"Look, Tamamo Cross and Oguri Cap are making their move! Aren't the other Uma Musume going to accelerate? Tamamo Cross has already overtaken two in one breath!"
"What... was that?"
Super Creek's eyes widened as her position was instantly lost. In that moment, the only emotion in her heart was bewilderment.
"Did I just see something?"
She shook her head, glancing around her. A flash of lightning and a grey shadow enveloped her. The overwhelming mental pressure threw her breathing into disarray, and her strides became erratic.
"Is this really the kind of disturbance an Uma Musume can create? We're not even on the same level..."
Despair seized her heart, the path ahead obscured. Super Creek's prized judgment had failed her.
Now she could only struggle bitterly within the clash of their Domains.
"Creek..."
Trainer Nase gripped the railing in front of her tightly, her usually cold, beautiful face now showing clear worry.
"A massive shift on the track! The sprint from Tamamo Cross and Oguri Cap has thrown the entire formation into chaos."
"Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross have now taken third and fourth place respectively! Only two are left ahead of them!"
"What the heck?!"
The front-running Road Royal felt the fur on her ears stand on end, her tail fluffing up considerably.
"Are these two monsters?!"
Gritting her teeth, she quickened her pace.
"Can't let them catch up. This is no time for a leisurely lead anymore. I have to sprint now!"
She spent her previously conserved stamina without reservation. The Road Royal knew deeply that once overtaken, she'd have no chance to reclaim the lead.
And as the front-running Road Royal accelerated, the Uma Musume behind her couldn't stay patient any longer, all frantically increasing their speed.
The once calm group instantly boiled over. Every Uma Musume began to show her mettle, positions changing with every passing moment.
But only two were different. All the other Uma Musume didn't even dare to challenge them, subconsciously clearing a path.
--+--
"This is going too smoothly. Oguri doesn't seem to be straining at all, and the expressions on those other Uma Musume are so strange," Berno Light said hesitantly.
This time, Trainer Musaka was quick to reply.
"The gap is just too big. Between them and the other competitors."
"Still, everyone in this Arima Kinen is among the strongest Uma Musume of the year. But..." As he spoke, Musaka gripped his cane, a gratified smile on his face.
"Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross are in a completely different league. That overwhelming 'power' is stripping away their fighting spirit, bit by bit, without a trace left, then mercilessly sweeping them aside."
Of course, Musaka held back a word or two.
'And looking at these competitors' expressions, it's like they're terrified, even running for their lives! For the gap to be this immense...'
"In that case, does that mean Oguri can win?" Berno Light's ears perked up excitedly.
"It's still hard to say. It depends on when the remaining one realizes what's happening," Nearl said, not so certain. Her gaze was fixed on the last one in the group.
"The distance is just about right. Now is the perfect time to sprint."
--+--
On the track, Tamamo Cross was immersed in the sensation of her Domain.
'Is this my full power? So this is the kind of outrageous thing I could do in my prime.'
Everything around her seemed frozen. Her opponents' every move was like slow motion. She felt she could easily read their expressions.
'It's like time has stopped. This is a world that belongs only to me.'
Thinking this, she looked ahead at Oguri Cap, not far in front of her.
'Except for this one... an anomaly in my vision. Only she is different from the rest, possessing color.'
"But I'm in top form today! Don't think you can replicate that Japan Cup victory again!"
Tamamo Cross continued her charge.
Behind them, all traces of her usual gentleness were gone from Super Creek's face, replaced entirely by struggle.
'My legs won't obey me! The pressure ahead is like a solid wall, impossible to break through!'
'It feels like all my strength is evaporating. If this continues, I'll be trapped and finished within the formation...'
'Someone... anyone... save me...'
--+--
"The leader has entered the fourth turn! But the two grey mares behind are still unstoppable!"
The cheers of the crowd reverberated through the racecourse, moved by the intense race before their eyes.
"The entire field is out of the fourth turn! Now, only the final stretch remains to the finish line!"
"The Road Royal is still leading, but her speed isn't enough anymore! Her lead is being steadily eroded by Oguri Cap closing in behind her!"
"It's a grey showdown after all! Oguri Cap overtakes! Oguri Cap takes the lead! Tamamo Cross is right behind, her strides not weakening in the slightest!"
"Kuh!"
Super Creek's vision was beginning to blur, a faint, smoky haze starting to drift from the corners of her eyes.
'Just a little more... My body is ready. I just need one opportunity to break through this fortress-like aura!'
"Trainer... I want to win."
The words, spoken with a sob, escaped Creek's lips. In that moment, she remembered every little moment shared with Trainer Nase.
"!"
Suddenly, a chill ran down Creek's back, a pain as sharp as a blade piercing through her.
"Even though I was mentally prepared, the sheer power of these two still shocked me."
A trail of blood ran from her forehead down her face and into her chest, but for Dicta Striker, the situation was just right now.
"Although the blood was a real nuisance at first, the cold wind has dried it now. It won't block my vision at all anymore."
Half of Dicta Striker's face was covered in a mask of blood, her grin exaggerated, making her look like some demonic apparition.
"Plenty of stamina left, and the path ahead has been cleared by Tamamo Cross. Isn't this just perfect?"
"Don't think you two are the only ones having fun! How about taking me along for the ride?!"
[Bullet Kick]
"Dicta Striker! Dicta Striker is coming up the far outside! That trademark late kick hasn't fizzled out!"
"'The Bullet is Fired' is here!"
"Hooohohohoo!!!!"
Witnessing such a thrilling scene, the spectators jumped up, cheering like excited apes.
"Incredible speed, no match for her at all! Dicta Striker has already overtaken three Uma Musume!"
"Haaah..."
At that moment, Super Creek let out a deep breath.
"Thank you, Dicta Striker. Your surge forward completely shattered the blockade those two had up front. I can move now too."
Her eyes sharpened, Super Creek took a step forward with immense force.
"My chance... is right now!"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, 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.