I'm Ornn, and I'm about to be beaten to my knees by the Man-eating Horse Girl!

"Now I must immediately demonstrate my strength and courage and accept this dark duel!"

Orn mounted his warhorse, kicked the frame upwards, pulled out a hammer and struck the bearings and tires, made a defiant gesture towards the vehicle behind him, and finally jabbed the bell next to the handlebars, tossing out his white handkerchief as well.

"Further words are useless! DUEL!"

The sports car's engine roared to life, seemingly determined to win the duel.

As the Metropolitan Championship began, a seemingly unequal but actually nearly equal match also officially started!

Chapter 59 The Sky Above the Arena

Inside the locker room at Tokyo Racecourse, Shining Glory is changing into her race gymnastics outfit.

"Huh? This button on the back... I just can't seem to button it up?"

Chestnut-haired horse girl was in an awkward situation. Unlike the uniforms at Kasamatsu Academy, the racing uniforms here, while similar in appearance, were completely different in structure.

She put her hands behind her back and fumbled around for a long time, but still couldn't figure it out.

"Ugh... I'm really bad at running. I can't even get my clothes on properly now. I guess I should just give up on myself..."

As if hearing her muttering to herself, a pair of hands reached behind the newly radiant figure and fastened the number tag on her chest.

"Meow, this is how you tie the ribbon. Haven't you ever competed in a big city like Tokyo before?"

Shining Brightly turned around quickly and saw a stout horse girl of similar build peeking out with her cat-like mouth helping her tie her sash.

If you insist on calling it almond hair... it doesn't quite look the same. Her hair color is closer to an extremely thin, light green, and on her left forehead, there's a hair clip shaped like a chrysanthemum.

Chestnut Hair bowed and said, "Um... thank you so much for helping me button up! Are you also a contestant here?"

Lu Mao was startled by the solemn address. She waved her hand and laughed, "Oh, don't use such a formal title. It's nothing, nothing at all! Anyway, there's still some preparation time before the official performance, so don't be too anxious."

As she spoke, she crossed her arms behind her head and asked lazily, "By the way, are you also a horse girl from the countryside? That's rare. You've come straight to participate in the Tokyo OP-level competition. Is your trainer very confident in you?"

Ornn? He's very confident in me?

Her bright, newly formed eyes narrowed as she recalled the miserable time she had been subjected to the Great Demon King's military training, the pain and torment of the past three months, and the fact that Ornn hadn't treated her like a beautiful girl at all. Her eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.

Of course, this was mainly because of anger.

She rubbed her eyes and choked out, "Confidence? I'm afraid I can't live up to his confidence!"

"Waaaaah... Damn it!!"

The horse girl with the reed-like hair was a little flustered by the new brilliance. She comforted her, "Hey, don't cry, I was just joking, just joking!"

She hadn't expected that her slight probing would cause the horse woman in front of her to suddenly become agitated.

As a girl from a rural background like Kasamatsu, the fact that she chose a tournament held in a major city like the Metropolitan Championship after her debut battle made her instinctively assume that this girl had a similar background to her.

After all, as an ordinary person who rose from the countryside to become one of the geniuses who made it to the central government, this is how she succeeded.

So while scanning the list of contestants, she wanted to meet this seemingly unremarkable "kindred spirit" who also came from the countryside.

But now it seems that the situation is quite different from what she guessed.

Oh dear, how am I supposed to comfort her? I've never studied psychological counseling. I should have listened to Grandpa's nagging more... What should I do now?

Fortunately, her newfound joy was short-lived. She rubbed her eyes and muttered, "That bastard... I really want to jump up and punch him twice!"

After saying that, she miraculously calmed down and returned to the standard posture of a contestant.

The newly radiant figure looked up and said, "Sorry, I made you laugh at me. It should be almost time to go on stage, right? How about we go on stage together?"

The horse girl with the goose feathers hesitated for a moment, recalling the terrifying emotional control that the other person possessed—almost as if they could step right into the film industry—and nodded, saying, "Okay...right?"

She thought for a moment, then asked, "But you and your trainer seem to have a good relationship, right? Although it's strange that your first reaction is to cry when he's mentioned..."

"Are you close? I guess so."

As the two walked down the aisle before going on stage, Xin Guanghui said, "He could have said nice things to flatter me, or even lied to me, but he never did."

"Ever since I met him, he's been comparing me, this piece of junk, to other gems. Honestly, I know I'm junk! Why does he keep saying it?"

