Chapter 300: I Can Go Even Faster!
The wind howled past her ears, yet Almond Eye heard none of it—her eyes were fixed solely on the finish line beyond the final curve.
Her breathing grew increasingly rapid, her chest rising and falling violently. Every inhale felt like it was gathering energy for another burst.
Sweat streamed down her face, dripping onto the turf, but it did nothing to slow her forward momentum.
As she accelerated, she continued analyzing her opponents' positions in her mind.
With sharp perception, she noticed that one runner on the inside, though slightly ahead, was already showing clear signs of fatigue—her steps had grown heavy, her breathing disordered.
Another runner just behind, leading on the outside, was trying to seize the chance to overtake—but there was a trace of exhaustion in her eyes.
A faint smile curved on Almond Eye's lips.
Seizing the moment, she surged toward the outside lane, unleashing her strength. With her excellent cornering technique, she shot forward like a black bolt of lightning, swiftly overtaking the two runners beside her.
Her sudden acceleration caught the surrounding competitors off guard. They tried to block her, but could only watch helplessly as she slipped past like a phantom.
Grass Wonder and El Condor Pasa, who were commentating, immediately noticed the change. Grass Wonder exclaimed in rare surprise:
"The race has reached the final corner, and although it's a bit early, Almond Eye has begun accelerating!"
Her voice echoed across the entire track through the broadcast, filled with astonishment and delight, as if announcing the beginning of a thrilling climax.
El Condor Pasa's reaction was even more pronounced, her voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"So fast… what an amazing burst!"
Her eyes were locked onto the track, filled with admiration as she watched Almond Eye streak forward like lightning, completely immersed in the intensity of the race.
The stands instantly erupted.
The lower-year Umamusume jumped up in excitement, eyes wide as they followed Almond Eye's figure; the upperclassmen were equally astonished, their expressions filled with surprise; the trainers began exchanging rapid comments, buzzing with discussion over her performance.
By the track, Lucky Lilac clenched her hands tightly, her nails nearly digging into her palms.
Her eyes never left Almond Eye, and she kept muttering:
"Almond Eye, you can do it—go!"
Though her voice was drowned out by the roaring cheers, her sincere hope and encouragement seemed to cut through the noise, reaching Almond Eye on the track.
On the course, Almond Eye ignored the cheers and chatter around her. All her focus was fixed on the finish line ahead.
Her breathing was rapid and forceful, each inhale drawing in as much air as possible to fuel her body.
Her clothes were soaked with sweat, which ran down her face and neck, but she paid it no mind.
She only knew one thing—she was getting closer and closer to the finish, and the light of victory was shining just ahead.
Up front, Sayaka sensed the change behind her, her heart tightening.
She glanced back—and saw Almond Eye cutting through the field as if no one could stop her, overtaking one runner after another.
A flash of panic crossed her eyes, but she quickly forced herself to steady.
"I can't let her pass me!"
Clenching her teeth, Sayaka pushed herself to accelerate with every last ounce of strength.
But at that moment, she realized her stamina was nearly exhausted. Her legs felt like lead, each step requiring immense effort.
Lily Noble also noticed Almond Eye's burst. A complex emotion flickered in her eyes—surprise, admiration, but above all, unwillingness to lose.
"I won't lose to you, Almond Eye!" She shouted inwardly, quickening her own pace as she surged forward alongside the charging Almond Eye.
In an instant, the situation on the track changed dramatically.
Sayaka's once steady stride completely fell apart, her speed visibly dropping. Every step she took felt unbearably heavy, as if her feet were glued to the ground.
Fatigue and unwillingness filled her eyes as she could only watch Almond Eye and Lily Noble shoot forward like arrows released from a bow.
Almond Eye moved with agile grace, like a black whirlwind, carrying an unstoppable momentum; Lily Noble refused to fall behind, clenching her teeth as every muscle in her body worked at full force, determined to compete head-on with Almond Eye.
At the same time, Soft Melody quietly began to accelerate from the inside lane, like a nimble fish, weaving skillfully between other runners as she rapidly closed in from behind.
The pack, which had begun to slow as the runners' stamina waned, suddenly surged forward again under the influence of these three, as if injected with a powerful stimulant.
