Mile races demand a speed greater than that needed for middle to long distances.
As a Uma Musume suited for middle and long distances, it's inherently difficult to compete purely on speed against those with powerful bursts made for sprints or miles. Their focus lies in maximizing velocity atop a foundation of high stamina.
A five-second gap in a long-distance race, if the opponents were average Uma Musume, might be something Symboli Rudolf could potentially close. But against a top-tier powerhouse like Narita Brian, it would be absolutely impossible.
In a mile-grade race, with Hishi Amazon as the competitor, frankly, aside from hoping for her to have an off day, bridging that gap through sheer ability alone is a tall order.
"A large part of it comes down to luck," Rudolf replied.
"It seems you aren't very confident either."
"One can't deny that these kinds of acquired limitations are excessively harsh for a Uma Musume."
Unless that legendary, incognito Phantom Triple Crown Uma Musume from Tracen Academy were to come, even she would find this situation difficult to overcome.
"What about Brian?" Rudolf asked, turning to another. "If it were you, what do you think?"
The black-haired young woman who had been leaning against the window, constantly watching the track, thought for a moment after hearing the question.
"It's a race between two individuals," she said.
"A gap like this can almost be seen as a race between two people. One chases from behind, while another colossal competitor runs ahead."
"The condition for victory isn't merely overtaking one or two runners; it's about how she can possibly surmount the towering, treacherous mountain right in front of her."
"How does the fierce lion bring down the elephant?" Air Groove spoke up, her gaze fixed intently on the track.
Meanwhile, the race commentator was shouting.
"All runners have reached the uphill section and are advancing toward the straight—!"
Some Uma Musume, their stamina failing, were already falling toward the rear of the pack. Their speed dropped significantly as their feet met the uneven ground, fully revealing the terror of a heavy, rain-soaked track.
With less than half the distance covered, they felt their endurance was already spent. They were clinging on, relying solely on grit after their stamina had deserted them, their pace much slower than at the start.
How could they be facing stamina depletion so soon after the start?
Did these girls even train seriously?!
Noticing from the corner of her eye those falling from the mid-pack to the very back, Hishi Amazon couldn't help but grumble internally.
Then again, perhaps not. Some might be deliberately slowing down, changing strategy on the fly to reduce the competitive pressure at the front.
Yes, just like that black Uma Musume who clearly had the ability to run closer but chose to linger at the very rear!
'You... just how long are you going to keep lurking back there, watching like a hawk?!'
'You can't seriously believe you can make up such a huge early gap just on the final straight!'
'Don't kid yourself. There's a limit to looking down on your opponents!'
'In a mile race, it's time to start accelerating in the mid-stage!'
--+--
Breathing... was more difficult than she had imagined.
The damp air felt like sharp needles pricking her insides.
To maintain the pace at the front, Biko Pegasus had expended considerable effort, surpassing her rivals on the uphill section she excelled at to seize the lead.
But precisely because of this, she had used up a significant amount of her energy.
The ground was wet and slippery, but compared to running further back, being at the front avoided the risk of being tripped up by churned-up soil. She had tried her best to avoid the worst footing.
'Guess this is what you expect from a GII race,' she thought, 'the pressure is even greater than the [Keisei Hai].'
Not only that, even though she was the one setting the pace at the front, she constantly felt a nervous tension, as if someone were chasing her, compelling her to quicken her steps unconsciously.
'What's going on...?'
Her heart was a mess, refusing to calm down.
As the leader, she couldn't see behind her, but Biko Pegasus distinctly felt a chilling sensation creeping up from her back.
Someone's gaze was firmly locked onto her.
'Who? Who is it?!'
Entering the bend, her small head turned slightly, eyes darting to find the source of her anxiety.
She soon found it.
There, at the very back of the pack, was a familiar black figure.
She wore an outfit completely different from the other competitors.
A black coat, a black skirt, her whole body seemed wrapped in a dense fog. The golden decorations on her attire shone glaringly, making Biko Pegasus think of stars twinkling harshly in the night sky.
Thump!
Biko Pegasus's heart tightened.
'It's her! That utter villain!'
In her mind, only villainous characters wore such dark attire.
'That black Uma Musume has appeared on the track again! And she's pressing forward step by step.'
'Are you planning to disrupt the race like last time?'
'I won't let you succeed!'
'I've decided... in this race, I will win back everyone's smiles!'
Biko Pegasus's mind recalled lines from her favorite tokusatsu shows.
'The pitch-black reaper swings her scythe, seeking to claim countless lives.'
'The righteous heroes of the battlefield tighten their gloves.'
'Standing before the people, they shout aloud—'
"Bring it on! Only those strong enough to conquer evil are worthy of being called true heroes!"
'I, Biko Pegasus, will defend the honor of this track!'
'I am the righteous hero of this arena!'
"She's accelerating! Biko Pegasus is accelerating after the bend!"
The commentator excitedly announced.
After the first straight section following the uphill climb came a downhill slope.
Uma Musume could choose to recover stamina expended on the climb here, or they could choose to accelerate and break away from their rivals.
Biko Pegasus's eyes narrowed with determination. Her left foot dug a rut into the ground as she sank her weight, leaning slightly forward. The downhill slope provided tremendous acceleration, instantly widening the gap between her and the second-place runner.
"Hero! Our hero!!!" the crowd cheered and applauded fervently.
That figure, unusually petite compared to the other Uma Musume, now seemed brimming with power.
'See that! That's a girl unbounded by her physique! That's the little hero galloping across the track!'
"Did you think I'd let you have it all your way?!" a fierce shout came from behind, reigniting the audience's passion.
Striding forward with wild, unrestrained steps, a brown-skinned maiden broke free from the pack and closed in on the leading Biko Pegasus.
The race had now entered its final stage.
After navigating this bend lay the home straight leading to the finish line.
It wasn't just them; every Uma Musume was fighting for position through the curve.
'Ahead! The finish line is right ahead!'
The Uma Musume began pouring on the speed, jostling for the win.
"It seems the outcome is quite clear now," Symboli Rudolf remarked from the observation deck, having watched the entire race.
"The gap created at the start isn't so easily overcome."
"Even with her formidable strength, it's impossible to make up a twenty-length deficit to the leader on the final bend."
Fourth or fifth place, Rudolf estimated.
Even so, that would be a quite respectable result for her.
A heavy track, an unprecedented late start from the gates, and still achieving such a position would be unprecedented indeed.
It was enough.
As long as she didn't win, the incident's impact could be minimized.
"Is that really so?" Narita Brian, who hadn't taken her eyes off the track, suddenly spoke.
"Brian, do you truly believe she still has a chance to win?" Rudolf asked.
Not just her, but even Air Groove beside them, and the spectators in the stands, felt that this black Uma Musume couldn't possibly pull off a victory like last time.
"'Believe'?" Narita Brian curled the corner of her mouth. "President Rudolf, I am certain she will catch up."
"Why?"
"You only need to go all out and race against her once to understand," Brian said, clenching her fist.
"The racecourse is the tinder, the strong are the flame."
I can hear it—
The footsteps of the fire, drawing near.
Whoosh—
At that moment, a powerful, deep inhalation resonated in the ears of every spectator, instantly lifting their hearts into their throats.
Their eyes widened in unison, hearts pounding with nervous intensity.
They felt it!
Everyone felt it!
That long-prepared firework was about to erupt with dazzling brilliance against the vast night sky.
The whole world was about to reverberate with its blast!
--+--
T/N: New Uma Musume Fic up!
--+--
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.