The commentator's impassioned voice mingled with the distant rumble of thunder, surging through every corner of the racecourse via the loudspeakers.
"Uooooooo—!!"
Answering him came a tidal roar from hundreds of thousands of fans on the stands.
The gloomy weather hadn't dampened their enthusiasm in the slightest; if anything, it added an epic weight to the impending clash.
"Welcome to the once-a-year, fan-voted ultimate festival—the final stage of dreams and glory: the G1 Arima Kinen!"
His voice rolled on:
"Though the weather's poor today, we're fortunate the rainfall is light and brief! The official track condition has just been announced—Good."
"It seems this on-and-off drizzle hasn't caused any major impact to the lane that carries so many dreams!"
"Today, here, we witness the summit of an era!"
"The strongest, most dazzling generation in history will wage their final battle!"
Under a million eyes.
With the commentator's introductions and the stirring entrance music, the competitors emerged.
From the tunnel, the sixteen confirmed Uma Musume stepped onto the track in steady procession.
…
Spectator side, along one flank of Nakayama Racecourse.
A small cluster of foreign Uma, exotic in bearing, drew many glances.
They were the Japan Cup entrants from last year and this year who hadn't yet returned home.
Moonlight Lunacy folded her arms with quiet grace, standing a bit behind the others.
A faint crease touched her brow as she spoke coolly: "I still don't really see the point of staying. Holiday flights around Christmas are hard to book."
"Well, it's not like there's much waiting for us back home anyway." Toni Bianca, clutching a hot drink, smoothed the mood with a soft laugh.
"It's been a while since we all gathered. Spending Christmas here sounds nice. And getting to witness this country's generational summit with our own eyes—isn't that meaningful too?"
Moonlight Lunacy looked at the fervent crowd around them and didn't press the point.
"Waaah! Onee-sama, look! That's the one who beat the 'Grey Monster,' right? Fujimasa March? Such presence!"
The excited voice belonged to this year's Japan Cup entrant Eve Pocky.
She clung to the rail, eyes shining toward the entrants filing in. "The crowd's passion is burning hot! It's even wilder than last month!"
Right then, as if on cue with the commentary, Fujimasa March strode into the arena to a wall of cheers.
"Eve, a little composure."
Moonlight Lunacy sighed helplessly.
Beside them, Keller Zimmer scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed—this kind of attention didn't suit her.
A short distance away from the group.
Folkqueen stood by herself, hands on the rail, gaze lowered over the track, lost in thought.
She wore only light clothes, a bit thin in the winter drizzle.
But after only a few seconds, warmth settled across her shoulders. She tilted her head—three heavy coats had been draped over her.
"Why are you out dressed so thin? What if you catch a chill?"
An Uma with a faint scar on her cheek stood behind her, gently ruffling her hair.
"Mm…."
Folkqueen's eyes narrowed under the petting, then she shook her head lightly and murmured, "Onee-sama… don't treat me like a little kid."
The newcomer was last year's Japan Cup entrant, the long-journeying Ellerslie Glory.
The moment she'd seen Folkqueen take another crushing loss to Obey Your Master on stream, she'd booked the soonest flight.
That very night she'd rushed into Tokyo and stayed by Folkqueen's side for a month of wandering and unwinding—up to now.
Ellerslie looked at the junior who feigned toughness and only smiled, hands not withdrawing.
Instead, she tucked that slender frame even more snugly into the coats.
At that moment, the stadium's roar climbed to a new peak!
The commentator's voice spiked:
"Next onto the course—!!!"
"No extra introduction needed!"
"The back-to-back Japan Cup conqueror! Bearing a tsunami of expectation!"
"Can this sovereign once again subdue this track?"
"Second favorite in the betting—Obey Your Master!!!"
With that cry, Nakayama erupted in the day's most explosive cheers.
"Go for it—!!"
"Obey Your Master!!"
"World's strongest!!"
Under myriad gazes, a tall, straight-backed blonde strode out, face like carved ice.
She neither answered the crowd nor looked around; her eyes calmly found the three "teammates" who had already entered.
Fujimasa, Mejiro Ardan, and Sakura Chiyono O turned, as if sensing her.
Crack—!
Four blazing pressures crossed in midair, rippling with faint, dancing light.
"Second favorite… huh?"
A hint of a smile touched Obey Your Master's lips.
So, compared to me—a mid-career transfer to Central—they trust their hometown stars more…
…
Up in the stands, Ellerslie's hand tightened reflexively, lightly gripping Folkqueen's shoulder.
