Advantage? Did it ever even exist?
Have you forgotten your lesson from the Yasuda Kinen already? Did you really think that leading at the beginning of the race meant you had enough strength to challenge me?
Fine. If that's truly what you believe, then face me head-on.
Let Gotham Song show you what true strength is.
Twin Turbo continued to run single-mindedly, while Daitaku Helios struggled desperately behind her. Clearly, she'd already reached her limit, her stamina rapidly fading away.
Her loss of speed was inevitable.
But Daitaku Helios wasn't willing to surrender. She refused to accept defeat like this, pushing herself to keep accelerating—yet she had already exhausted everything!
I refuse to accept this! Dammit...
I can't catch her, after all...?
Though she didn't want to admit defeat, as an Uma Musume, even from behind, looking at Twin Turbo's radiant, shining figure, she clearly understood one thing:
Right now, she had absolutely no chance of overtaking Twin Turbo.
After all, this was a [Zone]—a miracle granted by the Three Goddesses, uniquely awakened by each Uma Musume.
Could anyone possibly catch up to such a miracle without awakening their own [Zone]?
Impossible... Huh?! Wait—she's so fast!
The moment shock overtook her, Daitaku Helios was instantly overtaken. A black wind sliced through the barrier beside her, surging forward with unstoppable momentum.
Is that Gotham Song? Has she activated her [Zone] as well…?
No—that's impossible! She hasn't activated anything at all!
No [Zone], yet even faster than Twin Turbo who's running within hers? Isn't that terrifying?!
Miracles were precious, powerful forces. The intersection of strength and chance allowing impossible things to happen—this was the true nature of miracles.
But what if, right before your eyes, someone trampled such an extraordinary miracle, utterly shattering it?
Daitaku Helios found it absurd, yet the truth was undeniable.
On the Takarazuka Kinen track, before her eyes and before everyone's eyes—
Gotham Song had shattered the miracle that Twin Turbo had summoned through sheer determination.
She had crushed the hope born from that miracle of running.
A monster—an absolute, incomparable, utterly unstoppable monster.
Naturally, such a monster wouldn't consider anyone else's feelings, would she?
Gotham Song swiftly overtook Daitaku Helios, remaining entirely focused as always. She never spared a glance for anyone at her side, simply accelerating endlessly—faster, faster, faster!
Twin Turbo's [Zone]?
Sorry. If that's all you have to challenge me with, then complete defeat awaits you.
By the time the race reached its halfway point, Gotham Song had already brought everyone else close to their limits.
Clearly, the trailing Uma Musume had all realized this reality. Competing in the Takarazuka Kinen, especially one with Gotham Song present, each had prepared thoroughly in advance.
They knew perfectly well that once the Uma Musume ahead began her sprint, she'd maintain that terrifying speed until the very end.
A cruel reality, wasn't it?
Yet URA still stubbornly insisted Gotham Song was merely a miler specialist, arrogantly believing that a short-distance horse tackling mid-range distances was destined to fail spectacularly.
But that was evidently nonsense. Gotham Song, a short-distance specialist?
Her effective range surely exceeded 2200 meters—perhaps reaching 2400 meters, or even further!
What a truly fearsome existence—no weaknesses at all.
Yet despite this, the trailing group desperately continued accelerating—faster, faster, faster!
Since they'd already stepped onto the track, there was no reason to hesitate now, was there?!
Daiichi Ruby and Nice Nature, who had been relatively close upfront, gave everything they had in pursuit.
But it was completely futile.
In Daiichi Ruby's conflicted gaze—initially hesitant, then numb, then finally resolute—Gotham Song's figure grew increasingly distant, pulling away so far that even the young lady could barely see her back.
Such a formidable Uma Musume. If it's Gotham Song, perhaps our family...
Compared to Daiichi Ruby's complicated feelings, Nice Nature's emotions were significantly calmer.
As Twin Turbo's teammate, she'd long ago noticed her companion's incredible growth.
So, she wasn't at all surprised to see Twin Turbo's brilliant, blue [Zone] bloom on the track.
And then, Gotham Song arrived.
Hmm—how to describe it?
