After watching Xingyun Liuge's start, Symboli Rudolf's first reaction was shock.
She had never imagined that anyone would use the power of a Domain for a front-running strategy.
A Domain's power was undeniably formidable, but the burden it placed on its user was equally immense. Because of that, horse girls generally only brought it out in the final stretch, treating it as a trump card meant to turn the tide of the race.
To use that double-edged sword right from the opening?
Was she not worried about losing speed midway through?
And yet Rudolf had to admit it: that blazing fire racing ahead truly was breathtaking to behold.
Even someone like her—an undefeated Triple Crown champion—felt her heart lurch at Xingyun Liuge's running style, seized by the tense, dreadful sensation that she might be cast behind forever, with no chance of turning the tables.
It lasted only for an instant, but she had genuinely felt panic.
That made her grit her teeth and pick up her pace.
Because being pulled fifty lengths behind in barely twenty seconds or so…
What kind of monster was Xingyun Liuge, exactly?
Was she planning to flee all the way to the ends of the earth?
Most importantly, how was she managing to take the turns without slowing down at all?
Even top-class horse girls were not guaranteed to master that kind of cornering.
How old was Xingyun Liuge? Had she already become a first-rate horse girl?
Countless thoughts churned through Rudolf's mind, so many that they nearly robbed her of the ability to accelerate at all.
Fortunately, after roughly twenty seconds, Xingyun Liuge's speed dropped sharply. It looked as though she could not maintain that pace any longer and had no choice but to ease off to conserve stamina.
Even so, Symboli Rudolf could not relax.
Because this so-called slowing down was only in comparison to Liuge's speed right out of the gate. She was still moving absurdly fast.
If Rudolf failed to push harder, the gap between them would only shrink bit by bit, until it settled at the finish line as a margin of twenty-something—perhaps even thirty-something—lengths.
Up in the stands, Maruzensky glanced at the stopwatch.
Even she, who had already been inclined to help Xingyun Liuge, was breaking into a cold sweat.
Xingyun Liuge's split by the time she reached the middle stretch was:
Exactly one minute.
That kind of front-running pace was outrageous to the point of absurdity.
Even if she weakened afterward and never again reached the terrifying speed she had shown at the start, she might still break the historical Satsuki Sho record.
Unless she lost speed halfway through.
But was that really possible?
Could a horse girl capable of posting such a time truly be some amateur who failed to understand her own condition?
Maruzensky did not think so.
She even suspected Xingyun Liuge still had more in reserve, because at that moment, Liuge was smiling so happily.
"Although Chukyo Racecourse and Nakayama Racecourse have different track conditions…"
If Xingyun Liuge were allowed to compete in the Classic Triple Crown, Maruzensky thought, she might very well set a brand-new undefeated Triple Crown record.
No wonder Xingyun Liuge wanted to campaign abroad. A monster like her belonged in glory, worshipped by the masses.
And just as Maruzensky was lost in thought, Symboli Rudolf made her move earlier than expected.
Ordinarily, Rudolf preferred to unleash a sudden burst in the final stretch and throw her rivals behind with her overwhelming finishing kick.
But if she kept running at a measured pace like this, she really was going to lose.
How could the Emperor suffer a crushing defeat at the hands of a junior?
Even if her opponent had displayed terrifying talent and the power of a Domain, the Emperor was still the Emperor. Symboli Rudolf believed with all her heart that she would win against anyone.
There were still eight hundred meters to the finish, but Rudolf chose to go all out.
A sharp zzzt crackled through the air as tiny white arcs of electricity leapt from the tips of her hair.
No—not just from her hair. Strange arcs burst across her entire body.
The phenomenon lasted for only a moment. In the next instant, those writhing arcs turned into blazing fire.
Boom!
As her racing shoes struck the turf, brilliant flames exploded outward, transforming into a roaring inferno burning across the track.
A red-gold ripple spread outward from her at the center, blanketing the entire course almost in an instant.
Even the grandstands transformed into an ancient Roman theater, scarlet curtains hanging from above like imperial banners.
This was the mental landscape that belonged to the Emperor alone.
This was a world that belonged only to her—and had always bowed before her.
"Xingyun Liuge, you truly are remarkable. Perhaps you are not merely the strongest of your generation, but the strongest active horse girl altogether. But—"
Molten gold flared in Symboli Rudolf's eyes.
"Kneel and behold the majesty of the Emperor!"
At once, the flames coiling around Rudolf transformed into a raging dragon bursting free from its gate!
It roared with a force that seemed capable of shaking heaven and earth, sweeping outward in every direction.
