Chapter 45: The Bullet Aimed at the Great Escape Runners!
"A double great escape... As expected, Toyama Hikaru has no intention of letting these two compete properly with the others on skill."
Seeing the race situation hurtling uncontrollably forward, with all the Uma Musume forced by the two great escape runners to accelerate their pursuit early, Air Groove furrowed her brow.
"The choice of tactics is inherently part of one's strength," Symboli Rudolf, seated calmly, shook her head. "This race was a team battle from the start. Therefore, Trainer Toyama's method is not problematic. It's Trainers Tojo Hana and Ryu Nishizaki who underestimated her, leading to this situation."
"However, this should still be just a trick. Even using great escape, it merely deprives the other runners of their advantage in racing experience. But objectively, there is a certain gap between these two Uma Musume and the others in terms of stamina, power, and speed..."
"And these gaps will transform into the final factor that snatches victory from them in the final stretch."
Air Groove, having somewhat steadied her emotions now, judged thusly with her arms crossed.
In her view, her disciples Hishi Amazon and Gold Ship, both come-from-behind type runners, are the most affected by this great escape tactic. It's indeed possible this tactic could steal their chance of victory at once. But it's different for the remaining front-runners.
If even just one runner can cling tightly to these two great escape runners, their tactic will completely collapse. Having sacrificed their late-stage explosiveness for the great escape, they will absolutely be powerless to stop a front-runner who hasn't been shaken off!
"No, the content of their tactic isn't just great escape," Rudolf negated Air Groove's statement. Her eyes were fixed on the two Uma Musume running at the very front of the track as she gave a slight nod.
Rudolf had completely grasped the full meaning of Toyama Hikaru's tactic.
The great escape is only the first half of this tactic. The reason for specifically choosing a double great escape is to have Mihono Bourbon, who is still somewhat inexperienced, help Stardust Mirage carve out a battlefield.
Admittedly, these two runners are not among the top-tier in terms of ability, and Trainer Toyama Hikaru herself is just an eccentric trainer ranked near the bottom in the Central district.
But now, the three's unremarkable individual strength has converged upon this race, forcibly breaking open the pitch-black, zero-win-rate wall, transforming it into a radiantly shining path!
"All these tactical arrangements, Trainer Toyama... Are you, like me, also hoping to witness the miracle of this Uma Musume, Stardust Mirage?"
"Stardust Mirage, burdened with the heavy title of 'Oguri Cap II'... That dragon who appeared fleetingly in the training race, will it finally take flight again today?"
Symboli Rudolf, lost in thought, stared intently at the race, murmuring to herself.
"My stamina can probably last another 200m, Stardust Mirage."
Bourbon reported her condition while running, meaning it would be difficult for her to muster enough stamina to maintain this sprinting, accelerated state after 200m.
Hearing her words, Stardust Mirage felt slightly heavy-hearted.
Because she knew Bourbon's stamina was actually better than her own. But now, she couldn't even fully sustain a 1400m race. The biggest reason was that she was leading the way for her, breaking a path where she could save stamina by riding the slipstream.
The only reason for this situation was that Mihono Bourbon had placed unreserved trust in her for this race, entrusting all hopes of victory to her!
"I understand—leave the remaining distance to me. I will absolutely win first place!"
Stardust Mirage replied with unwavering determination.
She quickly adjusted her running form, incorporating all the techniques she had learned over this past week into the current race.
Her swinging arms gradually became more rhythmic. Though not yet reaching Bourbon's exaggerated level of precision, it was already vastly better than a week ago.
Most importantly, the other runners, most planning to exert strength in the latter half, panicked and accelerated to chase upon realizing the two were using a great escape tactic. This instead consumed more stamina, and the pursuit wasn't ideal either...
Regardless, they now had a sufficient advantage. They just needed to maintain it. Combined with Stardust Mirage's own stamina, which hadn't yet bottomed out, they could absolutely solidify the advantage gained from the great escape and seize first place in one go.
However, at this very moment, Stardust Mirage suddenly felt an intimidating aura gradually closing in from behind!
Tap tap tap—
The sound of footsteps from behind grew clearer, seemingly pounding against Stardust Mirage's heart. The approaching runner spoke in a relaxed tone, raising her voice slightly to ask the two leaders:
"Howdy~ What are you talking about? Let me hear too!"
