The race quickly reached the middle leg. The pace of this mock race was fast, but to say it was very intense wouldn't be accurate.
Because not only was [Tokai Teio] waiting for an opportunity, but Tokai Teio also hadn't used any particularly astonishing skills. Both were simply using the most traditional running styles on the track. The reason the pace was so fast was that both of them were top-class Horse Girls even without using any skills.
[Tokai Teio] wasn't using skills now because she was looking for a chance to break through in one go.
Tokai Teio wasn't using skills simply because she didn't need to. Although using skills would ensure a huge victory, doing so would likely deprive [Tokai Teio] of the trigger to awaken her Zone. Even though she had decided to hand [Tokai Teio] a crushing defeat, she still wanted to leave her the chance she deserved.
Because she was just such a caring Horse Girl.
So, when will you start your burst?
Tokai Teio clearly perceived the aura and position of [Tokai Teio] behind her and thought calmly.
Let me guess... 1500m or 1600m? But it should be within this range, because the limit distance of the Teio Step is 300m.
It was simply too easy to guess.
With the opponent's winning hand completely figured out, Tokai Teio felt she could win without even using her brain.
No, maybe if I really don't use my brain, I'll end up crushing [Teio] ruthlessly instead?
Ultimately, she was wasting brain cells precisely because she needed to go easy on her.
Your decisive distance is approaching. Show me your resolve.
She actually wasn't too sure if [Teio] could really awaken her Zone in this race.
After all, there's no guarantee of 100% success in such things.
If [Teio]'s desire to win isn't strong enough, then even if all conditions are met, she won't be able to enter behind that door.
So let me see. Facing such a huge gap, can you still maintain the pride of a Horse Girl?
Approaching the final corner, but the current gap is huge. Although the positions of both sides aren't very far apart, the rhythm of the race has been completely controlled by the other Teio. Symboli Rudolf crossed her arms, her fingers unconsciously pressing hard on her arm. The current situation of the race was quite unfavorable for [Teio].
How can she break through such a predicament?
Is it possible for [Teio] to deliver an answer?
Although she really wanted to believe in [Teio]'s potential, Symboli Rudolf knew very well that this thought was unrealistic.
One must know that the Teio from the other world might truly have surpassed her in physical fitness. This discovery was terrifying!
Not only possessing [Teio]'s flexibility but also possessing such strength at the same time—if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, Symboli Rudolf wouldn't dare imagine such a perfect body, seemingly gifted by heaven, actually existed. While possessing the flexibility to perform various movements, it was also incomparably tough; that strength even reached the pinnacle of the world level. No wonder the other party could develop a stronger Ultimate Flash Skill based on the Teio Step special technique!
I'm afraid only that kind of body can bring a special skill like the Teio Step to its limit, right? No wonder the me of the other world said that child would surpass herself in the future. A Teio with this talent will indeed surpass me in the future, Symboli Rudolf thought with mixed feelings. Although it now seemed the gap between the two Teios wasn't entirely due to her education, she couldn't feel happy about this result.
[Gold Ship] said: "Not good."
In her view, [Teio] seemed to have absolutely no chance of winning this race now.
"[Teio] probably wants to use the Teio Step to decide the winner, right? But judging from current performance, it's very likely the Teio of the other world also knows the Teio Step. If it's the same ability, then the strength of the ability will be decided by the basic stats of both sides, right?"
But currently, what she saw in this race was that the Teio of the other world completely crushed their [Teio] in basic physical fitness. In this situation, if they used the same move at the same time to decide the outcome, she couldn't imagine how [Teio] could win!
Daiwa Scarlet frowned and said, "But there's no other way, right? The gap in strength between them is already obvious."
Vodka said, "Mn, it's already impressive that [Teio] hasn't given up yet. An ordinary person would have given up long ago."
"Uh, but [Teio] started the race, right?" Special Week, having finished the carrots in her pocket, suddenly raised a topic that made everyone fall silent.
That's right, this is the problem. The current desperate situation was entirely brought upon herself by [Teio]; just thinking about this made everyone feel very awkward.
"But never giving up in a race is what a true Horse Girl does!" [Mejiro McQueen] said firmly at this time.
At this point, she could basically judge that [Teio] had lost this race, but one shouldn't give up on oneself just because of losing, right?
The others didn't refute; what she said was right. But the problem is, sometimes reality is just this cruel.
And since this matter was [Teio]'s own doing, [Teio]'s mood would definitely be very complicated for the next few days.
Discussions from other students came from around them.
"No chance."
"That Teio hasn't even gotten serious."
