Domain! Nearl had always commanded more than one.
She once wielded three major domains, judging the opportune moment to deploy the most fitting one for the situation.
The [Flaming Edge], [Night-Scouring Gleam], and [Blazing Sun's Obeisance] unleashed by The Radiant Knight, Nearl, in her heyday, all possessed formidable effects.
Beyond that, they encompassed three distinct characteristics: permanence, immunity to negative effects from the track or opponents, and protection for all Uma Musume on the field.
When forced to choose two from three, Nearl's choice was immediate… Permanence, and Protection!
The Radiant Knight firmly believed her own radiance was enough to sweep away all obstacles; permanence was the best choice.
Since she was a knight, her pursuit wasn't victory alone; her competitors on the track also fell within her protective purview!
The new domain born from Nearl's fusion of Flaming Edge and Blazing Sun's Obeisance was finally unveiled for the first time!
--+--
[(Blazing Radiance): Deploy ]
[Domain duration: Infinite. Significantly reduces stamina consumption of the domain. Moderately increases Power. Slightly increases Speed. ]
[For oneself or opponents under the domain's sway, injuries sustained while racing will be reduced by one grade. While the domain is active, domain skills and acceleration are slightly boosted. A small portion of the stamina consumed by protected Uma Musume will be transferred to The Radiant Knight. ]
[The family motto is — Fear Neither Hardship Nor Darkness! ]
[In the name of The Radiant Knight, I will protect everything! ]
--+--
The instant the domain activated, the golden-haired maiden's dashing and imposing figure suddenly radiated a presence that completely matched the swirling black storm raging beside her!
Domain versus Domain!
Blazing Radiance versus Tyrant's Domain!!
In the next moment, Nearl shot forward like a thrown lance, an arrow shot from Platinum, immensely powerful and swift.
Just as Ruffian was about to extend her half-length advantage to a full length, gritting her teeth, holding her breath, and preparing to leave Nearl behind…
The Tyrant who had used her domain right out of the gate, taking this seriously! The Radiant Knight who seemed momentarily left behind by the slightly leading great escape of the Tyrant, only to instantly close the gap again!
Behind the layers of mountains torn asunder by the falling stars, the blazing sun hung high in the sky, its light shining upon their half-length figures and the path ahead. The two figures, engaged in an unprecedented Triple Crown duel, a clash of legends, both had their momentum brewing to its peak.
Under the scorching sun, on the racetrack.
In the wind, amidst the roaring rush.
In the light, supported by countless cheers.
Unyielding, a fight to the finish… was about to begin!
In a fleeting moment, that half-length gap was reclaimed, then transformed back into a situation of near-parallel, neck-and-neck, neither giving an inch!!
From Ruffian to Nearl, the figures of the two Uma Musume realigned, commencing a true death struggle!
From the high stands, the countless seats erupted like a volcanic vent. The supporting cheers, powerful enough to nearly drown out the official commentators, now showcased the peak of support for the idols in their hearts.
"Nearl!! Nearl!! That kind of acceleration, I've never heard of it!"
"Miss Ruffian, show the world that you are the strongest!"
"This is a death struggle, this duel… it's bound to become a legendary showdown surpassing even War Admiral and Sea Biscuit's famous match!"
"This level of intensity… I've only seen it on turf last year in the Arc de Triomphe [Platinum vs Sea the Stars]!"
"As expected of a dirt race that the Pegasus Platinum herself would deign to watch. This trip wasn't wasted."
From the myriad spectators to the many retired or active Uma Musume watching, all held their breath, fearing to miss a single detail.
Without a doubt, this duel would be like Secretariat and Nearl's Belmont Stakes, like Platinum's Arc de Triomphe—a race of the year, one for the history books!
Even active Uma Musume had reason to watch and learn from this one-on-one showdown.
Among them were Sunday Silence and Easy Goer!
The somewhat petite and taciturn dark maiden, her crimson eyes filled with astonishment, her gaze mostly fixed on Nearl, with only occasional glances at Ruffian.
Sunday Silence hadn't expected Ruffian's displayed spirit and strength to be so earth-shattering, truly legendary?!
She had trained with Ruffian at Dr. Lin's place before and knew Ruffian's potential was immense.
But… surely not to the extent of being on par with monsters like Secretariat and Nearl, reaching legendary status around the Triple Crown period, right?
In their recent training matches, they had traded wins and losses, though she'd won fewer, but it wasn't a massive gap!
And Sunday Silence herself was still some distance from legendary. Even if the more talented Ruffian was stronger, she should at most be at the pinnacle of historical level, hardly able to cross that threshold.
'It seems… Ruffian has mastered a unique skill similar to Prove Out's [Giant Killer]?'