It was Taiki Shuttle!
But how could it be?!
Hearing this casual greeting, an expression of disbelief appeared on Stardust Mirage's face.
They had been maintaining an accelerated state since the starting gate, constantly increasing to the maximum speed typically used for the final sprint. And yet, someone had caught up?!
Although Stardust Mirage judged from the voice that Taiki Shuttle was still about three to four lengths behind them, the situation was already very severe.
If the great escape tactic, which uses explosive power at the start, couldn't successfully shake off opponents, then they would undoubtedly face a tough battle later!
Thinking this, she wanted to look back. But at that moment, the oppressive feeling from behind suddenly condensed, locking onto the center of her back.
A chilling sensation pierced through her from the focal point of that pressure, as if the one chasing behind wasn't an Uma Musume, but a hunter aiming a revolver at her back!
"Disrupting everyone's rhythm with a double great escape—that tactic is indeed quite brilliant. But it has no effect on me!"
Taiki Shuttle's voice also carried panting, but compared to Mihono Bourbon ahead of Stardust Mirage, who was beginning to sway and could hardly hold on, it sounded much better.
Her running form differed from both Stardust Mirage and Bourbon. Although this wasn't uphill terrain, Taiki Shuttle still used a running style similar to a mountaineer's, landing only on the balls of her feet as she galloped.
Although her build is relatively tall among Uma Musume, her stride length wasn't particularly wide at this moment. Instead, her stride frequency was pulled to an extremely fast rhythm—a sprinting style characteristic of short-distance races.
This running style places very high demands on the runner's glute and thigh muscles, requiring the ability to burst with immense power in a short time. Stardust Mirage had also tried it during the past week but couldn't sustain it yet.
And the Mile Queen, Taiki Shuttle—just looking at her toned thighs—it was clear she could fully master this special stride!
From the very beginning, among the five runners besides the leading duo, Taiki Shuttle was the first to realize they intended to destroy the race rhythm with a great escape.
Although great escape is still rare in mile and short-distance races, Taiki Shuttle had encountered many such opponents. After brief thought, she found a suitable counter-tactic.
The great escape tactic, while disrupting others' rhythms, doesn't leave the runner in a good place either, also facing immense stamina pressure. However, faced with the terrifying distance the great escape runner pulls ahead, most runners, being in a passive position, become apprehensive:
How much further can they pull ahead? Will they not decelerate even in the final stretch, perhaps even preserving sprinting stamina?
These numerous, complicated thoughts force them to accelerate and keep up early, to prevent falling into the loser's abyss before even starting to exert themselves.
But what is the reality?
Taiki Shuttle clearly knew that not only the runners subjected to the great escape, but the great escape runner themselves are also filled with anxiety:
Will I decelerate? Can I last until the final step of the course? Will a runner with a strong finishing kick catch up to me?
The more pressure you put on the great escape runner, the more they themselves will lose composure. Only then can you turn passivity into initiative, seizing the chance for victory back into your own hands.
And so, the counterattack begins now.
Taiki Shuttle pressed her lips tightly together. To cling tightly to the heels of the great escape duo, her stamina consumption was currently the greatest among all runners. Even Narita Brian or Mejiro McQueen were now left behind by the three of them.
Her blood and muscles, under this unreasonable strain, had long been screaming in agony. Her bones began to creak. Taiki Shuttle could clearly feel her condition nearing its limit.
But she had ultimately succeeded!
Her face still maintained a relaxed expression. Even expending extra stamina, she must never let the two ahead see any flaw—a perfect pose. She even had room to spare to greet them.
Taiki Shuttle successfully broke through all the pressure brought by this great escape tactic and returned it in full to the two ahead.
Now, seeing Stardust Mirage already affected by her words, she suddenly lowered her head.
Taiki Shuttle stomped on the turf with all her might, like a madly charging American longhorn bison, and charged straight towards the backs of the two ahead.
Now... let this bullet named Taiki Shuttle—
—pierce through you completely!
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
Please support the original author: 幻想全能之书的小说
Raw: 赛马娘,我会圣诞 帽大招也要告诉你?