"Whoa!"
"Incredible!"
"Mid-race acceleration?!"
Clearly, Nearl's explosive sprint had taken everyone by surprise, leaving them utterly stunned. Some even found themselves unconsciously slowing their own pace.
"She never fails to amaze, does she? Truly capable of the unexpected," Ryan murmured, her gaze fixed on Nearl's form with a touch of awe.
"Pushing wide to the outer track, then launching a mid-race charge… That sheer, unwavering confidence, and the subtle kindness hidden beneath what seems like a reckless move…" Ryan gave a slight nod.
She hadn't understood Nearl's move to the outside at first, but watching the footsteps now, it clicked.
'If she hadn't switched tracks, we might not have gotten mud in our faces—it was far enough away. But whether this chewed-up course would even remain runnable is another question.'
Her eyes tracked the churned, filthy turf left in Nearl's wake, and Ryan couldn't help but wince.
'That power's like a dump truck in motion. Ardan-nee is so delicate… is it really safe for them to be together?'
The odd thought flitted through her mind.
'But it's time. Starting my sprint now might be a bit early, but I need to break free from the pack.'
After a quick glance to either side, Ryan made her decision. Her stride shifted subtly, adapting to her new plan.
Just before committing, her trainer's words echoed coldly in her memory, respectful yet icy.
"Miss Ryan, just secure a top-three finish. Forget about Nearl as an opponent. Don't waste unnecessary energy on her."
"Like that's even possible!"
With a release of pent-up strength, Ryan shot forward, brushing past the surrounding Uma Musume before they could even react.
"I'm not one to back down. When the mountain is right there, how can your heart not race, your hands not tremble?"
"And there she goes! Mejiro Ryan bursts forward! Mejiro Ryan pushes to the front of the pack, closing in on second-place Ines Fujin!"
"The rain-soaked turf does nothing to hinder her stride—her form remains dazzling as ever!"
"Raaaahhh!!!"
Though the battle cry was meant to steel herself, it seemed to startle Ines Fujin ahead unexpectedly. Already struggling with the poor footing, Ines's steps faltered further.
"Oh no!" Ines gasped instinctively, but it was too late for recovery.
On the track, opportunities are fleeting. Mejiro Ryan didn't miss Ines's stumble. In that brief exchange, their positions switched.
"Mejiro Ryan overtakes Ines Fujin! She's now in second place! So swift, so strong!"
'Good, step one done. Now just watch for anyone coming from behind, and keep an eye on Nearl…'
Ryan's train of thought hit a snag there. She checked her own position, then looked ahead at Nearl's, and a wry smile almost touched her lips.
'No need to keep an eye on her, really…'
The figure in the distance was already beginning to blur. Ryan faced the reality.
'I can't catch up.'
It wasn't surrender, just a conclusion drawn from assessing her own stamina and top speed.
There was no catching up now. Nearl had opened a lead of nearly half a straightaway, and with less than 700 meters to the finish line, unless Nearl stopped dead, even a miraculous burst from Ryan wouldn't be enough.
"Ahh, she's truly strong. Guess reputation isn't earned for nothing, huh? Ardan-nee taught me that phrase."
Mejiro Ryan shook her head lightly.
'Well, even if victory is out of reach, I'll give it my all. Consider it a race against my past self. I'll show my very best.'
"Now entering the final straight! Leading the field all alone is Nearl! She's opened a full turn's lead on every other Uma Musume behind her! What astonishing speed—is this even possible for an Uma Musume?! It's like she's wearing a jetpack!"
"In second is Mejiro Ryan, also holding a massive advantage! Can any of the competitors behind hope to catch her?"
"Third is Ines Fujin, but judging by her expression, she's not in peak form. Can she close the gap on Mejiro Ryan, who leads by a full length?"
'I have to catch up. I must. I'm the daughter my mother can be proud of. The sister they admire. Even if I collapse exhausted after the race, I have to squeeze out every last bit of strength now.'
The soft, muddy turf robbed her of her famed powerful finish. The pre-race disagreements and fatigue clouded her focus. Ines Fujin was at her limit.
No miracle occurred. Ines felt, with despair, her footspeed desert her.
It was only natural.
When even the heart of an Uma Musume—her sole reliance—was weighed down and muddied, so out of sync with her true nature, all that hesitation would shackle even the sharpest final kick.
Unable to accelerate further, barely maintaining her speed, Ines Fujin couldn't even hold onto third. She was overtaken.
This time, the verdant wind did not sweep across Nakayama Racecourse.
Regardless, the Yayoi Sho reached its conclusion. A golden arrow pierced the finish line banner.
The trail of churned earth marked the absolute dominance of her run; even the poor track conditions couldn't stop Nearl from claiming her first career GII victory.
[Note: Typically, GIII and above are considered graded stakes, but I've tweaked it here so only certain notable GIs count as major stakes.]
"It's over!! The Radiant Knight breaks the line! First place! The Yayoi Sho record is shattered! Unbelievable! She's crushed the record time, finishing in one minute fifty seconds! A historic, unprecedented achievement!"
The commentator shouted hoarsely.
This wasn't just professionalism; he was genuinely, deeply captivated by this record-shattering speed.
"This isn't just the arrival of a new generation—that's not enough to describe Nearl's might. Only one phrase comes to mind!"
"The Strongest Uma Musume!"
As those supremely arrogant and weighty words fell, the crowd, which would normally erupt in controversy, remained surprisingly silent. Even spectators less enthused about Nearl offered no jeers.
The evidence was right before their eyes. The record was indisputable.
"The world! The Radiant Knight has what it takes to compete with the world's monsters!"
"For the first time—no, for the first time ever—Japanese Uma Musume can dare to dream of victory on the world's top stage!"
"Oh! Mejiro Ryan crosses the line! Second place! But following closely isn't Ines Fujin—it's Tsurumaru Mimata O! Ines Fujin misses the top three; she's the fourth to finish!"
The track commentator called out the names one by one, but outside the venue, Symboli Rudolf had stopped listening.
--+--
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.