The next day.
Barbatos and the others didn't bring up any more late-night horror stories, allowing everyone to drift off to sleep before eleven.
It saved them from a repeat of that first day, where they were all dragging themselves around from a serious lack of rest.
Yesterday, Minamizaka had actually called Barbatos after seeing the videos circulating online.
He only relaxed after confirming over and over that she wasn't physically compromised.
He'd been one step away from dragging her in for a full-body checkup; after all, the visual impact of those videos was nothing short of intense.
"I guess there really are hidden masters among the common folk," Barbatos couldn't help but muse.
To be able to whip out a phone and start recording that fast, and from an angle that wasn't half bad—clear enough to see the whole process—was impressive.
Aside from the moment her Zone flared up and the sheer pressure made the person's hands shake violently, they could have easily passed for a first-rate cameraman.
As for her skyrocketing follower count, Barbatos didn't pay it much mind. If more fans meant running faster, she'd be all for it, but in her world, popularity didn't equate to power.
Truth be told, it was a bit strange. She felt like while she had plenty of fans who watched her for the races, even more had found her through rather... unconventional means.
There was the "Gangster Shake" from her debut, the fact that she looked exactly like the Anemo Archon from Genshin Impact, her League of Legends livestreams back in China, and now this "A Miraculous Touch" incident.
The most absurd part was that the phrase "A Miraculous Touch"—originally just one of Symboli Rudolf's dry puns—had been snatched up and used directly as the trending headline.
One had to admit, Symboli Rudolf really knew how to pick a title. And it wasn't wrong, either; she had stepped in to save someone, and there was video evidence to prove it.
After a night of fermenting on the internet, Barbatos saw that her followers on the official site had smashed through the three-million mark and were still climbing steadily toward four million.
"Truly a case of 'The National Champion goes unnoticed, but a single trending clip makes the world take heed,'" she sighed.
When she swept the board in the first half of the year and became the best in Japan, her fan base hadn't grown nearly this much.
Yet, a single rescue video on the trending tabs had multiplied her following several times over.
Barbatos figured the video hadn't just stayed in Japan; it had likely been shared by netizens back in China, which explained the explosive growth.
The pressure was mounting. Though she'd long since stopped believing in "death flags," this massive fan base felt like a forest of banners pinned to an old general's back.
If she entered the Winter Dream Cup later with more fans than all the Legendary Uma Musume combined and still managed to lose, wouldn't that be a bit embarrassing?
Chewing on those thoughts, Barbatos finished breakfast with Seiun Sky and the others before heading toward the Rigil training grounds. Today was the day for another clash with the Legends.
"I get to choose the distance?"
"Well, then I won't stand on ceremony!"
Gathered once again with the Legendary Uma Musume, the rules of the practice race allowed the competitors to choose the track length.
Even though Barbatos was the current number one in Japan, she was still technically a challenger. She didn't hesitate to take the advantage.
In a standard race, Barbatos had the confidence and conviction to win at any distance. But when the opponents were Legends, she had to pick what favored her most.
Under the enhancement of her double Zone, she could completely transform into a Front-Runner style to lead the pack against G1-class Uma Musume.
However, against Legends, a long-distance race held too many variables; it wasn't ideal.
Likewise, after the Takarazuka Kinen—where Air Groove had been left in the dust and couldn't close the gap—the Legends wouldn't just sit idly by.
They studied their opponents.
They wouldn't let the Takarazuka scenario happen again.
Knowing the sheer power of her late-stage burst, they would surely try to prevent her from taking the lead, or perhaps attempt to pull away early so her Spurt wouldn't be enough to overturn the lead and bridge the gap.
Barbatos still had absolute faith in her finishing kick.
The "Emperor," Symboli Rudolf, was likely her only equal in that regard—she certainly wasn't faster. In fact, Barbatos suspected her own burst might even be superior.
If there was a place where she might lose to a Legend now, it was likely during the "neutral" phase before the final straight.
Even with the double Zone active, her raw leading speed was slightly inferior to Seiun Sky, and she'd likely be gapped by Silence Suzuka. She couldn't yet claim total dominance over every aspect of her generation.
Still, she felt she could win because she could make up those lost meters on the final straight with her finishing move.
"I choose the 1000-meter turf sprint!"
At that distance, she could drastically shorten her period of vulnerability.
As for Mile or Long-distance races, there was still plenty of time left in the summer training camp; they could hold as many practice matches as they wanted.
These races were a chance to learn from each other, and neither the Legends nor Toujou Hana would turn that down.
"A 1000-meter turf race?"
"Does a track like that even exist?"
In Japanese racing, G1 sprint events weren't very common to begin with.
With most eyes fixed on the Triple Crown or the Arima Kinen, short-track events often went ignored. Even the experienced Legends had to take a moment to recall if there were any 1000-meter races at all.
Toujou Hana looked up from her tablet at Barbatos. According to her analysis, this distance was indeed the most advantageous for her.
Even if the Winter Dream Cup rarely featured sprints—and had never seen a 1000-meter dash—at this distance, Barbatos truly might win, even against the Legends!!
"There are four 1000-meter races in Japan. Two are Open events, and one is a G3 graded race."
"The only G1 is a JBC dirt event. But this is the distance that favors Barbatos most. Everyone, prepare yourselves for the possibility of a loss and give it your all!"
One by one, the Uma Musume preparing for the mock race stepped up to the starting gates.
None of the Legends would back down just because of a distance aptitude.
To defeat an opponent at their very best—that was the mark of a true Legend.
--+--
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.