The legendary Pegasian Sight?
And… on this waterlogged track, under this torrential rain, she activated it right out of the gate?
Even Sea of Stars, hailed as the one most likely to challenge the legends, was stunned.
Gifted with overwhelming, all-around talent and virtually no weaknesses, she possessed the sheer stamina to maintain her domain for over half the race even in distances exceeding 2000 meters—a feat nearly all world-class Uma Musume could only dream of.
Because when it came to long distances, Sea of Stars possessed terrifying innate talent that was in no way inferior to her middle-distance prowess.
If she wished, Sea of Stars could follow in the footsteps of Frankel, the Mile GOAT, and aim for greatness in long-distance racing.
But… Sea of Stars had her pride. In her eyes, the only true classic distances were the mile and middle distances.
As for long distance? In Europe, it was seen as secondary, not taken seriously. It was almost like how a Japanese G1 middle-distance winner might be viewed as less valuable than a single middle-distance G1 win in Europe or America.
Long distance wasn't as exaggerated or undervalued as Japanese G1 races, but it still paled in comparison to European middle-distance prestige.
So unless it became truly impossible to claim the title of Middle-Distance GOAT, Sea of Stars would never even consider challenging long-distance races! Her priority was to aim for the title of the greatest middle-distance runner in history and fulfill her promise to Dr. Lin.
Although Sea of Stars hadn't focused excessively on endurance training, her natural gifts made her stamina superior to that of most middle-distance Uma Musume—one of the sources of her confidence.
Under normal conditions at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Sea of Stars was confident she could control her domain and dominate whenever she activated it. But… if the track condition changed from firm to heavy?
Even someone as powerful as Sea of Stars would feel a deep sense of dread looking at the Arc's famously waterlogged track, jokingly called the "Longchamp Swimming Pool."
She wasn't at all sure she could activate her domain early enough to sustain herself through most of the race on such a demanding track.
And that Pegasus! How could she?!
"She's insane…"
"That Platinum… she actually activated her domain right out of the gate? In these brutal conditions—some of the worst the Arc has seen in decades?"
Sea of Stars, with all her potential in long distances, never imagined she'd witness the legendary [Pegasian Sight] this soon, under these circumstances.
Under the chestnut-haired girl's astonished gaze, she saw the surrounding racetrack morph into a vast, boundless Colosseum of Kazimierz—a knightly arena!
Its overwhelming, terrifying presence instantly enveloped the entire field, imposing absolute pressure on every Uma Musume on the track.
It was like shackling the runners, making every step a struggle. The domineering, frightening intensity caused most of the young fillies to widen their eyes in fear, feeling an immense weight.
Even breathing felt heavy; their legs, their entire bodies, strained under the pressure. Activating their own aura wouldn't help—resistance was futile.
Unresistable, unstoppable.
What emerged wasn't just a Zone that suppressed the entire field, nor was it only the Kazimierz Arena and the Pegasus Hall of Fame.
What drew even more attention from the countless spectators was the scene high above: the dark, city-blanketing clouds that had swallowed the noonday sun, creating a grand yet despairing, almost apocalyptic spectacle.
But as Pegasus Vision activated, twin moons of Terra rose, casting their glow over the Colosseum of Kazimierz.
Not only that—the moonlight, impossible to see in the daytime, now illuminated the dim spectator stands and the rain-drenched turf course, lighting the path for every Uma Musume.
Platinum, commanding the twin moons and mastering her domain, seemed to become the ruler of the Arc… no, the entire racetrack!
From the domain's oppressive force to the appearance of the knightly arena and the twin moons of Terra, psychological pressure mounted on the runners. Most clenched their silver teeth and chose to hold back.
Activate their aura? Or counter with their own domain?
No, not even Sea of Stars dared make such a bold choice.
Only a Zone could oppose another Zone. But no Uma Musume thought activating theirs now to oppose that near-limitless-stamina monster was a good idea.
