At the commentator's call, the Umamusume filed into their respective gates.
Once every Umamusume had entered, the enormous iron gates slammed shut.
The next instant, Ascot Racecourse's own stirring theme blared above the track like a battle march, lifting everyone's hearts high into suspense.
The atmosphere grew hotter and hotter, yet the stands fell into an eerie silence.
Hundreds of thousands of eyes stared fixedly at the starting line.
Inside the gates, every Umamusume had adjusted herself to her best possible state, the fighting spirit in their eyes already climbing to its peak.
Even the Umamusume who had nearly been unable to breathe under McQueen's aura in the competitors' tunnel now stood upon this turf that symbolized supreme glory. The boundless will to fight surging within their hearts transformed into tangible courage, steadying their violently pounding hearts.
"All Umamusume are ready. At last, we have arrived at the opening moment everyone has been waiting for!"
"Ascot Racecourse, G1 international stakes race, Turf 2,400 meters: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes."
The commentator's voice paused for the briefest instant.
The next moment, the lights above the gates changed.
Clack!
The gates thundered open.
"And they're off!"
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
Fourteen powerful figures shot out from the gates like cannon shells, kicking up sprays of torn grass.
They were all among the world's most elite Umamusume. Their grasp of timing was simply flawless.
"A beautiful start! Everyone is remarkably focused. It looks like we're in for another spectacular clash between dragons and tigers!"
The battle for prime position in the early phase entered a white-hot state in the very first second after the gates opened.
"There!"
Within the pack, Terimon's eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.
Because she had faced McQueen's terror head-on in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, Terimon believed no one here understood that purple-haired girl's dominance better than she did.
Whether it was speed, explosive power, or stamina, she was almost unmatched.
If McQueen were allowed to reach the final phase comfortably, it would spell disaster for everyone.
She absolutely could not be allowed to pass through the opening phase at ease.
Terimon had to drag her into the mud and disrupt her rhythm.
With that all-or-nothing resolve, Terimon forced herself through the impact from beside her the instant she left the gate, spending extra leg strength as she found McQueen's position in an extremely forceful manner.
Then she pressed in hard.
"..."
McQueen, who was steadily accelerating, keenly sensed the strange pressure coming from beside her.
Pure white afterglow stirred in her eyes.
She turned her head slightly and looked at Terimon, who had bitten firmly onto her outside and seemed to be plotting something. McQueen could not help frowning.
But immediately afterward, McQueen stopped paying her any attention. The rhythm beneath her feet quietly quickened by half a beat, and her racing outfit fluttered in the fierce wind as she cut through the air like a silver arrow.
Before long, the other Umamusume around them were drawn in by that tense atmosphere as well.
Some tried to overtake from the outside. Some chose to maintain their rhythm in the middle of the pack. Others collided fiercely with one another as they fought for position.
The rankings of all fourteen Umamusume shifted violently.
The opening phase had only just begun, yet a fierce battle had already unfolded on Ascot's track.
"Oh! Terimon is the first to latch onto Mejiro McQueen! These two former rivals have already begun an intense entanglement in the opening phase!"
The commentator continued, "But neither of them is fighting for the lead position. The current front runner is Carefree... Terimon and Mejiro McQueen are in third and fourth place."
"In fifth is Sanglamore, who is sticking half a length behind Mejiro McQueen."
"...Generous is in seventh. It looks like she has no intention of chasing up just yet."
On the racecourse.
Bang!
All at once, a tremendous force struck her shoulder, but McQueen had long since noticed Terimon's little move. She steadied her steps and shoved back.
The monstrous strength that did not match her petite build rebounded into that musclebound Amazon at once, making Terimon bite her lip and retreat sideways.
"...Monster!"
Terimon cursed under her breath, but her reaction was extremely swift. She immediately returned to McQueen's front.
If she was at a disadvantage in a contest of strength, she could only try to block McQueen's position through the remainder of the race.
She had to pressure McQueen's rhythm. She absolutely could not let her run as she pleased.
Behind them, Sanglamore's face was bright with an excited smile.
"That big idiot's not half bad. By taking the initiative to restrain McQueen, she's actually saving me quite a bit of effort."
The red-haired girl's thoughts raced.
"Pressing McQueen's position to disrupt her rhythm and wear down her stamina? What a ridiculous fantasy. That gives her no chance of winning, except by getting dragged down with ease."
"Still, she's at least consuming some of McQueen's strength. If she didn't do it, my own odds would be even lower, so I suppose I should thank her."
"In that case, that big idiot isn't worth worrying about."
"Then the remaining opponents are..."
At that thought, Sanglamore's gaze shifted slightly toward the calm blonde figure behind her, and the excitement in her heart cooled in an instant.
"In the end, I still have to face McQueen and Generous?"
After a moment of silence, her eyes abruptly turned resolute.
"...The hell am I scared for? I'm Sanglamore, the strongest Derby Umamusume!"
"If it's a fight they want, then I'll fight!"
(End of Chapter)
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