Her own breathing, which should have been insignificant, now drowned out the roaring crowd. On the track of Nakayama Racecourse, Dream Weaver stood with eyes closed, her heart pounding so fiercely it felt as if the curtain of rain had turned into rising flames, ready to consume her.
Every effort, every sacrifice, every step she had taken to get here—it all came down to this moment.
Was she nervous? Of course.
Was she afraid? Not anymore.
Before T.M. Opera O had challenged her, Dream Weaver, disheartened by her potential assessment, had even considered skipping the Satsuki Sho and focusing instead on the Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse.
If it rained on Derby day, her fully activated Tokyo Swift might just give her a shot at victory.
Back then, that seemed like the only path to winning she could imagine.
If it hadn't been for T.M. Opera O's confrontational mix of pressure and encouragement, Dream Weaver might truly have avoided this year's Satsuki Sho.
But now she understood—King Halo and Dancing Brave, as her greatest teachers, had shown her that running away only leads to more running. The only chance at victory was to pour her entire heart into the fight and give it everything she had.
It was just like when she'd faced Tokai Teio back then: only by risking everything could she hope to gain everything.
The vast span of time within the scriptworld had made her forget that truth, but fortunately, she had found her way back to that feeling.
Could she really open the Zone? She didn't know.
If she managed to open it, could she actually win? She didn't know.
What if she burned herself out and still didn't become champion?
Then she'd just have to burn herself out first and worry about the rest later.
Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. Every breath burned through her lungs like fire. The raindrops striking her body carried none of spring's gentle chill—instead, they felt like molten iron, scalding and intense. Her heart hammered wildly as Dream Weaver offered herself as fuel to the furnace of her own body.
What she would receive in return was a burst of power like no other.
When Dream Weaver opened her eyes, every Uma Musume shuddered. A harsh, metallic screech, like blades being drawn, echoed in their ears. Their instincts screamed warnings through their bodies—
Something was coming.
In the distance, T.M. Opera O, who had been waving to the crowd, suddenly broke into a wild, arrogant grin.
The mischievous, smirking girl was gone. In her place on the track stood the Overlord.
A crushing pressure descended, as though the very sky had been forced to its knees. Before the other Uma Musume could even recover from the sound of unsheathed blades, an immense weight settled onto their bodies.
Shoulders, spines, legs—the suffocating intensity forced some of the less resilient Uma Musume to bend over, gasping for air with their heads low over the grass.
On the left, a sharpened blade.
On the right, a ruler's authority.
The race hadn't even started yet, but the first losers had already been decided.
Those who bowed their heads under the pressure, trembling and gasping for breath, would become the first sacrifices of the Satsuki Sho—offerings to fuel the stage, their failures serving to make the victors shine all the brighter.
Narita Top Road pressed her lips together tightly. She carried the expectations of her friends and her trainer.
The Satsuki Sho, as the opening leg of the Triple Crown, was a race every Uma Musume dreamed of. Narita Top Road was no exception—she had trained tirelessly for this day, for who knew how long.
So even against such formidable opponents, even in the face of this suffocating heat and overwhelming pressure, she would fight with everything she had for the title. No matter how gentle her nature, she was still an Uma Musume, and she too thirsted for that moment of glory.
Admire Vega clenched her fists. The droplets streaming down her cheeks could have been rain or sweat—she no longer knew. Burdened with the mission of atoning for her sister, she could not afford to lose.
No matter how strong her opponents were, no matter how stifling the pressure, she would carry her sister with her and become the brightest star shining in the sky.
Outside the track, the crowd buzzed with feverish excitement, and the commentators' lively voices added to the electric atmosphere.
But inside the track, the heavy pressure radiating from Dream Weaver and T.M. Opera O had plunged the turf into a deathly silence.
For everyone, time seemed to stretch on far too long.
"Runners, please take your positions!"
Finally, after commentator Akasaki had introduced all the participants to the audience, the call to enter the gates was announced.
Many of the Uma Musume let out sighs of relief. Some patted their own cheeks; others clenched their fists and muttered encouragement to themselves. Whatever their ritual, they all eventually began to move, stepping forward with renewed determination as they headed toward the starting gates.
"Sugimoto-sensei, who are you backing as the most promising in this race?"
As the competitors began to enter the gates, the two commentators smoothly transitioned into casual banter to keep the audience engaged.
"I'd have to say Dream Weaver. That undefeated record speaks for itself."
The response came in the calm, measured tone of a middle-aged man.
"A very logical choice, as expected of Sugimoto-sensei."
"That said, the second favorite, Narita Top Road, and the third, Admire Vega, are nothing to scoff at either. From their debut races right up to the Yayoi Sho, we've seen the gap between them and Dream Weaver narrowing."
As a professional commentator, Ms. Akasaki knew better than to let the outcome seem too predetermined—that would kill the audience's curiosity. So she deftly shifted focus to Admire Vega and Narita Top Road.
"Indeed. We might be in for a classic three-way showdown this Satsuki Sho."
Sugimoto paused briefly, as if hesitating, before continuing.
"However, there's one other runner I've personally taken note of."
"Oh? Which Uma Musume would that be?"
Akasaki picked up the thread without missing a beat.
"The fifth favorite—T.M. Opera O."
"T.M. Opera O? If I recall, her best result so far was winning the G3 Daily Hai."
"That's correct. But there's something about this Uma Musume—a certain unique aura."
Commentators aren't Uma Musume themselves. Watching from outside the track, they can't feel the shifting tensions on the field—they can only gauge a runner's strength by race results and speed data.
But every so often, a sharp commentator's intuition and experience allow them to pick up on things most spectators miss.
While most of the audience had their eyes fixed on Dream Weaver, Narita Top Road, and Admire Vega, this guest commentator, Sugimoto Kentaro, relied on years of experience and keen instinct.
As an outsider looking in, he had sensed something real within that Uma Musume named T.M. Opera O.
The form known as the Conqueror of the Century's End was about to reveal itself to the world in this year's Satsuki Sho.
--+--
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.