Watching the two figures gradually recede, Sirius Symboli, inside the starting gate, bit her lip hard.
Using the pain, she successfully broke through the ice encasing her, released her aura, and stepped out to chase them.
"I can do it too! Polaris! Mihono Bourbon! I won't allow you to leave me behind without permission!"
Her start was like a signal, and the other Horse Girl followed suit, rushing out. This Satsuki Sho race had only just officially begun.
At Central Tracen Academy, in a certain lounge.
Maruzensky and Rudolph Symboli watched the live broadcast. The latter seemed to understand something and suddenly muttered to herself in a low voice:
"So that's it, this is how you can respond."
Hearing her words, Maruzensky turned her head in confusion, a question mark vaguely appearing above her head.
Then, as if she had thought of something, she said:
"Hey, Rudolf, I always feel that Polaris's aura is very suitable for special training."
"Like training willpower and adaptability to aura interference..."
"Even stamina seems to be able to improve..."
"This shouldn't be my imagination, right?"
Upon hearing this, Rudolph Symboli also turned her head to look, her eyes slightly widened:
"Maruzensky, you're right, it certainly can."
The best example, isn't it right there on the racecourse?
That child named Mihono Bourbon, even sirius has clearly become much stronger.
Whether it's stamina or aura...
"Hmm, another day I'll ask Polaris to give the juniors some training to try."
Returning to the racecourse.
Polaris Absolute Speed was still leading, having entered the first bend.
About three horse lengths behind, Mihono Bourbon followed closely.
When the scattered cold snow encountered the dark frost aura around her, it was blocked to both sides, unable to effectively deplete her stamina.
About seven to eight horse lengths further back, Sirius Symboli was accelerating to catch up.
The dark aura around her also blocked the cold snow, but not completely; a small portion of snowflakes still penetrated and touched her body.
Her stamina also drained a little faster as a result.
This couldn't help but make her feel annoyed, and frustration appeared on her face:
"Damn it! Why can't I completely block these annoying snowflakes like Mihono Bourbon!"
"What am I lacking?!"
"Damn it!"
From about six horse lengths further back, most of the Horse Girl were in pursuit.
The entire group was almost bunched together. Although they had the idea of accelerating, they were worried about excessive stamina consumption leading to a loss of speed at the end.
With the victory already determined in their hearts to be Polaris Glare, they were only competing for the last four places.
【As long as I place, as long as I win against the opponents around me...】
This was their thought.
As the race progressed, the leading blue-haired figure was the first to round the bend and reach the straight opposite the grandstand.
Feeling the sense of liberation surging from her legs, Polaris Absolute Speed's eyes flashed with delight, and she immediately chose to quicken her pace:
【Good, first level of liberation.】
Her speed visibly increased by a notch, which was already a fixed event in her races.
The audience, seeing this, showed no surprise. Everyone tacitly applauded, and a small portion of people were even discussing:
"Speaking of Polaris Glare's running style, accelerating after every major bend, if there are enough bends in the race, how fast will she actually accelerate?"
"Who knows, no one has seen it with their own eyes."
"Hmm? Haven't you seen this year's Yayoi Sho?"
After a slight pause.
"At that time, the race couldn't proceed normally, so Polaris Glare deliberately ran an extra lap around the track."
"And the result was, after four complete bends, her speed... she was truly flying on the grass."
On the racecourse, Mihono Bourbon also chose to accelerate after noticing the blue-haired figure in front starting to speed up.
Only this time, she couldn't maintain the distance as she wished.
After just one liberation, Polaris Absolute Speed's leg power was already beyond what she could keep up with.
The distance between the two gradually widened, from the original three horse lengths to four, then five...
"Polaris's acceleration... is faster than before...!"
Mihono Bourbon, realizing this, widened her eyes slightly, and an expression of astonishment unconsciously appeared on her face.
This was not something difficult to understand.
They could improve themselves through training, and Polaris Absolute Speed could too.
While they were growing, Polaris Absolute Speed was also growing.
And from what was seen now, the growth of that blue-haired figure was clearly even greater.
Her acceleration, more rapid than ever before, was the proof.
"Polaris Absolute Speed starts to accelerate! Are the Horse Girl behind unable to keep up?! Is Mihono Bourbon unable to keep up?!"
Already... unable to keep up...?
She was still moving her legs... she still had enough stamina to keep running...
She had clearly promised before the race that she would catch up...
"Crack!"
A sudden sound like shattering glass echoed, but Mihono Bourbon seemed to pay no attention at all, only staring intently ahead.
The aura around her suddenly burned even more fiercely, and flames even appeared in her eyes.
Unacceptable...
This... is unacceptable...!
"Crack!"
The shattering sound rang out again, and in her consciousness, a dark, cracked curtain seemed to appear.
