A hidden fire burned in Mejiro Ryan's heart, but Ines Fujin's condition was far from ideal.
'The ground is so soft, and the grass feels slippery. I can't push myself to run at full strength here—if I stumble or fall now, it's over.'
The cold drizzle pattered against her, its dampness gradually seeping through her clothes. Ines felt as if her very heart were turning cold.
'I'm so tired… Why is my body so worn out today?'
Gritting her teeth, she was beginning to have a bad feeling—not just about losing to Nearl, but about losing to the others as well.
'I can't let this happen. Mother and my sisters are watching. I can't lose like this.'
Yet complicated thoughts swirled in Ines Fujin's mind, and that was never a good sign.
Uma Musume, as spirits created by the Three Goddesses, possessed something of a heart-driven nature. Family, friends, rivals, loved ones, glory—all could become fuel to push them to greater heights.
But reality was far more complex. Just as water could carry a boat, it could also overturn it.
Emotions could be a driving force, but on the track, you had to carry them within—not dwell on them constantly.
The feelings accumulated before the race needed to be buried once it began, leaving only a clear, focused mind to compete.
That was the path to victory.
And right now, Ines Fujin had lost her way.
Promises to family, desire for money, longing for glory, the simple joy of running—too many emotions. These tangled thoughts pulled at her focus, making it impossible to give her all.
And not to mention, there was that one rival—who was also a friend of special meaning—running ahead of her.
'Nearl…'
"What's happening? Ines Fujin's speed is dropping! The gap between her and Nearl is widening, and the others behind are closing in on her now!"
The announcer's voice rang out, but most of the Uma Musume in the rear pack didn't actually make a move.
'She must be slowing down to recover her breath. Frontrunners never push at full pace the whole way. This has to be intentional—she's trying to throw off our rhythm.'
Thinking that, none of the girls wanted to accelerate just yet. They kept their pace, waiting for the final sprint.
All except one.
"Mejiro Ryan! Mejiro Ryan is shifting her position! She's moving outward!"
"What?!"
The Musume she brushed past gasped in surprise. Fortunately, Ryan had been careful, or they might have collided.
"Hmph."
No sudden moves. Even after shifting outward, Ryan kept running steadily, with no sign of speeding up, quietly staying within the pack. Her maneuver made many who'd been watching her closely breathe a sigh of relief.
But by now, the race was past halfway, and Nearl had fully settled into her charging stance.
"Condition is good, stamina barely touched. The poor track conditions aren't affecting me at all—if anything, my strides feel heavier, more grounded. I like this sense of stability."
Breathing steadily as always, immense power gathered inside her. Nearl was completely ready.
'This race isn't just for me. There's President Rudolf's trust, Oguri Cap's past regrets, and the security of many future generations of Uma Musume. I want to make it all real.'
Golden light shimmered around her pupils, and the ground beneath her feet rippled with wave-like golden patterns.
"This run is my answer to their hopes."
But before accelerating, Nearl made a few adjustments—mostly for the sake of the Musume behind her.
Changing the angle of her stride, she twisted her body and drifted sharply toward the far outside.
Unlike Ryan's subtle shift, Nearl crossed several lanes at once, moving all the way to the outermost edge where almost no one ever ran.
It seemed unwise, even foolish. The extra distance meant she was essentially running farther for no reason, and her lead over the others shrank rapidly.
Naturally, the move caused an uproar across the stadium.
"What's happening? Has something gone wrong for Nearl? She's suddenly moving to the far outside! This is a huge gift to the Musume behind her—Nearl has lost most of her lead!"
Yes, with that move, Ines Fujin—who had been trailing—was now almost side-by-side with her, leaving even her rival bewildered.
--+--
"Nearl, what are you…? Did she injure her leg?!"
Ardan nervously covered her mouth with both hands, only a faint sound escaping.
She knew this scene all too well. During her own training, she'd often felt sharp pains in her legs, and whenever that happened, she'd slow down and drift toward the outside—just like Nearl was doing now. It made her immediately suspect something was wrong with Nearl's feet.
But before her worry could spiral, Oguri Cap stopped her. In fact, Oguri was the only one on-site who understood what was really happening.
"No, Margaret isn't injured. If anything, her condition has peaked."
Oguri Cap stuffed a piece of bread into her mouth but still spoke clearly.
"Margaret's Domain is still active, and it's growing more intense by the moment. That's not how an injury manifests."
"Domain?"
Berno Light asked, confused. She was the only one there who didn't understand at all.
Oguri Cap herself was a Domain user, Everlamp was a partial user, and Ardan had heard about such things before. Only Berno was completely in the dark.
"Mm. Margaret is only now about to go all out."
Oguri said calmly, and the news made Ardan relax slightly, gently placing a hand over her chest.
(Wait, Ardan, how did you naturally end up blending into this group anyway?)
Just as Oguri had said, Nearl was now fully prepared.
"Here I go!"
The moment she spoke, her Domain exploded outward, instantly covering the entire track and surging beyond it at a shocking speed, only held back when it reached beyond the stadium itself.
"!!!"
No words were needed. The sheer, overwhelming presence and aura made everyone present fix their eyes on Nearl.
A streak of golden light—a Galloping Sun.
The grass beneath her feet tore away, revealing bare soil. Raindrops around her seemed to flee from her charging form, scattering in every direction.
Every heavy step churned the turf until it was unrecognizable—like a field plowed over by machinery, turned from grass to mud in moments.
And that was one reason Nearl had moved to the far outside: she didn't want the ground she ran over to affect the other competitors.
"My goodness! The momentum of Nearl's sprint is truly unparalleled! This is terrifying!!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 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.