"Fight?"
In the empty chamber on the second basement level, the four Uma Musume glanced at one another, dumbfounded. None of them had expected Gold Ship's challenge to literally be a fight.
"We can't do that, Gold Ship!" Tokai Teio protested loudly.
"Even if you want us to prove we're strong enough to protect Trainer-san, making us fight is too much! We're companions—how could we attack each other?"
"Companions?" Gold Ship let out a cold laugh.
"When it comes to competing for a lifelong partner, what companion nonsense is there?"
"It's just like when Uma Musume ran into rivals in the old days—they'd issue duels to settle who gets the beauty. Only the winner gets the prize!"
"Sure, when there's a bigger threat, you might temporarily join forces to deal with it. But as soon as the alliance is over, it's back to fighting each other…"
"Are you really willing to just hand over, no strings attached, the husband you'll never get enough of, the one you want to be closer to, just let another Uma Musume have him?"
"This…" The four girls looked at each other in silence.
Honestly, Gold Ship had a point. Deep down, no normal Uma Musume would ever want to share her beloved. The only reason they'd come as a group to Gold Ship's basement was because, right now, there was nothing to fight over. But once they got Mizuno back, the moment any alone-time with him was up for grabs, it'd be a free-for-all again.
Even so, none of these girls wanted to turn on each other just yet.
Seeing them hesitate, Gold Ship pressed on:
"If you can't decide who to eliminate, I'll help you—leave it to me."
She pressed a button, and a trapdoor opened in the floor. A screen slowly rose up from it.
On the screen, four pixel art avatars appeared, each representing one of the girls.
"Now, I'll draw lots to decide who you'll face."
"I don't care how you do it—whether it's a fair fight or some sneaky trick—as long as you defeat your opponent, you earn the right to move on."
With that, Gold Ship pressed the control panel again.
The four pixel Uma Musume shuffled around the screen, then paired up, facing each other with hostile glares. A huge "Fight" appeared between them.
"The matchups are decided…"
"Tokai Teio VS King Halo!"
"Rice Shower VS El Condor Pasa!"
"What?!" The four stared at their system-picked opponents, all kinds of emotions flickering across their faces.
"I'm fighting King-san?!" Tokai Teio looked at King Halo, her pupils trembling slightly.
King Halo stared right back, frowning.
They'd fought before—about who Trainer-san liked best—but never actually come to blows, and always respected each other. If the other had trouble with training or schoolwork, they'd always help.
But now, only one could win and move on for the chance to save Mizuno from Gold Ship's clutches…
Given their abilities, the ace-level King Halo wasn't likely to beat the genius-of-geniuses Tokai Teio—but that didn't mean she couldn't make things tough for her. Even if King Halo couldn't win, she could do her best to drain all of Teio's stamina, leaving her in no shape for the later challenges. If she couldn't make it out herself, might as well drag her opponent down, too!
But…
"…Forget it." After a long hesitation, King Halo shook her head and sighed.
She crossed her arms, raised her chin, and looked at Tokai Teio with pride.
"As much as I hate to admit it, Teio, you're stronger than I am right now."
"And since our real goal is to save Trainer-san as fast as possible, it'd be a waste to tire each other out here. Better to save our strength for what's coming."
"Consider this a blessing from the ace herself—my wisdom and generosity gives you this victory."
"Ohohoho—!" King Halo threw her head back and laughed grandly.
But as she laughed, her horse ears drooped lifelessly, the contrast to her smiling face plain to see.
"King-san, you're really giving up?" Gold Ship asked.
King Halo lowered her head, brows trembling, wrestling with herself.
But after a moment, she straightened up, nodded confidently. "Yeah…"
Outwardly she looked relaxed, as if letting go of her shot at Mizuno was nothing, like she'd move on in a heartbeat. But the hand gripping her waist was clenched tight, holding in her unwillingness.
With King Halo's forfeit, her pixel avatar raised a white flag on screen, little tears on its face, while Teio's avatar bounced around, delighted.
"Thank you, King-san…"
"Hmph. You'd better rescue Trainer-san, don't disappoint the ace's expectations."
King Halo patted Teio on the shoulder, then turned with a flourish and waved goodbye, striding out the tunnel with all her usual pride.
Tokai Teio watched her leave, twisting her skirt with mixed feelings.
She'd beaten her opponent without spending an ounce of energy, but there was no joy in this win—only the sadness of losing a companion.
She slapped her own cheeks, got herself together, and clenched her fist toward King Halo's retreating back.
"Don't worry—the unbeatable Teio will never let anyone down!"
On the other side, El Condor Pasa felt a stab of sadness at King Halo's self-elimination.
She thought for a bit, then turned to Rice Shower, placing her hand on her chest, promising:
"Rice Shower, leave Trainer-san to me! I swear I'll save him!"
In El Condor Pasa's mind, Rice Shower was so petite she looked like she'd blow away in a breeze, shy and unsure of herself—not a match for her pro wrestling skills.
So why waste energy here? Better to convince Rice Shower to do what King Halo did and give up—no pointless fighting, friendship saved, win-win. With the team's two strongest—her and Teio—making it through, there'd be no trouble clearing the rest of the challenges and rescuing Trainer-san!
But when she made her suggestion, Rice Shower shook her head.
"...."
"Huh?"
"I said no!" Rice Shower stared straight at her, her tiny body blazing with a pitch-black, overwhelming aura.
"Rice Shower will never hand over Onii-sama!"