The Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the American Triple Crown!
As many as thirteen talented Uma Musume, confident in their own abilities, were drawn to compete!
Compared to Japan's fields of nearly twenty, sometimes even over twenty entrants per race, this might not seem like much.
The difference lies in how Japan's Uma Musume scene is structured: races are meticulously scheduled. Outside the classic races, there's at most one middle-distance G1 race per month, adding up to just a handful over the entire year.
So, if you choose to skip a race, you might end up in the awkward position of your biggest win being a G2… The cost of skipping is simply too high, forcing most to compete.
Or, you could be like Mejiro Dober, avoiding Platinum to focus on fillies' G1 races; or like Kurofune, fleeing to the more distant dirt G1s.
Unless they opt for fillies' G1 or dirt G1 races, most Japanese Uma Musume have no choice but to grit their teeth and face the monstrous opponents they can hardly match.
For instance, when Platinum secured her Irregular Quadruple Crown, even before competing in any races featuring older Uma Musume's G1s, she was already recognized as Japan's strongest active Uma Musume, the undisputed number one.
Yet, for the Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen, many Uma Musume still clenched their teeth and chose to challenge her.
It was only after those two races, culminating at the Takarazuka Kinen, that the vast majority of Japanese Uma Musume became utterly terrified, seeing Platinum as mice would see a cat.
They'd rather forfeit the substantial prize money and ranking points than enter a race Platinum was in!
This led to the Takarazuka Kinen, which usually sees a stable field of nearly twenty, that year featuring only three entrants: Platinum herself, Tokai Teio, and Agnes Tachyon.
Unlike Japan with its unique race distribution, America is closer to Europe, boasting a countless number of graded stakes races, with plenty of regular G2 graded stakes and even G1 events.
Therefore, even if an absolute champion emerges to dominate the era, other Uma Musume can still choose to detour around them and go on to win several G1s of their own.
If you can win G1s by avoiding certain races, then there's no need to stubbornly insist on facing the best.
Even the persistent Sham, who lost three times to Secretariat in the Triple Crown races, only truly settled down after a major injury from a "broken leg"...
Proud as she was, she finally became pragmatic. After Sham switched to other regular G1 races, she immediately started racking up impressive victories, proving her strength.
But right now, this large group of talented Uma Musume are still reluctant to start avoiding the challenge.
After all, this is the starting point of the Classic Triple Crown! Who's strong and who's weak? You've got to try at least one race to find out, right?
So this American G1 race, which normally only has a handful of entrants, now has thirteen!
Among these competitors, Sunday Silence is positioned in the outermost gate, a placement that usually significantly reduces one's chances of winning.
Yet at this moment, the jet-black girl's expression is cold and utterly calm.
The slight emotional fluctuation she felt after leaving the starting gate wasn't due to her wide post position, but from the shock of witnessing a phantom image of a girl knight, nearly identical to the Radiant Knight Nearl, streaking towards the finish line in an instant with [Stellar Descent]!
It's worth noting that Sunday Silence's fighting spirit hasn't diminished in the slightest.
On the contrary, it has grown even stronger.
Isn't an excellent opponent all the more worth defeating?
The battle-ready Dark Monster Sunday Silence is fighting not only to win the Triple Crown and advance further in the [Lin Anran Cup]...
But also... to avoid losing face in front of her future little niece, Nearl, someday.
In Sunday Silence's view, no matter what, she absolutely cannot lose to Margaret Nearl!
Thankfully...
She still has a chance to win!
This isn't blind confidence, nor is it underestimating her opponent. As the least popular of the top three contenders, representing the outside world's lowest expectations of her, showing even the slightest weakness would be fatal.
But the current Sunday Silence possesses what she believes to be her trump card, the thing that maximizes her odds of victory.
It's not the [Adaptability] to harsh conditions that many might imagine, but rather...
—The pinnacle of presence, the supreme Zone!
That's right, the Zone!
For a young Uma Musume, just entering her classic year and competing in her first crown race, the Kentucky Derby, to already master the Zone—what exceptional, even terrifying, talent this signifies.
