In the spectator stands, a pair of tiny, petite horse girls sat in the front row.
One had long chestnut hair, with bangs shaped like a diamond at her forehead. Though small, she carried an elegant aura, her face filled with anticipation.
The other was a lively black-haired horse girl, brimming with excitement.
Satono Diamond! Kitasan Black!
Two young, delicate horse girls who hadn't even begun their physical maturation—were now watching the race with keen interest.
The chestnut-haired Satono Diamond was a devoted fan of Mejiro McQueen, which naturally piqued her curiosity in Dober, another prodigy from the Mejiro family.
In her arms, she held a small cheer sign that read, "Mejiro Dober, Certain Victory!"
Satono Diamond's gaze shifted from the frontrunners, Platinum and Kyoei March, to Dober, positioned within the chaser group. She couldn't help but praise,
"Miss Dober is so composed! Just like Miss McQueen's junior—so steady and reliable!"
In the eyes of countless Japanese fans and horse girls alike, the most promising, kingly running styles were always the front-runner and stalker!
Compared to Platinum and Kyoei March, who were fiercely battling for the lead, Dober—with her excellent physique, conserving energy for a final push—seemed far more worthy of anticipation.
But in the very next moment—
"Huh?!"
"Wha— What just happened? How did Platinum seize the lead so instantly?"
"Is Miss Kyoei March intentionally yielding the lead, waiting for the right moment to strike back?"
--+--
After the third turn.
"H-How is this possible?!"
Even after pushing her limits and activating her track skill, Kyoei March could only stare in stunned disbelief.
Her best effort, the momentum she poured everything into, was instantly suppressed and completely overwhelmed.
The oppressive force emanating from the Pegasus, Platinum, was simply indescribable. It made an elite contender like Kyoei March experience true… suffocation!!
Her proud momentum couldn't even put up a fight against Platinum's; it was immediately crushed into insignificance.
It was like comparing a flower raised in the sheltered environment of a school greenhouse to a battle-hardened warrior who had survived countless bloody battlefields! Their presence wasn't even on the same level!
Her all-out sprint didn't trouble the silver-white Pegasus running beside her in the slightest!
The gap in their presence was like a kitten baring its tiny fangs, only to find a majestic, roaring tiger standing behind it!
What Kyoei March found most unbelievable was that she was overtaken so easily, without even a moment of running neck-and-neck?!
It wasn't until this moment that she truly realized: she thought she had given Platinum enough credit… but in reality, she had still underestimated that Pegasus!
"Guh… It's over!"
Kyoei March's stamina was never her strong suit, and she relied heavily on her momentum. With her ultimate trump card effortlessly neutralized by the Pegasus, she completely lost any ability to fight back.
"Muri!!" (Impossible!! / I can't!!)
--+--
[It's simply… astounding the entire venue!]
[Platinum, the talented but young and overlooked contender, has taken the lead before the third turn and begun setting the pace!]
[One length! Two lengths! The young Pegasus wantonly extends her lead! In this 2400-meter race, can she maintain this daring, runaway lead all the way to the end?!]
As the commentator's astonished voice rang out, the tens of thousands of spectators grew increasingly tense, then excited.
At the very front, the silver-white Pegasus's galloping hooves were incredibly swift.
In her mind, she pondered whether to use her momentum skill or not.
Miss Pegasus's maturation progression had already reached 15%; she had acquired the skill but had never used it.
'Kyoei March's and Mejiro Dober's momentum shouldn't be much weaker than mine. They must be hiding their strength to lull me into a false sense of security.'
'For the prize money, better be cautious! I'll activate the skill only if they start catching up!'
Having made her decision, Platinum's terrifying momentum continued to radiate unabated, and her lead kept growing!
Three lengths!
Four lengths!
Without even realizing it, before the final homestretch, Platinum's lead had become this immense!
--+--
And in the chaser group!
"Ha…"
"How… how can her presence be this overpowering?"
The other top favorite, Mejiro Dober, felt her pupils contract sharply as she stared fixedly at the front.
Even she was shaken by such intensity, but for the sake of victory, she quickly forced herself to stay calm.
'I underestimated Platinum. I can't let her keep leading like this!'
The second-place Kyoei March was already significantly behind her, and Platinum was leading by four, no, five lengths!