After all, this was a severely waterlogged track—one of the most nightmarish in the Arc's history!
And the distance—2400 meters, the longest middle-distance race—made many European Uma Musume even more cautious.
The activation of Pegasian Sight, its suppression of the entire field, was like adding fuel to the fire. Many now worried whether they could even last until the final stretch.
"Guh… Seriously, who activated it? Is someone hacking? Who opens with a domain on a heavy track, in a 2400-meter swimming pool?!"
"This [Colosseum]… it's got to be that Pegasus Platinum. Is that monster not afraid of stalling out?"
"This pressure is terrifying… World-class Uma Musume who've beaten me before didn't have suppression this strong. It has to be the Pegasus. Calm, steady Sea of Stars would never go this crazy."
"This?! Not good. I'm stuck in a box seat, failed to get position, trapped in the middle—and now I'm gated too?!"
"No, no way. I can't copy Platinum. If I try that, I'll stall out before I even reach the final stretch."
"Let's watch Sea of Stars first. I'll decide whether to change my pace based on how she responds."
Many Uma Musume didn't understand what was happening—they were just shocked.
Almost unanimously, they chose to endure, not increasing their speed.
Most kept their eyes on the silvery-white figure shining on the outside track.
Others, like Youmzain and Agnes Tachyon, too far inside to see the pegasus on the outside, turned their attention to the chestnut-haired Sea of Stars up front.
Experienced Uma Musume knew: in this race, those who couldn't control their emotions and pace, or who stayed in their comfort zone without accelerating early, would be the first to fall behind!
Chaos, terror, power, disorder—all triggered by the activation of the field-dominating Pegasian Sight!
And this was only the beginning—the domain activation of that Silver Pegasus Knight on the outside, right after the start!
--+--
[The gates are open! Not a single one of the twenty Uma Musume, including Platinum, is late off the mark!]
[As expected of the world's greatest race! Despite the rain that should've slowed the pace to a crawl, they're off so quickly!]
[But… at a certain point, almost the entire field seems to have slowed down? Is that—the Colosseum dominated by the Pegasus Platinum?]
[This! A domain activated by Platinum not long after the start! She's completely ignoring the heavy track, showing no fear of stalling out. Is this the absolute dominance and confidence of the current—and only—active turf legend?]
The commentator's voice was full of astonishment, not following the usual routine of immediately reporting the positions.
Instead… he was stunned by Platinum's decision!
In the massive stands, packed beyond counting for the world's greatest race, the crowd wasn't just ordinary spectators.
Among them were active and retired Uma Musume from around the world, there to watch.
For example, the entire student council members from Japan's Tracen Academy.
Or the legendary dirt-track Uma Musume from America, Seabiscuit.
These famous retired Uma Musume were like small stones dropped into the ocean—barely causing a ripple, hardly noticed by anyone.
The main screen never once switched to focus on these renowned seniors.
Right now, over a hundred thousand spectators couldn't hold back their gasps of amazement, reacting intensely, stirred by the fierce competition on the track.
European fans of the Pegasus had already praised Platinum after her King George VI Stakes win—[Among Europe's mediocrities, more are inferior to her than superior!]
"I… I thought we'd only see the [Colosseum] and [Pegasus Hall of Fame] around the midway point, like always."
"No wonder my sister insisted I come watch the Pegasus race. The spectacle and shock value far surpass any European Uma Musume."
"The only shining Pegasus under the moon… a scene like this, I've never seen before! If she loses, wouldn't it become a super embarrassing legacy?"
"All flashy effects and then a loss? That'd be hilarious. Go, Sea of Stars! End the Pegasus's winning streak!"
"You—you only ever think about yourself."
"No way, absolutely no way! Miss Platinum is the best in the world! She can't possibly lose!"
"Miss Platinum is here to end it all! She's the strongest legend! She'll surely defeat Sea of Stars!"
It wasn't just the general audience discussing.