Grass Wonder and El Condor Pasa's voices came like rapid drumbeats, quickly reporting the runners' movements.
Grass Wonder spoke at a fast pace, her voice filled with tension and excitement:
"The race has entered its most intense final stage!"
"Almond Eye and Lily Noble are running neck and neck, locked in a fierce contest!"
"Soft Melody is also breaking through strongly from the inside and is giving chase at full speed!"
"Sayaka seems to be struggling, her speed clearly dropping!"
"They've now passed the curve and entered the final straight, the distance to the finish line—200 meters!"
El Condor Pasa immediately added:
"This is incredible! These runners are showing extraordinary strength and indomitable spirit!"
"Almond Eye is still maintaining her astonishing sprint speed, while Lily Noble is gritting her teeth, trying to hold her position!"
"Soft Melody's performance is just as eye-catching—her clever positioning and sudden burst of speed have added even more suspense to this race!"
"Let's cheer for them together!"
The race had reached a boiling point, and the atmosphere in the stadium was pushed to its peak. The spectators all stood up, eyes locked on the track where the runners charged forward like a storm.
Cheers and shouts rose one after another—cries of "Go!" and "Push!" echoed throughout the entire venue.
Feeling the roar of the crowd, Almond Eye sensed something within her about to explode as she surged forward like the wind.
She felt the air slicing through her long hair, while sweat glistened under the sunlight, tracing bright arcs through the air as she sprinted.
At this moment, she had forgotten everything around her, fully immersed in this battle—against her opponents, and against herself.
And at some point—whether it was an illusion or not—she suddenly felt as if she had endless strength coursing through her body, running faster and faster, and with increasing ease.
Her legs seemed driven by some mysterious force, each stride covering an immense distance, striking the turf with crisp, powerful sounds.
Her breathing grew more rapid, but it was no longer the heavy panting of exhaustion—instead, it carried a rhythm of explosive power. Each inhale felt like drawing in the energy of the world itself, and each exhale like releasing a burning fighting spirit.
The gazes that had been fixed on her, the figures that had been chasing her—at some point, they had all disappeared. Ahead of her, there was only the wind, the track, and the finish line.
Almost uncontrollably, she kept shouting in her heart:
"Not enough… still not enough… still not fast enough, I…"
"I can go even faster!"
Her eyes grew ever more resolute, blazing with a fiery light, as if she could burn a hole straight through the finish line.
At this moment, she was completely immersed in this all-or-nothing charge, unable to suppress the exhilaration brought by every brush of wind against her skin, every subtle rise and fall of the track beneath her feet.
Just as she pushed her speed to the absolute limit, Grass Wonder's voice rang out over the broadcast—so excited it was almost a scream:
"Finish! The winner of this mock race is…"
"Almond Eye!"
That announcement struck like a hammer, snapping Almond Eye out of her almost trance-like state.
She came back to her senses in a daze, looking at the finish line she had already crossed, momentarily at a loss.
In the next instant, thunderous cheers erupted from the side of the field, as if the entire stadium were about to be lifted off its foundations.
In the stands, spectators leapt to their feet, applauding vigorously, their faces filled with excitement and exhilaration as they cheered for the breathtaking sprint they had just witnessed.
By the track, Lucky Lilac jumped up repeatedly in excitement, shouting Almond Eye's name while clapping with all her might.
Kitasan Black also leapt up excitedly, waving her arms and shouting, "I knew it! Ai-chan could do it!"
Standing nearby, Makoto wore a satisfied smile, nodding slightly.
He knew very well that Almond Eye's performance in this race wasn't perfect—but it was more than enough.
More importantly, today's victory wasn't just the win of a single race; it was a solid step forward on her path as a runner.
On the track, Almond Eye gradually slowed to a stop. Her chest heaved violently as she gasped for breath.
Her entire body was drenched in sweat, her clothes clinging tightly to her skin.
She looked around—at the cheering crowd, at the opponents who had also run with all their strength—and after a long moment, an indescribable sense of accomplishment welled up within her.
"I… won…"
Lowering her head, she looked at her palm, slowly clenched it into a fist, then suddenly raised her head and lifted both arms high toward the stands, shouting:
"I… won!"