Uma Musume Girl, I'll tell you about my Santa Hat special move too?

At this moment, Stardust Illusion isn't relying on a particular skill or running technique, but rather on something more fundamental...

If this were in the context of the previous Uma Musume Pretty Derby game, this state would be named:

[EX Speed-Up Mode!]

Her figure vanished instantly from the sight of the last few people, leaving only the howling storm and the thunder that tore through the rain!

As it ran headlong into the distance, only its open mouth revealing fangs could be barely seen; its expression was completely obscured.

It is also more difficult to tell whether she is actually laughing heartily.

However, what is known is that the clear fighting spirit on Stardust Illusion's body has been completely ignited.

At the very beginning of the race, this runner transformed into a whirlwind, launching an attack from the back of the pack towards the eleven opponents ahead!

[The last stardust illusion to fall into the runner's ranks has no intention of staying put; she's changed her running style!]

Is it going to accelerate? Just a dozen seconds into the race, is Stardust Illusion already accelerating to overtake the competitors ahead?!

She really sped up! So fast! Too fast! It was like a storm!

This fleeing champion didn't give up. So what if she fell to the back? She wasn't going to give up any opportunity. In just a few seconds, she decided to still rush to the front of the race!

Will she succeed?! Can Stardust Illusion break through these eleven contestants?!

"This is too exaggerated... Runners like Stardust Illusion are extremely rare. Does he not plan to use any other running methods besides the Great Escape?"

Even the father in the audience who recalled Qingzhu couldn't help but marvel.

"Is the Stardust Illusion finally breaking free from the influence of being late and returning to the Great Escape?"

Standing next to the father fan, the telescope-wielding man supporting the Stardust Illusion quickly asked.

"No, it's not that simple. Eleven contestants are not easy to surpass."

"The Stardust Illusion only has a distance of less than 700 meters to complete these eleven leaps, which already requires extremely high strength, and the opponent also has the Green Bamboo Memories!"

Is strength really that important?

The man with binoculars also picked up his equipment and kept a close eye on the situation on the field.

The father shrugged and pointed to the center of the field:

"It is indeed that important. Putting aside the fact that acceleration is highly related to strength, when racehorses are running, in order to overtake their opponents, in addition to overwhelming them with their positional awareness, the most basic way is to use their body and strength to forcefully squeeze out a path."

“And Stardust Illusion has absolutely no way to push Green Bamboo Memories aside; those are five years of her accumulated memories!”

Chapter 167 (plus 7.5) Phantom Steps... Failure?!

Qingzhu recalled that she was running in fourth place at that moment, which was a tactic she had discussed with her trainer in advance.

Instead of rushing to defeat her opponents early on, she maintained a decent run and used her strongest last leg to start from the second half of the race to claim the crown of victory.

She heard the words the commentator had just spoken.

Even without explanation, the growing calls of "Oysters~!" and the increasingly close sound of wind breaking through the air from behind all indicated the same thing:

The Stardust Illusion, which made a mistake in exiting the gate, has already caught up and will accelerate to seize a position in the early stages. Her only goal can be to escape!

(Come on, Stardust Illusion—!)

"You want to prove to me that you're the second-generation Oguri Hattori?"

The galloping green bamboo recalled, shouting without turning its head.

Her steps gradually quickened at this moment. Qingzhu recalled slowly adjusting her position to block the path of the opponent rushing from behind.

"—Now is the perfect time, let's have a pure clash of strength."

"Let me show you my incredible physique, which once rivaled the real Oguri Hat... ahhh!!!"

"..."

However, the response that Qingzhu recalled as expected never came.

At this moment, the Stardust Illusion seized the opportunity again, overtaking the two runners one after another and leaving them behind.

To the runners who had already fallen behind, Stardust Illusion's running now appeared completely different from before.

There were no explosive footsteps, nor any frenzied or savage atmosphere.

The Stardust Illusion raced silently across the arena, its aura like a bottomless black hole, seemingly ready to devour everything...

(What is that!?)

This question simultaneously arose in the minds of these runners.

But in the next second.

The runners who were still running ahead all felt a huge sense of crisis coming at them!