"I haven't... ended here yet!!!"
She broke through it, stepping into the realm beyond.
Accompanying it was an unknown, powerful leg strength.
Her vision gradually dimmed, all surrounding sounds disappeared, and the grass beneath her feet transformed into a path leading to a snowy white kingdom.
Ahead was the light she had always yearned for, the deepest desire of her heart.
"Mihono Bourbon has accelerated! An acceleration far beyond anything before! So fast! The distance to Polaris Absolute Speed is rapidly closing!"
"?!"
Feeling the intense frost surging from behind her, Polaris Absolute Speed's face showed visible surprise.
【This feeling... there's no mistake...】
【It's a domain! A domain similar to mine!】
"What's going on, why...?!"
Before she could think further, a figure with dark brown long hair suddenly surged past from the outside, rushing to the front.
It happened so suddenly, so suddenly that no one was mentally prepared.
Fortunately, someone finally spoke up, confirming this scene:
"Mihono Bourbon has overtaken!!"
"This is neither an illusion nor a fantasy! It's a real situation!"
"Polaris Glare's insurmountable barrier shatters at this moment! The cold snow pervading the racecourse will finally be dispelled!"
The Announcer (Female)'s shocked voice continued to ring out, and the audience couldn't help but erupt in excitement.
Indeed, everyone loved Polaris Glare's dominant performance and wished they could witness it every time.
But at the same time, people were also looking forward to the emergence of a Horse Girl who could break through the cold snow.
Now, Mihono Bourbon had done it.
On this Nakayama Racecourse, in this Satsuki Sho race, she broke through the cold snow and surged to the front.
"Is this for real?!"
Sirius Symboli, who was behind, also widened her eyes upon seeing this, unable to believe that the other party had actually done it.
She actually surpassed Polaris, reached the realm beyond, and saw the scenery beyond...
"Hmph hahaha! Not bad! This is how a race should be!"
"Just you wait! I'll do it too! Polaris! Mihono Bourbon!"
She shouted, laughing, and aside from the aura around her, flames also appeared in her eyes.
She stomped her right foot hard on the ground, and after a brief pause, burst into acceleration, chasing after them.
At this point, the race had already passed the straight and entered the final major bend.
Mihono Bourbon maintained her lead, her mind highly focused, with only the front in her eyes.
Her current feeling was strange, like being in a garden bathed in warm sunlight, beautiful and pleasant.
Her brain didn't want to think too much, only wanting to enjoy this brief moment as much as possible, enjoying this scenery that belonged only to her.
【Ah... so this is the scenery beyond the wind and snow...】
【It really is... as beautiful as I expected...】
A smile slowly appeared on her lips, and her face showed joy and satisfaction:
"Don't you think so?"
"Polaris..."
The moment her words fell, her body was suddenly invaded by an extreme cold that permeated into her blood.
The intense discomfort caused her previously focused mind to scatter, and her moving legs involuntarily slowed down.
And at this moment, a blue-haired figure accelerated past from the outside, intentionally glancing over:
"As a knight, you should honestly stay behind me."
"Rushing forward rashly is disrespectful!"
Entering the final straight, Polaris Absolute Speed, having unleashed three layers of leg power, opened her domain fully, with platinum aura and cold snow intertwining.
Even after passing Mihono Bourbon, she continued to accelerate, and the distance between them was instantly pulled apart.
When the cold snow withdraws its mercy, all things shall be overturned.
"Crossing the finish line!!"
"Polaris Absolute Speed! Once again takes the victory by seven horse lengths!"
"Polaris Glare's majesty brooks no challenge from anyone! Her absolute strength is enough to make all Horse Girl submit!"
"Having dominated the Satsuki Sho, she has already secured two crowns!"
"Oh oh oh oh oh!!!"
After the race results were confirmed, the audience immediately erupted in a thunderous cheer.
Polaris Absolute Speed also changed from her usual demeanor, intentionally flicking her long hair with her hand, her expression cold and arrogant.
Mainly, the anger of being surpassed still lingered in her heart; she really couldn't smile and wave as she had before.
But when she turned her gaze to the person who had caused her emotional fluctuations, her pupils suddenly constricted, and all her anger instantly vanished.
Mihono Bourbon was sitting on the ground, clutching her left calf, looking as if she was trying her best to endure the pain.
That was clearly... a situation no one wanted to see.
"Where are the medical personnel?! There's an injured person here! Hurry up! Hurry!"
The sudden shout caused the cheering to abruptly stop. After realizing what had happened, everyone's expressions changed.
Sirius Symboli, who finished third, was also attracted by Polaris Absolute Speed's shout and noticed the figure sitting on the grass.
For a moment, her expression also became disbelieving:
"Hey, this isn't real, is it?"
"Mihono Bourbon, you... this isn't real, is it...?"