'Not quite legendary herself, but closer to legend than Prove Out, and equally possessing the potential to surpass, to topple legends!!'
Did that mean this was a true legend versus legend?!
Indeed, only that could justify such worldwide attention.
So then… who would be the final victor?!
For her own sake, Sunday Silence preferred to see Nearl win.
The logic was simple: the stronger the Uma Musume who defeated her, the higher the 'quality' of her own 'second place', her entry into Nearl's [Pegasus Hall of Fame], right?
If Ruffian won, many outside spectators would form an inequality: Ruffian > Nearl > Sunday Silence.
Therefore, an Uma Musume who lost earlier to a strong opponent often hoped that opponent would keep winning.
Emotionally, Sunday Silence had known Ruffian longer; they were friends. She knew Ruffian could seem unreliable outside races, even a bit timid—a cute contrast.
But she also knew… [Margaret Nearl] was Dr. Lin's niece, which made her, by extension, her own future niece!
So, whether for personal reasons or emotional ties, Sunday Silence couldn't help but fix her eyes on Nearl's golden figure.
And the taciturn girl couldn't help but whisper in her heart.
'Go, Nearl!'
--+--
[The Radiant Knight Nearl, reclaiming the gap from the first corner, forced Ruffian to unleash a second acceleration.]
[It's hard to believe—a second acceleration rarely seen even in the final stretch of regular GI races was merely part of the first half pace in this one-on-one duel?!]
[Their death struggle lasted all the way past the second corner! And it's still going!]
[The utterly un-pacified first half has concluded. What splendour will these two Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume display in the second half, which can only grow more intense—]
Even the commentator's voice couldn't hide his heightened anticipation for the latter part of this duel.
But… Nearl would not answer his expectations.
To be precise, Nearl answered the expectations of herself and her fans, not some notion of a close, inch-by-inch struggle leading to a so-called 'photo finish' or 'magnified camera decision famous scene'.
For a knight, that would be rather unbecoming.
And now! It was the moment for that golden maiden knight to prove her brilliance to the world, to display her bearing as a knight of Kazimierz!
The knight who had already etched the honor of the Supreme Triple Crown at Belmont Park, would righteously and fully display her strength in this one-on-one duel, opening the second chapter of her legend!
The Triple Crown was over. What Nearl aimed for now was to surpass not just all Classic Triple Crown Uma Musume, but to surpass every Uma Musume!
'Come on—!!'
Under the blazing sun! Under the weight of countless expectations!
With the commentator's voice echoing, unnoticed by the outside world, a scene that suddenly silenced the entire stadium unfolded.
It was… the dashing, heroic figure of the golden-haired maiden, visibly edging ahead by a head!
Then, it became half a length.
Then, a full length.
"—?!!"
It was a declaration to the whole world of her strength, a display of her radiant, breathtaking speed. Not even halfway through the race, Nearl accelerated, forcing the gritted-teeth Ruffian beside her to speed up as well!
A sense of crisis abruptly flooded the heart of the dark Tyrant maiden, her own strong heart pounding faster and faster.
'So fast—!!'
Nearl activating her domain early was within Ruffian's original calculations.
After all, this was the standout known for her [Stamina] and [Battle-Hardened] nature, the one who had achieved the world-renowned, premier Triple Crown - the American Classic Triple Crown.
Not only that, achieving three consecutive victories in just five weeks, she also shattered all the time records set by Secretariat the previous year—records the race officials had praised as 'likely to stand for half a century or more.'
Half a century? More? No, before The Radiant Knight, they lasted only a year!
Such a Pegasus must be brimming with stamina, just like that turf Pegasus Platinum. The timing of her domain usage should have been within Ruffian's expectations, but… this acceleration, what was going on?
'Even though… my body right now feels… incredibly light.'
Ruffian's form was dashing and powerful, like a storm capable of tearing through all obstacles.
'Benefiting from the One-on-One, benefiting from Nearl's terrifyingly formidable strength, my own demanding skill, which boosts based on the average strength of the field, is performing like never before!'
'So why—!!'
That speed, that domain intensity, that uniquely powerful and astonishingly potent unique skill—all of it had propelled her, already teetering on the edge of legend, temporarily into that very hall of [Legends].
Right now, she was truly performing at a legendary level!
Even world-class champions capable of winning multiple G1 races would find it nigh impossible to maintain a single-digit length gap against the seriously fighting Ruffian of this moment.
But—the one right beside her, she simply couldn't overtake again, let alone establish any significant lead!
'I… I've activated three domain skills simultaneously, all of them powerful effects with stringent activation conditions.'
'Why! Why can't I… break through Nearl's defense at all?!'
'I can clearly perceive that even with her domain active, Nearl isn't using many skills, maybe even none!'
