The way Uma Musume looks at me is so scary!

The Great Escape is by no means a reckless charge. Haibara Chizuru's teachings and the Great Escape experience she accumulated in the Kasamatsu Regional Tournament were not in vain. Unlike the Great Escape she relied on early attribute advantages in the first scenario, she now has her own understanding of the Great Escape.

She doesn't have the ability to crush everyone. Even if there are no restrictions in this scenario world, she can't surpass everyone by simply escaping. But the world on the field is not just a contest of cold data.

The speed of racehorses is not always a fixed number. Under the influence of mentality and willpower, miracles of the underdog defeating the strong are not uncommon on the racetrack.

Conversely, there are even more examples of people failing to perform to their full potential due to a collapse in mentality and will, and this generation's farewell stage is the best example.

What Xiu Xingmeng needed to do was to use her figure to stir up the emotions of the racehorse girls behind her, which is why she set up her domain at the very beginning of the race.

Unlike the previous Japanese derby where the goal was to reduce the Gold Master's stamina, this time the Dream of the Stars was more about influencing the opponent's mentality, so it wasn't used at full strength.

In Xiu Xingmeng's view, the decisive moment of the 3,000-meter chrysanthemum appreciation race is not the final straight line, but the midpoint, right on this uphill straight line.

Whoever can control their pace here will have more stamina for the final sprint.

The purpose of deploying the Demon Blade Domain was not to weaken their physical strength, but to make them all focus their attention on themselves.

With all eyes on her, Xiu Xingmeng accelerated and simultaneously closed her domain.

Her acceleration will inevitably affect the mentality of all the female racehorses.

"Still accelerating? This isn't the final straight line yet!"

Starlight Knight, who had been gritting his teeth and following behind Xiu Xingmeng, stared wide-eyed in shock as the red streak of light shining through the rain suddenly accelerated before his eyes once again.

She hadn't caught up with the horse much on the curves to begin with, but now that Xiu Xingmeng had accelerated, the distance between her and Xingguang Xia had widened even further.

With six horse bodies, then seven horse bodies, Starlight Knight, whose mind was overwhelmed by Narita Shirahito's aura and the Embroidered Star Dream Domain, was unable to think straight as the red streak of light was about to disappear before his eyes.

Moreover, for some reason, the stinging sensation in front of him suddenly disappeared, and seeing the distance between himself and Xiu Xingmeng getting farther and farther away, he chased after her without a care.

"Whatever! Since you're speeding up, I'll speed up too!"

Her acceleration stirred up a wave of excitement among the racehorse girls. The leading horse, Embroidered Dream, was getting further and further away, and even Starlight Knight in front of them began to accelerate.

The sense of danger ahead had disappeared at some point, and although Narita Shirahito beside her had restrained his aura, he still exerted pressure on the nerves of the nearby racehorse girls. Although they had long lost their fighting spirit in the scorching rain, the fighting spirit and competitiveness were something etched into the instincts of every racehorse girl.

Since there is no threat ahead and the surroundings are filled with a sense of oppression, why not take advantage of the situation and accelerate forward?

Perhaps this one charge will bring me victory.

Unable to think rationally, the racehorse girls followed their instincts, squeezing out the last bit of strength from their bodies to accelerate. In their dazed eyes, the uphill straight road suddenly turned into a straight line.

If you rush past and overtake the people around you, you'll have a chance to catch up with that blazing red light.

The disappearance of that stinging sensation was the best sign. Even a racehorse like her couldn't sustain a 3,000-meter escape. Her chance for victory had arrived!

Driven by a frenzied competitive spirit, the last racehorse girl also abandoned her reason and, following the call of her heart for victory, accelerated forward relentlessly.

"What...what's going on?! Why are the racehorse girls accelerating here? This isn't the final straight!"

His partner beside him let out a shout that he couldn't understand, but Sugiki Kentaro didn't have time to scold him for moving away from the microphone, because at this moment he was also shocked by what he saw.