Folkqueen raised her head; those heterochromatic eyes clearly reflected that familiar figure. Her lips pressed into a line.
It was her—the rival who had twice in a row crushed both the queen and Onee-sama.
"…Obey Your Master."
Moonlight Lunacy stared at the course, speaking softly: "Her aura… compared to the Japan Cup, it's even more restrained—and even more terrifying."
"She should be the strongest Uma in this race."
"Is that so?"
Toni's tone was casual as she watched the field calmly go through warm-ups.
"This race won't be that simple."
"It might be even fiercer than last month's Japan Cup."
Unlike Keller, Toni was a bona fide Arc (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe) winner.
Her intuition was sharper.
Even from the grandstand she could feel the crushing pressure radiating off the course.
"Man… that takes me back."
Toni murmured to herself: this was the feeling of standing on the Arc's stage, face to face with monsters.
The commentator, undiminished, rose again as Obey Your Master stepped onto the dirt.
"Next—another entrant greeted by thunderous acclaim!"
"The Edo's Child from Ooi! With iron grit and a bold, roaring style, she seized both the Spring and Autumn Tenno Sho this year—achieving the historic Spring–Autumn double!"
"From the very start of her career, a —— Triple Crown champion!"
"Top favorite—Inari One!!"
Unlike Obey Your Master's stillness, the instant her name was called, a searing blaze whooshed up from the tunnel.
Thoom—!
Heavy footfalls. A single silhouette came into view.
Different from her usual cocky grin, Inari walked out in silence.
And took her place by Obey Your Master and the other three.
"What's wrong? Scared to lose?" Obey Your Master spoke first.
Inari snorted at once. "You're the scared one. Today I'll plant you and your pig-teammates under Inari-tenjin's feet!"
Fujimasa didn't chime in—she only folded her arms with a small laugh.
"Then let's all give it our best."
"Let's do our best!" Chiyono O clenched her tiny fists, cheering everyone on.
Ardan reminded her, "Chiyono O, we are opponents today."
Chiyono O didn't deny it. She stepped back two paces and smiled sweetly. "...Then after the race, let's go eat together. Trainer said it's his treat."
"…"
Silence. No one answered at first.
Then, a faint smile returned to Fujimasa's face. "...Okay."
And with that cue, the five who stood atop Central's summit traded smiles.
"Then it's a date after."
"More carrot-seared steak for me."
"I'll order you two plates."
"…"
Before long, their smiles faded.
"Fuu—"
A hard wind began to moan, as if heralding something's arrival.
"All entrants, prepare to load the gates!" came the call.
With the final order, the brief warmth shattered like glass.
The five girls who'd just been smiling together, all at once erased every trace of expression.
The cozy atmosphere tore cleanly away, replaced by five surging blades of killing intent, taut to the point of breaking.
No more words. No more glances. Each walked, one by one, to her own stall.
Fujimasa's smile vanished; an unseen gale rippled outward from her frame.
Obey Your Master's face was impassive; her eyes held only the lane ahead.
Inari rolled her wrists—kaba—joints cracking; the curl at her lip brimmed with unruly fire.
Ardan and Chiyono O shared one last look; the teammate's tacit understanding was gone—
—replaced by a rival's respect and resolve.
Not far away, Oguri Cap walked quietly toward her stall.
Seeing Fujimasa and the others gather, Oguri's gaze misted for a heartbeat.
At her side, Super Creek drew in a long breath; those blue eyes showed no hint of retreat, only a blazing will.
Elsewhere, Yaeno Muteki and the other entrants looked upon the seven standard-bearers of Central, their faces clouded.
Tap… tap… tap…
With crisp, weighty steps, the elites filed into their iron gates.
Click!
One after another, the latches bit shut.
In an instant, the sea-roaring racecourse fell into eerie silence.
Tens of thousands held their breath, swallowed by the hush.
The patter of rain. The contestants' uneasy breaths. All crystal clear.
All the lights converged upon a single white starting line.
The commentator dropped his voice, tight with tension: "All 16 Uma Musume—loaded! All in good order!"
"Nakayama Racecourse, 2500 meters—Arima Kinen! The G1 that the whole nation is watching…!"
"...Now!"
BANG—!!
The lights flipped.
The gates slammed open.
"The race begins!!!"
And at that instant, within the curtain of rain, the stadium's roar exploded to the heavens.
(End of Chapter)
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