Pre-race press conference for the second stage of the WGP [World's Strongest Uma Grand Prix] qualifiers.
Sports media from all over the world directed their cameras toward the WMA spokesperson's podium.
A European journalist, known for his incisive style, unceremoniously threw a loaded question at Catherine Underwood
"Ms. Underwood! Regarding your former star, Ms. Justify, the 'Starry Glory,' who allegedly 'defected' a few days ago to the Tracen Academy camp and will compete against active WMA athletes in today's race, what is your opinion on the matter?"
Catherine elegantly took the microphone in front of her.
Her face reflected her characteristic flawless and superior smile.
However, the words she spoke next were like ice blades dipped in poison.
"First, I must correct an error you have made, WMA has no so-called 'traitor'"
"What we have are simply those who, after a rigorous scientific evaluation, have proven to have lost their maximum value..."
"…discarded defective products"
This statement ignited the room instantly!
The journalists erupted in an uproar!
Catherine, imperturbable, continued speaking with a smile.
"Secondly, regarding our friendly competitor, Tracen Academy, I personally express my sincere gratitude and support for their willingness to provide us with a 'defective product recycling and reuse' service"
Her sharp tongue sent chills through everyone.
Then, she changed the subject, and her voice filled with unparalleled pride and confidence.
"And today…"
"Our true and undisputed Queen—"
"Zenyatta will personally step onto the track"
"She will duly prove to the public all over the world…"
"…what is truly genuine, pure, and unmatched…"
"It is strength"
This was an explosive declaration of public execution, directed at Justify and the man backing her, Kaito
In the athlete preparation area before the race.
The Uma, whom Catherine called the "Queen," finally made her official appearance.
Zenyatta
She wore an incredibly luxurious racing outfit, symbolizing ancient European royalty, dominated by a mysterious deep purple and a noble gold.
Her long, silver-white hair, cold and soft as moonlight, was gathered in a neat, high ponytail, resembling the majestic mane of a lion.
Her gaze was proud and piercing.
It was as if all the other competitors present were simply a group of pathetic and doomed prey in her vast hunting ground.
She completely ignored the exclusive WMA trainer who was trying to give her tactical instructions for the race.
Instead, she focused on her own final warm-up, moving with a posture full of wild beauty.
When Justify, already dressed in her racing suit, passed by her.
She didn't even spare a glance at her former "teammate."
She simply let out a faint "Hmph," a sound of absolute disdain, from her proud nose.
On the sidelines.
Kaito watched her every move closely through high-powered military-grade binoculars.
He turned to his harem group, with a serious expression, as they sat beside him:
"This one…"
"…is different from all of you"
"She doesn't run for victory, or for honor, or for anyone else"
"She is simply enjoying the process of 'conquest' itself"
"A pure and egocentric individual standing at the top of the food chain…"
"A predator"
The race begins!
Zenyatta did not frantically rush to secure the most favorable position like the other favorites.
She simply followed unhurriedly in the middle of the pack.
Like a lion quietly observing her flock.
Her amethyst eyes, cold but beautiful, slowly scanned every competitor, one by one.
The race entered the intermediate phase!
She began her "hunt"
She would randomly choose an opponent in front of her.
Then, with an overwhelming display of absolute power, she would effortlessly overtake them from the outside.
And the moment she passed them!
She would look back at the "prey" she had left behind, giving them a look full of contempt and the unspoken question: "Is that all you've got?".
Mentally shattering their will to fight!
Several world-class athletes, proud of their achievements.
After being overtaken one by one in this manner, which can only be described as "play" and "humiliation."
Their rhythm and mindset visibly collapsed!
She wasn't competing.
She was playing with her prey.
On the other side was Justify's "Battle of Redemption."
Before the race, Kaito had given her only one instruction.
"Forget about winning or losing, forget about records, and forget about her"
"Just look at me"
"Run a truly happy race for yourself, for the you who has been reborn"
Justify, having freed herself from all her inner demons.
Although her absolute raw strength might still be slightly inferior to the undefeated queen's at her peak.
However, her running style was full of an unprecedented sense of freedom and pure joy.
