“Charge to the front, surpass Rudolph Symboli.”
This was the only thought currently on Chitose Meiji’s mind.
Abandoning her pursuit tactics, abandoning her original specialty.
The former king, now struggling in defeat, carried this sorrow and misfortune. She would not flinch; she only wanted to sprint with all her might.
A gentle breeze gradually accompanied her, and a flowing light shimmered in her eyes.
This was the last time, her final domain.
As the race progressed, the Horse Girl team rounded a medium bend and entered the straight opposite the stands.
This was also a straight with a long slope, conventionally believed to only allow for slow ascent and slow descent.
But here, Chitose Meiji once again defied convention and began to accelerate.
Her domain blossomed, and an extremely strong sense of pressure immediately erupted.
“?!”
The faces of the Horse Girl in front all showed surprise, and even Rudolph Symboli widened her eyes:
“Using her domain at this time? It’s only the middle of the race!”
“What exactly do you want to do, Chitose Meiji!”
Rudolph Symboli’s confusion was quickly answered as the Announcer (Female)’s surprised voice rang out:
“Chitose Meiji is accelerating! She’s accelerating on the long slope of Kyoto Racecourse!”
“Just like during the Kikuka-shō (菊花赏)! Just like during the Kikuka-shō (菊花赏)! In an instant, she has overtaken the Horse Girl who were originally in the lead!”
The intense pressure approached, and an uncontrollable fear surged from the depths of the Horse Girl’ hearts.
They couldn’t react; they could only watch helplessly as that figure, accompanied by a gentle breeze, overtook them from the outside.
And among the Horse Girl who were overtaken was Rudolph Symboli.
As this scene unfolded, the audience involuntarily erupted in cheers.
Chitose Meiji seemed to have returned; the former king seemed to have returned.
Could it really happen this time?
Could she truly fulfill her long-cherished wish of defeating Rudolph Symboli and reclaim everything she had lost?
People weren’t sure, but at least for now, they were willing to cheer for Chitose Meiji, willing to shout for her.
At the stands, Katsuragi Ace leaned slightly forward, gripping the railing, her gaze fixed, then she sighed with a hint of realization:
“That is… so that’s it, Chitose Meiji, have you made up your mind…”
Maruzensky, beside her, also showed a hint of sadness in her eyes, murmuring softly:
“Chitose Meiji-chan…”
Unlike the audience, they could clearly see and feel what was contained within the domain.
Whether it was fighting spirit, thoughts, or determination…
And what Chitose Meiji was now displaying was an intense resolve to leave no regrets.
This meant…
“Are you leaving the stage, Chitose Meiji?”
On the racecourse, Rudolph Symboli’s expression was serious, her gaze continuously fixed on the figure in front.
Golden aura suddenly burst forth around her and in her eyes. While concentrating, she consciously adjusted her breathing:
“Then let me see you off one last time, as an opponent, I will mercilessly defeat you once more!”
Chitose Meiji successfully surged to the front of the Horse Girl team and took the lead. Although it was only a straight stretch, it felt like a very long time had passed.
There was a nostalgic feeling, if she had to describe it, it would be fulfillment.
She felt fulfilled, the fulfillment after abandoning everything and charging to the front.
A series of defeats had almost made her forget how wonderful it was to stand in front of the Horse Girl.
“Racing… is truly wonderful…”
“Competing against each other, vying for victory, the winner isn’t decided until the very last moment…”
“I really can’t willingly leave this stage…”
As she continued to run, tears gradually welled up in Chitose Meiji’s eyes as she looked ahead:
“But… no matter how unwilling I am… my legs… are already…”
From the moment she activated her domain, an unusual sensation in her legs had been continuously assaulting her.
It was a feeling more unbearable than any previous burden, so unbearable that she wanted to stop there and end the race.
But at the same time, another emotion in her heart was urging her, making her continue to step forward, until the finish line.
As the race progressed, the Horse Girl team, led by Chitose Meiji, entered the final large bend.
Rudolph Symboli, who had been observing her position, chose her route and decisively began to act.
Her powerful leg strength immediately showed, and her swift and dominant acceleration allowed her to effortlessly overtake several Horse Girl, reaching the third position.
At this moment, she was only three horse lengths behind the leading Chitose Meiji.
She still had remaining stamina; as long as she sprinted normally in the final straight, she would definitely be able to overtake her opponent and win.
However, this level was clearly not enough.
Since she had decided to see her opponent off one last time, to give her a complete and utter defeat, she had to use all her means.
Rudolph Symboli released her aura, specifically interfering with Chitose Meiji.
“?!”
On Chitose Meiji’s side, the interference forced her to reluctantly disperse her domain. The flowing light in her eyes disappeared, and the gentle breeze accompanying her also faded.
Feeling the pressure coming from behind, a smile suddenly appeared on her lips:
“You’ve finally come, Rudolf.”
Due to releasing her domain too early and accelerating too soon, her current stamina was actually somewhat depleted.
She had originally worried that if she didn’t have enough stamina for the final straight, she wouldn’t be able to sprint and thus wouldn’t be able to decide the winner with her opponent.
But now that her opponent had actively come forward, it was perfect.
And as if understanding Chitose Meiji’s thoughts, Rudolph Symboli, even before entering the final straight, increased her speed further at the corner of the fourth bend.
Influenced by her, the other Horse Girl also began to accelerate. The rhythm suddenly quickened, and they had already entered the final decisive stage.
“Rudolph Symboli is coming! Will it be a showdown between two Triple Crown Horse Girls?!”
“The other Horse Girl are also accelerating, coming to the straight in front of the stands, running towards the glory of victory amidst the cheers of numerous spectators!”
The showdown between the two Triple Crown Horse Girls… indeed unfolded.
Rudolph Symboli consciously approached Chitose Meiji, and the two Horse Girl were parallel for just an instant.
They even shared a tacit eye contact, each containing different thoughts and emotions.
“It’s over, Chitose Meiji, you’ve lost. Your stamina is already insufficient, isn’t it?”
“You don’t need to tell me, Rudolf. Really… I wanted to have a cool exit.”
“Hehe, I think your acceleration on that long slope was very cool, and the audience too, they must have recalled your charm once again.”
“Is that so? That’s good then. I can’t go with you the rest of the way. Rudolf, you go defeat all your opponents yourself.”
“Mm, I intend to do just that. Well then, see you later.”
Withdrawing her gaze, Rudolph Symboli stomped her right foot heavily on the ground, bursting into acceleration after a brief pause.
She easily and smoothly overtook all her opponents at the final 200 meters, crossing the finish line first by 2 and a half horse lengths.
“Crossing the finish line! Rudolph Symboli! Spring Tenno Sho conquered!”
“Five crowns achieved! The second five-crown Horse Girl since Sanzan twenty years ago is born at this moment!”
“Give Rudolph Symboli, give the Emperor’s strength, a warm round of applause and cheers!”
