The moment the cursed blade was drawn, a wave of scorching heat, almost tangible, surged across the track once more. It was as if a blazing furnace had been violently driven into her very bones.
A searing pain raced madly up her spine, setting every muscle in Narita Brian's body trembling uncontrollably.
This time, the unsheathing was fiercer, sharper than any before. The boundless malice contained within the blade's gleam slashed toward Narita Brian, as if the demonic sword itself sought to utterly shatter the fangs of this beast that dared to growl and threaten it!
Facing this ultimate strike, every nerve, every fragment of marrow in Narita Brian's body screamed in agony.
No matter how bloodthirsty a beast might be, faced with an attack capable of cleaving it in two, it would feel fear, even the urge to flee.
Yet, Narita Brian only clenched her jaw tighter, driving her limbs forward with a will of iron, straining with every last ounce of strength toward that red streak of light ahead.
The shadows shrouding Narita Brian were severed layer by layer by that fierce, blood-red blade light of the Shura. The shadow-wolf, which moments before had been as solid as a second Narita Brian, grew faint and illusory under the terrifying slash, shrinking back to cower and tremble at her feet.
Stripped of this protection, Narita Brian faced the cursed blade's strike directly. The blistering heat swept over her limbs like sharpened steel, and her already depleted stamina evaporated utterly under this single blow.
Now, every breath of air drawn into her nostrils and mouth brought an indescribable, burning agony to her lungs. Every inch of her muscles fell silent, no longer even capable of crying out their pain.
Her steps, bereft of supporting strength, instantly slowed, even seeming to hang in the air for a moment.
With this loss of speed, the gap between her and Dream Weaver widened relentlessly.
A trace of weakness, unprecedented, tinged the beast-like golden vertical pupils of Narita Brian. That red streak of light ahead seemed an unreachable phantom; no matter how she clawed forward, dredging up the dregs of her strength, the distance only grew more immense.
This gap was exactly like the one in the Kikuka-shō... no, it had already surpassed the five-length defeat of that final stretch. An even more crushing defeat was rushing toward her.
And this sight, so tantalizingly close yet impossibly far, instantly ignited the blazing furnace of emotions that had been building within her for months.
The bitterness of failure, the humiliation of being forgotten, the accumulated resentment, shame, and fury from countless days and nights since the Kikuka-shō to this very day—all erupted at once like a detonated volcano, exploding deep within her soul!
A Zone is born from the heart. And now, the final surge of power erupting from Narita Brian's heart became the fuel to reignite her Zone.
The once-faint Zone solidified once more, and the low, bestial roar thundered across the field once again.
Beside her, Rice Shower, sensing Narita Brian's desperate resolve, tightened her grip on her dagger. A sapphire brilliance bloomed across the track like scattered petals, her cold, detached fighting spirit sharpening into a blade in the hands of a black-clad assassin.
Dream Weaver had become the greatest obstacle in this Tenno Sho (Spring). Only by combining their power could Rice Shower and Narita Brian have a hope of breaking through her demonic blade.
Though a vast gap had already opened between them and Dream Weaver, and even if their Zone won this clash, catching up in the remaining distance was far from certain.
But Rice Shower had long since tempered a resolute heart through countless races. Though she appeared small and delicate, she was no mere Uma Musume. She would seize every sliver of a chance at victory, never letting it slip uselessly through her fingers!
No communication was needed.
The bone-chilling blue edge and the crimson fangs from the depths of the shadows merged in that instant. Like the cold gleam of a deadly star, they shot forth across the track, brimming with boiling killing intent!
Even the ever-impassive Dream Weaver couldn't help but furrow her brow. She hadn't expected Narita Brian and Rice Shower to still erupt with such power after enduring multiple strikes of her cursed blade.
Though she possessed Northern blood and its exceptionally high base attributes, her journey here had been far from easy.
Now, facing the combined assault of Rice Shower and Narita Brian, Dream Weaver had only a single swing of her blade left.
In this truly decisive moment, many scenes flashed through Dream Weaver's mind: her grandmother's final wish on her deathbed, the portraits lining the walls of her Northern home, each symbolizing past glories. She was the last Uma Musume of the Northern family in this scripted world.
This family, glorious for generations, had ultimately fallen to a curse in their bloodline. And she, the sole heir to all its legacy, was the last one who could end the curse and restore the Northern family's honor.
The glory of the Tenno Sho (Spring) would be her first crown since the Kikuka-shō, the spark that would relight the Northern family's radiance!
Pursing her lips, Dream Weaver firmly gripped the cursed blade Murasame. The humming of the sword once again ignited the entire track with a wave of scorching heat.
As the blade was drawn, the figures of two people seemed to flash before her eyes: her mother's portrait, nodding at her with a gentle smile, and Mejiro Ardan, who had looked upon her with soft eyes, accompanying her through months of training.
'I will win…'
Dream Weaver whispered softly, addressing the two Uma Musume who had given her their unconditional love.
The moment her words fell, the cursed blade was fully unleashed!
The power of three Zones collided upon the track with a deafening roar.
The resulting shockwave seemed to transform into an immense, crushing pressure that ran rampant across the course. Every Uma Musume trailing behind the three found their steps hindered by this terrifying force.
Under such an overwhelming aura, even these battle-hardened veterans couldn't prevent their hearts from quivering, their muscles trembling uncontrollably. Only they, as Uma Musume, could truly understand how strong the struggle between these three was.
Normally, a single Uma Musume possessing a Zone was enough to contend for a G1 championship. Yet today, there were three.
They were fighting with their entire beings, for their respective goals, their honor, to wash away shame and rage!
Though their very bodies and minds trembled in the intensity of the struggle, a peculiar excitement suddenly welled up in the hearts of these Uma Musume.
To be participants, witnesses to this earth-shattering battle, to stand upon the same track as those three powerhouses—how could they not be thrilled!
For now, they even forgot about competing for victory. Braving the stinging sensation on their skin, they strained to open their eyes and fix their gazes on that battlefield ahead.
They all wanted to be the first to see, to witness, who would become the ultimate victor of this Tenno Sho (Spring).
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! 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.