Its target was only one:
Xingyun Liuge ahead of her.
How could some audacious upstart dare stand in the Emperor's way?
Such insolence, such blasphemy, could only be redeemed in blood.
The air twisted beneath the blaze's fierce heat. Every breath felt scorched to the lungs.
"What… is that…"
In the stands, Fujimasa's friend Shiny Color could feel her legs going weak, her whole body trembling. Simply watching from afar was enough to leave her overwhelmed by the sheer tyranny of the spectacle.
She murmured under her breath,
"So that is… the Emperor…"
Before a fully unleashed, violent Domain, an ordinary horse girl would lose the will to struggle in an instant, trapped in a state where she could do nothing at all.
In fact, if Oguri Cap had not caught Shiny Color by the shoulder, she would have collapsed to the ground outright.
Oguri herself was not nearly as affected. She only glared fiercely at the figure racing along the track.
She had already seen Underworld Prison. A Domain being unleashed no longer had the power to stun her.
The trainers could not see what the horse girls were seeing, but they were still shaken to the core by the terrifying closing speed Symboli Rudolf had displayed.
A fifty-length gap?
A hopeless loss?
Don't make them laugh.
The Emperor was absolute.
Right before their eyes, they watched Rudolf steadily eat away at that despairing distance—forty lengths, twenty, ten, then… just one single length.
And it was not over yet.
The distance between them was still shrinking.
And at this moment, there were only two hundred meters left until the finish.
Was Rudolf about to complete the overtake with the greatest finishing kick in the world?
Rudolf bit down so hard her jaw ached. Her heartbeat thundered louder than lightning, as though the flames boiling around her were ready to consume even her.
And yet—
She was happy.
Ever since becoming student council president at Central Tracen, how long had it been since she had run this desperately? Since she had sweated like this with such pure exhilaration?
She could no longer remember.
But it did not matter anymore.
Right now, all that mattered was that she could feel the joy of running again.
That alone was enough.
Symboli Rudolf spoke through gritted teeth.
"This is exhilarating, Xingyun Liuge. I may never forget you for the rest of my life."
"What are you talking about? You're too slow, Emperor."
Though chains of flame had already coiled around and engulfed her legs, Xingyun Liuge's voice remained easy and light.
"I've been waiting for you for a full minute."
If she had used the skill she had drawn earlier, Ultimate Spellbook would already have been able to roll her a second one by now.
"What?"
Symboli Rudolf jolted in shock.
She was already giving everything she had. She was on the verge of overtaking Xingyun Liuge. What in the world was that girl talking about?
Was she refusing to face defeat, trying to shake Rudolf's focus with words?
It was useless.
The Emperor was absolute.
She would never—
"What?!"
Rudolf saw it happen with her own eyes.
Xingyun Liuge tore herself free from the influence of her Domain—and accelerated all over again.
The sight was so astonishing Rudolf could not help but shout aloud.
"What?!"
"Didn't I say it before, Emperor? I'd already chosen my victory song," Xingyun Liuge said with a laugh. "Though honestly, it didn't really fit the situation. I didn't expect your power would be fire."
Highlander Bloodline:
Gain an additional 55% movement speed and become immune to slows for 7 seconds. For every opponent you overtake, the duration extends by another 7 seconds.
Now, question:
Why had Xingyun Liuge deliberately allowed Symboli Rudolf to close the gap completely?
The answer was simple.
So she could gain another seven seconds, of course.
At that moment, an ancient power slumbering deep within her bloodline awakened—power enough to rend the sky and shatter the earth.
Whoosh—
As her horseshoe struck the ground, Xingyun Liuge's figure vanished from where she stood!
Rudolf's eyes could no longer even track her form. All that remained on her retinas was a streak of green light, stretched impossibly thin and already fading.
The flames entwining Xingyun Liuge's legs scattered into drifting embers, then winked out completely.
And then Xingyun Liuge raised her voice in song:
"The flame of conviction dwelling in my breast—
No one can ever snuff it out.
An everlasting fire!
Even if this body is burned to ashes here and now,
If it is for the sake of lighting the road I choose to walk,
Then I would gladly burn until nothing remains!
Lost in the blackness of the night?
Then let song become the guiding light.
Power resides within this serenade, radiant with holy brilliance.
This dream that will never yield—
Even now, it roars and cries out!"
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 175)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 126)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter105)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter100)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter134)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 87
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 79
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 64
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 73
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 45
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 49
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 45
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 45
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 31
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 27
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 26
My patreon : patreon.com/queen_sin