Toujou Hana.
She was the trainer for Rigil, the strongest team in Japan.
Possessing an exceptional eye for talent and a wealth of experience, she cherished the Uma Musume under her care deeply, having witnessed countless clashes between the legends within her own ranks.
But... this selection race had left even her shaken.
Back at the Takarazuka Kinen, Barbatos and Silence Suzuka had suppressed Air Groove, showcasing the sheer dominance of this generation's racers.
Hana already held Barbatos in high regard; she viewed her as an equal to the likes of T.M. Opera O, Narita Brian, and Maruzensky.
This selection race was supposed to be a chance for both sides to complement each other and learn.
Wins and losses weren't the priority; what mattered was what the Rigil members could take away from the heat of competition to push themselves further—much like the legendary training duel between Special Week and Taiki Shuttle.
According to her predictions, even if a 1000-meter sprint was Barbatos's optimal distance, winning against legendary racers wasn't a guarantee. She expected a top-three finish at best.
The reality, however, was a decisive victory.
First place. An undisputed, crushing lead.
And she had claimed it even after Brian and the others had fully unleashed their Zones, going all out to try and blanket the track!
"Barbatos..."
"So this is the current Number One in Japan..."
For the first time, Toujou Hana had a crystal-clear realization of what Barbatos truly represented.
Since its inception, the Dream Cup had never featured a sprint, let alone the shortest 1000-meter dash.
Yet Barbatos had legitimately gapped the likes of Brian and Opera O.
What about the Mile? The Middle distance? The Long distance?
Having analyzed Barbatos's past performances, Hana knew that despite winning the Tenno Sho (Spring), Barbatos's dominance in long-distance races wasn't quite as overwhelming.
That victory over Mejiro Bright felt more like the result of a tactical blunder by the opposition.
Even so, it was undeniable. Setting aside the long distance for a moment, Barbatos possessed the raw ability to trade blows with Brian and Opera O in both Mile and Middle-distance tracks.
She was no longer the green rookie from the Winter Dream Cup who had plenty of fans but lacked the results to back them up.
Hana glanced toward Symboli Rudolf.
Could Barbatos be the one with a chance to shatter the "Absolute"?
The bold thought bubbled up in her heart before she quickly suppressed it. Such a thing was virtually impossible.
However...
While defeating "The Emperor" might be an impossible dream, breaking the limit of seven G1 victories was a very real possibility. In a regular race, who could possibly stand against the current Barbatos?
According to the race registration submitted by Minamizaka from Team Canopus, Barbatos's schedule for the latter half of the year was set.
Barring any accidents, victories in the Sprinters Stakes and the Shuka Sho were practically guaranteed. Looking at Barbatos's current power, Toujou Hana honestly couldn't envision a scenario where she lost.
The only potential hurdle was the Japan Cup.
But then again, who could actually beat her there? Seiun Sky? Silence Suzuka? El Condor Pasa? Or perhaps Montjeu?
The latter half of this year might just witness the birth of the first Uma Musume in history to claim eight G1 victories!
Drawing her thoughts back to the present, Hana estimated the time Barbatos had clocked for the 1000 meters based on how long she herself had stood there stunned.
She tucked her tablet under her arm and began to clap.
Symboli Rudolf joined in, as did the other Uma Musume who had participated in the race.
Barbatos might still have a few gaps in her long-distance game, but she was now undeniably a racer of legendary caliber. She had grown even stronger since the Takarazuka Kinen.
"A truly magnificent lead-off," one remarked.
"With a finishing kick like that, we'll have to be extremely careful even in Mile and Middle-distance races," Opera O and Brian added, offering their praise without reservation.
When they had ruled their own eras, they had shown the same respect to the legendary seniors who came before them.
"B-chan! Let's try a Mile or Middle-distance next week! I won't let you get away next time!"
Hishi Amazon, fresh off the track, issued a challenge.
Since they weren't on the same team, they rarely had the chance to spar; this summer training camp was the perfect stage to test their mettle, and she wasn't about to let the opportunity slip by.
Besides, in this environment, she didn't have to worry about remedial lessons!
Facing Amazon's challenge, Barbatos replied bluntly, "Sure thing. I'll make sure to leave you in the dust, Sis."
Even though this was just a sprint selection race without a crowd of hundreds of thousands, the joy of victory was real. It was another layer of confidence to pile on for her upcoming season.
"Yeah, I agree with Barbatos," Narita Brian chimed in, blunt as ever.
"You!"
Amazon wanted to snap back, but she found herself lacking an argument.
Compared to Barbatos—or most "Runaway" style racers—her start wasn't particularly explosive.
She wasn't a natural front-runner. Her greatest weapon was her powerful late-game charge, a finishing kick that could rival even a Triple Crown winner like Narita Brian.
But that kick looked almost sluggish when compared to the Final Spark Barbatos could produce.
Taking all these factors into account, if Amazon wanted to win, she realized she had to overhaul her entire racing philosophy. At the very least, she couldn't afford to fall behind right at the gate!
With the post-race analysis clear in her mind, Amazon's path to becoming stronger finally had a concrete goal.
"Let's get to it! Today's training starts now!!"
Everyone began warming up, preparing for a new day of grueling work. However, as Amazon watched Barbatos go through her stretches, she couldn't help but ask:
"B-chan, do you want to enter the Summer Dream Cup?!"
--+--
Barbatos and the others, including the Emperor herself, threw themselves into the rhythm of training. A competitive tension began to fill the air as they pushed one another to the limit.
King Halo, unable to train due to her leg injury, leaned against a nearby post and watched quietly.
Being here wasn't a waste of time; she could observe the training methods and running styles of the others, which would be a huge help once she recovered.
Just as the doctor had told her, she needed to give her body a chance to relax.
"King Halo, come with me for a moment," Toujou Hana said, setting down her tablet.
As a trainer, while she was devoted to her own team, a general love for all Uma Musume was essential.
The trainer exam at Central Tracen was too difficult to pass on hard work alone; it required a foundation of genuine passion.
Regarding King's leg injury, even though the girl had access to professional specialists through her family, Hana still had some advice to offer.
Inside a private room, Hana pulled out a handwritten recipe. "Try supplementing your diet with this vegetable juice."
"It might help your body recover a bit faster. Grass Wonder used to drink this back when she was injured."
--+--
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.