Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 455 Dramatic Changes at the Bend

While the seniors were stunned by Beibu Xuanju's choice, several peers also kept their eyes fixed on Beibu Xuanju.

The closest one, Gao Shangjunyi, had his pupils shrink slightly; the ears of Satomi Kouhaku, a little behind him, trembled incessantly; and the one further back, Ming Shengleidong unconsciously pursed his lips...

Just like their pre-race declaration of challenge, the core of the Takarazuka Memorial tactics, which they had repeatedly rehearsed with their respective trainers, was precisely aimed at Kita Genko.

The rhythm is crucial to the game. Although leading the rhythm of the game does not guarantee victory, it undoubtedly provides a significant advantage.

In almost all the races and training sessions they participated in together, Northern Black Horse always took the lead and accumulated an advantage little by little with its outstanding sense of rhythm, eventually winning the victory.

Therefore, we absolutely cannot repeat the same mistake in this match.

Under no circumstances should the Northern Black Horse be allowed to gain an advantage in the early stages of the game...

How to restrict the positioning route of the northern black horse after it leaves the gate...

Disruptions to the rhythm of play...

All of this was part of the strategy and tactics set up for the Northern Black Steed, but at this moment, this opponent has actually abandoned the running style that he has always been best at!
All previous simulations and instructions have become invalid, like a long-awaited punch hitting cotton.

The female racehorses, who were intently watching the Northern Black Steed, felt a profound emptiness and a startled tremor in their hearts.

"In the north...she didn't get there first?"

"Why would they give up the initiative in terms of rhythm? This... is this really Xiao Bei?"

"What exactly is the tactic... what exactly... what is the plan...?"

Amidst the gasps from the stands and the swirling doubts within the ranks, the Northern Black Horse was filled with excitement and joy.

"The leader... is absolutely right!"

Her chest felt slightly hot with excitement. As she silently cried out in her heart, the diagrams that she and Yasui Makoto had repeatedly drawn on various tactical maps over the past few days came alive in her mind.

Indeed, the 520-meter straight at the Hanshin Circuit is a paradise for leading horses.

Once you take the lead after exiting the gate, the lack of maneuvering space on the curves makes it almost impossible for your opponents to catch up, unless they are willing to sacrifice a lot of speed and stamina.

Just like now, she has rehearsed several plans in her mind to surpass Toho Lone Wolf, and there is indeed a way to overtake him.

The cost, without exception, is that the momentum begins to wane in the final straight line or even the middle section.

The problem is that this paradise was also a trap for her.

She sensed clearly that almost all her opponents were astonished and doubtful about her choice of leadership, which meant one thing:

They all anticipated that she would launch a preemptive attack.

And under this unanimous decision, even without discussing it with each other, they will unconsciously and tacitly set up an "interception net" after leaving the gate.

It might accelerate and move diagonally forward, or it might press in from the outside, or it might constantly push and exhaust her speed and stamina from behind...

In short, to get out of the gate in this race, you need to take the lead, which is very difficult.

But the front collar is different.

First of all, her pace in the middle distance is much faster than that in the long distance. She suddenly showed this new running style, and the time it took for her opponents to react was enough for her to successfully run the beginning of the race.

While the front collar is caught between the collar placement and the front step, which in a sense is like dancing on a tightrope, this risk brings enough reward.

She can unusually take advantage of the opponent's slipstream and maintain the position where she has the best chance to overtake—like a bowstring drawn taut but not released.

It is precisely because of this that, without the pressure of suppressing the entire field when leading the way, and with the help of a comfortable wake, her energy distribution has reached an unprecedented level of balance.

She even had the energy to observe the subtle changes around her. The rain-soaked grass was slightly cool, and with each step, the dampness seemed to travel through her horseshoes and running shoes to her toes.

She could feel the wind rushing past her ears, carrying the roar of the audience and the panting of her opponents.

She could clearly hear Lang Riqingtian's breathing beside her seemed heavier than last time, and the heavy footsteps of Gao Shangjunyi and the others following closely behind.

When she could sense that Dongbao Lone Wolf ahead was unconsciously speeding up due to the pressure of leading, she only needed to slightly adjust her pace to keep up.

It was clear from the corner of her eye that Satomi Crown had already anticipated the route when she attempted to cut into the inner passage.

This feeling of "not taking the lead but being in control" was so unfamiliar, yet so smooth, that she couldn't help but feel an urge to rush out.

But she quickly regained her composure.

Instead of increasing her speed, she slightly reduced her strength, causing her body to tilt inward.

She had never experienced being in the spotlight before.

Even after responding to his friends' challenges, telling Yasui Makoto and the Tokai Emperor that he would do his best to win.

But deep down, she knew she was still somewhat uneasy and unfamiliar with this situation.

It's not that I don't want to be noticed; as a runaway horse, I actually enjoy being noticed to some extent.

She just wanted to give herself some time, to wait patiently, to wait for the opportunity to fully accept this attention.

It's like waiting for an opportunity to turn the tide in this game.

The team sped swiftly along the long, open straight, heading towards the first bend on the left side of the stands.

The commentator gradually regained his composure from his initial surprise and began reporting the situation quickly and clearly:

"Northern Black Horse still did not choose to take control of the entire race. She remained firmly in second or third place, indicating that her choice in this race was to take the lead or be in the lead."

"The situation has basically stabilized."

"Currently, the top spot is held by Dongbao Lone Wolf, followed closely by Northern Black Steed and the Unique Under Heaven."

"Lang Ri Qing Tian chose to control her speed and took the lead."

"The clever maze took the opportunity to move forward, running on the outer path, parallel to the leading group."

"Satomi also controlled her speed; her goal at the moment seemed to be to keep up with the clear sky."

"Gao Shangjunyi was rushing forward, followed by Ming Shengleidong, and also by Satomi Koujin."

"The competition team rushed over the stands, and seventeen athletes arrived. The cheers from the fans grew louder and louder."

"They stepped onto the gentle slope and were about to rush into the first corner of the race."

Before the commentator could finish speaking, seventeen figures had already plunged into the bend.

The once orderly line of soldiers rippled violently, like a stone thrown into a lake.

The figure in the front row suddenly accelerated, its body visibly tilting inward and slicing through the air behind it, creating chaos in the airflow behind it.

The competitors behind them were not to be outdone, and suddenly began to exert their strength from their respective positions, their agile figures drawing sharp and beautiful arcs on the curves.

The horseshoes crashed against the ground with a loud thud, and splashes of mud mixed with grass clippings slammed heavily against the fence beside the track.
Strands of ponytails snapped into dense lines in the air, and figures, one after the other, twisted and distorted as the road spun sharply. The scales of victory and defeat tipped back and forth in the blink of an eye.

The stands erupted in a thunderous roar of cheers, and the commentator's voice rose eight octaves in an instant, his passionate and energetic words resounding throughout the stadium via the loudspeaker.

(End of this chapter)