The opening phase unfolded as expected, erupting into fierce competition the moment the gates opened. The runners jostled for position, forming a tight pack as they vied for advantageous spots.
The Autumn Tenno Sho is a short race, only 2,000 meters. Most runners have no intention of conserving their energy, making it an ideal environment for front-runners to thrive.
In fact, multiple runners surged forward to take the lead, setting a blistering pace. Even those who wanted to conserve energy found it impossible to hold back.
Symboli Kris was the first to break free from the mid-pack, securing a position in the leading group. Cocon and Bitter Glasse followed suit, extricating themselves from the chaotic field but maintaining a strategic position just behind the leaders, observing the unfolding dynamics.
While this performance was expected, the crowd erupted in cheers. Spectators admire strong competitors who can effortlessly navigate challenging situations.
The poise and composure of these runners in the face of danger were truly awe-inspiring. In stark contrast to their performance, Sweep Tosho's situation looked grim.
Starting from Gate 3, Sweep Tosho was immediately swept up in the early scramble for position.
"Damn it!" Sweep Tosho's face clouded with frustration. The opening scramble was far more intense than she had anticipated.
She was trapped in the center of the field, surrounded by taller and stronger competitors. Like a lone leaf adrift on a stormy sea, her movements were entirely at their mercy.
Observers noted Sweep Tosho's predicament without excessive concern, as this scenario had been widely predicted. Horses from the Triple Crown Route were inherently more powerful than those from the Tiara Route, due to the Central's emphasis on Triple Crown winners. Consequently, competition for the Triple Crown was far fiercer than for the Tiara, forcing competitors to develop exceptional positioning skills and physical strength—the very foundation of securing position.
Even among Tiara Route horses, Sweep Tosho was relatively small, putting her at a severe disadvantage in races requiring physical confrontation. Participating in a grueling event like the Autumn Tenno Sho was undoubtedly asking for trouble.
"The pace is relentless, and the competitors are fiercely combative," Kousei observed, her gaze sharp and insightful, a far cry from her earlier naivety. "The field isn't likely to spread out easily. If Sweep Tosho remains trapped in the center, her chances of winning are virtually nil."
Hearing Kousei's assessment, Just a Way's expression grew grim. Black Bullet and Leo exchanged glances, but refrained from speaking, mindful of Just a Way's mood.
"It's so crowded! I can barely see the track! Kousei and the others were right!" Sweep Tosho thought, recalling Kousei's pre-race analysis, which had predicted she would be boxed in.
The field was teeming with horses jostling to break into the leading group, driven by the lure of honor from the Tenno Sho. The expected chaos had materialized. Sweep Tosho focused on the horses around her, abandoning her initial anxiety and calmly observing the field's movements.
Seeing this, Just a Way couldn't help but sigh in relief, while Kousei wore a satisfied smile.
"Exactly," Kousei said. "The more dangerous the situation, the calmer you must remain. Power isn't the key to victory; when you can't see the Finish Line, start by focusing on your immediate surroundings."
Leo glanced sideways at Kousei and muttered unintentionally, "Isn't McQueen supposed to be the strongest?"
Kousei and Just a Way rolled their eyes at Leo, while Black Bullet nudged him with her elbow. "Don't you ever read the room?"
Leo looked utterly innocent, completely unaware of his faux pas.
Sweep Tosho's transformation was remarkable. Even the professionals in the stands recognized this potential shift. Instead of panicking in the face of adversity, she was calmly strategizing, indicating significant growth in her mental fortitude.
Such mental progress is far more challenging than physical improvement. Many spend their entire lives without making even a sliver of progress in their mental fortitude.
McQueen was a quintessential power-type racer, and Kousei and Leo also leaned heavily toward that style. Black Bullet might not have been on the same level as those three, but as a competitor alongside them, she certainly wasn't far behind. At first glance, it seemed that the top racers of this generation all possessed overwhelming strength advantages. Yet years ago, a petite racer had managed to outmaneuver them all.
"Our chance to break through the pack is right here!"
The curve offered countless opportunities for breakthroughs, its importance undeniable. To navigate it, the racers synchronized their positioning while warily observing their rivals, resulting in a seemingly relaxed pace but with extremely limited maneuvering space.
Just when everyone assumed the curve would be uneventful, a graceful arc silently swept through the outer lane. The Witch, astride her broom, soared across the sky.
"Heh heh!" Sweep Tosho smirked, reveling in her successful strike.
"What just happened? I didn't even see her!" The other racers were baffled.
The move truly astonished the crowd. Overtaking from the outer lane during a curve was no easy feat. The curve itself demanded impeccable technique, and Sweep Tosho's clean, decisive strike showcased both skill and explosive power. Her footwork, akin to magic, allowed her to execute seemingly impossible maneuvers.
Sweep Tosho didn't waste her energy fighting for position. Instead, she seized the opportunity as the field spread out, moving against the grain. While everyone else jostled for the inner lane, she launched her attack from the outer lane.
Overtaking from the outer lane naturally requires immense stamina, but compared to the energy wasted by other racers fighting for position, Sweep Tosho's stamina expenditure was negligible. More importantly, she had broken free from the chaotic field and found a battlefield where her strengths could truly shine.
"Way was right! The arc holds infinite possibilities! This is Magic! This is exactly what I saw in Kousei!"
But even more than escaping the field's clutches, Sweep Tosho's heart swelled with a different kind of joy.
"No! That's not it! I need more!" Her fighting spirit blazed anew, her focus sharpening as if she had become a different person entirely. "No! That's not the Magic I'm looking for!"
Sweep Tosho surged forward, rapidly widening the gap between herself and the field. Despite having just executed an outer lane overtake, her explosive power remained undiminished as she charged toward the leading group.
Her target: Symboli Kris!
A Haze of Shadows surged forth, blocking Sweep Tosho's path.
"Thinking you can just waltz to the front?"
"What a pity. If you had just stayed quietly at the back, things would have been so much easier."
Cocon and Bitter Glasse blocked Sweep Tosho's path from both sides, maintaining their positions specifically to intercept her.
The situation on the field was delicately balanced, as all three competitors were under Kashimoto Riko's banner. Despite this shared affiliation, they represented fundamentally different training philosophies.
Cocon and Bitter Glasse embodied Kashimoto Riko's Thorough Management Education Program, serving as living examples of her rigid ideology. Sweep Tosho, on the other hand, had not been subjected to this strict management; Kashimoto Riko had instead adopted a gentler, contradictory approach for her.
The stark contrast in their demeanors was unmistakable, leaving observers puzzled as to why Kashimoto Riko would cultivate such divergent approaches.
Now, it seemed as though two distinct facets of Kashimoto Riko were vying against each other: the unwavering adherence to her established doctrines versus the quietly emerging will within Sweep Tosho. Which of these would ultimately prove to be Kashimoto Riko's true answer?