In Japan's Central Tracen Academy, which has developed over decades, most G1-level Uma Musume retire in their older horse years without ever touching the realm of the Zone.
Only annual Japanese Horse of the Year contenders, kings and queens possessing multiple Japanese G1s—geniuses like Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio—can possibly master Zone.
Even rare Japanese Triple Crown winners couldn't master it during their Triple Crown campaigns. Only the emperor, Symboli Rudolf, could command the zone in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Kikuka Sho.
As for Manhattan Cafe in the Kikuka Sho, her Zone was a "fast food," "one-off" temporary version, not true mastery.
This illustrates the true rarity and difficulty of mastering Zone!
Even in the intensely competitive European and American Uma Musume scene, mastering it by the final third leg would still be considered impressive.
It signifies the potential to reach, even contend for, the pinnacle of the world.
But it's only potential—a possibility that hinges on it being a normal year, without historically great Uma Musume, let alone once-in-a-century legends.
The current Sunday Silence, merely at the gateway to the Triple Crown path, having just pushed open the door, already possesses that supreme Zone!
Such talent is indicative of a Uma Musume poised to challenge for the American Triple Crown, far beyond the ordinary level of those who can only win a single crown!
The jet-black monster girl, qualified to be proud, also possesses the adaptability to fight in adverse weather. How could she possibly be daunted by a mere wide post position?
'A wide post position, on a firm track, is a significant disadvantage.'
'But right now—'
Sunday Silence gazed coldly and sharply towards the sky ahead.
Though a sword-spear had split the heavens, the snow and rain from above continued unabated. The impact of the several prior hours of precipitation had already deeply affected the vast dirt track.
Among these thirteen Uma Musume, absolutely none could be more thankful and pleasantly surprised by this [Heavy Track] than Sunday Silence!
Even with the misfortune of drawing the widest gate, her extreme adaptability filled her with the confidence to erase the gate disadvantage through sheer power.
'With heavy going like this, even a good gate draw won't let you rush to the innermost path.'
'So, Nearl's gate gives her some advantage, but not to a degree I can't contend with!'
Sunday Silence was certain that the innermost path had turned into a complete quagmire. American dirt tracks aren't as hard as Japanese turf.
On that innermost path, drenched in snow and rain, forget drying out today—it would definitely remain heavy going even days later.
That kind of heavy, boggy ground, extreme on the innermost path, would be extremely draining to get stuck in, offering no benefits in saving energy or time.
At best, it might allow for slightly faster cornering on the inside, but in exchange, it saps far more stamina from the Uma Musume—a completely losing trade-off any way you look at it.
It's a nightmare land with zero cost-effectiveness, something any Uma Musume who attended school and took specialized racing courses would understand, knowing the terrors and specifics of the inside path on heavy going.
Not to mention, besides the heavy rain, this race also had continuous snowfall—extremely adverse, super heavy going! The cost of the innermost path would be even more exaggerated than described in textbooks!
However, what Sunday Silence didn't know was...
—Margaret Nearl had never attended school in this world!
If it were a certain Platinum, she would righteously, albeit unreasonably, calmly respond...
"Knowledge? Don't have any."
"As for common sense? Rules? They're meant to be broken!"
Forget studying as a young foal in a Uma Musume school; the current Radiant Knight hadn't even set foot inside an American Uma Musume school yet.
A certain Platinum, on the other hand, had been to Tracen Academy a few times, but never got further than the classroom doorway.
Therefore, this so-called Uma Musume common sense meant nothing to that golden figure dashing down the inside!
In the next instant, within the cold gaze of the jet-black monster, there was a slight pause.
From Sunday Silence's petite body to the all-black race outfit she wore, everything began to tremble faintly.
Not only that, but even her powerful strides from the wide post position faltered, then slowed.
It was... an astonishing, terrifyingly powerful presence, spreading over the vast racecourse with an irresistible, domineering force in an instant.
Immediately, the incredibly perceptive Sunday Silence sharply realized this was no ordinary presence.