Seemingly wanting to vent her inner dissatisfaction, the newly radiant brilliance confided to the horse woman who had helped her, "Although what he said was harsh and true, he never denied the path I had chosen, even though it seemed to offer no hope. He still supported me in doing it."

"So I also... I want to see how far I can go on this path, and then... I'll slap my achievements hard across his arrogant face! Let him know that even a rock like mine can hurt!"

With brand new, radiant light, he raised both hands, seemingly striking a cool pose.

But she quickly realized that the two of them had already walked out of the passage, and her cool pose was now exposed to the sight of thousands of people in the audience.

"...I want to die."

Its brand-new, radiant face glowed red, and as the commentator gave his opening remarks, it slunk away to the side of the platform where it was to make its appearance.

"...It seems our new star from Kasamatsu is very motivated! As the runner-up with the lowest support rate at twelfth place, can she create a miracle at the Tokyo racetrack?!"

Looking at the embarrassed-looking new Radiance, the sturgeon girl muttered to herself, "I'm so envious...having a trainer like that...why am I not..."

She shook her head and also boarded the platform.

The commentator's voice rose in excitement as she passionately announced, "Oh?! Now taking the stage is the number one supporter, who has leaped all the way from Chiba Prefecture in the Kanto region to the central region, with a 4-5 record!"

"As a rising star who has just arrived, choosing the Metropolitan Competition as a warm-up is the most appropriate choice!"

As the commentator announced the girl's name, the atmosphere in the arena became even more intense.

Shining Radiance stared in disbelief at Qingyun Sky, who stood lazily beside her. She had no idea that the horse girl who had just listened to her complaints was such a big shot!

Is the first battle in a major city this exciting? Fighting the Demon King right off the bat? There's no way they can win!

No! The real question is, why would the Demon King even participate in the OP race?! Isn't this just stomping on weaker opponents?! What is the horse racing association even doing?! How could this application be approved?!

Seemingly noticing her overly direct gaze, Qingyun Tiankong shrugged and gave her an apologetic smile, saying, "Oh dear, I haven't had a trainer since arriving in the Central Region, so I have to sign up for OP-level competitions myself. Sorry about that!"

Shining Radiance sighed and followed the others through the gate.

Don't panic! Radiance! Even the Demon King can be defeated by the Hero's Sword!

Stay calm. If we can find the Demon King's weakness, there is still a possibility of defeating him!

Shining with newfound glory, he clenched his fist, fully focused, and prepared for the starting line.

"3!! 2!! 1!!!"

"The match begins—!!"

With a loud bang, the gate popped open instantly, and the brand-new brilliance successfully secured a good position at the front!

Alright! Next, we need to observe the movements of the other horse girls, and then use the method my benefactor taught me...

A gentle breeze, light blue, blew past the newly radiant figure. She quickly looked to her side, but could only see the other's ethereal figure, as fleeting as a cloud in the sky.

Qingyun Sky has surpassed the eleven female horse riders present and is charging toward the finish line 2400 meters away with the aura of an absolute ruler!

"Haha... I really should have given up on myself..."

"Let alone encountering the Demon King, the Demon King's oppressive aura would crush a nobody like me..."

The newly radiant light grumbled a few complaints, then she rallied her spirits and began to carry out the combat orders left by Ornn.

If we can't get first place, then we'll go for second, and if second isn't enough, we'll go for third!

I want to prove to my benefactor... that even a gun barrel without a spearhead can still pierce a person!

Chapter 60: Brand New Radiance Granite Marble, Mohs Hardness 5.1

"Qingyun Sky is in the lead! It's already far ahead of the other contestants!!"

"Not only that! The gap between her and the second place is still widening!!! It's almost ten horse lengths ahead!!"

Qingyun Tiankong's strength stirred up a monstrous wave in this fishpond. The horses behind her, unwilling to fall so far behind, all began to accelerate.

But the new radiance did not accelerate; she maintained her own pace, moving her position from the front of the line to the middle of the crowd.

'Don't rush, Glorious, please don't rush...'

'What I should do is not win, but observe—observe the way they move!'

Apart from the newly emerging star, almost all the competitors in this Metropolitan Championship are students of Central Treisen, a stark contrast to her debut race at Kasamatsu Racecourse.

The cheers from the surrounding stadium, the soft grass beneath my feet, the sound of the wind mingling with the scent of fresh grass—all these filled my nostrils.