If this continued into the final stretch, allowing Platinum to keep charging ahead, even Dober's famed finishing sprint might not be enough to catch her.
In that case—!!
"Time to gradually increase the pace, try to close the gap, and decide it in the homestretch!"
This honor student of the Mejiro family unleashed a momentum that was, surprisingly, even stronger than Kyoei March's!
However… it still paled in comparison to the ongoing, oppressive pressure that felt like a dark, war-torn battlefield dominating the entire course.
The gap was too vast for Dober to suppress Platinum with presence alone, but at least it could enhance her own performance and activate her race skills!
[Perseverance: Slightly increases acceleration when chasing an opponent.]
[Fearless Heart: Increases speed and slightly boosts acceleration in the latter half when positioned in the middle of the pack.]
Instantly, Mejiro Dober's speed surged astonishingly as she began overtaking every other Uma Musume in the chaser group.
She paid no mind to the others, not even giving a glance to Kyoei March, whom she had considered her most formidable rival before the race. Her eyes remained locked solely on Platinum's retreating back.
Soon enough, even the front-runners ahead were overtaken one by one, posing no obstacle whatsoever!
Ahead, Platinum was the first to navigate the final turn, charging into the homestretch!
"The glory of the Mejiro family shouldn't rest on McQueen's shoulders alone."
Gritting her teeth, Mejiro Dober, with her swift strides, finally caught up to and then overtook the original second-place Kyoei March, who was losing speed as her stamina failed.
Second place changed hands, but this was far from satisfying for Dober!
Finally, she too entered the final homestretch.
But what filled Dober with growing dread was that the gap Platinum had opened had widened to… six lengths!!
If she didn't start closing the distance now, she would truly lose—and suffer a disgraceful, crushing defeat!
[Quick Breather: Recovers a small amount of stamina in the late race.]
[All Out: In the homestretch, slightly increases stamina consumption to boost acceleration.]
"Time to settle this!!"
The young lady of the Mejiro family poured everything she had into her final charge. Her form, straining with ultimate effort, was beautiful and dazzling, creating a significant gap between her and the pursuing pack!
But—
Despite her resolve, her physique, her finishing kick, her momentum, and her skills—Mejiro Dober, excellent in nearly every aspect, giving it her absolute all…
Within mere seconds, the brutally harsh reality laid itself bare before her, unbelievable. The dazzling figure of Platinum in the distance wasn't getting any closer.
Instead… did it seem to be pulling even further away?
How… How could her full-power finishing kick not close the gap with that cold, white Pegasus even a single inch?!
'This… how is this possible?!'
She still couldn't catch up to Platinum, who had switched from a chaser to a runaway leader and had been accelerating all this time?
Just what kind of monster was she?!
'Is that girl… even really a Uma Musume?'
--+--
And at the very front, the homestretch neared its end!
Seven lengths!
Eight lengths!
By the time the lead stretched to nine lengths, the atmosphere in the venue had shifted from tense excitement to… sheer awe and shock!
[Nine lengths! No one can catch her now!]
[The Pegasus Platinum, switching from chaser to runaway leader, is about to achieve a ōsa (large margin victory)! What kind of terrifying monster is she?!]
[Her stamina seems limitless! This is truly "The Pegasus Who Defies Common Sense!"]
At the forefront!
Miss Pegasus's exquisite face remained utterly calm, devoid of the gritted teeth, strain, or shock visible on the other competitors.
Yet, within her gem-like, sparkling eyes, confusion and bewilderment swirled.
'Wait, where is everyone?'
'I'm almost at the finish line. Where are Dober's and Kyoei March's trump cards? Their momentum?'
'Why aren't they using them?'
Gazing at the imminent, almost tangible finish line ahead, the puzzled Pegasus Platinum, just moments before crossing it…
She, unable to resist, turned her head to look back. As she charged toward the finish line, she glanced behind her at the other horse girls, her gaze finding Mejiro Dober in the distance.
This moment was captured spectacularly by the high-speed camera at the finish line, destined to become a legendary, iconic photograph circulated throughout the world!
Namely, "The Glance Back!"!!
[Pegasus Platinum crosses the line first! Ten lengths!]
[She… glanced back, achieving a large margin victory!!!]
[Let us celebrate! The birth of a new queen, an unprecedented, record-breaking fastest winner of a GI race!!]
--+--
T/N: The disrespect is crazy
--+--
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!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.