Her body felt light, even at this breakneck pace there wasn't the slightest strain. After racing on dirt tracks for half a year, Dream Weaver returned to the turf without any hesitation. On the contrary, the grip strength honed on dirt allowed her to lean into turns at even more extreme angles without losing speed.
Aside from her Guts which had already broken past its limits, all her other stats were still capped at their maximums, yet Dream Weaver felt she was running noticeably faster than before.
This was the value of having a trainer. In the past, relying solely on instinct, Dream Weaver could have blown away the other Uma Musume in a G3 race like the Kyodo Tsushin Hai, but she could never have done it with this much ease or this kind of speed.
The timing for acceleration, the techniques of breathing, and how to find her absolute limit when taking a turn—these were just some of the things Chizuru Haibara had taught Dream Weaver.
None of the tactics she'd learned for rivalry, those tricks for outpacing Uma Musume of a similar level, were even necessary in this Kyodo Tsushin Hai.
The central Uma Musume had long since lost their fighting spirit; they naturally never pushed to explore the limits of what they could achieve. A little short here, a little lacking there—by the time they finally set foot on the racetrack, the gap between them and Dream Weaver would be...
A Chasm.
The difference in ability, in mentality, in resolve—all these gaps stacked together destined them to be unable to catch up to Dream Weaver in this race.
Dream Weaver didn't use her "Zone," but the sheer aura she exuded was enough to startle Nakayama Knight into losing her speed.
And the other Uma Musume were no different. They huddled together like a herd of prey animals, instinctively forming a pack on the track to cling to some feeble sense of security.
This was the chasm between them. The distance between Dream Weaver and the other Uma Musume was a chasm called fear.
Without a hint of surprise or suspense, Dream Weaver drove the Uma Musume behind her like a lion herding sheep, seizing victory in the Kyodo Tsushin Hai with an absolute lead.
After crossing the finish line, Dream Weaver didn't immediately wave to the crowd. Instead, she closed her eyes and took deep breaths, filling her lungs with the scent of grass and earth carried on the air.
This was the scent of the central circuit. This was the smell of a central racetrack. Only here could Dream Weaver's competitive spirit be truly ignited.
But these Uma Musume couldn't offer her any pressure at all. The fiercely burning competitive drive in her heart hadn't even been fully unleashed before the race was over.
Yet Dream Weaver wasn't disappointed. She knew the powerful rival who could push her was waiting ahead, right after the Kyodo Tsushin Hai.
All she needed to do was wait patiently.
"Central... I'm back," she whispered, her voice low as she opened her eyes to the cheering crowd.
In the commentary box, Akasaka Rin was clutching a pendant so tightly her knuckles were white, breathless with excitement. Her eyes never left Dream Weaver, as if she wanted to carve the image of her into her very soul.
Even her commentary partner, who had complained before the race about Rin's blatant favoritism, was now slumped in his chair, gasping for air. He tore open his collar as if to let the burning heat in his heart escape.
This was the front-running style she remembered. This was the brilliance. This was the Dream Weaver she knew.
Even a central race couldn't halt her momentum. This country Uma Musume, representing Kasamatsu and all the local tracks, would carve her name into the central circuit with her blinding speed.
That red ribbon flying on the racetrack would undoubtedly become an unforgettable memory for everyone in this era.
"I will witness that day with my own eyes," Rin murmured, pressing her hand against the glass of the commentary box. The warmth from her skin made the pane feel as though it were burning, mirroring the fire in her heart.
Shoved by the jubilant crowd, Tagami Kan stared blankly at the racetrack. Only when Dream Weaver untied her ribbon and waved it before the stands did he snap back to reality at the sight of this iconic gesture.
The dominating run he'd just witnessed had been like a dream, swallowing his entire focus. He'd even forgotten his duty as a reporter to take photos, completely immersing himself in the race.
"This is what it's like to be here live..."
"This is... what a star feels like?"
Having only ever watched races on TV or streams before, this was Tagami's first time attending a live event, all because of Dream Weaver. His mind was still reeling; he never realized the gap between watching through a screen and being here in person could be this vast.
The roar of the crowd felt like it could shake the heavens and earth, pounding against his senses. This was the sound of the entire Tokyo Racecourse—even if it was just a G3 race and not a full house, there had to be at least ten thousand people here.
Can you imagine it? Ten thousand people shouting one name in unison.
Ten thousand people captivated and enthralled by one person's brilliance.
Witnessing such a feat, where a single individual moved the hearts of so many, how could Tagami not be spellbound?
But as he watched Dream Weaver about to leave the track, his professional instincts as a reporter suddenly kicked in. He jolted awake, sprang from his seat, weaved through the bustling crowd, and made his way to the staff area using his press pass.
After quickly tidying himself up in the participant's tunnel, Tagami finally saw the figure he'd been dreaming of walking toward him.
He immediately raised his camera and called out to her, "Hello! I'm Tagami Kan, a field reporter from Gifu Publishing. May I ask you a few questions?"
Apparently surprised to have a reporter waiting for her after her first central race, Dream Weaver's horse ears twitched in shock. But when she heard Tagami's introduction, she relaxed.
"Gifu... isn't that the city near Kasamatsu?"
"Yes! I actually grew up in Kasamatsu Town myself. Lots of folks from Kasamatsu move to Gifu for work as adults. You're absolutely the star of our area!"
Hearing that the reporter was from Kasamatsu, Dream Weaver relaxed and smiled at him. "Go ahead, ask away."
Once he had her permission, Tagami carefully opened his camera lens cap and pulled out a notepad and pen from his waist pouch. "What are your plans for your next race?"
"Nothing's set in stone yet, but I've decided to compete in the Classic Triple Crown races."
"The Triple Crown... that means you'll be facing Orfevre."
A bead of sweat rolled down Tagami's forehead as he heard her answer. Even with all his support for Dream Weaver, he had to admit that right now, Orfevre was universally recognized as the absolute strongest.
To his surprise, upon hearing the name that practically defined the current era, Dream Weaver showed not a trace of fear. Instead, she nodded solemnly and said, "Yes. And I will defeat her."
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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!
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If you guys wanna check it out.