"As we can see, an unusually large number of Uma Musume have chosen to employ Front Running and Pace Chasing tactics!"
"All the Uma Musume are currently almost centralized together in one space with Symboli Rudolf currently leading the entire group."
"Ms. Junko Hosoe, as a former Trainer, do you have anything to say about this situation?!"
Akasaka Misato, as a commentator and a person not too involved in the intricacies of the world of Uma Musume, couldn't discern just how tense the race was at this moment, thinking that everything was normal.
Although it was a bit unusual to have so many Uma Musume grouped together in one spot, it was simply a rare occurrence, was it not?
Most of the human audience also shared similar sentiments, with them not noticing anything too unusual about this race.
Only the skilled Trainers and Uma Musume who were watching truly understood the intensity of this Arima Kinen, which far surpassed any ordinary GI race.
"This is highly unusual. In all my years of commentating, this is probably the most intense Arima Kinen that I've seen."
"Although no one has made a move yet, it's probably because all of the participants are just conserving their stamina."
Junko Hosoe, though her skills as a Trainer were not particularly outstanding, was still at least a central-level Trainer.
And with her years of commentating on races, she immediately noticed something amiss with the Uma Musume on the track but couldn't articulate why.
"But don't think that this race will end uneventfully. The current situation is only because most of the Uma Musume are using the same running style."
"Just because Symboli Rudolf is in the lead right now doesn't mean her victory is already secured."
"That's right. So now, the pack is about to reach the first corner! Will this race finally take a turn in this corner?!!!"
As Akasaka Misato's words fell, the Uma Musume in the stands were all on high alert, staring at the track without blinking.
Many of the weaker Uma Musume even turned pale from the chaotic clashing of Auras pervading the track, while many of the powerful ones were eager to join in, wishing they could personally participate in this race.
"If this were a real battle, then it would be a huge, chaotic dogfight!"
Sirius, standing beside Wada, couldn't suppress her wildness from excitement, muttering excitedly.
"So, as the target of all, Emperor, and the one who wants to be the Overlord, what will you do?"
...
"Haa... Haa..."
"S- so heavy— so this is the Arima Kinen?! Everyone is going all out from the start! I- I can't, can't breathe!"
McQueen, participating in the Arima Kinen for the first time, truly didn't expect to encounter such a grand spectacle right from the start.
In her vision, from the moment the gates burst open, the Emperor, Symboli Rudolf, ruthlessly unleashed her Aura.
Under the Emperor's formidable presence, all the Uma Musume had no choice but to also go all out in response, to avoid the fatal end of being overwhelmed and falling behind.
Now, when they had only reached the first corner, all fourteen participating Uma Musume had already unleashed their Aura to its maximum output.
And as expected, Symboli Rudolf, who was leading the group, showed no signs of slackening her Aura.
The feeling from Symboli Rudolf's Aura was akin to a large mountain that was constantly pressing on your back.
Although you could resist it, this mountain would never go away, always needing to maintain a state of going all out to resist.
This exhausting feeling made all the Uma Musume dare not relax.
And it's not just Mejiro McQueen who was feeling this way; Mejiro Ryan, Meisho Doto, Grass Wonder, and the others... everyone who was currently running was in a similar exhausting state.
They didn't even know if they had the ability to make it to the finish line, let alone whether they would still have stamina to sprint at the third corner.
"Is this— the indomitable power of the Emperor?!"
"No wonder Air Groove-senpai said we could try if we wanted to... She had known that this would happen."
"It seems that in this race, only T.M. Opera O can truly compete with the Emperor."
Mejiro McQueen laboriously lifted her head to look ahead.
Currently, behind the leading Symboli Rudolf, was T.M. Opera O, closely chasing after her.
She was using Rudolf's body to block most of the wind pressure, allowing her to conserve more stamina for the final spurt.
And judging by the clarity of T.M. Opera O's Aura... she also had yet to go all out. Only releasing the bare minimum to resist the Emperor's Aura.
"Don't worry, you are all powerful Uma Musume who have managed to fight your way to the GI stage. You are all the elite of among elites. There's no need to doubt yourselves on this point."
The Empress, Air Groove, who was not far from them, seemed to have heard their inner thoughts at this moment and said to them in a low voice:
"But this is a race that will determine the changing of an era. There is an all-powerful Emperor, and there is an Overlord who can be considered to be the only one who can challenge that position."
