While Shadow Radiance was still deep in thought, she suddenly realized she was starving—her body demanded a massive intake of nutrients. Without hesitation, she pulled out another potion from the Infinite Potion series.
Nutritional Potion
Rapidly replenishes essential nutrients. Flavor adapts to user preference (e.g., cola, strawberry milk, curry rice).
She had purchased it from the system store long ago.
One bottle after another, she chugged them down. She didn't count—she only stopped when her body physically couldn't take another drop. She knew what was coming: her true transformation. And she believed the more she fueled herself, the stronger she'd become.
Afterward, she collapsed onto her bed and drifted into sleep.
Moonlight filtered through the curtains in the second half of the night, casting a narrow silver beam across the floor.
Her body began to change.
Her height surged to 180 centimeters. Her bust developed to a C+ rating. Her short red hair grew long and flowing. Her clothes, now too small, clung tightly like a compression suit.
Shadow Radiance woke up from the discomfort, glanced at her stretched-out outfit, and sighed. She changed into something loose, then opened her system panel.
Name: Shadow Radiance
Speed: C – 426
Stamina: D+ – 359
Power: C – 421
Guts: D+ – 365
Intelligence: D – 344
Aptitude:
Turf: S Dirt: S Short Distance: S Mile: S Medium Distance: S Long Distance: S
Running Style:
Late Surger: S Front Runner: S End Closer: S Pace Chaser: S
Satisfied, she went back to sleep.
The next morning, she arrived at the event center to register. The Uma Musume at the front desk blinked at her Trainer's License.
"Miss Radiance, are you sure you want to register as a 'Personal Trainer + Participating Uma Musume'? This is the first case in the Central District…"
"Is there a rule against it?" Shadow Radiance slapped her qualification certificate onto the counter. The metal frame clinked lightly.
"W-well, no…" The receptionist typed quickly. "Your debut race is set for Saturday—tomorrow. It's a 2500-meter Long Distance event."
Back at her apartment, Shadow Radiance flopped onto the sofa and pulled up her system panel, reviewing it again and again. She stroked her chin and smiled.
The Nutritional Potion hadn't gone to waste. This binge-eating transformation had landed perfectly—Long Distance was her ideal stage.
She walked to the window and looked out at the curve of the racetrack.
"Six seconds of 'Playful Waiting' should be enough to set the stage."
But deep inside, she harbored a flicker of anticipation—and a sliver of fear she hadn't yet acknowledged.
The morning sun gleamed across the track. As Shadow Radiance stood at the starting line, the sound of her spikes grinding against the turf carried a subtle tremor.
Is that the one who's also her own Trainer?
I heard she's from a small town too…
Whispers and mockery from other Uma Musume and Trainers didn't faze her.
Let them laugh. Soon, I'll make them cry off the stage.
She bent down to enter the gate. From the adjacent compartment, she heard soft breathing.
Closing her eyes, she waited. When the gate opened, she leaned her hand against the wall, wearing an indifferent expression. She watched them run and silently counted six seconds.
This was step one: activating her passive skill Playful Waiting to accumulate speed—and letting the doubters enjoy a few seconds of false superiority.
The commentator's voice rang out:
"Why is Shadow Radiance still standing still? Has she given up?"
When the wind of the seventh second brushed her cheek, carrying the scent of morning grass, Shadow Radiance moved.
Her hand pushed off the gate wall with explosive force. Her body launched like a stone from a slingshot, her spikes carving three shallow grooves into the synthetic track.
The commentator's gasp hadn't even finished when she activated her ordinary passive reserves.
"What is that?!"
Someone in the stands stood up, their cheering stick nearly slipping from their hand.
Her figure blurred into afterimages. No gradual acceleration—she cranked her core skill to max from the start.
Ordinary passive points flooded her speed bar—ten points for a 10% boost. Her reserves were more than enough to sustain the burst all the way to the finish.
"The Great Escape? Is she crazy?!"
