"Super Creek! She's bursting through the pack! How did she get through from that position? Incredible!"
"Dicta Striker continues her charge, overtaking one after another—could we be about to witness a comeback victory from the very back?"
"Only 400 meters to the finish line now!"
"Dicta Striker has moved into fourth! Only Oguri Cap, Tamamo Cross, and the Road Royal remain ahead of her! Super Creek is hot on her heels."
The sheer intensity radiating from behind made Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross glance back nervously; they couldn't possibly ignore that overwhelming presence.
'So it's true... her reputation is well-earned. I underestimated Dicta Striker.'
Tamamo Cross gritted her teeth, maintaining a pace that had long since pushed past her limits.
"That late kick is even more terrifying than I imagined. There's no holding her back now—it all comes down to luck."
But just then, a cry of despair rang out.
"I can't do it, Trainer~~ They're too much for me!"
It was the Road Royal, her face now streaked with tears.
Her legs had turned to jelly, not an ounce of strength left to squeeze from her body. In that moment, the Road Royal bowed out of the championship race.
Yet, as she slackened her pace, a narrow gap opened up in what had seemed an impenetrable wall—a fleeting opportunity.
Fortunately, this race had a true master of seizing the moment.
"Right here!"
With a sharp cry, Super Creek dug her forefeet into the turf, twisting her body toward that one slim opening.
"Trainer, watch me!"
Her chestnut hair streaming behind her, Creek moved like a flowing river—formless, yet able to seep into any crevice.
But when Trainer Nase saw this, her hand instinctively shot out as if to stop her.
"Creek, wait!"
Alas, while they could often guess each other's thoughts from subtle cues, they weren't truly of one mind.
Naturally, the words never reached her.
"..."
In the end, Nase Fumino closed her eyes helplessly, her grip on the railing going slack.
She seemed to shrink into herself, shrouded in sorrow.
--+--
"Super Creek has broken through! She's overtaken the Road Royal and moved into fourth! What unbelievable positioning—how did she even manage that?"
"But Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross still hold the advantage, leading third-place Dicta Striker by a length and a half!"
"Yet Dicta Striker is steadily closing the gap! It looks like she might overtake the two white-maned Uma Musume!"
'What do you mean might? Of course she will!'
Dicta Striker laughed boldly, the muscles in her thighs and hips working in concert to propel her with enormous, powerful strides.
"This is a rare chance! How often do you get to face two top-tier Uma Musume like this?"
"At last, I can finally run to my heart's content against Oguri Cap—"
"?!"
"!!!"
"My... my legs?"
Dicta Striker tried to lift her legs again, to resume those shockingly wide strides, but they trembled uncontrollably, refusing to obey.
'Why? Was it the bad start? Did I push too hard too soon? Or is the blood loss taking its toll?'
"Why? Why is this happening now?"
Glittering tears welled up endlessly, carving trails through the blood smeared across her face.
What emotions lay behind them?
Regret? Agony? Frustration? Or despair?
No one could tell. But one fact remained unchangeable: Dicta Striker could no longer sprint.
"Dicta Striker! Something's wrong with Dicta Striker! Her charge has stalled! Has she run out of steam? Or is she injured? Could the wound from the start still be affecting her?"
"Super Creek seizes the chance to overtake Dicta Striker! She's now in third!"
"Hah... Hah..."
'Why? My stamina isn't gone, I'm still pushing with everything I have—so why? Why is the gap still widening?'
Super Creek realized this with despair; no matter what she did, she couldn't catch up now.
"Into the final 100 meters! Tamamo Cross and Oguri Cap are now neck and neck!"
"The others pose no threat to these two—it's down to a straight duel between them!"
"Oguri Cap's finish is looking slightly weary, but Tamamo Cross doesn't seem to have the energy to accelerate further either."
"The battle between them burns as fiercely as an erupting volcano!!"
"Who will it be? Oguri Cap? Or Tamamo Cross?"
"Oguri Cap? Or Tamamo Cross?"
"Oguri Cap! Tamamo Cross!"
The pressure of their rivaling domains had reached its peak, and through that clash, their feelings flowed into one another.
Joy—the thrill of finding both a rival and a kindred spirit.
Frustration—the agony of facing defeat.
Reflection—looking back on all they'd been through to reach this point.
"Ahaha..."
"Fuhaha..."
They laughed in unison, right there in the spotlight of the Arima Kinen.
The scene played out on the giant screen, and the atmosphere deeply moved every spectator present.
They might not have understood why the two leading Uma Musume could laugh so freely in such a crucial, high-stakes race.
But that passion, that raw emotion, etched itself deeply into their hearts.
"Honestly, those two are too much..."
Trainer Musaka sighed and pressed down on his cap, but a faint, proud smile touched his lips.
"Tama..."
In the crowd, Trainer Komiyama finally couldn't hold back—hot tears streamed down her face.
"They've crossed the line!!"
"The Arima Kinen has its champion!"
"But please hold on, viewers! The finish between Tamamo Cross and Oguri Cap was too close to call! The officials are requesting a photo review. While we wait, let's cover the other finishers."
"In third place, Super Creek! In fourth, Dicta Striker! It seems there's some discussion happening regarding the rankings!"
--+--
"Magnificent."
Nearl rose to her feet, marveling. In her eyes, both Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross radiated a dazzling, beautiful brilliance.
"A new era has arrived. This spectacle has surpassed all expectations. The lightning may fade, but the future will not stand still."
Symboli Rudolf waved a hand excitedly, then turned and strode away with a dashing flourish.
"Mr. C.B., Maruzensky, it seems we'll have our work cut out for us."
"Okay!"
--+--
"Ladies and gentlemen! The review and photo finish results are in! In a once-in-a-decade marvel, even with the photo finish, we could not detect even the slightest difference between them!"
"Therefore, after careful deliberation, the officials have decided: this year's Arima Kinen has two champions! Let us cheer for this miracle!"
--+--
T/N: Absolute Cinema
--+--
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.