Having already been completely outpaced once before, this feeling was oddly familiar—no, incredibly familiar.
But even so—
Even if she'd experienced it before, facing this harsh reality once more was still difficult to accept!
Compared to Daiichi Ruby who was beginning to waver, Nice Nature refused to accept defeat.
She became the fourth Uma Musume to accelerate wildly, breaking out of the pack's framework, chasing that unattainable victory ahead.
"Nice Nature has broken through! The only one from the trailing group to accelerate! Daiichi Ruby is also speeding up!"
The commentator's voice roared furiously, words racing at lightning speed—but the spectators' shouts of encouragement grew even louder!
Everyone cheered passionately for their chosen Uma Musume—everyone except for Gotham Song.
"Can Daitaku Helios maintain her second-place position from the start until now? Can she accelerate again? Gotham Song is rapidly approaching—no acceleration! Daitaku Helios has been overtaken! Twin Turbo—our hope—can she withstand this challenge?"
The race had entered its fiercest stage. Twin Turbo's performance today had been astonishing. Not only had she maintained her speed, she'd even surpassed her own limits in stamina.
Even spectators watching from afar could sense the astonishing willpower burning within her small body.
She was exhausted, but it wasn't time to give up yet!
She'd led the race this far, and if Twin Turbo fell, who else could possibly stand against Gotham Song?
In everyone's hearts, Twin Turbo was now their only hope—the final bulwark against defeat.
But reality was merciless. Even her miracle couldn't change the outcome.
Clearly, the distance between Gotham Song and Twin Turbo had shrunk to a shocking degree.
Despite Twin Turbo's decisive advantage in the first half, everything had evaporated in an instant.
Before the second curve, Gotham Song had already caught Twin Turbo, and then—
Surpassed her!
On the long straight between the first and second curves, Gotham Song was utterly peerless. By the time she reached the second curve, Daitaku Helios, who'd been third, had completely run out of strength.
"I can't go on!"
She slowed down, falling behind, replaced in third by Nice Nature, and fourth by Daiichi Ruby.
As for Twin Turbo?
Though she had been completely left behind, she continued pushing herself, desperately, desperately...
Yet, the harder she pushed, the further Gotham Song pulled away.
Rapidly passing the second curve, Gotham Song headed for the final straight and uphill climb.
Everyone watching knew clearly:
No one could oppose Gotham Song now. The gap would only grow wider and wider, utterly unreachable.
A short-distance specialist?
The greatest joke in the world. From the midpoint onward, Gotham Song's effective range might even reach 2500 meters.
And why not sprint the entire course? Stamina limitations, presumably.
If she could truly sustain that speed the whole way—wouldn't that be utterly terrifying?
A full-course sprint of 2200 meters? Wouldn't that mean the Great Escape—the return of Twilight Song?
In any case, an unusual scene emerged afterward:
Everyone cheered loudly for second, third, even fourth place, ignoring the runaway leader already far ahead, charging up the final hill.
At the very end, Gotham Song visibly slowed, trotting casually across the finish line.
A silent protest?
Perhaps—but wasn't it also just an expression of helplessness?
Crossing the finish line without applause, Gotham Song made one fact crystal-clear:
This year's Takarazuka Kinen was completely ruined.
Exactly how far ahead had Gotham Song finished compared to Twin Turbo?
Nearly 110 horse-lengths.
Anyone watching would call her a terrifying victory machine.
Gotham Song stood straight near the finish line, holding her scepter, watching quietly as Twin Turbo approached, then abruptly turned away, disappearing into the passage before Twin Turbo crossed.
Let them celebrate a bit longer.
Exiting, she immediately saw Dancing Brave and Symboli Rudolf waiting. The Emperor seemed about to speak, but hesitated. Dancing Brave, however, offered only admiration:
Clearly taught by Secretariat herself—brilliant.
Afterward, as Gotham Song finished her interviews, Dancing Brave watched her closely, certain she'd found her answer.
Gotham Song approached, but Dancing Brave smiled knowingly first.
"Finished your interview already, Ruka-san?"
How will you answer, Gotham Song-san?