hayahide was silent for a moment, then suddenly a wave of air rushed up from her body, and her speed began to activate.
She wanted to challenge Tokai Teio, wanted to challenge for first place, yes, but she also wasn't willing to let the threat of Seiun Sky continue unchecked!
"I hate things outside of calculation. Although I'm a bit sorry, your plan ends here!"
Biwa Hayahide began to sprint.
Tokai Teio had been running behind Biwa Hayahide; seeing Biwa Hayahide accelerate now, she was also somewhat surprised.
"Planning to stop Seiun Sky's plan? I see. Because she's unsure how far Seiun Sky can go, she's worried she'll leave a great enemy unchecked."
Biwa Hayahide's action was ultimately due to worry that she couldn't suppress Seiun Sky.
Even knowing Tokai Teio was the most threatening, watching the distance Seiun Sky opened up get larger and larger, Biwa Hayahide inevitably felt panic.
This was also the pressure impact the Great Escape running style brought to other competitors; Biwa Hayahide had completely fallen for it.
If Seiun Sky were really a conventional Great Escape runner, just this one decision by Biwa Hayahide would doom Biwa Hayahide to lose!
Ultimately, competitors in this world still lacked experience in dealing with Great Escape horses.
Facing a Great Escape horse, there aren't many moves to deal with it.
One is to stop the birth of the Great Escape from the very beginning. The other is to break through the blockade with powerful explosive force in the mid-to-late stages and chase back.
Aside from these, there are basically no good methods.
As for chasing like Biwa Hayahide was doing now?
If it were a Great Escape horse like Saint McQueen, she would have a hundred ways to "walk the dog" (kite you) all the way to the finish line. By then, you would find yourself exhausted to death without closing the distance even a bit.
Of course, you could also choose to explode all your power now and chase with maximum explosive force. Doing so indeed has a certain hope of perishing together with the Great Escape.
But doing so is completely harming others without benefiting oneself, and the chance of success isn't high either.
"Can't be helped."
Because Biwa Hayahide also rushed out, this caused Tokai Teio, who should have been running Leader, to become a leader (front runner) in this position.
This was really something that made her helpless.
She hoped a competitor from behind would rush out to take over this position at this time, but it seemed no one wanted to do so.
The thoughts of other competitors right now were very consistent.
Although they couldn't stop Seiun Sky, Tokai Teio definitely had ideas, so following Tokai Teio's rhythm would definitely be correct.
As for Nice Nature and Special Week, they simply wanted to snipe Tokai Teio.
Because they were convinced that to fight for first place, Tokai Teio was the most dangerous opponent.
As for Seiun Sky and Biwa Hayahide?
The previous two races had already proven that no matter how well they ran before, they couldn't beat Tokai Teio in the end!
So, to run first, staring Tokai Teio to death was the right move!
...
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