At the same time that "calm" appeared on the track, the stands and commentary booth erupted into hoarse, air-rending clamor.
"Final Turn!"
"All racers are making their final sprint preparations for the Final Straight!"
"Kitasan Black still leads, but... her challengers are gathering!"
As though forcibly suppressing the tremor in his throat—or confirming the suffocating state of the race—the commentator paused for the briefest moment before roaring in an even more explosive voice:
"Charging toward the Great Zelkova Tree, charging toward us—Kitasan Black leads the charge toward us!"
"She's still in front, still in front!"
"But her lead is shrinking, shrinking!"
"Behind her is Golden Lyric! Golden Lyric has steadied herself in the Inner Lane—she's closing in!"
"On the Outer Lane are Futanari Shingang, California Spangle, and Bafur—three whole opponents pressing forward step by step!"
"Behind them are Frostfall and Adayar! Frostfall and Adayar have caught up! Two overseas warriors have caught up!"
"Ginger Liqueur, Koushou Hayate, Duramente, Wanlai Zhengming, Seven Colors Line!"
"All of them!"
"Together!"
"Are charging forward!"
"The Great Zelkova Tree!"
"It's the Great Zelkova Tree!"
"Exiting the turn!"
"In the lead... Kitasan Black is still in the lead, but...!"
"California Spangle has actually... pulled alongside!"
"California Spangle has come out of the Great Zelkova Tree side by side with Kitasan Black, and...!"
"Adayar!"
"Adayar... has surged up too!"
"Now!"
"The start of the Final Straight!"
"And the start of a Three-Way Melee!"
"The battlefield where all the Horse Girls behind them, unwilling to be outdone, begin their final and Most Tragic Gamble!"
The venue had already gone completely mad, the atmosphere ignited to the brink of explosion.
Anjing Zhen's team at the front, Tokai Teio and Trof in the VIP box behind them—every one of them had lost their previous gravity or composure. Like drops of