"Get out of my way!" Sweep Tosho roared, her legs already braced for action.
"You think we'll just let you pass like we usually do?"
Cocon and Bitter Glasse had no intention of yielding. The moment they met on the green track, the confrontation was inevitable.
Footwork surged swiftly as the Witch's form began to blur, as if she were about to vanish entirely. Left and right, they moved in perfect synchronicity, each understanding the other's intentions.
Launching their attack from opposite sides, Bitter Glasse closed in swiftly, using her formidable physical strength to restrain Sweep Tosho's acceleration, while Cocon seized the opportunity to move into the lead.
Bitter Glasse flanked her on one side, Cocon diagonally ahead.
"Glasse!"
Sweep Tosho was gradually forced to the edge of the railing by Bitter Glasse, with Cocon blocking her forward progress. Even if she tried to slow down and take the outer lane, she would be immediately spotted.
The duo's exquisite coordination had Sweep Tosho completely pinned down, unable to move.
"Hey! Isn't this a bit unfair?!" Just a Way protested, her voice seething with indignation.
"It's perfectly normal for a competitor to be targeted," Kousei replied calmly, having grown accustomed to such tactics after being cornered herself during the Osaka Cup.
If the competitors believe it necessary, forming an alliance is perfectly understandable.
Sweep Tosho, however, had no time for such idle chatter. The first uphill slope after the turn, leading to the Autumn Tenno Sho, was fast approaching.
Staying in her current position would mean paying a heavy price to ascend the slope.
Cocon and Bitter Glasse had anticipated this perfectly. Their repeated bursts of speed in quick succession had already put immense pressure on Sweep Tosho, and their forced interception had disrupted her rhythm.
Now, they planned to use the slope for a decisive blow, eliminating Sweep Tosho from the race, and then focus on securing their own victory.
"We know your temperament because we've spent so much time together," Cocon declared. "When cornered, you always lash out violently. But you can't escape this trap—we've anticipated every move you'll make!"
Cocon and Bitter Glasse were confident they had predicted every action Sweep Tosho would take. They had prepared thoroughly, ensuring she had no chance of escape, no matter how she struggled.
"That's why I told you! Get out of my way!"
Bitter Glasse's smug confidence vanished instantly, replaced by stunned disbelief. She had confidently predicted Sweep Tosho's every move, but she had underestimated the Witch herself—Sweep Tosho's unpredictable nature was truly beyond comprehension!
Sweep Tosho suddenly charged at the stronger Bitter Glasse, a fierce, rage-fueled collision that caught her completely off guard.
"Bitter Glasse!" Cocon panicked, momentarily losing her composure as Sweep Tosho seized the opening.
As the trio entered the slope, Sweep Tosho's unexpected maneuver had secured her a valuable advantage. The First Slope posed little challenge to her; even with her reckless maneuver, she cleared it safely.
Cocon and Bitter Glasse remained hot on her heels, maintaining their positions without immediately attacking, their expressions complex. Sweep Tosho's actions were utterly unpredictable—no other competitor would have dared to make such a move in this environment.
"Little one! You've grown quite bold!"
A chilling sensation ran down Sweep Tosho's spine. She barely turned her head before a frost-covered face loomed beside her.
Shocked, Sweep Tosho's pupils trembled uncontrollably. She had never realized Cocon possessed such astonishing speed.
"Cocon's really hitting her stride. Looks like she's the type of runner who warms up slowly."
Cocon's pace quickened, her gait and breathing remarkably steady. Perhaps because her skills in this area hadn't been showcased during the Dirt competition, they were now coming to the fore.
Her gliding-like posture allowed her to conserve energy while maintaining pace in the high-speed rhythm of the race.
By transforming the green track into a vast ice rink, she could move freely with exceptional efficiency and minimal risk—a testament to Kashimoto Riko's training philosophy.
It seemed Little Cocon intended to eliminate Sweep Tosho in a one-on-one duel.
Sweep Tosho accelerated, trying to shake off Cocon's relentless pursuit, but no matter what she did, she couldn't shake her off. The longer the struggle dragged on, the more Cocon's advantage became apparent.
Sweep Tosho's breathing grew heavy, the advantage she'd built up earlier completely eroded. If her rhythm broke again, she'd plummet catastrophically.
Cocon charged relentlessly, giving Sweep Tosho no chance to catch her breath. She had to find a way to escape.
"Straight lines won't work! Then I'll take the curves!"
Sweep Tosho held a better position heading into the Second Turn, where she might finally shake off Cocon.
"Trying to out-curve me?"
Despite Sweep Tosho's advantageous position, an icy chill surged up from her feet, sending shivers down her spine.
"Move!"
Frost imprisoned the Witch's hooves, her flawless crescent turn perfectly blocking Sweep Tosho's position.
Where can I break free? Am I trapped here? Sweep Tosho's mind went blank.
The biting wind and swirling snow urged the Witch to sink into slumber once more.
Little Cocon relentlessly pressed her attack, showing no mercy. Sweep Tosho had no chance to catch her breath as the relentless onslaught left her dizzy and disoriented.
Her consciousness gradually blurred. She had no time to think or even feel anger. The endless snowfall devoured her will, making her feel utterly powerless in a way she never had before—the powerlessness of the Tiara against the Triple Crown.
This is good. Let's end it here, little one, Little Cocon prayed inwardly, hoping Sweep Tosho would finally give up.
"Cocon! You're amazing! You've been holding back all this time!"
Sweep Tosho suddenly burst out laughing, leaving Little Cocon puzzled. Then Sweep Tosho lifted her head, her pupils blazing with fierce determination.
"What's this?!" Cocon's heart jolted, leaving her no time for surprise.
A premonition of hooves, and the Witch's figure vanished from sight. Cocon cursed inwardly, quickly regaining her composure. Her gaze locked onto Sweep Tosho ahead, and before her foot even touched the ground, a trail of frost had already crystallized on the grass.
Frost veiled her pupils, intensifying her already cold and striking features.
Her footsteps were light and graceful, like a Celestial Immortal dancing on a mirror. Her lithe figure moved with lethal grace, concealing deadly intent, deciding life and death in an instant.
Cocon's running form was elegant yet ferociously aggressive. In this frozen land, she knew beauty could be a deadly poison, and her concealed killing blow would be nearly impossible to evade.
Just as everyone believed the Witch was about to strike a fatal blow, Cocon lunged and missed completely! Sweep Tosho had executed an unbelievable feint, slipping away like a golden cicada shedding its shell!
"A feint!"
Gasps erupted from the stands, instantly electrifying the arena.
"It's not a feint! It's Shadow Magic!"
The Witch fell into a frenzy. As if to showcase her wildly beating heart, surging flames continuously spilled from her pupils.
"Don't get so carried away!"
Cocon's first strike had failed, but she immediately launched another furious assault. Without exception, Sweep neutralized each attack one by one.
Like seeing flowers in mist, they vanish into a sea of smoke;Like grasping the moon in water, it's all for naught.
Her elusive dance steps, her unrestrained laughter, her wild and untamed form—she truly resembled a Witch unbound by worldly constraints, doing as she pleased, drawing everyone into her magic.