Shining Radiance glanced at the horse girls behind him out of the corner of his eye. Unlike the others in Kasamatsu, their legs were swinging so powerfully, their eyes were so resolute, and their breath was so intense. All of this was completely different from the local area!

Even in a simple OP-level tournament, any one of the participants would be a top contender for the championship in any local competition.

And now, I'm actually competing against them on the same stage?

The newfound glory didn't stir any excitement or exhilaration within me.

On the contrary, she is now very scared.

Chestnut-haired Horse Girl wasn't a very brave girl. She didn't have the fierce spirit of the Tengzheng March, nor the indomitable will of Noren Ace, and certainly not Little Chestnut Hat's unparalleled running talent.

All she had was a little more patience for learning than the average person.

Ornn's training for the new Radiance team wasn't just about endurance and willpower; more importantly, it enhanced the observation skills of those around them.

During the two and a half months of training, she always ran behind Oguri Hat and Teng Zheng March. To outsiders, this was actually a burden to the team.

But Ornn didn't see it that way, because he could see the possibility of a new, brilliant future, however small, it was indeed a talent.

A talent for learning.

She learned from Oguri Hat's running posture, the breathing techniques from the "Tengzheng March," and everything else around her that could improve her abilities.

At Tokyo Racecourse, apart from the leading Nebula Sky, the herd of horses had been stretched into a long, curved line.

A new radiance appeared at the third bend, and Ornn's words of advice echoed in her ears once more.

"Guanghui, what do you think is the fundamental action of the behavior of learning?"

It was after a training session, and Orn was helping her relax her knees.

Watching the hammer whirling in his benefactor's hands, the newly radiant figure swallowed hard and said, "Um... I guess it's [Duokan]?"

"Ouch! It's so itchy! Hahaha! My savior! I was wrong!"

Ornn gave New Radiance a slap on the knee, then picked up his hammer and looked at the chestnut-haired pony in front of him, who was both crying and laughing. He said solemnly, "The fundamental principle of the behavior of [learning] is [imitation]. Of course, you can also call it plagiarism."

“Radiance, your physical strength is far inferior to that of Oguri and March. Perhaps it will take you two years to reach their current level.”

"But you also have advantages that they don't have. As a female horse, you have a strong learning speed and adaptability, which may be an important proof for you when you step onto the racetrack later."

He pointed to his head and said with a smile, "Guanghui, you need to think more."

"Only by thinking enough can you accumulate experience from each failure and eventually find your own path."

"Don't ask me what the road is, I don't know. This is a weapon that belongs only to you."

Chestnut Hair's smile vanished, and she said bitterly, "My benefactor isn't even considering my chances of winning anymore? And all this after my repeated failures... They won't even offer a word of comfort!"

"What good is comforting you? As a mixed stone of marble and granite, what can I possibly comfort you with? If you can't beat them, go up and knock them unconscious with your forehead?"

"You know what, you're actually pretty tough. You might actually be able to do it."

Ornn himself laughed at his own words, and the newly radiant radiance also gave a helpless laugh.

Yes, marble is indeed incomparable to other jewels.

However, if the two collide, marble is not necessarily more fragile than those precious gemstones!

Damn it! I blew them away!

"call!"

Shining Radiance took a deep breath. Her position was precarious; she was on the far right of the central group, with the fence receding into the distance just beyond that.

You only have one chance to break free from this crowd! The only possibility of escaping the crowd is at the end of the third bend!

The commentator, looking down at the arena, exclaimed excitedly, "Qingyun Tiankong is still leading by a large margin!! Is there no one left on this field who can stop her?!"

"The riders in the back have already entered the third turn, and Qingyun Tiankong has pulled ahead of the second-place rider by fifteen horse lengths!! It's truly breathtaking!!"

"Wait a minute... the second half of the race has changed when they overtook the third turn! Three female riders have emerged! Can they turn the tide of the race?!"

New Radiance gasped for air, inhaling deeply and letting it sink into her abdomen. She repeated this action, her face turning a strange red as she did so, without stopping.

She then slightly lowered her body, adopting a more suitable stance for sprinting as she ran forward.

She looked up at the blue sky at the front of the group, her eyes capturing the other person's light and agile running posture.

Unlike Oguri Hat's monstrous strength, which resembled that of a humanoid Titan, Qingyun Tiankong's figure was truly like a cloud in the sky—light and elusive.

This is a running technique unique to small-sized horse girls, utilizing the softness of the grass and their lighter weight to sprint quickly in a straight line.