Just as Starlight had planned, she woke up at four o'clock this morning. The sun had yet to rise over the horizon, and the surroundings were draped in dim twilight.
A silver figure flickered across the training field.
However, just as she cleared the first corner, Starlight's strength failed her, and she collapsed onto the ground.
She checked her time. She had only lasted three minutes, and that was just at a jogging pace.
Returning the weight setting on her bracelet from level three back to zero, Starlight spoke through heavy breaths.
"At least I managed to hold out for three minutes. That's enough for pushing my limits today, my legs are already starting to tremble. If I keep forcing it, something will probably break."
After recovering some stamina, Starlight climbed up from the ground and adjusted the weight back to level two.
It was strange— back when she was training at level two, it had never felt this grueling. She had completely adapted to level two in just two days.
Yet, she had been using level three for a week now and could only manage three minutes.
"If I continue at this pace, I definitely won't be ready for the next Pre-OP Race."
After finishing three laps of interval running, she headed to the rest area. Taking a sip of water, Starlight looked toward the starting line.
Suddenly, she remembered she still had an unselected reward package for "Gate-Start Skills."
She opened it to find over a dozen different starting styles she had never seen before. She began previewing them, contemplating which choice to make.
"Currently, my running style is Pace Chaser. My only Gold Skill requires being surrounded to activate."
"I can't just keep actively diving into crowds, within a few races, my opponents will figure out my objective. How can I do it without being noticed?"
"I just need to turn it into 'passive surrounding.' If I take the lead to secure a good position first, the others will naturally gravitate toward my line. This way, a situation where I'm surrounded will occur easily."
Her eyes locked onto the final technique: Dual-Pressure Slingshot Start.
This starting method utilized a special technique to concentrate the entire body's power into the balls of the feet. This allowed for a perfect break from the gate while gaining a lead of three to five horse lengths at most.
This would provide ample time to choose a position. In the early stage of a race, such a run would give the illusion of an Escape Uma Musume, confusing her opponents.
"In other words, I'll be switching from a standard Pace Chaser style to an 'Escape First, Lead Later' tactic."
Starlight didn't choose immediately. She reviewed all the other starting techniques one more time, and after careful consideration, she finally selected the Dual-Pressure Slingshot Start.
The moment she made the selection, her mind was flooded with information on the muscle groups required for the technique and the specific way to exert force.
Her feet even felt a strange sensation similar to muscle memory. This would allow her to master the skill in a much shorter time frame.
"Good. With this skill, I'll take off like a tiger with wings. Back to training."
After a brief rest, Starlight threw herself back into her morning practice.
The time reached 5:30 AM.
As the Student Council President of Tracen Academy, Symboli Rudolf was always busy with work, making her the type to rise early.
Dressed in her deep blue school uniform and carrying her bag, she strolled along the academy's small paths.
"Another beautiful day," Rudolf mused, looking at the lush vegetation lining the way.
As she passed the path alongside the training field, her gaze was drawn to that silver figure— especially when the figure sprinted.
The pale gold gradient at the tips of her hair always gave the illusion of being blessed by holy light.
It was strikingly eye-catching, it would be difficult for the current Starlight not to be noticed. Unconsciously stopping her pace, Rudolf stood on the grass outside the spectator stands, hands on her hips as she watched the girl.
"Is that... Divine Starlight? It looks like she's been training for quite a while. She actually wakes up earlier than I do..."
Rudolf's eyes remained fixed on Starlight's form, and a smile unconsciously played across her lips.
"She truly is beautiful..."
Rudolf had heard rumors about the dramatic change in Starlight's appearance. As the Student Council President, her ears and eyes were naturally more keen than most.
However, the moment Starlight accelerated, Rudolf snapped out of her trance over the girl's beauty.
Thump, thump, thump!
The sound of feet striking the turf wasn't heavy, instead, it felt incredibly light and clear. Rudolf's ears could distinctly pick up the rhythm of the footsteps as if the girl were running right beside her.
Whoosh— !
Then, the speed grew faster and faster.
"...That speed. Even though her leg strength doesn't feel overwhelming, every step is so clean and transparent."
Rudolf felt a tremor in her own frame, and a sense of fighting spirit unconsciously welled up in her eyes.
"What is this? Why do I want to run a race against her so badly?"
Realizing something was off with her own reaction, Rudolf quickly shook her head and turned to leave.
"I should get to the office. There's a lot of work to handle today. I'll find an opportunity to spar with her some other day."
Indeed, what Starlight was practicing at this moment was the newly learned starting technique and the "Escape First, Lead Later" tactic derived from it.
After practicing for a while, even she had to marvel at the power of this strategy. Though her steps were as light as a dragonfly skimming water, they sounded clearer than a forceful stomp.
Thump, thump, thump—
"Hehe, I finally found an opportunity..."
Not long after Rudolf left, another figure suddenly appeared. With her short brown hair and the windmill earring on her horse ear swaying slightly, Yaeno Muteki looked toward Starlight on the training field with eyes that seemed to burn with fire.
"As expected of you, Divine Starlight, training at a time like this."
After changing into her training shoes, Yaeno Muteki walked briskly toward her.
"Divine Starlight-san, training so early? That's impressive."
Hearing the voice, Starlight, who had just finished her first set, turned her head.
"Eh, Yaeno-san? Are you here to train too?"
"That's right. What project are you working on? Can I join you?"
"Sure, no problem. I'm just doing standard practice for Middle-distance events."
'Hooked!'
Ever since she first invited Starlight to a match, the silver-haired girl had been dodging her, intentionally or not. This had left Yaeno Muteki feeling restless for the past few days, causing the flames of her passion to only grow more intense.
Knowing she would likely be rejected if she issued a direct challenge again, she had learned a trick from her Master (and Trainer).
Pretend to train, but actually compete.
'You won't escape this time, Divine Starlight-san!' Yaeno Muteki thought with determination.
"I'll follow behind you, how about it?"
"Alright, Yaeno-san."
After the greetings, the two arrived at the 2,000-meter starting point. Starlight gave an "OK" gesture.
Glancing sideways at the radiant silver-haired Uma Musume beside her, Yaeno found those golden, hexagram-like eyes absolutely captivating.
"Yaeno-san, Yaeno-san..."
"Ah, I'm here! What's wrong?"
"Are you okay? You seem a bit out of it."
"I'm fine, I'm fine! I just spaced out for a second. I'm completely ready now."
"Then, I'm going to call the start."
"Come on!"
"Ready... Start!"
The words had barely left her lips when—
Bang!
The sound of turf being torn up erupted from beside her. Then, a silver blur flashed forward. Yaeno Muteki's pupils shook violently.
'What's going on? I haven't even started, and she's already a full length ahead of me!'
Without a moment's hesitation, she sprinted out in pursuit. Immediately, two silhouettes began gallop across the training field.
Relying on her superior raw strength, Yaeno Muteki managed to catch up to Starlight with relative ease. Although she had been genuinely shocked by the start, for the rest of the run, Yaeno Muteki was essentially the one putting pressure on Starlight.
After the training session ended, Yaeno Muteki looked at Starlight, who was recovering her breath nearby.
After wiping the sweat from her face, Yaeno looked down at her still-trembling palms.
'Strange. What is this feeling?'
It wasn't enough. She wanted... she wanted to run with her again.