Even in a G1 race filled with strong competitors, where most Uma Musume daring to enter are elites who can unleash a presence approaching or reaching this intensity at full power...
But... that would only happen near or at the final stretch, when accelerating towards the finish line with a final burst of speed.
It was somewhat close to the level of her own trump card, the Zone.
Yet they had just left the starting gate not long ago, and there was still some distance to the first turn?
'Is that Easy Goer? Or Nearl?'
Instantly, Sunday Silence's eyes narrowed slightly.
Her vision was incredibly sharp; she looked towards the outside post position relatively close to her.
Namely, the first popular favorite to win, Easy Goer, who also had bad luck drawing gate ten on the outside.
That proud crimson-haired young lady, like Sunday Silence and the vast majority of Uma Musume around them, had collectively slowed her pace somewhat.
Moreover, the presence of this third-generation Big Red was one of near suffocating, cold suppression, a style meant to weaken opponents to secure her own victory.
This presence was no less intense, yet... it carried a noble, glorious, and radiant style, like a knight sweeping over opponents with righteous force.
So...
It was that Golden Pegasus after all?!
And not only that, what surprised Sunday Silence even more was... the intensity of that presence was still growing.
"Eh?"
Finally, Sunday Silence seemed to fully realize something. Her heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening.
That was clearly a swelling presence continuously climbing to the level of the zone, being used by Nearl so early? And seemingly without holding back?
'No, it's not... That's not a presence specifically aimed at suppressing the entire field.'
'In other words, this is just the presence Nearl is casually radiating before truly activating her zone, like her [surplus strength]?'
If that was the case, she couldn't afford to relax in the slightest.
Sunday Silence's island wind-sharp black eyes locked onto the inside path.
Her small, dark figure initiated that terrifyingly effective rush for position!
Even while being suppressed by the Pegasus Nearl's presence, it didn't affect her battle plan or her rush for position!
Not far from Sunday Silence, the pack ahead and behind was collectively filled with astonishment.
More than one or two voices of surprise and dismay continuously rose.
"Guh... this presence? This is insane, the race isn't even half over, we're just approaching the first quarter!"
"Who doesn't want to win and is trying to drag everyone down to lose with them?"
"I-It couldn't be someone who has a Zone, could it? How could it be this early?"
"But the seniors in my family who mastered Zone only activated it in the final stretch."
"I can't take it, this is heavy going, it was already hard to run, and now this terrifying presence is suppressing us too."
Among those voices, some were filled with confusion, even dismay, and declining fighting spirit.
But at the same time... it thoroughly filled many Uma Musume with unease.
The American Uma Musume scene, similar to Europe's, doesn't care about so-called "long distances" over 2400 meters! In America, anything over 2000 meters is already considered a relatively long race!
In Japan, even the 2500-meter Arima Kinen's status as a long-distance race is questioned by some... the difference is huge.
Without specifically training for long-distance endurance, the focus necessarily shifts to honing explosive power!
So, compared to that, this sudden, unconventional presence suppression took the field's Uma Musume by surprise and made many of them anxious.
Remember, many of these Uma Musume had faced Sunday Silence or Easy Goer in previous races.
But the sense of oppression now was unprecedented!
In the view of the pack, what they could witness, besides Sunday Silence cutting in towards the inside with extremely efficient movement...
Another unusual scene was playing out, worthy of the title [Top Three] in the fight for position.
A sudden, near-zone level domineering presence!
Position shifts among the Top Three beyond ordinary imagination!
Fully unfolding before the eyes of the crowd.
[Unbelievable! Following the Radiant Knight's unique special effects display, different from the Silver Pegasus Platinum's!]
[Not long after leaving the gate, an extremely powerful presence has formed, suppressing the field in a righteous manner.]
[That is... the presence of the Radiant Knight Nearl, its intensity already approaching Zone!]
The commentator's voice held a note of surprise.
It was the sharp judgment call from the temporary guest, Seabiscuit.
[Hard to believe, impossible to predict!]