A fact that cast a shadow over Ruffian's face, her majestic gaze gradually twisting into one of savage defiance, lay bare before her.
She wanted to overtake!
She wanted to pull away!
But that golden maiden's figure wasn't just holding its ground; it had completely overtaken her, securing a full length lead?!
Under the nearly suffocating pressure, a feeling of oppression, like being in deep water, spread through Ruffian's heart, making her almost instinctively think of a certain someone.
That equally tall and imposing figure, lavishly favored by talent and the Three Goddesses, who also claimed the American Triple Crown—a super overlord.
That Big Red Monster, Secretariat, whom she had never once defeated! And now, the younger Nearl, still in her classic year, was giving her the exact same feeling of suffocation and… [Despair] as Secretariat had?!
"Now… you really resemble her!!!"
In Ruffian's field of vision, the racing figure of the golden maiden, initially positioned on her inside… was unstoppable like a sudden storm, impossibly fast!
One and a half!
Then… two lengths!
But Ruffian would never admit defeat!
Weren't Secretariat and Nearl the only monsters forged by competitive spirit?
The lone Tyrant who had once achieved a graded stakes double while injured, who had lost in training matches but never in a real race, and never feared anyone!
"Come on, Nearl!!!"
Ruffian shouted, her form unleashing her final, all-out sprint.
Even… here, after the second corner, and not in the final stretch!
Her pride, her judgment, forbade her from holding back, from letting Nearl overtake and widen the gap.
Only acceleration, only pursuit, only a death struggle held the possibility of turning defeat into victory.
A come-from-behind victory was never in Ruffian's plans! The chance to reserve strength and overtake a legendary Triple Crown Uma Musume was practically nonexistent!
The next moment, Ruffian's domain unleashed its final, previously withheld, power!
--+--
[(Tyrant's Legend): When falling behind, slightly increases… ]
[(No Reserves): When in the latter half of the race… ]
[(Death Struggle): … ]
--+--
Ruffian's figure, defying expectations, displayed an incredible acceleration.
This was a third acceleration, a feat only possible for legendary Uma Musume, now being fully utilized by Ruffian, surpassing her limits with a flushed face and a form burning everything she had.
The efficiency, the acceleration, seemed enough to close any gap!
But what she failed to notice was…
The flock of birds high in the sky was gradually descending!
Their position happened to be right ahead, where Ruffian would soon be racing—an unexpected event on the track enough to startle her at high speed and affect the race as an unforeseen incident!
At the same time, Nearl's domain skill, the one capable of changing everything, was only now truly activating!
--+--
[(Sun, Please Nod For Me): When the racetrack is bathed in sunlight, slightly increases acceleration, explosive power, and continuously restores a small amount of stamina. ]
[(Fear Neither Hardship Nor Darkness): Moderately negates suppression from opponent's domains, moderately increases Power, slightly increases Speed, explosive power… ]
[(The Dauntless): When only one other Uma Musume is nearby, moderately increases fighting spirit, slightly restores stamina, increases Power… ]
[(The Sun's Nod): … ]
[(Unilluminated Glory): … ]
[(Twilight): … ]
[(Downpour of Swords): … ]
--+--
The next instant, the golden-haired maiden defied common sense by pushing even further. Having led the Great Escape for half the race, she showed no signs of slowing down, instead performing a second acceleration.
Nearl, having raced this long without losing ground, was now… countering Ruffian's third acceleration with her own second acceleration!
In the clash of accelerations, the duel of final sprints, there was still a difference!
What made the outside world collectively gasp was… the phantom lance Nearl had thrown after leaving the starting gate had already torn through the clouds high above, allowing sunlight to bathe the vast dirt track behind them!
That scene transformed in the next moment into—Nearl's very own Pegasus Hall of Fame!
Within the hall, the image showed a tall, majestic figure of a radiant knight maiden clad in a white coat, pulling a lance from the ground, her coat and long hair flowing and fluttering in the wind.
The golden-haired knight maiden named Margaret Nearl had clearly become the only light sweeping through the long night. Along with the glittering Golden Pegasus wings, which flashed behind her back before dissolving into a shower of falling feathers.
Then, her opponent shifted from the bow-wielding Platinum to the various rivals she had surpassed on the track, including the most recent, Easy Goer!
Everything visible in the outside scene, including the birds about to descend in front of Ruffian… was now visible within it.
"Chirp chirp…"
The sudden scene instead startled the birds, causing them to flap their wings, cease their descent, and change direction, flying away from the front of the Pegasus Hall of Fame and Ruffian's path.
The worldline shifted here.
A soft utterance from The Radiant Knight Margaret Nearl seemed to resonate.
[The family motto is — Fear Neither Hardship Nor Darkness!]
Even an opponent can be protected! This is the true Radiant Knight!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.