"We are not the protagonists of this race, nor do we have to be. Who knows, maybe one day, your roles might have changed from background character to dominator."
"But no matter what, don't be disheartened. This is simply a race that is way out of your current selves' league."
However, as Air Groove was comforting Mejiro McQueen and the other Uma Musume, they actually noticed a hint of worry in her eyes as she looked at T.M. Opera O, who was still behind Symboli Rudolf.
That initial release of Aura from Rudolf was something that caught Air Groove completely off guard.
Weeks before the Arima Kinen, the two had already agreed to limit their usage of Aura and Zone to a certain level; but the level of Aura Rudolf released had already far exceeded the limit they had discussed.
Otherwise, so many excellent Uma Musume wouldn't all feel so exhausted.
And... after that initial clash of Aura between Symboli Rudolf and T.M. Opera O... T.M. Opera O seemed to be the one at a disadvantage.
Air Groove frowned slightly. She was suddenly a bit unclear about Symboli Rudolf's intention on whether she wanted to pass her position to the next generation, or continue as the Emperor.
—Or maybe, was it that this office-hikikomori, finally running on the tracks after a long time, couldn't stop herself?
Such a possibility couldn't help but surface in Air Groove's mind. And based on her understanding of Symboli Rudolf, this possibility—was actually not impossible at all?!
"And they have passed the first corner!"
"OH! Something has happened! Symboli Rudolf is still maintaining first place, but Grass Wonder is seemingly in a spot struggle with Meisho Doto, with Meisho Doto currently at a disadvantage!"
"Air Groove is currently in the third position, just in front of Mejiro McQueen and Mejiro Ryan. She truly lives up to her name as the Empress! The strength of a legendary Uma Musume is indeed formidable!"
"Although T.M. Opera O is not falling behind Symboli Rudolf, the gap between them has yet to narrow."
"Symboli Rudolf is also maintaining a relatively fast pace. Can she and T.M. Opera O still have enough stamina to sprint at the final corner?"
Akasaka Misato's words made the scene immediately clearer.
This Arima Kinen had turned from an all out brawl into a series of scattered duels among the Uma Musume.
And at this moment, in the stands, Wada, who was observing all this, had already broken out in a cold sweat.
He could see that as soon as Symboli Rudolf burst out of the gate, she unhesitatingly released her Aura.
From Wada's perspective, the phantom images of Symboli Rudolf and T.M. Opera O violently collided in the air.
Symboli Rudolf's phantom remained completely still, while T.M. Opera O was almost knocked off balance from that single collision.
Just that alone was enough to make Wada break out in a cold sweat.
"T.M. Opera O is not an Uma Musume who is good at collisions... She completely lost that clash just now and doesn't dare to confront Symboli Rudolf in Aura anymore."
"In this situation... shadowing Rudolf is the correct choice, but T.M. Opera O got scared. One clash made her timid."
"The Emperor... no, this world's Symboli Rudolf is truly too strong. She and T.M. Opera O are not on the same level at all. She had time to marinate in her peak for far longer than T.M. Opera O."
Wada was also burning with extreme anxiety.
He knew very well that if he were riding T.M. Opera O, then choosing to follow behind Symboli Rudolf and conserve energy would be the correct move.
But because he wasn't riding her, he couldn't calm T.M. Opera O's panic.
He couldn't help T.M. Opera O at all—because he was too far away from her in the audience.
If he were riding her, T.M. Opera O would never have panicked so much, even if she had lost the collision.
If T.M. Opera O continued following Symboli Rudolf's pace in such a panicked state, she would definitely expend too much of her stamina!
"Damn it—can't I help at all?! T.M. Opera O—this time, am I also just going to watch you like this, powerless...?"
'Wada Ryuji, you mediocre! Good-for-nothing! PERSON! Think of something!'
An anxious Wada had already started scolding himself in his mind.
But just then, as Wada was at a loss, a gentle female voice suddenly seemed to respond to him.
A familiar voice echoed in Wada's mind.
{{—Do you truly want to fight alongside her? This time, do you truly plan to stand with her?}}
Once again, the voice of Byer echoed in Wada's mind.
Instantly, everything around him seemed to stop, as if time had frozen.
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Can't think of anything to say, way too tired today...
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If you spot any errors, feel free to comment about it and I will fix it as soon as I can.