The searing pain in her legs drastically affected Ines Fujin's speed. Her concentration shattered by the agony, her Domain instantly dispersed, dissolving into nothing more than a gentle breeze.
"Agh!!"
Such an obvious anomaly was impossible for the spectators to miss.
After a moment of stunned silence, the entire audience erupted in worried gasps. Even the commentator's voice noticeably cracked with concern.
"Oh! Ines Fujin, Ines Fujin has suddenly begun to stagger! Her speed is plummeting—has something gone wrong?"
"Ines!"
Mejiro Ryan, running close behind, was utterly shocked.
She instinctively understood the gravity of the situation—the worthy rival she had come to respect might never be able to perform at her full strength again.
In the VIP box, Symboli Rudolf slammed her palm against the stainless steel railing without thinking. The loud clang seemed to snap the other stunned horse girls around her out of their daze.
"What are you waiting for, Senpai? Go call the doctors! Tell them to hurry!"
"Ah! Right away!"
Without another word, Mr. C.B. immediately stood up to leave. Everyone present wore expressions of profound shock, their eyes filled with worry and regret.
"It's a leg injury. And for it to make a competitive Uma Musume like her lose her Domain… it can't be a minor one," Maruzensky said slowly as she approached, her tone heavy, as if attending a funeral.
Perhaps she wasn't wrong. For an Uma Musume, an irreparable leg injury was no different from death.
"Right now, we can only hope it's muscular. If that's the case, with treatment and rehabilitation, she might regain her full power. But if it's a fracture or a joint issue…" Rudolf couldn't finish.
She bit her lip hard, her fists clenched so tightly that her neatly trimmed nails dug into her palms, drawing blood.
Just minutes ago, they had all been happily discussing Ines Fujin, convinced she was destined for the history books. Now, those cheerful conversations felt like daggers to the heart.
Watching Ines, whose legs were trembling uncontrollably yet still stubbornly pushing forward, Rudolf found she could do nothing but close her eyes.
And so, she missed the moment the miracle happened.
Do you remember the fundamental rule about Domains? They are an extension of one's spirit.
Each person's spirit is a self-contained existence, so Domains collide and press against each other.
Uma Musume naturally avoid letting their will be influenced by others.
This trait, meant to protect oneself from external influence, became the source of Ines Fujin's sorrow now.
She had repelled Nearl's Domain.
The collision of their two Domains meant her wind couldn't reach Nearl, and conversely, Nearl's protective power couldn't shield Ines's body.
And due to a childhood of poverty, malnutrition in her youth, and lack of rest from juggling work and studies, Ines Fujin's foundation was fundamentally fragile. Pushing herself like this was bound to cause problems.
But fortunately, while her Domain had dissipated, Nearl's had not. A golden radiance instantly enveloped Ines's entire body.
A few seconds later, Ines Fujin was astonished to find the pain she had felt moments ago had vanished. Her stride regained its usual fluidity.
"Huh? How…? Was it all just an illusion?"
But the figure of Mejiro Ryan catching up beside her was a stark reminder: No, this is real.
"Nearl is the first into the final turn! Now, only the final straight stands between her and the finish line!"
"Oh no!"
Ines hurriedly tried to accelerate again. Thankfully, her lead, though slim, was just enough to keep the others from immediately overtaking her.
'If the pain is suddenly gone, I can't just give up! Domain, expand…!?'
The moment Ines Fujin tried to manifest her Domain again, the intense pain came roaring back.
"Urgh!"
Her Domain dissipated, but with it, the pain vanished once more.
'How is this possible? Is the pain caused by my Domain?! But the Domain should be spiritual strain, why is my leg hurting?'
Just as frustration gripped Ines, a golden figure flashed past her—Nearl, emerging from the turn.
A sense of déjà vu, like a gunshot, flashed through Ines's mind. A hypothesis formed, filling her with both sorrow and deep respect.
'Of course. That's right. On this field, besides me, the one with a Domain active is… Nearl.'
She looked down, glancing at her legs. Sure enough, a faint golden glow clung to them.
Using the vantage point of the turn, she quickly scanned the runners behind her. Only a handful of other Uma Musume bore the same shimmer on their legs.
Ines Fujin understood.
'How arrogant… yet how gentle. Nearl, is even the nature of your Domain about helping others? I've truly lost to the breadth of your heart. Are you some kind of saint?'
But simultaneously, immense frustration and sorrow seized Ines's heart. Because such a Domain meant Nearl had never truly seen her as a rival to be desperately defeated.
What could be more painful than being ignored, even pitied, by the rival you've set your heart on?
'We are opponents on this track. This pity is unbearable… But I can't blame you, can I? It's my own fault for being too weak. How can I point a gun at someone so good?'
'So… I refuse your help.'
Biting her lip until it bled, Ines Fujin's eyes held a look of resolve and utter seriousness. Those emerald eyes had never shone so brilliantly, so beautifully.
'I am an Uma Musume. This is the purpose of my life, the identity I embrace. I am the rival of the Undefeated Radiant Knight, the Uma Musume fighting her for the Crown of the Japanese Derby!'
'How can I let you look at me with pity? How can I… let you run without seeing me?!'
Cast everything else aside. Gather everything within. The only target is that golden sun ahead.
Make her run no longer in solitude. Make her know my name.
'I am… Ines Fujin.'
Domain Expansion · Rampaging Tempest.
'Let the wind of my determination howl across this course!'
Surpass your limits. Burn yourself to cinders. Use even your Domain as fuel for one glorious, runaway charge. Never mind what comes after.
"Ines Fujin! Ines Fujin! Ines Fujin! She's sprinting! So fast, unbelievably fast! Sweeping forward like a hurricane! She's gradually catching up to Nearl!"
"BANG!"
The railing under Rudolf's hand took another punishing hit. It was over. Completely over.
"How… how dare she? What is she doing? If this continues, she'll destroy herself!"
Next door, Tachyon fell silent as well. The look of detached amusement in her eyes vanished completely, replaced by stark clarity.
This kind of all-or-nothing gambit was something even she lacked. She no longer had the right to watch with a cynical smile.
"What a… madwoman."
On the track, the wind whipped up again, but this time it swirled around Ines alone. It was as if the wind itself was lifting her, carrying her forward. Even the pain was left behind.
"Nearl! I'm almost upon you!"
--+--
T/N: 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.