She was no longer a robot executing cold instructions.
Instead, she was an elf dancing freely on the track for herself and for the man watching her!
The final stretch!
Only the two of them remained on the track, running side by side!
Zenyatta kept trying to completely destroy Justify's will using her intimidating aura and her regal gaze, which were enough to make any opponent tremble with fear!
But today, her tactics failed!
Because, from start to finish, Justify's eyes reflected the figure of only one person:
The man on the sidelines gave her a kind smile.
She completely ignored Zenyatta's powerful mental attack!
She put all her effort into earning that smile and reciprocating that tenderness!
In the end—
Relying on her absolute, practically flawless raw strength.
Zenyatta crossed the finish line in first place, winning the race by a minimum margin of half a length!
She won the competition.
However—
On Zenyatta's face, there was not a trace of a winner's joy.
Her heart was full of confusion.
And… a hint of annoyance that she herself hadn't noticed.
Because she realized.
Although she had won the race.
She had not managed to "defeat" her opponent.
Justify, who should have been the loser, showed no trace of disappointment or unwillingness after crossing the finish line.
Instead, she wore a satisfied, happy, and dazzling smile, as if she had conquered the entire world!
She immediately ran toward the man waiting for her on the sidelines!
Kaito gently wiped the sweat from the forehead of the breathless girl clinging to him.
Then, in front of everyone, he gave her a big hug full of affection and words of affirmation.
This sight deeply wounded Zenyatta's eyes.
Amidst the cheers of the crowd for the victor.
At the moment when countless media outlets were pointing their cameras and microphones at her.
Zenyatta made a move that surprised everyone.
She pushed through the crowding throng.
She ignored Catherine, who was about to approach to congratulate her.
She headed straight for the Tracen Academy resting area.
She approached the man who was sweetly comforting his "defeated general."
The proud and undefeated queen.
She came face to face for the first time with that apparently insignificant man.
Zenyatta did not look at Justify, who was protected in Kaito's arms.
Her gaze, like a scalpel sharp enough to dissect the soul, scanned Kaito repeatedly.
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
Her voice was cold and proud.
"Are you her 'king'?"
"I am not a king"
Kaito responded calmly, smiling without being humble or arrogant.
"I am just a… repairman"
"Responsible for taking in the 'good girls' who are lost or traumatized…"
"…and fixing them, that's all"
Hearing this unexpected response.
For the first time, a spark of genuine light, called "interest," shone in Zenyatta's amethyst eyes, which normally remained as placid as a frozen lake.
The man in front of her seemed much more interesting than all the boring opponents she had encountered previously.
She stepped closer to Kaito
In a voice only the two of them could hear, full of an intense desire for conquest, like a lover's whisper, she said:
"A repairman? An interesting description"
"However, I am not one of those poor 'defective products' who need to be repaired by you"
She extended the tip of her pink tongue and lightly licked her thin lips.
Her eyes were full of that unique glint a super-predator exhibits when finding a new and highly interesting prey.
"Rather, you…"
"…make me feel that you are a very interesting prey worth 'hunting'"
With that said, Zenyatta did not stay long.
She turned and, under the hostile and cautious gazes of Kaito's harem group.
She walked away with the elegant and proud steps of a queen.
Kaito knew it.
He had become the target of this lioness, the proudest, the strongest, and the most difficult.
And he had also officially included her on his final list of... "hunters"
...
At the same time.
Catherine had witnessed everything that had just happened.
A meaningful and calculating smile appeared on her face.
Originally, her intention was to use Zenyatta solely to severely repress and humiliate Justify
She didn't expect Zenyatta to develop such an intense interest in Kaito himself.
She decided to use the situation to her advantage.
She would use Zenyatta's undefeated pride to set a new trap, even harder to escape, for that cursed man.
How do you conquer an undefeated queen who doesn't need "healing," but only longs to be "conquered"?
Kaito would adopt an unprecedented, bold, and wild strategy.
To make her taste, before the entire world, the first, most complete, and most humiliating "Defeat" of her undefeated life.
A "Queen's Hunt Plan," personally orchestrated by Kaito.