"The gap is too big; this isn't even a matter of skills anymore. What kind of monster is that physical fitness?!"
They had originally expected how exciting this race would be, but [Tokai Teio] couldn't even make her opponent get serious.
This race made many students feel frustrated too. Is the gap between worlds really this big?
They originally thought that without using skills, they shouldn't be too different from their other-world selves, but the result was—[Tokai Teio], who had just won a top-level race like the Satsuki Sho, was completely crushed without any room to fight back when facing her other self.
Thinking that they might also encounter their other-world selves later, many students began to sweat profusely. Although they were indeed full of fantasies about what their other-world selves looked like, if the gap was this big, they would rather not meet them.
P closed his notebook: "What a pity."
Not much useful information could be collected from this race.
But no one could be blamed for this; it could only be said that the gap between the two sides in this race was too huge.
One side couldn't make the other side go all out. In this situation, not showing many skills was understandable.
"However, [Tokai Teio]... is indeed an excellent Horse Girl."
He didn't badmouth [Teio] like others. Compared to these meaningless actions, he paid more attention to [Teio]'s current state.
Because that child hadn't given up on winning even in this situation.
Facing such a powerful, even despair-inducing opponent, that child was still looking for an opportunity.
Even leaving aside [Tokai Teio]'s talent.
This competitiveness and tenacious willpower alone were enough to let the Horse Girl [Tokai Teio] run to a further realm.
In the race, [Tokai Teio] had no leisure to pay attention to the audience's emotions; her spirit had entered a state of extreme focus.
Almost there.
By observing the markers on the track, she calculated the distance run in this race—this is also the most common method of calculating distance in races. Situations like Tokai Teio easily constructing models of the track and opponents in her brain just through memory and perception were simply impossible for ordinary Horse Girls. And the most perverted thing was that she could continuously correct this model while the race was ongoing.
That's right, the time is ripe.
Tokai Teio perceived the momentum coming from behind and a smile curled up on her face.
I see it!
In that instant, a golden light seemed to appear in her field of vision, leading directly to the finish line, and [Teio]'s figure rushed out from the inner lane in an instant!
Although there was only one opponent in front and the inner lane had space to break through.
She didn't want to take any risks, or rather, she dared not touch any risk at all!
Because even if she didn't realize it at the start, she had now discovered how dangerous her situation was.
To win, she must tightly grasp every opportunity!
And absolutely no mistakes could occur; it must be perfect!
Air waves exploded; [Tokai Teio] charged out from the outer lane!
It could be seen that she had simultaneously used multiple basic-level skills.
Entering the corner, 1500m had passed.
That guy isn't planning to exert force?!
[Tokai Teio] hadn't expected the opponent not to use abilities even at this point.
But in that case, she would take the win unceremoniously!
The smile on Tokai Teio's face remained unchanged.
As expected, you chose to explode at this time. Although the limit distance of the Teio Step is 300m, if you really waited until 1700m to explode, it would be too late, after all, the activation of the Teio Step also takes time.
The distance between the two was rapidly closing.
Three body lengths!
Two body lengths!
Until the final—
Only one body length left!
[Tokai Teio]'s body leaned forward and downward at this moment, her feet stepping deeply into the turf, a golden light exploding between her legs.
The turf was torn up directly.
[Teio Step] fully activated!
I'm going to rush out!
With that magnificent footwork, [Tokai Teio]'s acceleration power rose another level, launching a sprint toward the track ahead.
The audience members who were pessimistic before fell silent one after another.
Because in this instant, [Tokai Teio]'s explosion was too shocking for them. This was the strength of a competitor capable of winning a G1 Stakes race!
[Tokai Teio] being suppressed throughout this race was definitely not because [Tokai Teio]'s strength was too weak.
It should be said—that guy is too strong!
Even if I don't use skills, the speed you're bursting with now isn't enough to surpass me.
Tokai Teio didn't let [Teio] succeed in breaking through.
Everyone looked solemnly at Tokai Teio, who consistently maintained a lead of one body length. After [Tokai Teio] exploded with that kind of speed, she could still steadily control the distance and the rhythm of the race. What kind of monster is this?! Can't we see how strong she really is even like this?
[Tokai Teio] was now covered in sweat, her expression ferocious, having entered a state of full-power explosion, but—
Not enough, still not enough!
To enter the Zone, your spirit must be more fervent, burn your spirit completely, exceed that threshold, and sink into that world!
Opportunity is fleeting; can you grasp it, [Tokai Teio] of this world?
[Tokai Teio] gritted her teeth.
Not enough!
Explosive power still insufficient; still can't catch up to that guy!