"Could it be that the rain made them unable to see the distance? No... that's impossible. A Uma Musume Girl who can stand on the G1 stage would never make such a mistake. So what else could it be?"

Completely baffled, Kentaro Sugiki frowned as he watched the racehorses galloping across the track, his eyes fixed on the red streak at the very front. Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind.

"Could it be that……"

"Was it you? You've bewitched them?!"

Kentaro Sugiki, stunned into silence, could only stare blankly at the arena, completely forgetting his identity as a professional commentator.

At this moment on the field, Narita Shirahito, the only one who was not confused, frowned deeply.

With all the other racehorse girls accelerating, she, who had been conserving her energy, ended up in last place. She knew that those racehorse girls who sprinted ahead would only end up exhausted, but could she, who stayed in last place, really win?

The pace of the game had been taken over by that Northern Star Dream team. With all the players speeding up, even I, who wanted to be patient and seize the opportunity to win, had to follow the trend and speed up.

"I see."

"Do you want this battle to start even faster?"

"Then let's go! Battles between our own kind can only end with blood and flesh after a bloody fight!"

Even though he knew that Xiu Xingmeng had the upper hand, Narita Shirohito felt not a trace of confusion.

On the contrary, when she realized that this was Xiuxingmeng's strategy, her already extremely excited heart could no longer contain its excitement, and the desire to fight with its own kind and compete with powerful enemies almost burst out of her chest.

Since Northern Star Dream has taken the lead in declaring war, there is no need for me to suppress my feelings any longer.

That aura, like that of an ancient ferocious beast, once again enveloped the racetrack, causing all the racehorse girls, blinded by their competitive spirit, to tremble. A familiar sense of fear once again took hold of their hearts. Their stamina, already rapidly depleted due to the early sprint, nearly vanished as their mental state collapsed, and many racehorse girls found their feet sinking into the muddy grass in the rain.

However, Narita Shirohito did not notice any of the fear shown by the racehorse girls due to their own imposing presence. His beastly eyes, gleaming with golden light, pierced through the rain and the crowd, staring intently at the red streak of light at the very front.

This was the battle she had been waiting for, the arena she had longed for. At the Chrysanthemum Appreciation, Narita Shirahito finally found what he had been searching for all along.

And she, naturally, had to respond to this fellow human who had given her the gift.

Show your fangs and blades, even if you're bound to be covered in wounds!

Chapter 157 The Defender

"Narita Shirahito! Narita Shirahito is speeding up too!"

"Could it be that the decisive moment has arrived?!"

The commentator's roar echoed through the rain at Kyoto Racecourse. The racehorse, hailed as the strongest of its generation, had made its move and would show no mercy. In his view, this was the sign that the race was over.

Kentaro Sugiki, sitting next to his partner, remained silent, stroking his chin but never taking his eyes off the field.

"Narita Shirahito's last kick is indeed terrifying, but don't forget that we are currently on an uphill straight road. No matter how strong her acceleration is, she cannot overcome the limitations of the terrain."

Seeing Xiuxing Meng defy his perceptions time and time again, even Sugimoto Kentaro's rationality had to yield to his emotions, and he began to seriously consider the possibility of Xiuxing Meng's victory.

But he forgot that there were actually very few people present who supported Xiu Xingmeng.

While the emergence of a dark horse might add more suspense and excitement to the match, many people are more eager to see the birth of another triple crown winner than to witness a chrysanthemum appreciation event.

His partner, too, raised his eyebrows and spoke with a slightly aggressive tone after hearing Kentaro Sugiki's words.

"So what? Isn't that the same as Northern Star Dream?"

"Especially since she's been leading for such a long distance, how could her stamina possibly compare to Narita Shirahito's, who's been conserving his strength for the final blow?"

"The key to winning the escape tactic is to accumulate enough advantage in the early stages and build a distance that other female racehorses cannot surpass in the final straight."

"But now... Brother Sugimoto, you don't really think that Northern Star Dream still has a chance, do you?"