Up in the front rows, the elegant noblewoman Urban Sea watched alongside her eldest daughter, Galileo.
Their eyes first fell on Sea of Stars, positioned prominently on the inside.
Urban Sea couldn't help voicing her concern.
"This won't be a repeat of Rock of Gibraltar and Commander Collins."
"Whoever loses will become the other's stepping stone—no room for error!"
"Little Star, you have to win!"
Rock of Gibraltar and Commander Collins—these two were hailed as the twin jewels of middle distance, both top-tier powerhouses, both called [Legends].
They were the only legendary Uma Musume in history to have faced each other.
Otherwise, all legendary Uma Musume existed in separate eras, never meeting.
On dirt, Man o' War retired long before Seabiscuit was born. And Seabiscuit was already an official in the racing hierarchy by the time Secretariat arrived.
On turf, Symboli Rudolf retired years ago; her junior, Sakura Laurel, had already debuted in Japan. Only now had Platinum risen to legend status.
Even though Rock of Gibraltar and Commander Collins had long since retired, the world still debated who was stronger—a nearly eternal topic.
"This is the worst conditions beyond heavy track—have faith in Little Star."
Galileo gazed intently at the muddy, splashing track ahead, then looked up at the rain.
"Little Fan once said: on a firm track, Little Star has a forty percent chance of winning. On a heavy track, it rises to sixty."
"But on a… severely waterlogged track? Seventy? Or eighty?"
"Don't worry, this won't be like Rock of Gibraltar and Commander Collins. For Sea of Stars, it's probably a good thing!"
Once, Galileo had been utterly confident before her Epsom Derby.
Back then, she told her sister Sea of Stars:
For that Derby, she was… invincible!
Unless [a foe from beyond the skies] appeared, defeat was impossible!
Then—Platinum came.
That shame, that humiliation, Galileo remembered it well. After three defeats, she gave up, choosing to switch to the [Dr. Lin Anran Cup].
But Sea of Stars was different!
Even though her sister had a [terrible start] in the [Dr. Lin Anran Cup], not even considered a favorite—a complete "small fry"!
In the Arc, Sea of Stars would not start late. She was the absolute favorite! If this wasn't a replay of Rock of Gibraltar and Commander Collins, where the winner permanently steps on the loser… then…
Probably a good thing!
With a small chance of… a good death!
And Galileo believed it would most likely be the former.
Worth mentioning—
In that one historic clash between the two legendary predecessors, both were still young, far from their peaks, with long roads ahead to becoming legends.
So even though that one race had a winner, there was never a consensus on which of the two monsters was truly stronger.
But now, both Platinum and Sea of Stars had reached incredible heights!
One was already a legend; the other was on the verge of becoming one.
The situation with Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerard—where an early clash couldn't settle the debate due to neither being at their peak—would not repeat itself with Platinum and Sea of Stars!
Therefore, this Arc showdown left no room for error. The winner would be undisputedly the greatest turf runner of the new era!
The loser would be forever etched into the winner's legend, becoming the most brilliant… stepping stone.
This crown-of-the-world battle was destined to be a legendary clash watched by the entire world!
Amid the countless discussions, the intensity on the track escalated even further!
--+--
On the outside, toward the front.
The Silver Maiden overtook a runner slightly slowing down, yielding position on the far outside.
Like a lion roaming unchecked, even a pack of wolves would halt, allowing the monarch to pass first.
And for Platinum, her forward movement was a leisurely stroll, a gallop that forced other front-runners to grit their teeth and make way.
Among the twenty Uma Musume, drawing gates 14 or 15 wasn't too surprising for Platinum.
Compared to gates 19 or 20, her position wasn't too bad.
Her acceleration out of the gate, plus her domain activation, forced outside runners who wanted to cut inward to submit to her domain's pressure and fall behind.
Only after Platinum completely overtook her did the outside runner resume angling inward.
Reputation precedes!
