Uma Musume: From Being Knocked Ten Meters Away

Chapter 580 The Crashing Fantasy

In an instant, the ear that had been blown down by the wind twitched, and its entire back shuddered as if it had been doused with ice water.

The commentator's shouts and the clamor from the audience became a blurry background noise. What truly pierced through this noise and made her nerves tense instantly was the footstep rhythm coming from her right rear, which was completely different from all her other opponents.

California...shines.

The moment that name surfaced in her mind, the challenge she had made with a radiant smile at yesterday's URA dinner uncontrollably echoed in her ears:

"I won't lose to you in tomorrow's match. Are you ready?"

The high spirits and straightforwardness in that voice now transformed into a tangible sense of oppression, carrying with it a hint of unease, and enveloped her.

She had faced this friend and rival in practice matches before, and she had also seen him train during previous preparations.

But it wasn't until this moment, on the track to glory in the Japan Cup, that she truly realized what the all-out California Shining really was.

Heavier, more explosive, more threatening.

Every step felt like a noose, looping around her neck.

This feeling... is so suffocating, Shining-chan.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down his temples. Beifang Xuanju couldn't help but grit his teeth, but the corners of his mouth uncontrollably and almost instinctively curled up into a sharp arc.

But that's not enough!
We were prepared for an attack like yours!
Almost at the same moment he sensed the threat and felt a surge of emotion, the contingency plan that Yasui Makoto and Alice Soko had repeatedly rehearsed before the match came to mind in Kita Genko's mind.

She didn't panic and immediately accelerate her attack, as that would only play right into her opponent's hands and prematurely deplete her precious energy reserves.

She subtly adjusted her running posture, shifting her center of gravity slightly to the left, and keeping her body closer to the invisible tangent line of the inner lane.

This is not only to protect the shortest path, but also to act like a slippery wall, pushing the angles from which California Shining might engage in physical confrontation as far outward as possible.

This forces her to expend more effort and cover a greater distance if she wants to get closer.

At the same time, her cadence still sounded stable, but the rhythm deeply ingrained in her muscle memory subtly changed, and her stride length made very subtle but crucial adjustments.

It's still a combination of high-frequency quick steps and extreme stunt techniques from the special training, but compared to the beginning, the current adjustment is like the warm-up of an engine before it enters high RPM, preparing for the full burst that may be needed in the next second.

As she completed this series of subtle adjustments, California Shine, as expected, demonstrated a powerful and American-style approach to transcendence.

She wasn't looking for a crack.

Instead, they used sheer force and momentum to carve out a path through the densely packed pioneering group!

Her shoulders forcefully pushed aside the seven-colored line that was trying to maintain its position, and her swung tail almost grazed the cheek of the Peruvian city.

That wasn't a skillful crossing.

It looks more like the tractor unit of an American heavy truck, ruthlessly smashing through all obstacles along the way!
At the very moment that space was forcefully "crashed" out, California Shining's face was filled with a smile that combined excitement and focus.

Her gaze flickered briefly as she glanced at the Black Horse to the north, slightly diagonally ahead.

Oh? So you've chosen to solidify your defense and temporarily avoid the limelight?

Want to conserve energy for the final straight line?
It's... a tactical caution that's both expected and somewhat endearing.

She quickly made a mental assessment, and her smile deepened.

However, Xiao Bei, if... do you think this is all I have?! A near-mad, fiery glint suddenly flashed in the depths of her azure eyes.

The next second, the commentator's hoarse scream echoed throughout the stadium like an alarm:

"A powerful, forced breakthrough! The California Shining player from the outside... is making a forced breakthrough!"
"That's too much! That's too dangerous!"

"The race started so intensely... no, so brutally close-quarters combat right after the second bend!"

"California Shining's players used their physical advantages to keep pushing inwards, instantly throwing the team's rhythm into chaos!"

"The only contestant in the world, the Golden Performer, seems to be a little caught off guard, and his steps have become disordered!"

"The leading Northern Black Horse rider also seems to be adjusting its position to avoid the enemy!"

"Exaggerated and dangerous running style... Is this the wild style from America?!"

As the commentator exclaimed in surprise, waves of sound, a mixture of fear and excitement, rose from the stands.

Countless viewers were stunned by the visually striking and primal combat, and involuntarily stood up, as if infected by the wild atmosphere, letting out hoarse shouts and howls.

At the very front of the stands, Yasui Makoto's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart skipped a beat as if gripped by an invisible hand.

He tried his best to maintain a calm facial expression, but his tightly clenched fists and slightly trembling knuckles betrayed his nervousness.

"It's okay...it's alright!"

He almost forced a growl out from between his teeth, as if convincing himself, or perhaps conveying his belief to the track from afar:
"One of the anticipated scenarios! It's not time for us to change our tactics yet! Xiao Bei... stay calm! Everything... proceed according to plan!"

Elise, standing next to him, also had an unusually serious expression, a far cry from her usual lazy and playful demeanor in the laboratory.

She stared intently at the field, her face turned towards Yamato Akaki, speaking at a rapid pace like a gunshot:
"Coefficients! Collision point and rhythm interference coefficient for Xiao Bei! California Shining's stamina consumption rate! Rough estimate! Quick!"

"...Huh? Ah!"

Equally focused on the rapidly changing situation on the field, Yamato Akaki was startled by the urgent urging.

But the tacit understanding formed through long-term cooperation made her react immediately. She quickly glanced at the data jumping on the tablet in her hand:
"California Shining... Instantaneous power is increasing, but... efficiency is decreasing! She's running in a more strenuous way! Her energy expenditure is abnormal!"

Her tone unconsciously carried a hint of excitement:
"At this rate, although she appears to be launching a fierce offensive, the actual threat to Xiao Bei is actually decreasing due to the reduced efficiency!"
"Moreover, she seriously disrupted the rhythm of the other contestants, and the rhythm waveforms of the only one in the world and the golden performer also fluctuated violently!"

"In this case……"

"not that simple!"

Alice, unusually impatient, interrupted Yamato Akaki's somewhat optimistic analysis:
"That's the top female racehorse currently in service in the United States!"

"Even though she previously specialized in mud, her talent and adaptability should not be underestimated!"
"Furthermore, Yasui and I have investigated her, and she has been preparing specifically for this Japan Cup match for more than half a year. How could she only use such a seemingly reckless attrition tactic!"

Like a scalpel trying to cut through the fog on the field, her gaze on the field became increasingly sharp.

At the same time, she said firmly:
"She... is definitely plotting something deeper!"

Before she could finish speaking, her gaze suddenly sharpened, and together with Yasui Makoto, who was beside her and had almost simultaneously noticed something amiss, their expressions turned completely somber.

(End of this chapter)