Ardan's expression was grave. The injuries in her body, instead of holding her back, were drowned beneath a boundless, powerful soul-force that flooded every limb and bone.
Everything Kuroha had taught her in the past—technique, breathing, where to apply force—had, in this moment, fused perfectly into instinct.
Her condition had never been better.
The wind cleared a path for her, pressing down even the howl of the air.
Creek can't catch me anymore.
Ardan lowered her eyes and reached her conclusion.
From the moment she broke free of the mire, that first shadow-like pressure at her side had gradually faded, and now, at this instant, it was completely gone.
Did she give up?
The moment that thought flickered through Ardan's mind—
Vmmm—!!!
A horrifying surge of dread that made even her soul tremble exploded into existence!
Behind her.
The deep-blue light that had been arrogant and naïve only a moment ago now rose like an inverted sea, like a celestial river collapsing in a single flood!
This was no longer a gentle ocean or a clear creek.
This was a sky-filling, world-swallowing rage tide!
"Ardan!!!!"
With a decisive, desperate roar—
That deep-blue figure became a great sword bursting from the sea, charging forward to slaughter her way ahead.
Spiral-lance impacts hammered the air into震荡 waves, each strike cutting a path across the final straight before the finish, carving a line of ruin!
The girl's face was twisted with a hint of ferocity, yet carried a bewitching allure born of destruction.
She was enraging herself.
Burning ability, burning muscle, burning life!
On the final straight where victory would be decided, she was madly shrinking the distance between herself and Ardan!
"What?!"
Ardan snapped her head up.
In her vision, Creek's chained, death-grip pursuit was enlarging at terrifying speed.
One length… half a length… until she was level with her!
Ardan could even feel the air behind her being torn apart by sheer force—
And that pressure, almost scorching her back, pressure unlike anything Creek had ever shown before!
Why?!
Where is this completely abnormal speed coming from?!
Blue light growled.
Ardan clenched her teeth, disbelief written across her face.
That terrifying explosiveness… in her memory, it had almost never appeared in any "proper" example of what "Super" could do.
And yet… this was a race where victory was supposed to be decided by "not fading," by "not collapsing" in the late phase!
For a runner like Creek, famous for Pace Chaser stability and stamina, this was a miracle that should have been impossible.
But the moment Creek's Domain light—packed with raw explosiveness—washed over her, Ardan finally understood.
A fierce will surged up inside her as well.
"Not a chance!!!!"
Ardan roared, casting aside her usual pride in that instant.
Those legs that had once been praised as "breaking the boundary" now erupted with an edge sharp enough to shake the ground itself!
A terrifying kick struck into the turf, feeding back unmatched explosive force.
Ardan drove every inch of tendon in her body, forcing out power beyond power—refusing to give even a fraction!
"Ardan!!!!"
In the final hundred meters, the spear-light beams of the two girls still intertwined, becoming a spiral storm of alternating streams, charging like madness toward the finish!
"The last 200 meters! Creek has caught up! She's caught up!! Ardan refuses to yield! They're about to be side by side!!"
In the screaming gale of that ferocious surge, the commentator's heated voice echoed overhead.
"The finish is right in front of them! Who will take the final honor?! One hundred meters! Fifty meters!!!"
At the front.
Creek watched the finish line draw closer and closer.
Her vision had begun to blur. Her lungs felt ignited. The pain in her legs had passed beyond sensation.
But she could feel it—she had flattened the gap with Ardan.
The girl stamped down with one step—
Boom—!!
Willpower like the strongest champion of the previous era poured into the earth in full, and the turf caved deeply beneath her.
The shock of impact drove force straight up from the ground, through bone and flesh, vibrating her entire body as she tried to surge past the enemy ahead.
Good. Like this.
Just one more step…
I can—
Creek drained the last thread of strength from her body and forced her legs to keep moving.
And then… she couldn't.
In the instant only 50 meters remained to the finish—
Crack—
The wavering blue light, once unstable, suddenly snapped and stuttered.
High up in the grandstand, the one who had watched everything unfold finally could not bear it, closing their eyes.
That kind of willpower was not something a normal runner could "steer" safely.
They could reach that kind of speed, that kind of late-phase dominance, but why couldn't they unleash it endlessly?
Because the outside world was not what truly bound them.
Sometimes, what broke them…
Was themselves.
Every step at the apex of the track carried terrifying power, and in exchange, their feet and bones had to endure the backlash of that pressure.
That was why, when Kuroha trained his Uma Musume, he placed enormous importance on flexibility and endurance capacity.
And Creek—no matter how firm her will—
Her body, in the end, could not bear the horrifying repeated impact of that chained burst.
From ignition to collapse, she sustained that speed for only 150 meters…
…
The next instant.
"They've crossed the line—!!!"
The two of them practically slammed through the finish together!
The massive inertia carried them several meters forward.
"Hhh—!"
"Hhh… haa…"
At the finish, Ardan and Creek took only a few steps before their legs gave out.
Almost at the same moment, both collapsed to the ground.
Their violent panting sounded like bellows. Sweat instantly soaked the grass beneath them.
"Didn't… think… it would…"
Ardan forced herself up on one arm, her chest heaving. "Haa… it still needs… a photo finish…"
In pure strength, she was clearly several times superior to Creek.
Even until the final 200 meters, that had been true.
And yet—
Ardan turned her head to look at Creek beside her.
Creek was gripping her own arm, head lowered, staring at the grass.
"…Creek…"
Ardan was about to say something, but—
"I lost."
Creek spoke abruptly.
Ardan froze, frowning. "What are you saying? The result isn't out yet…"
…
Creek didn't respond.
She simply eased her body upright, not caring about the dirt clinging to her, and dropped down to sit.
Hands braced behind her on the grass, she leaned back and lifted her head to the drifting sky.
Her face was pale, sweat pouring, but in those eyes was an unprecedented calm and relief.
"Ardan-san, I…"
"?" Ardan didn't understand and was about to press her.
"Photo-finish result!"
At that moment, the commentator's voice boomed over the entire racecourse.
"By the narrowest of margins! The winner of the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) is—Mejiro Ardan!!!!"
Boom—!!!
"OHHHHHHHHHHHH—!!!"
The stands erupted in an instant.
Countless streamers rained down, celebrating the birth of a new long-distance champion, and celebrating the continuation of the "Spring Triple Crown" road.
Ardan blanked for a heartbeat.
She stared, dazed, listening to the broadcast—then closed her eyes and lifted her head, looking deeply at Creek beside her.
As one of the few remaining top-tier horses of their generation, Ardan knew exactly how terrifying that power just now had been.
After a long silence, she let out a deep breath, adjusted her breathing, and slowly stood.
If you've won, you must carry the weight of that victory.
That was respect for the race.
And respect for your opponent.
Beside her.
Creek still sat on the ground, watching Ardan's back bathed in sunlight, a rare dimness on her face.
You understood, even if only for a moment…
Deep in her pupils—
As if a breeze passed through.
A deep-blue beam, like a signal fire burned to ash, quietly dispersed.
Not a trace remained.
Creek slowly raised her hand and pressed it over her still-thundering heart.
Feeling each beat that was about to come.
Then, her lips lifted slightly.
Two lines of tears slid down her cheeks, and a faint, fragile curve tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"But I did everything I could… so I have no regrets in losing."
"To be able to win one more time… it's truly… wonderful…"
The Tenno Sho (Spring), complete.
The winner—Ardan, Radiance in Full Bloom.
(End of Chapter)
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