After clinching the triple crown for the second time, Shinzan had already crossed the boundaries set by the European Racing Association.
She gained a reputation Europe never wished to see, possessed a power Europe never wished to witness, and had utterly become a threat.
In that era, Shinzan was Europe's greatest enemy.
"Only, I always carried the mark of Europe with me, so everyone kept up the appearance of peace."
Shinzan said to Dream Weaver, and for some reason, a hint of melancholy flickered in her eyes as she spoke.
"And unlike you, who had just debuted a year ago, I had already proven myself by defending the triple crown."
"So when dealing with someone like me, no matter what lineup they sent, Europe wouldn't face any pressure from public opinion."
"Because in everyone's eyes, they were the challengers."
Dream Weaver murmured softly. To become a special Uma Musume, one had to bear greater attention and expectation.
With Shinzan as the defending champion, no one would accuse them of ganging up on a weaker opponent, no matter how many triple-crown-level Uma Musume were sent.
On the contrary, such a clash of titans might even ignite the audience's passion. After all, the triple crown had never been so lively before.
"Yes, back then, many gifted Uma Musume born in Europe wanted to challenge me."
"It had nothing to do with the European Racing Association. They simply wanted to compete against the strongest."
With no conflicts in her top-tier race schedule, Shinzan's decision to participate in the triple crown again after her defense was bound to attract more competitive Uma Musume eager for a challenge.
And this, inevitably, would make her path to the triple crown appear even smoother.
Dream Weaver also thought of this and said somewhat helplessly, "But just by existing, they would inevitably draw your attention, right? That way, those tasked with trying to stop you would have more opportunities to strike."
"Can't really blame them, though. They genuinely just wanted to challenge the strongest."
At this, Dream Weaver furrowed her brows. Shinzan's circumstances back then seemed much better than theirs.
Not only had she not completely severed ties with Europe, but she had also amassed enough strength.
But upon closer thought, her approach of suppressing conflicts beneath the surface was even more dangerous.
Faced with Europe's relentless pursuit and blockade, the audience wouldn't perceive it as unfair; instead, they'd see it as respect for a true champion.
Because Shinzan herself was an Uma Musume who came from Europe.
They were just challenging the strongest—what was wrong with that?
So Shinzan had to maintain an ambiguous relationship with the European Racing Association, all while defeating the talented Uma Musume who came to challenge her.
Even after many victories, a large portion of the audience might not realize what had truly happened.
Bearing such pressure, Shinzan didn't even have a single companion by her side.
Those she met during her training in Europe couldn't understand her choices, and folks back home, due to the boundaries between worlds, were even less able to see the storms brewing beneath the surface.
Shinzan only had herself.
"Maybe there's also a god, who knows."
As if seeing through Dream Weaver's thoughts, Shinzan said with a smile.
"Shinzan, Shinzan... Back then, I thought it was such a strange name. Wouldn't the person who gave me this name feel embarrassed?"
"I was just a rustic country girl. How could I possibly live up to such a name?"
Shinzan suddenly recalled her past training in Europe.
The European Uma Musume around her all came from influential families, basking in the glory of prestigious lineages, while she was just a scruffy little girl back then.
Bearing the name Shinzan, which felt utterly out of place in Europe, with hair a dull, deep brown that reflected no brilliance—she even felt a sense of trepidation in her heart back then.
Did someone like her really deserve to step onto the same track as all those glamorous, dazzling Uma Musume?
"But when I truly stepped onto the track, when I truly fought against those unparalleled geniuses, I realized..."
The corner of Shinzan's mouth lifted slightly, and an unconsciously sharp gleam flashed in her eyes.
"They were so weak."
"Whether it was strength, speed, or even stamina—they were all, utterly, inferior to me!"
"Those self-proclaimed geniuses from noble families, who spent their days adorned in splendor, couldn't even catch a glimpse of my shadow!"
"The whirlwind sweeping across the track was the blessing of the gods. The cries of my opponents ringing in my ears were the hymns of the gods. Bearing the name Shinzan, I, who rightfully received divine favor—"
Shinzan turned her head, her amber-like eyes fixed on Dream Weaver.
At that moment, Dream Weaver suddenly remembered a saying she'd heard from somewhere.
The true value of amber, this gemstone, never lies in the superficial light it reflects, but in the eternity preserved deep within time, sealed away.
Only when light pierces through it does the true essence of amber finally reveal itself to the world.
As sunlight pierced through the amber, unveiling the truth hidden in Shinzan's eyes, Dream Weaver suddenly saw clearly the reality within Shinzan's gaze.
This Uma Musume she had mistaken for a trainer, for the academy chairman—the light burning in her eyes at this moment was more intense than any Uma Musume she had ever seen!
That awe-inspiring radiance almost seemed to ignite Dream Weaver's body through her gaze.
Just being looked at by Shinzan, she inexplicably felt an illusion of being pierced by holy light.
Only such an overwhelming presence could truly be called Shinzan.
"How could I possibly lose to those so-called geniuses!"
"With my third coronation successful, I became the unprecedented Triple Crown Monarch."
"Even with the European Racing Association exhausting all their schemes, they still couldn't halt my steps. They even had to cede half their authority in Japan to me as a compromise! I won again, becoming someone special, beyond anyone's reach!"
Shinzan laughed unrestrainedly. It was a smile she had never shown Dream Weaver before, devoid of any gentleness or softness.
All that remained was a dazzling brilliance almost too bright to look upon directly.
For a moment, Dream Weaver even felt she was more scorching than the sun hanging high in the sky above.
Even the gods would bow down to sing her praises, humbly lifting the unparalleled, magnificent laurel crown to coronate her, celebrating her as the unprecedented defending Triple Crown champion.
This was Shinzan. Japan's—no, perhaps the world's—most powerful Uma Musume was here, formally revealing her true form before Dream Weaver.
Yet faced with such formidable might, confronting this nearly piercing, blinding radiance, Dream Weaver felt not a trace of fear in her heart.
Looking at Shinzan, who no longer concealed her strength, her tone didn't waver in the slightest.
"But you still stopped in your tracks."
--+--
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.