Snap—
That pair of gold-rimmed glasses, already battered and full of cracks, finally gave out for good, splitting clean in two under Richard's unconscious grip.
But he didn't even have time to mourn the companion that had been with him for so long.
In a fluster, he snatched up one half of the frame and held it up to his eye, staring out at the track while muttering to himself.
"How… is this possible?!"
Just like him, the veteran commentators who knew Shinzan's racing history were also filled with astonishment.
They exchanged a glance, and it was only after Kimura took a deep breath that he found his voice again.
"I truly never expected… Contestant Shinzan, famous the world over for her unstoppable, powerful final kick, would choose to accelerate early like this—intending to match Dream Weaver in a double Great Escape?!"
"A Great Escape in the Kikuka-shō…"
Matsushita shook his head, a disbelieving, bitter smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"One alone would be shocking enough, but to have two contenders both choosing a Great Escape strategy in the same race—and both of them genuine title contenders at that…"
"Are they treating the Kikuka-shō like some short-distance sprint?…"
No need for commentary from outside the track—Dream Weaver, on the course itself, felt the fierce gale closing in from behind earlier than anyone.
Sensing that terrifying presence steadily gaining, Dream Weaver pressed her lips together.
Like the commentators, she had studied Shinzan's past races and knew full well the other possessed a peerless final kick.
But at this moment, as Shinzan suddenly accelerated and was on the verge of catching up, Dream Weaver found she wasn't all that surprised.
Maybe she'd seen this before. After all, her rivals never seemed keen on playing by the usual rules.
In the few short breaths it took for that thought to flash by, Shinzan had already drawn even with her, running stride for stride by her side.
To every spectator, the red and white streaks of light seemed to intertwine and merge, becoming nearly indistinguishable.
Because of the powerful 'Zone' emanating from both Dream Weaver and Shinzan—even before they fully unleashed it—a certain connection had formed.
Within that linked Zone, the moment Shinzan's gaze landed on her, Dream Weaver instantly understood what the other was thinking.
"You don't seem surprised."
Shinzan's tone was relaxed, as if this kind of runaway pace meant nothing to her.
Dream Weaver didn't reply.
She simply sped up again, unleashing her SS-class top speed to its fullest.
Before she knew it, she had opened up a gap over the other Uma Musume—a gap so wide it felt hopeless.
But Shinzan… Shinzan was still right there behind her.
As Dream Weaver accelerated once more, she matched the increase perfectly.
Seeing that Dream Weaver had no intention of responding, Shinzan actually started monologuing within their shared Zone channel.
"From Europe to Japan, I've never once tasted defeat. Not on the track, and not in training…"
"Whenever I sought to push my physical limits, my body answered in training. Whenever I wanted to master a new running technique, the knowledge would flood into my mind like a tide."
"Before I knew it, I had mastered every style of running. And through countless sessions, my physique reached a level where I could find no one left to match me."
Listening to Shinzan's words, Dream Weaver, who had been accelerating with lips pressed tight, furrowed her brow.
"What are you trying to say?"
"You don't think this will make me back down, do you?"
Faced with Shinzan's implied intimidation, Dream Weaver's answer was the same as last time.
She would never back down!
Without waiting for Shinzan's reply, she gritted her teeth and pushed her speed higher once more.
As the top favorite in this Kikuka-shō, Dream Weaver's [Tidal Roar Badge] was naturally triggered, granting her the power boost that came with highest popularity.
Combined with the effects of her 'Challenger's Badge,' it made her explosive power far exceed her usual B-rank.
If a B-rank burst could only let Dream Weaver hit one hundred and twenty percent of her top speed, the enhanced power surging through her now pushed her past one hundred and fifty percent!
But it still wasn't enough.
Whatever Dream Weaver possessed, Shinzan had more.
The distance advantage Dream Weaver gained from her acceleration couldn't even be maintained for a few breaths before Shinzan, speeding up in turn, closed the gap once more.
Watching the white streak of light flash past in her peripheral vision, Dream Weaver clenched her jaw so hard her lips whitened.
Even as the corner of her mouth began to stain the same crimson as her ribbon, she didn't relent.
Accelerate again!
This time, the power fueling her came from her 'Proof of Spring and Autumn.'
The skill's effect granted a stamina boost during spring races, and in the autumn—
It provided a speed boost!
Moreover, the more the venue, prestige, and schedule matched that of the Tenno-sho, the greater the amplification.
The Kikuka-shō was an autumn race, corresponding naturally to the Tenno-sho (Autumn). While the course length and venue differed, the prestige was equal—both were G1 races.
Though not all the amplification effects were triggered, it was enough.
The 'Proof of Spring and Autumn,' layered with the all-attribute boost from the 'Challenger's Badge,' pushed Dream Weaver's speed higher and higher!!
Now, her velocity had surpassed ordinary S-class, reaching a brand-new peak.
At such extreme speed, the world before her eyes had long dissolved into abstract streaks of color.
The spray of grass and mud, the gloomy storm clouds, the spectator stands waving their flags—all the hues twisted and blurred in Dream Weaver's vision.
Except for one. A single point remained, its form not completely warped by the speed.
That was Shinzan!
As Dream Weaver accelerated yet again, Shinzan also raised her own speed another notch.
Only this time, no trace of ease remained on her face.
Confronted with the extreme velocity Dream Weaver was unleashing through layer upon layer of boosts, even Shinzan had to treat the situation with grave seriousness.
Her cheeks were flushed crimson from the intense exertion, and a few glittering beads of sweat were whipped away the instant they appeared by the raging wind.
Shinzan's amber eyes fixed deeply on Dream Weaver, who was accelerating with teeth gritted.
The complex emotions swirling within them were perhaps something even she herself couldn't fully untangle.
As the two pushed each other faster and faster, the Kyoto Racecourse had descended into utter frenzy.
Even setting aside the significance behind this Kikuka-shō, ignoring what Dream Weaver and Shinzan each represented—their duel alone was enough to be recorded in the history books!
"Dream Weaver! Shinzan! It's Dream Weaver! No—Shinzan has caught up again!"
Kimura's gaze swept across the two figures. By now, the spectacle on the track had him so worked up his veins stood out on his neck.
"Unbelievable! Unbelievable! They've completely left every other Uma Musume behind!"
"The Kikuka-shō! Kyoto Racecourse! This three-thousand-meter stage has become the arena for the showdown between Shinzan and Dream Weaver!"
"They see nothing but each other—everything else has vanished from their sight!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.