Tokyo Racecourse.
The grandstands.
Maruzensky and Grass Wonder sat together, watching the race just like any other spectators.
She still remembered Oguri Cap's generation, when she often went with Symboli Rudolf to watch Oguri Cap's races.
But now, with student council duties growing ever more demanding, those chances to watch races together had vanished.
"Grass-chan~"
"If it were you, how would you handle this situation?"
Beside her, Grass Wonder watched with intense focus. Still sidelined long-term by her leg injury, she was clearly visualizing herself in the race.
"If it were me..."
"I'd conserve my strength behind Dramatic Development and Girl Smile."
"My final kick can't match Barbatos's last sprint, but if I go all out the moment she starts her charge, I might have a chance to cross the finish line before she catches me."
Grass Wonder spoke earnestly, though this was, of course, the most ideal scenario.
If she truly faced Barbatos on the track, if she found herself being overtaken by Barbatos...
Would she have the courage to try and activate that Zone again, the one that had once injured her leg?
"Sounds like a good plan."
Maruzensky gave a faint smile. "Looks like Barbatos is getting ready to make her move now."
--+--
On the track.
Barbatos activated both [Highlander] and [Ghost], pushing with all her might to close in on Dramatic Development. She began overtaking the Uma Musume ahead of her like a hurricane.
Even if they wanted to block her, to chase her, it was utterly futile.
"Muri!"
She's making her move now, just as expected!
I'll never let you pull away so easily!
The nosebleed from Tacit Accord, worsened by the intense exertion, simply wouldn't stop. But this was no time to worry about a nosebleed.
All that mattered now was keeping up with Barbatos, going all out!
Her legs churned faster, her breathing grew labored from the blood, her vision began to blur, and her steps became leaden.
Even running in Barbatos's wake, she began passing one Uma Musume after another, moving into the middle of the pack.
But in her view, Barbatos's figure was already pulling away, putting significant distance between them. Her own all-out speed couldn't match Barbatos's sprint!
Feeling her body's protests, a thought surfaced in Tacit Accord's mind: 'It's because of the starting gate collision. Even if I drop out now, no one would blame me…'
'So I should just stop here, withdraw, and head to the racecourse infirmary.'
This thought made her steps falter slightly.
What followed, however, were even more determined strides. Her eyes sharpened, becoming as keen as blades.
What a joke! How could she just lose like this!
Forcing her legs to move faster, she nearly lost her balance and fell, but quickly corrected herself.
Her mouth hung open as she gasped for air, blood now trickling into her throat. The metallic tang sharpened her mind with unnatural clarity.
I absolutely cannot lose!
Yet, even so, the gap between her and Barbatos wasn't closing. It was, in fact, growing wider.
The other Uma Musume behind her were also gathering their strength, preparing to overtake.
That desperate, all-consuming will to win seemed to take control of her body. It made her briefly forget the streaming nosebleed, briefly forget the other runners around her.
The entire world seemed to fall into a hushed silence.
--+--
"The lead group has passed the fourth turn! Ahead lies the final stretch!"
"Barbatos is charging up from the far outside! She's now in third place, trailing Dramatic Development by five lengths!"
"It's that terrifying sprint we've seen before! How will Dramatic Development respond to such a furious charge?!"
Across Tokyo Racecourse, the stands erupted with shouts of "Barbatos!"—cheers, cries of certain victory. The fans who came to see Barbatos race might have grown to love her for many reasons.
Maybe it was her unorthodox style, her League origins, her gangster's swagger, or perhaps they were simply avid Uma Musume enthusiasts.
But without exception, during every race, Barbatos's sprint was the moment they all loved—when she seemed like the Wind Archon himself had descended upon the track, overtaking every other Uma Musume with absolute speed!
As Barbatos, in her full sprint, was about to overtake both "Girl Smile" and "Dramatic Development," with victory seemingly within reach…
A piercing, needle-like pressure stabbed at her from behind.
This pressure lacked the overwhelming aura of Tamamo Cross's. Instead, it was sharp, like the edge of a blade.
Glancing back, she saw… Tacit Accord!
A razor-sharp aura radiated from her, closing the distance at an alarming rate.
"Tacit Accord is charging up along the inside rail! Incredible speed!"
"She's closing in on Barbatos! Is the coming showdown between Tacit Accord and Barbatos?!"
The other Uma Musume, aside from Barbatos, seemed oppressed by that blade-like pressure, their running speeds showing signs of slowing.
--+--
In the stands.
Maruzensky shot to her feet, her face unusually grave.
"Zone!"
Grass Wonder, who could also perceive the Zone, stared wide-eyed, momentarily stunned. She never expected to witness a Zone activation in this race.
It wasn't that she looked down on G2-level Uma Musume—after all, she herself had only competed in lower-level races.
But even legendary Uma Musume rarely activated their Zones. Even among G1-level Uma Musume, only a rare few monsters could unlock it. Yet, Tacit Accord had activated hers, and at a G2-level race like the Keio Hai Junior Stakes, no less.
"How could…"
Noting Grass Wonder's confusion, Maruzensky let out a soft sigh, her expression returning to normal.
"When the spirit overrides the body, an Uma Musume can enter the Zone."
"It's not about raw strength, but a state of being. However, if one's foundation isn't solid enough, the individual often isn't even aware they've activated it."
"And once the Zone is activated…"
Maruzensky didn't finish, but Grass Wonder's hand went to her own right leg. Activation inevitably led to leg injuries.
Only the truly gifted, only those standing at the pinnacle of their generation or even legendary Uma Musume, could control and utilize the Zone ability freely.
After this race, Tacit Accord would undoubtedly suffer a leg injury.
It might even end her career as an Uma Musume.
"The Zone, huh…"
Barbatos stopped paying attention to the commotion behind her. She didn't waste energy wondering how Tacit Accord had activated the Zone.
If that's how it was, then she too would give it her all!
Only one thing mattered now: victory!
The turf beneath her feet tore, deeply indented. A crimson aura enveloped her form as the spectral monster sounded its charge!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, 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.