In the past, even with outstanding results in Japan, Platinum wasn't taken too seriously overseas. She was often seen as just a product of Japan's fast, firm turf, padding her record domestically.
But now, the Pegasus's reckless acceleration made European elite runners yield without hesitation or resentment—letting her advance unchallenged.
It was… a reaction of reverence toward a superior, not daring to compete!
In a very short time, Platinum—from an unfavorable outside position—quickly passed the outside runners, boldly moving past the stalker group into the front pack of seven or eight.
The outside Pegasus was charging forward with imposing presence!
The chestnut-haired Sea of Stars, on the inside, instantly noticed.
They were still on the straight before the first turn—the race hadn't even covered 200-300 meters!
Normally, for most middle-distance Uma Musume, this was just warm-up distance.
But the outside Pegasus was already pulling away from the group, about to overtake the leader who was only slightly ahead, seizing first place!
'Platinum… that monster really couldn't hold back!'
'Is she going for her signature Great Escape again?'
'If so, I have to respond with everything I've got! Can't let her get too far ahead!'
Sea of Stars didn't hesitate—she launched into a sprint.
Her acceleration was so efficient it stunned the other runners nearby.
In an instant, she left them behind, reached the front-runner, then overtook her with dominating speed.
In moments, Sea of Stars took the lead. But she knew it wasn't enough…
Without excessive endurance training, Sea of Stars wasn't confident she could front-run against Platinum for the entire race.
But she was confident she could be faster than usual front-runners—a pride rooted in her superior physical gifts!
"Then, like Platinum, I'll activate my domain too…"
"Dr. Lin, watch me closely!"
The chestnut-haired girl's sparkling eyes gleamed with cunning.
She didn't plan to engage in a direct one-on-one showdown, but… raising her aura to domain level to counter Pegasus Sight's suppression was doable.
After all, Platinum hadn't activated any skills to boost her aura or suppression yet—clearly not going all out from the start.
If Sea of Stars could just stay close, then make her signature late charge at the right moment…
If she could hold on until after the halfway point, even if Platinum passed her then!
Capturing the Pegasus was within her grasp…
But the next moment, the stars in Sea of Stars' eyes constricted!
Because in her peripheral vision, the silvery-white figure now at her side underwent an incredible transformation, which was…
Clad in knight's light armor, charging honorably from the outside, Platinum increased her speed even further!
Toward enemies, especially excellent ones worthy of battle and direct confrontation, Platinum never held back the arrows in her quiver.
She couldn't resist wanting to shoot them down with piercing arrows as quickly as possible!
Especially when it was a filly she'd known since her early days in America.
Because she knew her so well, she wanted to shoot her even more!
So without hesitation, Platinum activated her serious form, showing proper [respect] to the world's greatest race and the nearly perfect Sea of Stars!
[Pegasus Form (Passive): Greatly increases power and acceleration, significantly enhances…]
[Pegasus Wings (Active): Spreads wings, slightly increases stamina consumption, moderately boosts… during activation.]
[Pegasian Sight (Passive): Slightly reduces own speed, moderately increases power and stride frequency…]
[(Pegasus Not of This World): Activatable when track condition is "Yielding," "Heavy," or "Severely Heavy." Effects scale with track difficulty…]
[(Unleashed Wrath?): …]
[(Swift Shooter): …]
[(Knight Slayer): …]
[(Eternal Hunt): …]
[(Blazing Dawn): …]
In that instant, the young knight girl clad in gleaming silver light armor—or perhaps she should be called the Knight Slayer, Platinum—curved her lips into a deathly smile.
At the finish line, the spectral figure of a Maiden Goddess seated high in the hall slowly nocked an arrow, aiming at the leading Sea of Stars.
The next moment, the Silver Pegasus spread her jet-black wings—a stark contrast to her overall color—and with one powerful motion, surged past Sea of Stars!
The Silver Pegasus set sail toward the finish line, flying!!
--+--
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.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.