Dirt track, front-runner position!
Amidst the stunned gazes from behind, including those of proven champions, they could only watch as the two leading figures accelerated into the distance.
And now… they had just passed the first turn! There was still a long way to go before even the halfway point of the race!!
"Flightline, she's never shown such an insanely fast pace in her previous races!"
"Not just that, the intensity of her presence, her domain suppression… it shouldn't be anywhere near this level."
"Why… why is Flightline capable of such an exaggerated domain display and acceleration in this Pacific Classic?"
A true killer always prepares thoroughly before hunting their prey.
Therefore, both Flightline and Nearl—their past race footage had been reviewed countless times by Prove Out before the competition, even watched before she slept.
What truly unnerved them was this: these two legendary monsters, Nearl and Flightline, seemed to grow stronger with every single race.
Especially The Radiant Knight, Nearl. With such short intervals between races, she showed neither fatigue nor anything but improvement!
As for Flightline, her breaks between races were longer, so she always competed at her peak; her getting stronger wasn't a surprise. But this…
This degree of improvement completely shattered the understanding and judgment of even the most keenly perceptive killers among them!!
There was only one possibility: this was Flightline's true, hidden full power, simply never provoked by her previous opponents?!
For a killer, the most frightening sight is the one that breaks convention, the completely unexpected!
What was even more terrifying to them than Flightline shifting from her standard escape style to an almost all-out Great Escape… was that The Radiant Knight, who had manifested those brilliant golden light wings out of thin air, wasn't falling behind by much!
What was going on?
Flightline, accelerating early and revealing her trump card for the first time, was up against Nearl the Pegasus, who was also unfurling her light wings for the first time?!
"It seems… I can't rely on my usual strategies for this race…"
The killer's hair stood on end, her breath already growing slightly rapid as she stared fixedly at the two figures ahead.
[Incredible! What an absolutely thrilling start to the race!]
[First, the youngest competitor, Nearl, managed an exceptionally clean break from the gate against a field of senior Uma Musume!]
[Following the manifestation of The Radiant Knight's signature weather-changing, cloud-clearing visual effect, she revealed not white-gold wings, but jet-black ones—the shining light wings unique to Nearl!]
[She's so fast! She's already overtaken the surrounding Uma Musume, sitting second only to Flightline, who has activated her aura and is going all out!]
[After the first turn, only Flightline and Platinum hold the first and second positions, having opened up a staggering lead over the main pack.]
[Three lengths! Four lengths! Five lengths! The gap to the third-place runner is steadily widening!]
The commentator's voice, loud and impassioned, reported the current positions.
This situation after the break, the first half of the race, had undoubtedly exceeded almost everyone's expectations!
Even the Big Red Monster herself, the current number one ranked dirt runner, seated in the front rows of the spectator stands, watched the track ahead with keen interest, leaning back in her seat.
"This gets more and more interesting… Flightline, I've never seen your domain reach this level in training."
"You're not saving it for me, but using it in this race against Nearl?"
"A wise choice."
Wise—that was Secretariat's assessment.
If Flightline had been arrogant enough to think this was just another G1 race like the ones she'd challenged before, sticking to her habitual performance and tactics… that would have disappointed both Secretariat and Nearl on the track!
And Flightline's current all-out domain, that seemingly self-consuming [Passive] that came at the great cost of drastically lengthening her already long recovery periods, had successfully elevated her to a level where the Uma Musume behind could only watch her back!
Even Secretariat, watching from the stands, felt her body tremble slightly for the first time while spectating. Her usual calm expression cracked, the corners of her mouth lifting uncontrollably into a look of urgency… of craving.
This wasn't like the weaker Uma Musume around her, startled by Nearl's light wings or Flightline's aura.
This was… a warrior's tremble! Her body's instinctive readiness to face a powerful foe!