[Even the snowy, rainy environment can't stop her front-running pace?]
[Radiant Knight Nearl, on the inside path, overtakes two front-running Uma Musume, boldly beginning her signature Great Escape!]
[And Sunday Silence, one of the Top Three, is not to be outdone. From the outermost gate, she's executing a near phantom-like rush for position.]
[Gate thirteen, Sunday Silence has reached the inside path and raced to the front ranks.]
[Gate ten, Easy Goer has taken a good position on the outside, conserving stamina mainly by holding steady in the middle pack.]
[The three most classic running styles—Front-runner, Stalker, Closer—are being employed by the Top Three in three extremely different ways!]
--+--
Currently, in the middle pack.
Easy Goer was taking a sharp intake of breath, hissing.
This proud crimson-haired young lady was shocked inwardly.
From Margaret Nearl's presence to Sunday Silence's insane, phantom-like rush for position, both exceeded her understanding.
In her view, her own approach was the most intelligent, the most reasonable course of action.
This was heavy going!
The rain and snow hadn't stopped for a single moment!
The additional stamina drain was an incalculable equation, with the risk of fading at any time.
American Uma Musume, generally focusing more on explosive power than stamina training, usually dislike accelerating early. This adverse environment drastically amplifies the fading problem.
Nearl front-running as usual, even activating that near-zone presence, was one thing...
But even Sunday Silence was showing insane moves?
"That Sunday Silence, she's from the widest gate. The stamina cost cutting from the far outside to the inside must be significant."
"Yet, she's even further ahead than me, who held a good outside position in the middle pack closer group? After that rush, she's even started a slightly faster pace acceleration?"
Two of the Top Three were displaying crazy, beyond-normal flying runs.
This made the rule-following Easy Goer, for once, unable to stay completely calm, feeling a faint unease.
'N-No, can't let them disrupt my rhythm.'
'Sticking to my specialized running style is correct, no risk of error!'
In a very short time, Easy Goer chose to maintain her normal state, letting the shining golden figure and the jet-black mad figure rush far ahead of her!
--+--
In the stands, the sounds of surprise continued.
"Nearl! Nearl! Nearl!"
"My favorite episode! Finally seeing special effects in a dirt Uma Musume race too. The Three Goddesses truly don't play favorites!"
"That scene of throwing the spear splitting the sky, racing to the finish—I'll never forget it! How can you not love effects like that?"
"Eh, the Radiant Knight is... continuing to front-run? The snow is still falling, the track condition isn't good!"
"Sunday Silence, she actually cut to the inside and is gradually speeding up, reaching the front ranks and chasing Nearl?"
There was both lingering talk about Nearl's displayed [Stellar Descent] and unavoidable discussion about the running styles of Nearl and Sunday Silence in the race.
--+--
Under the gaze of numerous spectators.
On the track, at the very front!
The golden-haired girl, clad in a pure white coat race outfit, swayed with the high-speed running.
Her increasingly intense presence, unnoticeably passing the first turn and approaching the halfway point, finally crossed a certain threshold.
Then... reached the peak most unbelievable to classic year Uma Musume.
On that heavy going, she led Sunday Silence in second place by as much as six or seven lengths, getting closer to a large margin.
But that advantage didn't satisfy or relax Nearl; this Radiant Knight was somewhat dissatisfied with the current lead and advantage!
"It's raining…"
The knight's soft murmur, nightmarish enough to reach the ears of every Uma Musume on the track.
In the next moment, Nearl without hesitation chose to activate her Zone for the first time!
--+--
[Zone: Night-Scouring Gleam]
[Will activate the most suitable zone from three exclusive ones for the current situation. Current choice...]
[Passive: When activating skills next, will significantly increase presence and suppression power, moderately refund stamina consumption, and significantly mitigate at least four instances of opponent suppression skills...]
--+--
Night-Scouring Gleam!
[(Pegasus Not of This World): Can activate when the track condition is "Yielding," "Heavy," or "Super Heavy." Effect scales with track adversity...]