Qingzhu recalled that she felt as if some kind of bloodthirsty beast was staring at her from behind, and she couldn't help but turn her head slightly to glance behind her.

Then she saw it.

The runner who grinned widely, revealing a silent smile, yet whose entire body seemed to emanate a dark aura, was Stardust Illusion.

She is coming!

She's here to challenge herself!

"Ouch!!!"

The memories of green bamboo, which instantly ignited within me, filled me with a sense of unease, without the slightest fear.

She immediately adjusted her position and used her body to block the direction of the inner stardust illusion.

Want to get through here? Then use your body to take over this path!

"What……!"

Qingzhu, who had just been transferred to the new runway, was met with an unbelievable scene:

The stardust illusion rushing towards her suddenly blurred at that moment, and with each step she took, several phantoms emerged from her body.

Each of these phantoms runs in a completely different way and in a different direction, making it difficult to discern which one will be where her true form will appear next.

The Stardust Illusion suddenly changed its running pattern the instant it approached Qingzhu's memory.

As she suddenly took a step, her figure changed along with her steps.

Seeing that Qingzhu was about to use her body to block him, Stardust Illusion activated the golden running technique he had mastered!

[Golden skill Phantom Step, activated!]

------------

"That's... Stardust Illusion's unique Phantom Step!!!"

After using the binoculars, the man with the binoculars could see the situation on the field very clearly.

Upon discovering that Stardust Illusion had once again employed the same technique used in the previous match, this exclamation involuntarily escaped his lips:

"The Stardust Illusion did not disappoint us. Even in this situation, it still managed to shake off its opponent who was blocking its way."

"That mere moment of delay in Qingzhu's recollection and judgment was enough for the Stardust Illusion to break in!"

The father figure standing beside him didn't get angry. He glanced at the excited man and said calmly:

"Indeed, as you said, the special movement patterns of the Stardust Illusion can cause Qingzhu, whose vision was already incomplete, to make incorrect judgments..."

"However, if you think that a mere misjudgment would prevent Qingzhu from completing the obstruction, you are sorely mistaken."

Facing the surprised man with binoculars who suddenly turned to look at him, the dad fan couldn't help but feel smug. He pointed towards the arena:

"Just watch closely and see why so many people love Qingzhu Memories!"

On the field, Qingzhu recalled that although she was surprised by the phantom she saw, she still did not stop.

Seeing the phantom of stardust behind him step down, its toes instantly pointed to the left front.

She also suddenly stepped to the left, shifting her body to the left to block the path on the right, clearing the way that had been blocked.

"Successful!"

The stardust illusion behind him let out a low growl.

Although the atmosphere felt a little off, Stardust Illusion had complete confidence in its Phantom Steps.

Once she uses this unique running technique, her opponent will definitely be unable to judge the direction she is heading and will reveal a weakness.

As long as I can seize this moment of weakness, then even Qingzhu's memories cannot stop me!

She suddenly exerted force with the sole of her foot, which was originally pointing to the left, causing her entire body to twist to the right.

Just moments ago she seemed poised to charge to the left, but now she's charging fiercely towards the path cleared by Qingzhu Huiyi on the right—

--no.

Phantom Step, as a golden running skill and a creation of Stardust Illusion, definitely has its own unique features.

Once it's used, almost no one can avoid being exposed and forced to reveal a weakness.

However, it is not completely invincible.

During training, Stardust Illusion's Phantom Steps were defeated by the Noble Clan, who used the equally powerful running technique: [King's Hand].

Ikuno Didos also used the Golden Vision skill [Overall View] to see through this move.

In other words, even if you have the corresponding gold skill, it is not guaranteed to work!

A terrifying heatwave suddenly erupted from Qingzhu Huiyi's body.

Her eyes widened, and she clenched her teeth tightly.

Qingzhu recalled that her body, which had already turned to the left, pressed down entirely onto her right leg that had stepped out.

"Are you kidding me?!"

"Burn! The Fierce Competition! Part Three!!!"

She roared out each word clearly, and her entire body suddenly spun in an almost impossible manner.