"As expected of McQueen," Kousei mused inwardly, watching her rival pull further ahead. "She broke through with sheer leg strength." With a mental sigh, Kousei accelerated to keep pace.
The white-and-red duel at the front of the pack had long since captured everyone's attention.
"Kousei and McQueen's showdown is intense!" a commentator exclaimed. "But why isn't anyone else joining the fray?"
Even if Kousei and McQueen were disrupting the race's rhythm, it was inconceivable that not a single other competitor would attempt to join their clash.
"It's not that no one wants to catch up," the former trainer-turned-commentator remarked. "It's that no one can."
"What do you mean?"
"You might not fully grasp the intricacies of Gate Techniques. Some aspects of Umamusume races are beyond human comprehension. Right now, Kousei is employing her Gate Technique to effectively block the runners behind her."
Only then did the commentator notice the faint expressions of anguish on the faces of the trailing Umamusume. Their legs continued to churn, but they seemed physically unable to advance beyond a certain point.
Seven lengths—that was the maximum distance Kousei's defensive wall could maintain!
With no finish line in sight, the crimson Wall loomed ahead, an impenetrable barrier to victory.
An Umamusume unable to break through this defensive line has no right to contend for victory. What followed was a true one-on-one showdown.
Kousei's stamina, brilliantly honed through special training, had improved significantly, but it would undoubtedly be insufficient against McQueen's relentless, explosive pace as a runaway leader.
If she maintained her current strategy, she would be the first to falter.
Given McQueen's inherent strengths, this scenario likely favored her most.
Yet Kousei still had a chance; McQueen's speed remained within her reach.
"Close the gap! Box her in!"
McQueen would have to decelerate through the turn. If Kousei seized that fleeting opportunity, she could overtake her.
True to Kousei's prediction, though McQueen had maintained top speed throughout the race, she inevitably had to slow down upon reaching the turn.
Kousei seized the moment, surging forward and using her exceptional cornering skills to close the gap on McQueen through the bend.
By the time they exited the turn, they were running neck and neck.
McQueen glanced at Kousei and attempted to accelerate back to top speed, trying to shake her off.
With McQueen's chariot-like power, a single explosive burst of speed would instantly widen the gap.
Kousei refused to let her succeed.
Though the one-on-one nature of the race denied her the advantage of using the pack to restrain McQueen, putting her at a slight disadvantage...
Just as McQueen had specially enhanced her strength to counter Kousei's Gate Technique, Kousei had similarly honed her skills to defeat McQueen.
Kousei surged forward again, attempting to overwhelm McQueen with brute force.
Relying on brute strength alone won't work! What is Kousei planning? McQueen thought, exasperated.
Unfazed by Kousei's renewed assault, McQueen retorted coldly, "It'll end the same way no matter how many times you try!"
McQueen countered with her own overwhelming strength, but Kousei suddenly ducked low. Instead of colliding head-on, Kousei's shoulder slammed into McQueen's lower ribs.
"Huh?" McQueen gasped in surprise. Kousei's maneuver cleverly bypassed McQueen's pressure while simultaneously disrupting her ability to exert force.
"Too careless, McQueen. This is the Gate Technique, after all. Did you really think brute strength alone qualified as skill?" Kousei's eyes gleamed with triumphant provocation.
Seeing that smug grin, McQueen felt her anger flare. "You're even more insufferable on the racetrack than I thought!"
McQueen tried to create distance to regain her footing and launch another attack. But Kousei wedged herself in front of McQueen, relentless in her pressure. Trapped and unable to adjust her stance, McQueen found herself entangled with her rival as both raced at full speed.
"Don't lose your cool, McQueen. Anger will expose your weakness."
It was then that McQueen realized she had fallen into Kousei's trap. Entangled together, McQueen was unable to accelerate. Kousei had ensnared her in her own way!
"This looks bad. Mejiro McQueen is completely tangled up with Kousei. What's going on? This type of racing is rarely seen!"
"Indeed. McQueen let her guard down for a moment and got caught. Now she can't shake Kousei off no matter what she tries."
"Is there no way out?"
"There's still a chance. The next turn is approaching. Due to the turn regulations, Kousei will have to separate from McQueen. If McQueen seizes that opportunity, she can break free."
"But based on their previous performances, McQueen is clearly weaker than Kousei on turns."
"It all depends on how Mejiro McQueen handles this."
As the next turn loomed ahead, the entangled pair finally separated. McQueen seized this rare opportunity, her mind racing to devise a countermeasure.
"My strength lies in straight lines. I have to shake Kousei off on the straightaway. But the moment we exit the turn, she'll be right back on my tail. What should I do?!"
McQueen had no time to dwell on her thoughts; the turn was already upon her.
"If that's how it is, I'll use my strength to block you!"
The two racers were running close together, McQueen now taking the offensive and pressing hard against Kousei. A head-on collision was no match for McQueen's superior power. As they approached the turn, there was only one way for Kousei to avoid the impact.
Retreat!
Kousei braked sharply, dodging McQueen's charge. But this maneuver left her trailing behind McQueen once more, who now occupied the inner lane, leaving Kousei no room to maneuver through the turn.
"This is it!"
The path illuminated by the guiding light stretched before her. Victory belonged to Mejiro McQueen!
Halfway through the turn, she surged forward with all her might. It could work!
An overwhelming thrill coursed through McQueen, as if victory were already within her grasp.
Suddenly, darkness enveloped her vision, plunging her into pitch-blackness.
In that instant, the guiding light vanished without a trace.
"Huh?"
A pair of monstrous hands with sharp claws clamped over McQueen's eyes, while the crimson-skinned oni floating behind Kousei let out a sinister cackle.
Unbeknownst to McQueen, the oni had somehow repositioned itself behind her. When she glanced back, Kousei was nowhere to be seen!
"Something's wrong with Mejiro McQueen! Where's Kousei?!"
Kousei had vanished from the field as if into thin air.
"Look over there!"
At the sudden exclamation, all eyes snapped to the designated spot.
Kousei's figure reappeared beside McQueen, having somehow closed the distance and was now on the verge of overtaking her.
"Don't get cocky!"
The interference lasted only a second, but as McQueen's vision cleared, she instinctively moved to block Kousei's impending pass.
"Didn't I warn you? Anger leaves you vulnerable, McQueen."
To everyone's surprise, Kousei didn't charge forward. Instead, she pivoted sharply, shifting her momentum in the opposite direction.
"Damn it! It's a feint!"
The cunning trickster had struck again, completely reversing the situation.
Kousei sliced through McQueen's defenses and planted herself right in front of her.
Exploiting every advantage, relentlessly pursuing her goal, dancing on the edge of legality—this was the Gate Horse in action.
"What will you do now, McQueen?"
With Kousei now face-to-face with her, McQueen would have to confront Kousei's defensive Wall!