Need more powerful explosive force!
But how to break through the current limit?
Clearly having a premonition in her heart, the reality placed before [Tokai Teio] was a helpless reality.
Zone?
In the end, what is that thing?
Don't know.
Cannot understand!
[Tokai Teio] felt her time stop at this moment; even her thinking fell into a stagnant blank state.
Although she knew of the Zone's existence, unlike the method of learning skills, the description of the Zone had always been very mystical.
Neither the President nor [McQueen] could give her an accurate answer.
Or rather, the more she listened to their explanations, the less she understood what the Zone actually was.
But, she did feel it—that scorching throb hidden in her chest, transmitted from her heart!
But what exactly must be done to stimulate this power?
Tokai Teio running in front frowned slightly at this moment: Aura getting weaker?
It couldn't be that the pressure I gave was still too great, right?
But it shouldn't be; that's [Tokai Teio], how could she be defeated by this little setback?
"Idiot! That kind of thing doesn't need thinking about at all—run!"
At this time, a familiar voice shouted loudly.
"That is?"
Gold Ship suddenly appeared near the track, wearing an expression of "I'm very impatient right now"; she was the one shouting just now.
And her voice successfully awakened [Tokai Teio] who had drilled into a dead end.
Demon King...
[Tokai Teio] didn't know that what Gold Ship told her was the answer. She thought Gold Ship wanted to tell her that she was still in a race, and thinking about these things was meaningless. So she decisively abandoned all previous thoughts, because the Demon King was right—she had to face this race first!
"Ohhhhhhh!!!"
Zone or whatever doesn't matter anymore!
What needs to be done now is simply to unleash the limit—no, the power surpassing the limit!
A blazing flame surged from [Tokai Teio]'s eyes!
In that instant, her previously weakened aura suddenly skyrocketed.
Seeing this, Gold Ship's expression improved a bit: "Hmph! Indeed an idiot."
Mejiro McQueen, wearing a hat beside her and originally hiding her figure, had an impulse to kick Gold Ship down at this moment.
Clearly agreed to hide first; why did you get so excited just watching a mock race!
But Gold Ship did have some friendship with [Tokai Teio] and the others after all, and she was very annoyed seeing [Tokai Teio] like that just now.
An idiot is an idiot!
Clearly the power is already in your hands, yet you close your eyes searching for it?
Just watching makes one anxious!
But choosing anyone as an opponent would have been better than choosing that Tokai Teio.
A trace of helplessness appeared in Gold Ship's eyes.
Even awakening the Zone is useless.
Tokai Teio in the race smiled: "Well done, Demon King."
Now the aura of that guy behind has entered that world, although I don't know if she herself has realized it.
But I didn't expect [Tokai Teio]'s Zone to be of Mejiro McQueen's type.
This type refers not to the category of ability, but to the difference in visual manifestation.
Currently, there are three ways the Zone manifests.
One is flames appearing from the eyes, one is light or flames directly covering the whole body, and finally, electric sparks trailing from the eyes.
This visual manifestation doesn't have much to do with the ability itself; it's more like a result caused by the different mental differences of each person when awakening the Zone.
"Tried hard to catch up, huh?"
Less than 150m left in the race.
[Tokai Teio] finally rushed to the opponent's side.
But what the opponent showed her at this time was pure appreciation and a gaze looking down from high above.
[Tokai Teio], currently in the Zone state, suddenly felt a chill.
That was pressure, and what powerful pressure?!
That was an existence boundless like the great sky; had she been challenging such a guy before?
Entering the Zone didn't bring [Tokai Teio] a fullness of power, nor intense confidence.
Instead, she instantly felt that absolute oppression as if facing a higher-dimensional being!
"Watch closely. This is my [Ultimate Teio Step]!"
Rainbow-colored light flashed by, and strong wind blew away [Tokai Teio]'s bangs and the sweat on her face.
The start of the Teio Step was completed in an instant, and—
Too fast...
Clearly the finish line was right before their eyes, but the distance between them was pulled open again in this instant.
And this time, [Tokai Teio] felt infinite frustration.
Clearly it was only two or three seconds, but [Tokai Teio] felt as if she had experienced a century.
That dazzling figure seemed to shuttle through flowing light, returning to the place that should have belonged to her.
[Tokai Teio] had a feeling at this moment.
From the moment this race began, the door to victory... seemed to have never opened for her from the start.
Final 150m, final two seconds—
[Tokai Teio] was directly pulled open by a gap of nearly 100m. Although [Tokai Teio] finally crossed the line before the timer ended, the shock those two seconds brought to everyone was unparalleled!
...
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