The Uma Musume in the adjacent gate had just reached the first turn when a gust of wind fluttered her sideburns.
She looked back—only to see the hem of Shadow Radiance's black training uniform already sweeping past the apex of the turn. The gap between them stretched instantly by three horse lengths.
The commentator's voice finally caught up, cracking with excitement:
"Shadow Radiance has moved! My goodness, that starting speed—she's using the Great Escape running style! In a 2500-meter Long Distance race? Is this absolute confidence in her stamina, or…"
Before he could finish, she had already overtaken the second-to-last runner.
She didn't look back. She simply adjusted her breathing.
Her stamina bar—enhanced by the Nutritional Potion—was like a sponge, expanded and steady. The value of 359 held firm. The air she inhaled carried the sweetness of morning grass. She felt no fatigue.
"She—she's overtaken them! From last place, she's surged directly into the middle!"
The commentator's voice boomed through the loudspeakers, buzzing with disbelief.
"Her speed is still increasing! Her posture… it doesn't look like she's struggling to maintain it—it's like she's enjoying the run?"
Shadow Radiance was indeed enjoying it. Amidst the roar of wind in her ears, she could still hear the frantic gasps of the Uma Musume behind her and the distorted shouts of their Trainers.
Those voices that mocked her before the race—calling her just a naive horse girl from a small town, scoffing at her decision to be her own Trainer—were probably lodged in their throats now.
"1500 meters left! Shadow Radiance has surged into the top three!"
The commentator's voice trembled with awe.
"Leading is the honor student from Tracen Academy, whose stamina ranks among the top three in the Central District! Shadow Radiance is still accelerating—doesn't she know the latter half of a Long Distance race is the real test?"
She knew. Oh, she knew.
But she also understood that Playful Waiting hadn't just built up speed—it had built up anticipation. And now, it was time to shatter it.
She veered sideways, dodging an Uma Musume trying to block her on the inside lane.
Her daily passive reserves were enough to boost her speed by another 30%—more than enough to carry her to the finish.
"She's crazy! Absolutely crazy!"
A wave of commotion rippled through the stands.
The leading Tracen runner felt the pressure and accelerated, desperate to widen the gap.
But Shadow Radiance merely tilted her head, eyes gleaming like a predator watching frantic prey.
She didn't even activate Pathological Control. She just kept a steady three-horse-length distance, following with deliberate ease.
It was mischievous joy—watching the honor students realize they were being toyed with by someone they'd dismissed as small-town noise.
As the 1000-meter marker flashed past, she shed her playful mood.
She inhaled deeply, maxed out her passive consumption, and the speed gauge needle shattered its limit.
She was ready to break them.
Like a cannonball, Shadow Radiance blasted past the leader. The stunned face of her opponent flickered in her peripheral vision—pale, disbelieving.
The wind howled. Her red hair whipped behind her like a flame.
She could hear her heartbeat—just like she had three years ago on that dusty hometown track. Pure, exhilarating joy. The thrill of leaving every doubt behind.
She didn't slow down at the finish line.
Instead, she surged forward a few more steps, then executed her plan.
She activated Pain Deficiency, set her pain receptors to zero, and performed a sliding tackle that carved a bloody streak across the turf.
"Hiss—"
Even with pain suppressed, the burning sensation made her frown.
She looked at her hand—blood dripping freely. It didn't hurt. Not really. It was just her mind interpreting the damage.
Red beads seeped through her fingers, staining the green turf like spilled ink.
Shadow Radiance stood up, raised her bleeding hand, and waved it in front of her eyes. Then she turned to the approaching referee and spread her palm.
"Sorry. Couldn't stop. Looks like I can't go up on the Winner's Stage."
The referee stared at her hand, then at the timer—she'd won by ten horse lengths.
He opened his mouth, but no words came.
The crowd erupted again. This time, no one dared to look down on her.
A sharp burst of static crackled from the referee's walkie-talkie. He looked at the blood trailing from her palm, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"Medical team! Call the medical team—quickly!"