SBR Chapter 9

Long, Long Downhill is the ninth chapter of Steel Ball Run.

Summary
This chapter starts with the announcer proclaiming "And the final battle begins between the leading riders only 4,000 meters are left until they reach the goal the Devil's Downhill stands before them still on top is Gyro Zeppeli there's 2,000 meters between here and the farm, the downhill area is in the range of 50 meters in height, there are areas that are as steep as a 30* angle, and a horse rider must always keep in mind that a long downhill must be run at lower speed oh even when people jump ahead, you must keep a slower pace endure it everyone must endure it even if you're scattered and behind the group you must hold a steady pace if you put out too much speed going downhill the legs of your horse could give out during the final stretch there are exceptions the same way a well will dry up, the energy spent running the 11,000 meters will all be wasted they're almost there you can't afford to exhaust your horse's legs at this point but still, there's no way you can drop your pace either from here on out it comes down to who will be able to endure it the best!" Gyro thinks to himself as he looks back to see Pocoloco following him "Damn but there's no need to worry I didn't make any mistakes during the forest crossing I don't know who the hell this guy is or how he caught up to me so fast." as he finishes his thought Gyro begins to talk to his horse Valkyrie telling it "Don't worry about your back build your strength up slowly but stay in the lead and once we pass the farm I'll let you explode into action!!!" The announcer exclaims "Someone couldn't take the slow pace and flew out, charging towards the front he's closing in on Gyro and number 777!" Pocoloco sees this and says "Don't worry Yo Yo Yohh I have luck that's one out of 50 hundred million once we pass the farm you can do anything so endure it until then and don't run off once we charge our energy we can do anything" As he finishes talking Pocoloco sees a strange figure near a fence telling him "Pocoloco what kind of idealistic talk is that there's a cow remember the cow!" the figure then appears clinging onto his horse saying "So, you can do anything hey don't get distracted or else you might fall of your horse you're not suppose to fall of yet." Pocoloco rubs his eyes saying "Huh I saw something weird did i hit my head when i fell in the forest that thing just now was i hallucinating?" The figure appears behind Pocoloco saying "Yeah it must have been a hallucination you're going to do it right  you're the guy with one out of 50 hundred million luck GO don't worry about the downhill and just go have faith you're a lucky guy you can beat him if you don't hold your horse back it will all work out you'll certainly win" Pocoloco startled by the figure turns to see the figure is gone as he turns his back to the front however he sees the figures hand emerging out of his he looks at his hand some what shaking then smiles looking determined. Pocoloco shouts towards Gyro "Yo yo guy in front is this all you can do I proclaim once i pass you you will never be able to take the lead from me Pocoloco." Gyro looks back at him smiling while saying "Did you say something were you talking to my ass because i can't hear anything with my ass." Pocoloco angry at this replies "You better move fall behind you freak!" Pocoloco proceeds to pass Gyro as a stunned Johnny watches saying "What the..." The announcer proclaims "Amazing number 777 has moved in front his name is Pocoloco 21 yrs old from Georgia registered as Pocoloco he passed Gyro and has taken the lead Gyro's holding back!" Johnny running with the other riders thinks "Don't worry Don't get pulled in by him getting pulled in by some choice made by him will lead to the stairs of hell there's no doubt about it" The announcer exclaims "Other riders have joined in and are accelerating they're flying Gyro is catching up 15 horse lengths, 10 horse lengths he's pulling closer to Pocoloco but this is foolish its not a challenge its reckless accelerating downhill is a poor tactic the sound of hooves are a requiem for what's to come!" Gyro thinks to himself "Let's say he had some kind of strategy and he's flying downhill for a reason  like in the forest when he consciously fell off to get pulled by his horse through the trees. If he reaches the farm safely then during the final stretch with the distance between us at this hill will my horse have a chance to overtake him before the goal!? No there's no way he can make it in one piece it'll all come to a head soon! Forget he exist just don't think about him hold back i have to endure through this hill!" The announcer proclaims "They fell off! Two riders have fallen off things have come to a head if you don't take this downhill seriously you will end up dead! Pocoloco tripped it's all coming to a head!" As the announcer says this Pocoloco's stand tells him "It's okay just keep going we are lucky it's safe g...." The announcer proclaims "He fell Pocoloco is down Gyro is in first place he takes the lead  Pocoloco was imprudent" Gyro smiles saying "Thank you very much" as Pocoloco falls. The announcer says "Right on schedule Gyro is in the lead and heading towards the farm!" Gyro notices Pocoloco is still up as he gets closer to farm saying "What the hell he's still moving...!" The announcer states "Pocoloco is safe he didn't fall down no he definitely fell but he's moving at an even greater speed he's riding something he's moving down Pocoloco is sliding down on a cow's dead body!" Gyro seeing this thinks to himself "This guy this freaking what the hell it's calculation there's no mistake this guy's action aren't coincidence or just being dumb he has to know all these things in advance or else he wouldn't be able to pull all this crap this race's enemy is him he's one fearsome enemy"  Pocoloco while riding on the dead cow's body exclaims "Wonderful yeehaah there was a cow's dead body in the grass this no hallucination this is my own good luck!" Gyro watching this from behind says to himself "This is terrible his horse isn't even running it's doing nothing but resting once we cross the farm we'll be at the final stretch and his horse's legs will be rested I'm not sure what the rulebook says exactly but I'm sure this is a horse race I can't let you ride a dead cow's body!" Gyro then pulls out a steel ball and throws it at a rock to try and stop dead cow's body from sliding but by doing that he caused Soundman who was on the rock to fall. As Soundman runs on the track Gyro watches surprised stating "Who's that why is there someone running on the track shit the rock fell too late." The chapter ends with the announcer exclaiming "Who is he that person running he's running downhill with his legs he broke into a run so suddenly fast which route did he take his name is Sandman according to his registration this race is impossible to predict it's so exciting sandman is in first place as we head down the final stretch!"