Eclipse First, the Rest Nowhere—Sham understood those words better than anyone. And there was an unspoken sorrow in that understanding.
No—not sorrow. Sham never considered her own story a tragic one.
Even if her teeth shattered, even if her bones broke, even if her body was crushed to dust—Sham would never avoid a fight, never retreat, never admit defeat.
Again and again, and again and again, and again and again—
When her teeth broke, she grew sharper ones.
When her legs fractured, she bolted them with steel.
When her body turned to dust, she rose again from the ashes.
It was true, though—ever since she'd encountered Secretariat, life hadn't been easy for Sham.
As one of the top-tier Uma Musume, her achievements never quite matched her strength, a fact that made many sigh with regret.
But Sham herself didn't see it that way.
Ahh… To be born in the same era as Secretariat—what a blessing.
To be given a chance to challenge the very peak of what an Uma Musume could become—what a gift.
To witness with her own eyes that glory, that ascent into heaven—how wonderful.
And because she had seen that radiance—
How could she ever bear to run behind anyone else?
Sham truly felt as though time had slowed. She knew it was just an illusion conjured by her mind, but she loved that illusion all the same—in moments like this, it was as if she could truly reach out and touch the gates of heaven.
She could see it—the whole world seemed to dim. And in contrast, she herself began to shine. In that instant, Sham was like the center of the universe, every spotlight fixed upon her.
There was no need to wonder what Secretariat would do in a moment like this. Sham had long since passed that stage.
Now, if you were Sham, you wouldn't even have to think—
Her hooves thundered across the turf, roaring like friction between storm clouds.
Whether it was an illusion or not, several runners near Sham caught a sudden scent in the air—the crisp, clean smell after a heavy rain.
The scent of rain, the ozone tang left by lightning, the aroma of wet earth.
"Sham is picking up speed—incredible! She's overtaken Urban Sea and is charging straight for the leader, Golden Sixty!"
Like a motor pushed to its limit, Sham tore across the track, a thunderous force of nature.
…As expected, keeping up with her was still a bit beyond my current strength. Urban Sea watched Sham fly past, the explosive sound of her stride ringing in her ears, leaving a faint tinnitus in its wake.
Faced with such intensity, Urban Sea could only sigh softly to herself and shift aside to let Sham through.
After all, her own goal here was already accomplished.
Everyone who came to compete in this race—yes, winning was one goal… but they'd all traveled far to Hong Kong carrying other dreams, other longings.
That being the case, why stick to the usual script? They ought to be like this—do what their hearts desired, right here, right now.
The curtain had already risen on this stage. As the one who'd lifted that curtain, her own wish was fulfilled.
That was enough. That was right.
We're Uma Musume, after all. Whatever troubles us, whatever pains us—let the race settle it.
Agnes Digital flashed past Urban Sea as well. After such a long, sustained burst of speed, Urban Sea—retired for some time now—simply didn't have the stamina left to hold on.
That goes for you, too…
Urban Sea's gaze followed the next runner to overtake her—a dark shadow streaking by: Leap of Faith.
Go on, Little Faith. Do what you came to do.
Whether you succeed or not—now that you're on this stage, you have to try.
"What an astonishing turn of events—the competition on the track is reaching a fever pitch! Sham is storming toward Golden Sixty, while Leap of Faith is poised in the inner lane, ready to overtake Agnes Digital!"
"Golden Sixty and Leap of Faith hail from the same stable—this is the first time these sisters have met on the racetrack. Though Leap of Faith's past performances have been less than stellar, could it be the sight of her sister that's ignited this unbelievable surge of power?"
"Can Leap of Faith make it to Golden Sixty's side? Only Agnes Digital and Sham remain in front of her—beyond them, a one-on-one duel with Golden Sixty awaits!"
The front-running Uma Musume was like a champion defending her title, forced to face challenge after challenge from those behind, maintaining her lead through the entire race. And the deeper into the contest, the more grueling it became.
While incredibly thrilling to watch when pulled off, those who adopted this running style rarely triumphed in the end—each victory was especially precious.
Could Golden Sixty do it?
Now, she faced her first true challenge. A wolf baring its fangs, thirsting for blood.
"So flashy… I could hear you from way back there…" Golden Sixty's ears twitched backward, and she grinned, muttering under her breath.
Maintaining the lead for so long had taken its toll, but she could still hold on. At the very least, she had one final burst of speed left for the final stretch.
Sham wasn't trying to hide anything—she clearly intended to challenge Golden Sixty right here, right now, in a direct contest of acceleration and endurance.
A fierce, almost savage smile spread across Golden Sixty's face.
"If you think you can… then bring it on!"
Of course! The moment Golden Sixty chose to run at the front, she had accepted that she'd face challenges from anyone, at any time.
With a roar like crashing thunder, the two charged into the turn once more!
Beyond this point, after navigating the long curve, lay the final five hundred meters—clear, straight, and leading directly to the finish.
Golden Sixty could hear the footsteps behind her growing closer, heavier, denser—like a lone wolf pacing steadily nearer, ready to sink its teeth in at any moment.
Platinum had once watched Sham run from the stands. Even from a distance, the sight had set her heart racing, stirring something deep inside. And now, Golden Sixty, running directly in front of Sham, was experiencing that pressure in its entirety.
But Golden Sixty felt no distress. On the contrary—it ignited her fighting spirit.
Before this… the only one who had ever run in front of Sham was Secretariat.
Golden Sixty excitedly licked her dry, cracked lips.
Which meant—Sham was treating her as an equal. An opponent on Secretariat's level.
How could that not stir her soul? How could that not bring tears to her eyes?
Faced with such respect, how could Golden Sixty not respond with everything she had?
Agnes Tachyon was right. The battle unfolding ahead was not yet a stage that Platinum and the others could set foot on—to be drawn into it now would only bring harm.
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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!
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