This Big Red Monster, this living legend, was stirred to fighting spirit even as a mere spectator, fully acknowledging the two Uma Musume ahead who were most qualified to challenge her position and assault the title of G.O.A.T.
"Flightline."
"Nearl."
"Keep soaring. I'll be waiting for you both at the Breeders' Cup! To decide the final, the [Strongest]!"
--+--
The track, the very front!
The seemingly delicate girl declared her reign with an aura that could swallow mountains and rivers!
Her lightning-fast strides, like a terrifying acceleration capable of sweeping across the world, allowed her to continuously widen the massive gap to the third-place runner and beyond!
If the frail young girl that the unscrupulous young doctor had first met was a talented but physically weak foal, a powerful yet fleeting thunderclap…
Then now… Flightline, fully launched, had become a storm capable of sweeping across all of America, even the entire world!
And now, this storm, with the unyielding, relentless bearing of a king, was the first to cross the second turn, entering the latter half of the race, continuing its flight!
That strength, that domain, that acceleration!
All proclaimed that Flightline was a formidable contender for the title of strongest dirt runner today, possessing a chance to win against anyone!
"Not enough…"
"Not nearly enough!!"
Flightline, streaking ahead like a storm, muttered to herself. Her icy cold gaze was drawn to a flash of gold still visible in her peripheral vision.
The leading girl, the Uma Musume at the very front, seemed to witness something deeply shocking. Flightline could still see Nearl!
The brilliant light wings raised behind Nearl made Flightline start with surprise. She'd never even seen the legendary wings unique to Pegasus-type Uma Musume on the strongest dirt runner, Secretariat herself!
And what made Flightline clench her silver teeth, seeding a sliver of unease in her heart, was…
Even after activating her domain, even after pushing that costly, burdensome [Passive] to its limits for the first time… she still couldn't shake off The Radiant Knight trailing not far behind?
'But I can't feel any presence from Nearl. She hasn't even activated her domain!'
'So why? Why can't I, with my domain active, shake off Nearl? How is that possible??'
It was common knowledge, the most basic of basics, that an Uma Musume with an active domain could firmly suppress one without.
After all, domains didn't just greatly enhance the user's skills or weaken opponents; they also came with powerful suppression.
With that imbalance, even a legendary Uma Musume would most likely be caught by a historical-grade runner with an active domain.
But now, Margaret Nearl hadn't activated her domain at all. How was she doing this?
Could it be… that activating those Pegasus Light Wings of hers also provided a boost? How was that possible?
Despite her shock, Flightline forced herself to stay calm. She refocused on her own position and the lead she had established.
There was still plenty of track left. She still had chances to widen her advantage!
This current gap, this result, completely failed to satisfy Flightline's soaring fighting spirit, her burning ambition.
For that… she had to keep accelerating!
A front-running Uma Musume, especially one using the Great Escape style, had no other choice. She couldn't relinquish her lead. She had to believe in herself until the very end, accelerating until either the finish line or her own stamina gave out!
One must remember, when the leading Uma Musume, especially one using the Great Escape run style, could see another competitor, it meant…
Danger—!!!
Because the Great Escape was universally recognized as the most spectacular, but also the most extreme and all-or-nothing running style.
In game terms, it was "Fight to the death, no retreat," the purest, most ferocious offense, betting everything to seize the lead and control the pace from the front.
Having committed to the Great Escape this far, she couldn't possibly possess her former finishing kick. The moment another Uma Musume entered her field of vision, it seemed to signal that crisis had arrived!
Currently, the final stretch was still far off; the race was only just past halfway!
In Flightline's view, she wasn't the only one running a Great Escape in this race! The Radiant Knight, Nearl, staying within two lengths of her… wasn't she also executing an equally breathtaking Great Escape?
Now, it was a contest of power, determination, and endurance! Only one Uma Musume could lead to the very end!
A resolute sharpness flashed within Flightline's cool blue eyes.
"Then bring it on, Nearl."
"I will never be caught!"
