"What's going on? Those two seem like completely different people now."
No one understood what was happening except the Trainer.
"That's what Umamusume are all about," he said.
To truly become an Umamusume, one must remain steadfast to their ideals and goals, completely unleashing their potential.
"Perhaps I underestimated that girl."
Mejiro McQueen charged forward with unstoppable force, violently breaking free from Kousei's dazzling pressure. She was the crown jewel of the Mejiro Family; no amount of physical dominance alone could ever contain her.
Though McQueen had shaken off her restraint, she still felt Kousei's intense gaze behind her, like a predator stalking its prey, patiently awaiting the next opportunity.
Both racers knew that their next confrontation would occur at the corner.
Anyone could run straight, but true speed lay in mastering the corners.
As they approached the third turn, Kousei made her move under McQueen's watchful eye. She needed to apply pressure before the corner to set the stage for their cornering duel.
Kousei veered left and accelerated forward, a move too obvious to escape McQueen's notice. McQueen mirrored Kousei's movement, positioning herself to block her path before she could reach the acceleration lane. But Kousei pivoted sharply, twisting her body to the opposite side and exploding into the acceleration lane with a burst of power.
"Damn it!"
McQueen realized Kousei had used a feint, but it was too late to block her now that she had entered the acceleration lane. Still, McQueen immediately recognized the Gate Technique Kousei was employing, even though she had never seen her use it in any training race or her debut.
Gate Techniques, rarely used, combine deceptive maneuvers and subtle movements to restrict an opponent's performance. While diverse, their primary purpose remains the same: to limit an opponent's options.
This was the evolutionary path mediocre Umamusume pursued to advance. Now, however, the advantage lay with McQueen. Unlike group races, Gate Techniques were limited in one-on-one scenarios, only reaching their full potential when the user held the lead.
McQueen was eager to see how Kousei planned to overtake her.
The instant they entered the turn, Kousei suddenly lowered her posture, shifting her weight to the right and hugging the ground.
"What's this?"
Kousei seized the opportunity to accelerate. Already positioned on the innermost lane, she darted into the gap left by McQueen's wider cornering line.
At a daring angle, Kousei lowered her body, slicing through the horizon like a crescent moon. Combining this with an explosive burst of speed, she surged into the lead at the turn.
"Whoa!"
The track erupted in thunderous cheers.
"What was that?!"
Just as Kousei had predicted, her first use of [ Corner Adept ] left the audience utterly stunned. Before the race, she had anticipated that running from the back meant she'd likely be boxed in on the inner lane. The most common solutions were to build up her strength or fight for a better starting position.
But Kousei knew she wasn't yet strong enough to brute-force her way through. If trapped, she wouldn't be able to unleash her full potential.
Her solution was to relentlessly hone her cornering technique. Most Umamusume avoided hugging the inner rail during turns, except for those rare few with extraordinary grip, who could use their power and traction to muscle through the forbidden inner lanes even on poor or terrible track conditions.
Otherwise, Umamusume inevitably left gaps during cornering, even Mejiro McQueen, whose skills were still at the novice level.
With this technique, Kousei swiftly closed the gap on McQueen.
"My turn. How are you going to pass me?"
Kousei's dazzling presence surged forward, her aura materializing into a ferocious oni with outstretched arms. Though trailing behind her, McQueen felt as if she were under intense scrutiny. Ahead loomed Kousei, the "Wall," a gauntlet thrown down by the Elite.
"Come on, Mejiro McQueen!"
It was a silent declaration, felt only by those immersed in the race.
"A challenge? I accept! Let's see what your Gate Technique is really made of!"
The final stretch of the course featured a series of tight, consecutive turns. Barely exiting one corner, the racers faced another. McQueen had been startled by Kousei's cornering prowess earlier, but that was only because she had been caught off guard. This time, she wouldn't let her opponent slip away so easily.
McQueen knew Kousei wouldn't give her an opening before the turns; shadowing opponents was part of the Gate Technique. Finally, they entered the Fourth Turn, where Kousei was no longer permitted to obstruct her.
Kousei's cornering speed was noticeably slower this time, likely due to exhaustion from the grueling race. Seizing the opportunity, McQueen surged forward, her explosive leg power propelling her at breakneck speed as she closed the gap on Kousei.
"Now's my chance! I can finally surpass her!"
McQueen was thinking this when Kousei's dazzling form suddenly leaned inward, startling her. "What's she doing? Is she going to foul me?"
Instinctively, McQueen slowed down. An accident on the turn would be disastrous.
But Kousei didn't collide as expected. Just as she was about to cross the line, she suddenly retreated. McQueen caught a glimpse of the sly grin on Kousei's lips and instantly understood everything.
"You're too gullible, Elite."
McQueen realized she had fallen for another feint. Kousei had once again won the cornering battle.
"Unbelievable! Kousei has taken the lead!"
"This is ridiculous! What kind of running style is that?!"
The perpetual loser, who had suffered defeat after defeat, was actually holding back the Elite!
Facing this unexpected obstacle, McQueen smiled knowingly.
"Impressive. You've finally piqued my interest."
At the trackside, the trainer's smile vanished as he fixed his gaze on Mejiro McQueen. "She's coming."
"Since you've shown me something so intriguing, I'll respond with my full strength!"
The moment Kousei's foot struck the final straight, the heavens themselves seemed to shift. An invisible force trembled through the air as Mejiro McQueen's engine roared like thunder, shaking the sky.
Kousei barely had time to glance back before a blinding white flash filled her vision.
"What is that thing?"
Before Kousei could react, McQueen's thunderous stride hammered the earth, her iron hooves tearing into the ground. The Heavenly Horse charged forward with unstoppable momentum!
Instant annihilation!
"Damn it!"
This was Mejiro McQueen, the true weight of the Twins! This was the legendary "heavy war chariot" in its final sprint!
Kousei had no time to react. McQueen surged ahead, her running form flawless, her breathing perfect, her stamina inexhaustible. Under Mejiro's radiant glory, everything else paled in comparison.
"Just a little more! Just a little more!"
The Forbidden Gate, which had been on the verge of opening, slowly began to close, and fear gripped Kousei's heart.
What lies beyond that gate? What kind of future awaits me? Am I destined to become Mejiro's stepping stone? Can I truly never win?
Charge!
"Damn it!"
Kousei's defiant roar echoed across the track.
"I haven't lost yet! My dream hasn't come true! I haven't fulfilled my promise!"
Just a damn gate!
Possessed by a demonic force, Kousei shattered her physical limits and surged into uncharted territory. A crimson comet streaked across the earth, eclipsing even the brightest stars in the heavens and the reigning monarchs of the land, reducing them to mere footnotes in legend!
Red and white intertwined, blazing a path into the future. Holding their breath, the crowd witnessed the prelude to a new legend.
Mejiro McQueen's iron hooves carved a tombstone into the earth, sealing the fate of all who dared trespass into forbidden territory.