[(Sun, Please Nod for Me): When the track is illuminated by sunlight, slightly increases acceleration, explosive power...]
[(Dawn): Moderately negates suppression from opponent zones...]
[(Pegasus Legs): When no other Uma Musume are nearby...]
Presence transformed into the zone, zone skills were employed, with no thought of keeping them as a hidden card for the final stretch.
A front-running Uma Musume never needs to hold back!
The golden-haired girl named Margaret Nearl, in the next moment, used her incredibly powerful stance to tread on the splashing mud of the dirt track.
The current Nearl, accumulating infinite power in a charge-like posture, continued her unrestrained dash!
Nearl's already high-speed, nearly large-margin leading strides achieved a visible to the naked eye acceleration in the next instant, as if her previous running was far from her limit and could still be broken!
Accelerate!! Accelerate!!
And besides that, accelerate!!
Even though this was [Super Heavy Going] covered in rain and snow.
Even though many Uma Musume on the vast track were already suffering greatly on this heavy dirt, regretting not withdrawing.
But the Radiant Knight's dash... continued as always!
Nearl's unrestrained strides grew faster and faster. The damp mud and sand under her hooves constantly deformed under unbelievable force. Her body advanced in a forward-leaning posture.
From the perspective of the outside spectators and the overseas-bred fillies in the pack behind, that posture was nothing short of awe-inspiring!
Rather than saying the Radiant Knight Nearl was running, was racing, it was more like she was... [Charging]!!
The golden, brilliant girl named Margaret Nearl was shattering all obstacles before her with every step, advancing on the track with an imposing momentum transcending countless people's understanding!
Everything around, even the Uma Musume possessing presence, including the so-called third-generation Big Red Easy Goer, collectively froze in stupefaction!
From the stamina-conserving closers to the "quite promising" first popular Uma Musume Easy Goer, all widened their eyes, their breathing becoming slightly rapid.
Even the cold-hearted Sunday Silence's pupils constricted, completely unprepared to see the Radiant Knight Nearl's... [Second Acceleration] so early, just past the halfway point of the race!
The current jet-black monster Sunday Silence was accelerating faster than anyone except Nearl.
That's why she had gone from the front ranks, stalking, to unnoticeably reaching second place while following the Radiant Knight!
And mad as she was, had Nearl really opened such a large gap on her, and was continuing to widen it?
'Even crazier than me…'
'Should I accelerate all out now, try to catch her early?'
'Can I catch up? Or wait one more turn?'
No matter how these excellent American Uma Musume tried their best, against that powerful, frightening peak, seemingly overwhelming absolute suppressive power, it was all useless!
And ahead of them, that golden figure was still pulling further away!
At the very front, the golden-haired girl's dash had already opened a large margin.
The race reached the fully heated-up second half.
It was time for her other special effect to be displayed.
[Don Armor: Summons "Armor." The white coat race outfit will abruptly change into knight armor race outfit in the public's view.]
[Remove Armor: Summons "Remove Armor." The knight armor race outfit will change back to the white coat race outfit in the public's view.]
"Then..."
The girl Nearl murmured, her voice solemn and cold.
"Don Armor—!"
A simple, piercing like cold wind whisper covered the vast track.
The next instant, the unrestrainedly dashing golden-haired girl's swaying white coat...
Instantly transformed into a set of glittering silver, highly heroic knight armor, donned by Margaret Nearl!
Not only that, behind the knight armor, she wore a black cape, creating a striking contrast with the girl knight's shining gold and the armor's brilliant silver.
In the clear sky torn open by Stellar Descent, the blazing sun cast its rays, fully illuminating the girl knight's path ahead!
On the huge screen above the track, an extremely clear close-up locked onto and zoomed in on Nearl whispering "Don Armor" and donning the knight armor.
In that instant, from the countless fans in the stands to the millions of viewers in front of TVs, all collectively stared in astonishment, and the next moment, erupted with a tsunami-like wave of awe!
—The true Radiant Knight has arrived!!
--+--
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.