After scoffing, the partner pointed to the racetrack outside the glass window. At that moment, the purple streak symbolizing Narita Shirohito had already surpassed many racehorse girls and was firmly biting behind Hidehoshi Dream.

Moreover, the distance between them was still shrinking, and the advantage that Xiu Xingmeng had accumulated in terms of horsemanship was about to collapse and dissipate under Narita Shirahito's overwhelming charge.

"She had no chance after Narita Shirahito's last-minute finish. It would be an honor for her to maintain her current speed and win second place in the Chrysanthemum Prize."

His view was shared by the vast majority of people present. In their opinion, Narita Shirahito, who had won the Satsuki Prize and the Japanese Derby, was undoubtedly the strongest of her generation, and as long as she made a move, the chances of victory would be secured.

As for that Northern Star Dream?

If she really has the ability to challenge Narita Shirahito, why doesn't she participate in the previous two classic championships?

If she were truly that strong, would she really give up the classic Triple Crown race, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? That's the glory that every horse racer dreams of.

Upon hearing his partner's words, Kentaro Sugiki could only remain silent. He had thought the same thing before, because after comparing the data so many times, he simply couldn't imagine any possibility of Hideki Hoshi winning.

But that fleeting moment of inspiration made him feel as if he had touched something.

Xiu Xingmeng's seemingly magical ability to control the rhythm of the game made him feel that the match would never end there, but Sugimoto Kentaro could not accurately describe this feeling.

Known for his rationality, he really didn't know how to describe the feeling at that moment.

The people on the field are always separated from the world inside the field by a wall. Kentaro Sugiki, who touched the boundary just now, cannot describe to the others who are still outside the field what he felt.

This chasm, almost insurmountable, is not something Kentaro Sugiki can bridge with words.

At this moment, Xingyun Tiankong in the audience was also facing the same dilemma. The adults around him all agreed with the other commentator's words, feeling that Xiuxingmeng's success was just a flash in the pan.

As long as Narita Shirahito starts to accelerate, everything will be alright.

The audience, who had placed their hopes on Narita Shirahito, did not believe, nor did they want to believe, that she would fall in the final stage of her three-crown journey.

They gripped the railings with fervor, their eyes glued to the ever-changing action on the field, ready to cheer for their dream of a triple crown.

Nebula Sky knew he couldn't convince them. Most of the spectators who came to Kyoto Racecourse in this weather had only one reason: to witness Narita Shirahito's triple crown.

Perhaps it was a touch of rebellion in his heart, or perhaps it was the attraction of the red streak of light in the rain, but the nebula sky, thrilled by the great escape, chose to stand opposite the majority of people.

She didn't argue as she had before; she simply clenched her hands silently, hoping her small prayer could give Northern Star Dream a bit of strength on the field.

Even though this prayer is insignificant in the face of a sea of ​​people, as overwhelming as a mountain.

However, no matter what happens off the field, it can't change anything on the field.

Whether it's unequivocal support or an ineffable feeling.

Whether it's an expectation as powerful as raging waves or a prayer as small as a tiny reef in the ocean tide.

They couldn't change anything on the field; ultimately, the only ones who decided the outcome were the racehorses running.

The other racehorse girls were forced into the muddy rain by the pressure from the two powerful racers, leaving only two racehorse girls who could truly decide the outcome.

Embroidered Star Dream and Narita Shirohito.

Now, those ferocious eyes, like those of a wild beast, are closing in behind them, and the bloody aura that symbolizes the start of the hunt is already surrounding them.

The advantage that Xiu Xingmeng had gained from her escape was quickly neutralized by Narita Shirahito's pursuit. The moment they entered the final bend, those wolf-like golden eyes were already beside Xiu Xingmeng.

Meanwhile, Xiu Xingmeng increased her speed relentlessly, making it impossible for Narita Shirahito to surpass her even by half an inch.

Her Northern family bloodline eliminated all her disadvantages, and without the limitations of two attributes, she was already qualified to compete with top powerhouses like Narita Shirahito in the Chrysanthemum Appreciation contest, vying for the most basic abilities.

