Everyone was completely absorbed in the scene unfolding on the track.
"Biko Pegasus has cleared the uphill section smoothly and is entering the straight—!"
The announcer's voice echoed throughout the racecourse. He was giving it his all, straining to avoid any mention of the black Uma Musume trailing at the back of the pack.
The previous announcer had been suspended by the central racing association for three months for including her in the commentary. It was precisely because of that incident that he'd gotten this chance, this transfer from a local track to the central circuit.
Commentating here was his lifelong dream; he couldn't let a completely avoidable situation ruin it. With a bit of luck, he might even secure a permanent position here.
So he kept ramping up his pace, describing the running positions of the leading Uma Musume.
Finally, as the last of the main group reached the midpoint of the slope, the black Uma Musume set her foot upon the incline.
Thump—!
Countless spectators in the stands seemed to hear the phantom sound. It was as if she meant to stomp right through the track. Her foot landed heavily on the slope, her entire leg driving down like it was taking root. People watched as her calf muscles propelled her body, launching her upward.
Yes, not running, but launching.
What kind of posture was that? Even the experienced trainers in the audience involuntarily gaped.
Musaka Ginjirou's hand clenched his cane so tightly it seemed ready to splinter.
"This is..." he uttered in a deep, rumbling voice.
She put her full weight onto one leg, kicking back against the ground. The motion was like whipping the earth with a supple willow branch, its immense resilience causing it to snap back and catapult forward.
Unless her body combined immense strength with extreme flexibility, there was absolutely no way she could perform such a complex movement!
"Trainer Musaka, what was that just now?"
Beside him, Oguri Cap's eyes were wide, a rare trace of emotion in her voice.
"Indeed. It's exactly as you saw," Trainer Musaka nodded. "That body of hers, if I'm not mistaken, might even be capable of bending backward."
"Bending backward?"
"Mhm. Generally, Uma Musume with great power often develop an unavoidable stiffness due to their muscle structure. The stronger they are, the more pronounced this stiffness tends to become."
"A flexible body helps an Uma Musume channel her power more effectively. That's why focusing solely on strength training can sometimes be counterproductive."
"As trainers, our job is to find the balance between power and coordination for each Uma Musume, allowing them to enhance their strength while better utilizing their inherent abilities."
"But..." The veteran trainer Musaka Ginjirou watched the black Uma Musume ascend the slope in a way no one else could mimic and lowered his voice.
"I never imagined there would be an Uma Musume who possessed both ultimate power and an equally ultimate level of physical flexibility."
"Her legs could probably do a full split on the ground while she twists her upper body without any strain!"
That level of suppleness even surpassed Oguri Cap, who herself combined power and flexibility, standing right beside him. In fact, in his decades as a trainer, Musaka Ginjirou had never encountered an Uma Musume with such capabilities.
Why had he never heard of such a talent in any previous races?
His sunglasses were locked onto that black figure. He couldn't look away.
Just what kind of... top-tier innate ability was this?
--+--
It seemed this first major obstacle wouldn't be enough to stop her.
Hishi Amazon, who kept glancing back, felt a cold sweat on her forehead. Even from this distance, she sensed an intimidating aura emanating from the other.
A giant? Ha...
That wasn't the feeling at all.
Her heart pounded violently; her blood felt like it was burning inside her.
What Hishi Amazon felt clearly was that she was being targeted by a sharp arrow, the bowstring drawn taut, ready to be released.
What a disgrace.
A stubborn smile touched the corners of her lips.
As a follower employing a chasing running style, her focus should be on the leaders, especially Biko Pegasus setting the pace. She absolutely couldn't let her get too far ahead.
But now, Hishi Amazon found her entire attention fixated on what was behind her.
Her very thoughts had been stolen by the other!
"Haa—!" she let out a sharp cry, stomping down hard.
Just as everyone gasped, thinking she was about to make a move and sprint from such a forward position, she took no further action.
She was merely using the intense physical feedback from stomping the ground to forcibly refocus her mind on what lay ahead.
What must you do to defeat your opponent, Hishi Amazon!
She asked herself this.
Is it to stare intently at her, noting her every move?
Is it to feel your blood boil and accelerate recklessly, regardless of the remaining distance?
No!
That's wrong!
The more critical the moment, the more calm you need. She longed for a one-on-one showdown, but now was not the time!
The muddy ground relentlessly sapped the strength from her legs. If she accelerated here, she would undoubtedly have no energy left for the final stretch.
Therefore, until that moment came, she had to suppress the burning ambition in her heart, conserving every last ounce of her strength, bit by bit, without wasting a single drop!
She knew clearly what she excelled at and what she lacked.
Her race against Narita Brian had taught her that her raw power was likely no match for this one.
So she had to avoid a direct contest of strength.
Hishi Amazon's weapon was her proud late-speed burst, the ability to unleash her full power in the final hundred meters of the race.
So, to wait for that moment to arrive...
Come and face me one-on-one—
She whispered the challenge to herself.
--+--
"President, the operations area is in complete chaos."
Air Groove had been unable to get through to the person in charge—the line was constantly busy. Left with no choice, she had gone to find him.
But upon arriving, she was met with a scene of frenetic activity. The staff inside were practically running off their feet, dashing about urgently.
They were contacting the central committee, rearranging the exit routes for every Uma Musume to ensure they wouldn't cross paths with the black one.
A large team was also dispatched to deal with the reporters, demanding they scale back their coverage of the incident.
But how could those reporters pass up such a huge story? Many had come to this race specifically hoping to catch a glimpse of the black Uma Musume.
The negotiations were exceptionally difficult.
By the time she found the racecourse manager, his face was visibly contorted, and steam seemed to almost visibly rise from his head. He was struggling to compose himself, desperate to avoid meeting the central committee chairman with a face like thunder.
It seemed he was too swamped to deal with them right now.
So Air Groove returned to the viewing platform.
"I see. Let's leave it to them for now," Symboli Rudolf nodded, gesturing for Air Groove to stand beside her.
She looked down at the track. At that very moment, the black Uma Musume was tackling the slope.
"Remarkable," she praised sincerely.
Even though the entire commotion was caused by her, Air Groove couldn't help but feel respect for her ability.
"If she had started from the gates at the same time as the others, there's no doubt victory in this race would be hers, wouldn't it?"
"Oh? Is that what you think, Air Groove?"
"Even with such formidable skill, making up a five-second deficit from the start is incredibly difficult. She lost nearly a hundred meters. President Rudolf, if it were you, could you rely on pure ability to secure victory in a mile-length race against the likes of Biko Pegasus and Hishi Amazon, starting from that far behind?"
--+--
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.