After the parent-teacher meeting, Dream Weaver applied the practical experience she'd learned from T.M. Opera O and built good relationships with many Uma Musume.
Whether they were from Kasamatsu or the student council, she'd advanced her connections to the level of close friends.
For her sake, even if other Uma Musume still harbored certain ambitions, they wouldn't dare make any reckless moves in Dream Weaver's presence.
The previously chaotic, war-torn situation, reminiscent of the Warring States period, suddenly fell into a deep silence.
Dream Weaver gained harmony among friends, the Uma Musume advanced their relationships.
If anyone was dissatisfied, perhaps it was only Gold Ship, who missed out on a good show.
But she was also one of the ones Dream Weaver had worked on; in consideration of the other keeping her company in fun and games, the great Golshi-sama mercifully decided to forgo fanning the flames for the time being.
Having consciously sorted out her interpersonal relationships, Dream Weaver turned her focus back to racing.
Becoming the hope of everyone in the apartment through victory was a goal she had long established.
Even though her physical abilities already far surpassed those of her peers, she wouldn't slack off in the slightest.
Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit.
Driven by this mindset, Dream Weaver turned her gaze to the settlement rewards from the last script world.
The 'Proof of Triple Crown' item naturally went without saying, but what caught Dream Weaver's attention were the two Skill Awakening Scrolls rewarded after unlocking the highest evaluation.
The effect of the Skill Awakening Scrolls was simple yet powerful: they could elevate two of Dream Weaver's blue-grade skills to purple. And right on her status panel, she happened to have exactly two blue-grade skills.
Sitting on her bed alone at home, Dream Weaver said softly,
"System, use the Skill Awakening Scrolls on the skills [Pilgrimage of Pain] and [False Genius]."
[Used.]
As the system's cold, mechanical voice rang in her ears, the semi-transparent blue screen promptly appeared before Dream Weaver's eyes.
--+--
[Pilgrimage of Pain (Blue) → Seeing the True Self (Purple)]
[Effect: Legendary ascetics would torment their flesh with extreme pain, believing that within the cycle of agony and suffering, at the brink of life and death, they could find the so-called true self.
Tolerance for pain is greatly enhanced. Can unleash full power without reservation in any situation.
Physical pain is converted into stamina at a fixed ratio. Will not cease until fortitude is exhausted.]
--+--
[Pilgrimage of Pain] had always been a crucial skill for Dream Weaver. Without the pain tolerance it provided, activating both [Kindling Flames] and [Nirvana] would have been hindered.
And without the boosts from those two skills in desperate situations, Dream Weaver might not have come this far so easily.
Therefore, [Pilgrimage of Pain] could be considered the starting point of her skill system, allowing her to control the power of [Kindling Embers] and [Nirvana] while still lucid.
Now, having evolved further into a purple skill, it had undoubtedly become stronger.
Although Dream Weaver didn't think her current physicality would be pushed to such extremes in the real world, the effect of [Seeing the True Self] still gave her an extra layer of insurance.
From now on, Dream Weaver's stamina bar would officially become three-tiered.
After the first segment of stamina ended, fortitude would supplement it. Then, once her body began to feel pain, [Seeing the True Self] would kick in to bolster her stamina.
Moreover, this skill's boost didn't consume fortitude; it would continuously provide stamina until her fortitude was completely drained.
"Although my paper stamina is only S+ rank, with fortitude and [Seeing the True Self] combined, it's hard to say what level it's actually reached."
Dream Weaver gave a nod of approval. As expected of a purple-grade skill, it effortlessly boosted her stamina by a significant margin. This subconsciously raised her expectations for the other upgraded skill.
Dream Weaver shifted her gaze to the other panel. The skill she had acquired only in the last script world was about to evolve into purple.
--+--
[False Genius (Blue) → True Monster (Purple)]
[Effect: So-called true geniuses have talents and gifts predetermined by fate itself. It is precisely because they are geniuses that their performances transcend the ordinary.
Yet there was an ordinary Uma Musume who, through countless trials of life and death, shattered the limits of mediocrity imposed by heaven. With performances that transcended the norm, she became a genius in people's eyes.
But she was never a genius; there has never been such a terrifying genius. If one must find a word to describe her, perhaps only those two would suffice.]
[The stronger one's innate talent appears in the eyes of others, the faster one's own training speed becomes.]
--+--
"Monster, huh…"
Looking at the skill description on the panel, Dream Weaver murmured softly.
She flexed her hand slightly, feeling the power honed through several script worlds, and said with some emotion,
"An ordinary Uma Musume couldn't possibly go through that many dangerous situations and still come out unscathed."
"If one can break through their limits again and again in life-or-death struggles, becoming a monster is only natural."
Dream Weaver neither agreed nor disagreed with the system's assessment.
Right now, she just wanted to know how much help this skill, now upgraded to purple, could provide. When it was still a blue skill, its effect was a fixed efficiency boost during training.
Now it had changed from a specific quantity to 'the stronger one's talent appears in others' eyes.' After a moment of thought, Dream Weaver made a deduction.
"At the very least, I can't determine yet how much stronger it is compared to before."
Winning against Tokai Teio and the Niigata Junior Stakes had given Dream Weaver some fame, but she was only in her debut year. Her future was still uncertain.
To confirm the skill's effect, she needed to prove herself further.
"The Hopeful Stakes, huh…"
She stroked her chin, muttering to herself.
It was one of the few G1-level races available to first-year debutantes. Since most participants were newly debuted Uma Musume, its influence couldn't compare to the truly important G1 races.
But a G1 was still a G1. Winning the Hopeful Stakes would undoubtedly cause her recognition to take a leap forward.
Thus, she added another objective for the Hopeful Stakes. Dream Weaver needed to announce her arrival to the world with a resounding, exhilarating victory.
Having confirmed her goal, Dream Weaver hesitated no longer. She immediately changed into her tracksuit and running shoes and left home.
Although it was Saturday, it didn't stop her from training on her own. Dream Weaver's goal for today was to first run to Tracen Academy, then use the professional equipment there for specialized training.
Chizuru Haibara had already formulated a suitable plan for her. Dream Weaver just needed to train herself within those parameters.
As soon as Dream Weaver stepped out of her room, the dorm manager grandma, who was doing radio calisthenics downstairs, noticed her.
"Morning, Dream. Going out for training again today?"
Under Dream Weaver's subtle influence, everyone in the apartment had also started exercising.
"Mhm, I'm off then."
Dream Weaver nodded towards the grandma and, with the other's kindly smile, jogged out the apartment building's main door.
--+--
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.