The Radiant Knight, Margaret Nearl, her orange eyes fixed on the figure not far ahead.
She could feel the immense skill and fighting spirit radiating from Flightline ahead of her, constantly striving for victory.
Such performance was worthy of the legendary, still-undefeated Uma Musume, Flightline.
But—
Flightline wasn't the only undefeated legend on a winning streak!
Nearl, also an undefeated legend, had no intention of conceding this precious victory.
"As I thought—"
"She is a rival worth fighting."
An indescribable excitement filled Nearl's heart.
Ahead, the legendary Flightline; behind, the proven champion-killer!
This battlefield, seemingly surrounded by powerful foes, like being besieged on all sides, only made The Radiant Knight calmer, her heart beating faster.
In the next instant, she finally activated her own domain.
--+--
[Flaming Sun's Obeisance]: Activated
[Area duration: Infinite. Greatly reduces domain stamina consumption. Moderately increases Power…]
[Under the domain's influence, injuries sustained by the user or opponents while racing are reduced by one level…]
--+--
Nearl's domain was fully unleashed.
Not only that, the musical effect she had gained after her last improvement was also ready to be activated.
--+--
[O Sun, Please Nod for Me]: When the race track is bathed in sunlight, slightly increases Acceleration and Burst Power, and continuously restores a small amount of Stamina.
[Dawnbreak]: Moderately negates effects from opponent domains…
[The Fearless]: When only one other Uma Musume is nearby…
[Pegasus Legs]: …
--+--
And in the very next moment—!
As the golden-haired knight accelerated even further—!
An astonishing, rapidly escalating presence erupted from within her, reaching a level far surpassing the ordinary, completely on par with the domain of the Flightline ahead, who was pushing her body to the absolute limit with her full-power Passive.
But what followed next stunned the entire stadium into silence, leaving countless spectators dumbfounded, rooted to the spot.
Namely—in their ears, whether they were the countless Pegasus fans and Flightline devotees at the venue, or viewers watching the live broadcast from various countries, they all heard it, crystal clear: the sound of music.
[Don't hold my hand for this part]
[Full speed ahead]
Many spectators who had watched dozens of G1 races were collectively stunned!
Where was this music coming from?!
The Uma Musume, Man o' War.
Her face was a picture of astonishment, her exceptionally keen ears twitching slightly.
"This… singing?"
"Nearl? Or which Uma Musume's special effect includes playing music?"
"Unheard of."
Even the first-generation Big Red Monster, the greatest dirt Uma Musume in history, Man o' War, was baffled, and profoundly shocked!
--+--
Race Organization, Control Room.
The staff, including the director, were first stunned for a second, then practically went wild.
"Wh-What is this…?"
"Music? Since when?"
"No mistake, this must be, it absolutely must be, like the music controlled by the true Pegasus, Platinum!"
"Hurry, close-up! Give Nearl the close-up! She's starting to accelerate!"
--+--
[I know you noticed right from the start]
[Had my head held high since it began]
As the music resounded, it signaled that the competitive moment belonging solely to The Radiant Knight had reached its peak!
"Radiant"!
Under the watchful eyes of the masses, from the stands holding over a hundred thousand spectators to the countless fans watching via live broadcast…
The figure of the golden, radiant maiden knight soared forward with an unstoppable, kingly bearing, charging straight for the front.
The quick-reacting control room gave a close-up of The Radiant Knight's back.
Accompanied by the continuing music, the expansion of Nearl's domain, the unfurling of her light wings, the close-up perfectly mirrored the shining knight of the lyrics, until she…
— Shone with the sacred, majestic, and unbearable brilliance of the sun itself!
Even the killer Prove Out behind them fell into a stunned silence, utterly dumbfounded.
[Cause I've laid it out for them]
[Just tell me could you get up]
[In the aftermath? Oh]
In an instant, they drew completely level!
The Radiant Knight offered no words, only acceleration!!
--+--
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.