As Dream Weaver stepped into the starting gate, the adults around the training ground seemed to stir with discussion.
They appeared torn between dragging this rebellious student to the administration office or simply humoring her and arranging opponents as she demanded.
Amid the heated debate, a few decisive Tracen instructors took charge.
They selected the nine most talented Uma Musume from those who hadn't yet undergone selection, and together, they entered the gates with Dream Weaver.
Educating this defiant student was important, but many couldn't help feeling a spark of anticipation at her words.
The bold declaration this Uma Musume had made—a virtual declaration of war against the entire European racing world—could she actually back it up?
They wanted to see it, to witness it with their own eyes.
So, the journalists who had just relaxed now raised their cameras again, eyes fixed intently on the training ground's starting gates.
The timekeeper, whom Dream Weaver had personally instructed, forced his trembling hand still, pressing his lips together as he stared at her gate.
The European trainers who had helped up those two foul-mouthed fellows stood together in silence, watching the track.
The training ground, noisy just moments before, grew quiet under the weight of Dream Weaver's proclamation.
Everyone wanted to know: was this seemingly lawlessly arrogant Uma Musume truly so confident she could rival the world, or was she merely a reckless fool?
But all of that no longer mattered to Dream Weaver, who had already stepped into the gate.
Once inside that narrow, dim starting gate, only one thing remained for her to do:
Use her speed to prove herself to everyone present.
In the space of a single breath, surging power flooded every muscle. Honed through countless races, her instinct carved out the path that would best showcase her strength.
Bang!
The moment the gates flew open, a streak of extreme red light left every other Uma Musume behind.
These were promising contenders, potential candidates selected for special training in Europe—the strongest runners one could find on that training ground.
Yet every title, every expectation, melted away under that blazing crimson light.
In less than a breath, that flowing red light had already vanished from their sight. All that remained in her wake was the turbulence she left behind and the turf, torn up and ravaged by immense force.
"How… how is this possible?!"
Every Uma Musume on the track was inwardly screaming the same phrase.
Even the spectators outside had jaws dropped in astonishment.
Everyone had expected that Dream Weaver, capable of such audacious words, might possess considerable power—but no one had imagined she could unleash such terrifying speed on a training ground.
"She's… she's on a completely different level!"
Sweat beaded on the brows of several European trainers, nearly soaking their collars, yet none of them noticed. They could only stare at that red streak on the track, muttering in disbelief.
As trainers who had fought their way to the top, despite their arrogance and flaws, they could still recognize that Dream Weaver had now completely surpassed everyone present…
No, not just this training ground—perhaps even beyond this central Tracen Academy.
Trained professionals well-versed in Uma Musume data knew at a glance: no Uma Musume in her debut stage should possess such speed!
Back when Dream Weaver first debuted, her strongest rival was Tokai Teio—a prodigy hailed as worthy of inheriting Symboli Rudolf's legacy.
At that time, in Dream Weaver's eyes, Tokai Teio seemed nearly unbeatable.
In their first simulated debut race, Teio led by seven lengths over Dream Weaver, who placed second.
Back then, Tokai Teio's attributes averaged around D-rank.
For a debut race, having D-rank stats—potential to win at the OP level—truly lived up to her reputation as a genius.
Keep in mind, new Uma Musume usually had F-rank attributes; even by their debut races, most only reached E-rank.
And at that time, Tokai Teio's base abilities nearly outpaced her rivals by a whole tier.
That was how she so effortlessly overwhelmed Dream Weaver back then.
A single tier's advantage had made Tokai Teio seem invincible to Dream Weaver—and a genius in the public eye.
But now?
What did that make Dream Weaver, with nearly all B-rank attributes and A-rank Guts, in others' eyes?
There was only one answer: a monster.
An absolute monster.
Even "monster" felt insufficient; some couldn't help recalling names of those already regarded as legends—mythical Uma Musume of old.
In that moment, they saw the shadow of myth in Dream Weaver.
When that sharp light, trailing an unparalleled wake, blasted across the finish line, the captivated timekeeper instinctively hit the stopwatch.
After several seconds of mental blankness, he recalled Dream Weaver's earlier instruction and glanced down at the timer in his hand.
But no matter how he looked at it, he couldn't believe the numbers displayed.
It was a result he had never heard of before. So many geniuses, so many legends at central Tracen—none had come close to this time in their debut stage.
He even doubted whether any Uma Musume in the world, as a newcomer, could achieve such a result.
The number was simply too shocking—so shocking he wondered if the stopwatch had malfunctioned.
"Let us see it."
Before he knew it, a crowd had gathered around the timekeeper—journalists, Tracen instructors—all staring intently, eager to learn what time Dream Weaver had posted.
From her performance, they already knew her strength was unmatched, but without precise data for comparison, many couldn't fully grasp her speed.
That's why they crowded in so urgently, desperate to see the number on the timer.
The timekeeper said nothing, silently holding out the stopwatch for all to see.
As they took in that staggering number, a long, suffocating silence fell. Then, from the crowd, someone murmured under their breath:
"The skies… are about to change."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.