Chapter 16: Endurance Training, You Thinks It Can Make Me Yield?
800m.
800 meters remained between the two and the finish line.
Stardust Mirage still used her most comfortable cornering style, essentially breaking the turn into two straight sections and one directional change.
Although this made her run about ten extra meters, it also allowed her to avoid the speed loss forced upon her on the turn.
Oguri Cap seemed to notice this as well. Instead of blocking, she slowed down and gave way, opening a path for Stardust Mirage to move to the wide outside.
And then... I feel it! The position is right here!
Skill, 777, activate!
A surge of warmth flowed through her limbs. The phantom image flashed through Stardust Mirage's mind again – the gray-haired speeding along, adjusting her running form into the most correct posture –
In an instant, Stardust Mirage's entire demeanor changed drastically. Every step she took exploded with astonishing power, even the turf was dented by her bold strides.
Her speed, acceleration, and stamina all comprehensive enhancement. Riding on this wide outside turn, Stardust Mirage transformed into a gust of wind, fiercely charging towards the final straight.
It's here!
Old Man Musaka's focus sharpened immediately. That abruptly transformed running style was exactly what he and Oguri Cap wanted to learn – every step pounding the ground with full force to gain even greater explosive power.
This running style was very similar to the ultimate technique Oguri Cap used in the last 200m, but it had been Technique into a sustained enhancement ability that could be used earlier. This was definitely the final piece of the puzzle for Oguri Cap's championship win!
He held his breath, watching the situation on the track.
The moment Oguri Cap saw this running style, she immediately slowed slightly, falling behind Stardust Mirage. She needed to observe the footwork of every step carefully from this angle.
"Hah... Hah..."
Having entered this state, Stardust Mirage could no longer concern herself with anything else. Feeling the stamina recovery brought by this running style, she did her best to adjusted her physical condition.
She felt as if she had returned to that racecourse at Nakayama Racecourse.
Following closely behind was Tokai Teio, burning her back like a phoenix, while she was the runner at any time in danger of having first place snatched away.
If she continued like this, would she be overtaken by Tokai Teio next?
I won't... lose like this!
"A second burst of speed!?"
Following Musaka's exclamation, Stardust Mirage's will to win was ignited by the illusion.
Feeling the wind whipping past her face at this high speed, she gritted her teeth, lowered her body further, and surged forward with a second acceleration!
Is parallel running training supposed to be this intense?
Oguri Cap, running behind Stardust Mirage observing her steps, was completely baffled, not understanding why the person in front had suddenly started accelerating again.
They had now entered the final straight one after the other. With 300m left, to avoid being dropped outright, Oguri Cap also had to start increasing her speed.
BOOM!
For a runner like Oguri Cap, there was only one way to accelerate: pour even more strength into her legs and feet, and pound the ground!
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The pressure from behind not only didn't fade, but drew closer and closer.
A faintly perceptible oppressive aura gradually enveloped Stardust Mirage. An indescribable atmosphere spread across the final straight.
Stardust Mirage's pupils constricted sharply.
I can't shake her off?
Not even a second acceleration could shake her? Don't tell me... she's going to unleash a third acceleration?!
I don't want... to give up like last time again!
Thinking this, Stardust Mirage gritted her teeth, wanting to increase her speed once more, putting all her strength into stomping the ground.
How is this possible... I can't increase my speed anymore?
No! It's the person chasing from behind who's starting to accelerate!
Final 200 meters straight!
Oguri Cap's already low running posture pressed even closer to the ground. Now she was like a fighter jet flying at treetop level. Her beast-like eyes widened sharply. For these last 200 meters, she didn't plan to yield to anyone!
Shiver.
Stardust Mirage, still running with gritted teeth, only felt a chill down her spine. Before her eyes, she could almost see a monstrous presence, terrifyingly immense, closing in step by step from behind.
This was no mere competitor on a racetrack. This was a monster capable of destroying a city, a Godzilla... No, this is an illusion!
Stardust Mirage reacted immediately, but her movements still unavoidably hesitated.
And in that moment, a gray-white phantom from the side seized the opportunity to streak past at high speed!
Finish Line!!!
Oguri Cap ultimately took first place in this run by a margin of two lengths.
"Hah... Hah... Hah..."
Stardust Mirage, her stamina completely drained, leaned against the wall gasping for breath. Only now did she realize it was just a parallel training run.
She remembered again that moment being overtaken by Tokai Teio, which must have triggered her competitive spirit...
"I'm really sorry, I got a bit carried away just now."
She quickly turned to apologize to Oguri Cap. Initially, it was supposed to be a parallel run so Oguri Cap could learn Festive Miracle, but she herself had inexplicably started accelerating multiple times, forcibly disrupting the rhythm.
"Huh?"
Oguri Cap wiped her sweat, facing Stellar Mirage's apology with a confused expression.
"It's just... I wanted to win too much, so I didn't properly maintain that running form."
Stardust Mirage explained apologetically.
"Wanting to win is normal, right? What's the problem with that?"
Oguri Cap replied, her cheeks puffed out.
She seemed to be recovering her stamina in her own way, but her face looked a bit like a stuffed bun, her twin ears on her head twitching slightly, appearing very cute.
"Oguri is right."
Old Man Musaka, who had approached, affirmed Oguri Cap's statement:
"If you have to suppress the will to win, then what's the point of racing? So you don't need to apologize for that. If anything, Oguri's will to win is even stronger than yours. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten serious in the last two hundred meters, hahahaha!"
Musaka Ginjirou laughed heartily, which made Stardust Mirage, who felt somewhat guilty, sigh in relief.
After all, Musaka had been emphasizing how pressed for time Oguri Cap was. If she had truly wasted Oguri Cap's precious training time, that would have been terrible.
"Alright, now that the warm-up is about done." Old Man Musaka clapped his hands, drawing their attention, then continued:
"Next, let's start the endurance training!"
"That was just the warm-up?!"
Stardust Mirage, already nearly exhausted, widened her eyes in shock.
Her legs felt like they were filled with lead, even lifting them was an effort. And now this trainer was saying... the real training hadn't even started!?
You've got to be kidding!
"Haha, I noticed your stamina is a weak point earlier." Old Man Musaka's smile widened. "But, that also means you need to overcome this weakness even more."
"Otherwise, if you're completely drained after 1800M and 1600M, how can you aim for the Classic Triple Crown? Remember, the Japanese Derby is 2400m, and the Kikuka Shō is a full 3000m."
"So, what do you say? If you want victory, you can't refuse."
"Tch... Fine, let's train! As if you could possibly train me until I puke?!"
Facing Musaka's inquiring gaze, Stardust Mirage, her legs trembling, agreed.
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Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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