Dream Weaver had faced many opponents with their own Zones.
In a way, a Zone was the reflection of an Uma Musume's spirit, and her intuition could sense a part of that spirit through it.
T.M. Opera O was an ever-proud and confident Conqueror, so she naturally molded her Zone into a crushing gravity that bore down on her rivals. Within her realm, only she, the monarch, was worthy of standing tall.
Orfevre was the sun carrying everyone's hopes, so her Zone blazed with the same fierce, scorching intensity. Only someone as formidable as her could command the world's attention.
Narita Brian was the unyielding wolf-king of the dark night, a savage beast of the jungle. She would bleed and suffer in the struggle, but each time she rose again, refining her Zone and growing stronger.
And then there was Shinzan.
When Dream Weaver faced Shinzan's Zone, only one answer arose in her mind—sheer, unadulterated power.
She was a peerless genius, the strongest Uma Musume standing atop the world's peak.
To defeat someone like her, Dream Weaver would have to pour everything she had into this race.
Without a moment's hesitation, as that white streak of light flashed past her side, about to overtake her, Dream Weaver's heart burned like a furnace.
Scorching heat transformed into power, surging through her blood and nerves to every limb.
Kindling Flames, activate.
Life force turned into unparalleled strength, filling her body. Her blood flowed like liquid fire, threatening to melt her from the inside out.
Amid this extreme agony, the fierce effect of her skill triggered. The stamina already heightened by Kindling Flames was now infused with new power.
The instant this force was born, Dream Weaver channeled it without delay into the Cursed Blade.
Sshiiing—
A sound like a sword being drawn echoed across the arena.
Before the hum faded, all the Uma Musume saw only an empty, blinding white light.
After the Cursed Sword was unleashed, a tiny yet piercing red glare flashed abruptly within that white radiance.
Before anyone could process what it was, their instincts reacted.
Hearts hammered, breath hitched.
A violent survival instinct seized their muscles, forcing their forward momentum to a grinding halt.
Ahead… something incredibly dangerous had appeared in front of them—
Before they could even think, the red light transformed into a blood-colored blade of slaughter, slicing across the track.
It carried a bone-chilling sharpness as it cleaved toward the blazing white glow.
Swish—
The moment the Cursed Sword fell, Shinzan's Zone was torn open.
Not even a breath of peace was allowed. Before the racers could recover from the shock—
In the next instant, as if tearing the Zone apart wasn't enough to sate its thirst for blood, that fierce red glare morphed once more into a demonic blade, slashing forward.
Its target: Shinzan herself!
"Excellent!"
Feeling the sharp, icy edge at her back, Shinzan laughed aloud in admiration.
In this moment, she no longer dwelled on duty or goals. Just as Dream Weaver had said, no Uma Musume stepped onto the track seeking defeat.
Facing this blade that made even her own heart tremble, Shinzan didn't hesitate. She unleashed her Zone once more at full strength.
Even more torrential, even more terrifying, the white radiance that seemed capable of swallowing the very sky flooded the track again.
BOOM!
The instant the blade-light plunged into the white glow, a deafening roar, almost tangible, shook the stadium.
Dream Weaver felt the pressure transmitted through their linked Zones.
Her Cursed Sword, which had never failed to cut through anything, was forcibly halted within Shinzan's Zone!
But that was enough. Instead of pouring more power into the blade, she seized the moment of stalemate between the Cursed Sword and Shinzan's Zone.
Channeling all the strength from Kindling Flames, she exploded forward, closing the gap toward Shinzan once more.
Her crimson cape streamed behind her like a phantom light, and in just a few breaths, she was back at Shinzan's shoulder.
"Dream Weaver! Dream Weaver has caught up to Shinzan again!"
Outside the track, the commentator's voice was hoarse with emotion.
The entire stadium seemed to hold its breath at Dream Weaver's surge, erupting into roaring cheers when the red glare met the white radiance once more.
In the competitors' seats, Shiragawa finally let out a long, slow breath, her clenched fists so tight her knuckles turned white, nails digging into her palms unnoticed.
"Thank goodness she caught up."
Shinzan's sudden acceleration had startled everyone. Seeing Dream Weaver fight her way back brought a collective sigh of relief.
"She must have hesitated for a moment because of Shinzan's Zone, and that's why she got overtaken," Mr. C.B. explained, having personally experienced Zones.
As the only one here besides Dream Weaver who had activated and clashed Zones, she grasped the truth of that risky moment.
"Shinzan truly lives up to her name—her Zone's burst of power could even give Dream Weaver pause."
"But if the Zone stalemate continues like this, the outcome is still anyone's race!"
Just as Mr. C.B. finished speaking, Symboli Rudolf, seated beside her, shook her head grimly.
"Don't let your guard down! Shinzan must still have power in reserve!"
Having previously underestimated Shinzan's threat, Rudolf had spent the past months gathering every scrap of intel on her.
From the match footage and reports she'd collected, the Shinzan on the track now shouldn't have reached her limit yet.
But… she had been away from racing for a year. Though she'd trained for months before entering the Kikuka Sho, she wasn't the same invincible Shinzan of old.
Outside the track, Rudolf's words had just left her lips when Shinzan inside turned her head slightly.
Her amber eyes fixed on Dream Weaver, she spoke through their Zone link.
"In my experience, you are the only Uma Musume capable of tearing through my Zone. In terms of sheer power… I, Shinzan, acknowledge you as the strongest!"
There was a note of awe in her voice.
Earlier, she never imagined Dream Weaver could push her this far. If the deadlock continued, she might truly fall from exhaustion first.
But Dream Weaver was relentless—even burning her own life force once more to seize power.
As her stamina drained, the second wind from Kindling Flame ignited. The surge of ultimate speed allowed her to boldly overtake Shinzan!
Shinzan's pupils contracted sharply. She never expected Dream Weaver to find another gear while their Zones were locked in a stalemate.
Now, feeling the tearing agony from her Zone and the razor-sharp presence at her side, Shinzan knew she'd been pushed to her absolute limit.
If this were the version of herself before she'd rediscovered her original aspiration, she could have accepted defeat here.
But not now. Her competitive spirit stirred, she refused to simply give up.
She still had strength left.
Though the Zones were deadlocked, there was room for one more burst. Her muscles ached, but there was still something to wring from them.
Slowly, she closed her eyes, casting aside everything beyond this race.
In this moment, there was only victory.
--+--
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.