However, the more this happened, the more Narita Shirohito's heart pounded. The intense competition for victory, pushing everyone to their limits, made her feel a long-lost desire for the championship.

Every muscle in her body was concentrated to its limit, and every step she took could lift a large chunk of the lawn. As she unleashed her power in the late autumn rain, a thin layer of white mist even rose around her.

Those golden wolf eyes, shrouded in mist, were fixed intently on Xiu Xingmeng, waiting for the final, fatal blow.

She knew that her opponent still had reserved power, but wasn't she the same? Narita Shirahito could feel that her domain, which had remained unshaken due to the boredom of the competition, had been stimulated to its limit. She could even sense the timing of the domain awakening.

In the final 400 meters of the straight, the lone wolf will truly bare its fangs.

But at that moment, Xiu Xingmeng suddenly glanced at Narita Shirohito.

Chapter 158 Slaying the Crown

In Xiu Xingmeng's eyes, which were deeper than the night, a strange, eerie red light, as intense as blood and as dazzling as a blade, suddenly flashed.

That fleeting crimson light seemed like some ominous premonition, instantly tightening Narita Shirahito's nerves. But the moment his alertness arose, excruciating pain struck.

In an instant, the world seemed to transform into a mountain of knives and a hellish inferno. The falling raindrops were no longer water droplets but thousands of sharp blades gleaming with cold light, piercing through the final battle suits and penetrating to the bone marrow.

Suddenly, a buzzing sound of a sword being drawn exploded in his ears. A phantom demonic sword, carrying a heavy stench of blood, slashed out from the void, aiming for Narita Shirahito's slender neck.

His body reacted before his thoughts could process it; Narita Shirahito suddenly ducked, narrowly avoiding the deadly blade.

But this momentary dodge caused her to pause, the wet lawn mixed with the muddy ground almost swallowing Narita Shirahito's steps.

But she is now at the most dangerous point on the bend.

Centrifugal force pulled her body so close to the ground as she sped along, her sluggish steps bringing her balance to the brink of collapse, and the most direct result of that collapse was that Narita Shirahito almost failed to turn the corner.

But she was no ordinary racehorse girl. Her well-trained thighs slammed into the ground, and the resulting impact force forcefully brought her tilted body back on track.

But just as Narita Shirahito regained his balance and before he could even catch his breath, the scorching wind struck again.

The cool rain suddenly boiled over, turning into a scorching wave. The physical strength that had been exhausted by the uphill climb collapsed like a dam breaking. Narita Shirahito's legs gave way, and his prepared attempt to catch up vanished into nothingness.

"Domain control? Or go all out?!"

Narita Shirahito gritted his teeth and struggled to walk through the scorching rain, enduring the stinging pain all over his body.

To defy her body's instinct to escape, she even bit her lip until it bled, relying on the metallic taste of her blood to keep going.

The carefully laid-up killing blow became a joke in the face of the fully activated Xiuxing Dream domain. The fierce battle between Narita Shirahito and his kind, where they were showing their fangs to each other, became impossible in the face of the cold and sharp demon sword.

Despite the deadly pain emanating from her neck, she struggled to lift her head. Her once sharp, golden wolf eyes had dimmed considerably in pain, almost unable to penetrate the rain.

The red streak before them remained intensely bright, even more magnificent than before, breaking through the rain with the force of cutting through wind and waves as it raced towards its destination.

"How can this be?"

Narita Shirahito still couldn't figure out where Xiu Xingmeng got her stamina. The Great Escape was an extremely stamina-consuming running style, especially since she was running in the rain while using her Domain.

Moreover, they had just come up an extremely difficult uphill climb, and even if they had recovered some strength on the bend, it would be impossible for them to have enough strength to support the full activation of their domain.

Not to mention she didn't even have time to recover her strength!

Narita Shirahito had been relentlessly chasing after Xiuxing Meng, and in order not to be overtaken, Xiuxing Meng not only did not slow down in the bend but also increased her speed further.