The voice was so sudden that Kousei instinctively looked around, unsure of its source.
"A voice?"
It was the rhythmic clatter of horseshoes on the track, a steady gait that could only belong to an Umamusume with formidable leg strength.
"The oppressive presence behind us has vanished. Are you already exhausted?"
The voice was utterly unfamiliar, one Kousei had never heard before, yet it stirred a faint sense of recognition within her.
A flash of lightning illuminated a pair of beautiful, obsidian-like eyes beside her. No wonder Kousei felt a vague sense of familiarity; before entering the Gate, she had sensed another gaze upon her. This was the source!
Kousei hadn't been able to spot her earlier because the Umamusume's coat was as black as the storm-ridden night, making her indistinguishable in the tempest. Now, those eyes blazed with murderous intent, transforming their beauty into a deadly allure.
"Withdraw from the race. I will be the one to defeat Mejiro McQueen!"
Without a glance at Kousei, the black Umamusume lowered into a crouch and surged forward.
"Wait! That's not the right way?!"
The black Umamusume charged straight toward the section of the track churned into mud by Mejiro McQueen. Kousei stared in disbelief as the newcomer plunged into the mire. But the expected catastrophe never materialized. The black Umamusume's hooves struck the ground with tremendous force, her claw-like grip maintaining unwavering stability despite the treacherous terrain. Despite the treacherous mud, her stride never faltered.
"As expected of McQueen! She's managing despite the dire circumstances!"
A dark horse emerges, breaking through the forbidden zone!
"Incredible! Dicta Striker is charging from behind, surging past Kousei in a single burst! It seems she intends to challenge McQueen head-to-head!"
"Look! She's following in McQueen's footsteps!"
"Could someone actually defeat the demon lurking in the rain?"
Dicta Striker's dynamic performance electrifies the crowd. Her audacious sprint through "Hell" draws all eyes.
"The Derby truly is a showcase of talent."
"Each generation produces its own heroes, dominating the era for centuries."
Sirius glances at Rudolf in surprise. "Where did you learn that phrase?"
"I read a lot."
The duo stares at each other, eyes wide.
"But Kousei isn't doing well," Sirius says, her voice tinged with concern. "She can't keep up like this."
Rudolf remains silent, casting a quiet glance at Sirius.
"In all my years, this is the first time she's worried about someone else. Why Kousei?"
Kousei trails behind the pair. Dicta Striker's sudden intrusion has added a new variable to the race. If she can navigate Mejiro's "Hell," she must possess the strength to contend with McQueen.
McQueen naturally sensed the surging hostility behind her. "Hmm? Not Kousei."
This was an unfamiliar presence, the pursuer hailing from uncharted territory.
Dicta Striker closed in relentlessly, her dark form cutting through the thunder with unwavering force.
"She's fast, that Elite!"
The black figure plunged into the heart of the thunderstorm, utterly unfazed by the might of the lightning.
McQueen glanced back indifferently. "A new opponent? Fine. Mejiro shows no mercy to anyone."
Crush them, then triumph.
Just another medal for Mejiro Glory.
The thunder gathered momentum with blinding speed, orchestrating a celestial symphony. Hooves pounded the earth, shattering mountains and rivers, as the world celebrated Mejiro's triumph. Lightning flashed, thunder raged, leaving scars that bore witness to the devastation, marking the path with the tombstones of the fallen.
Amid the howling wind and torrential rain, a ring of crimson fire ignited in the eyes of the pitch-black specter. Undeterred, she charged alone into the forbidden zone, refusing to yield an inch even against the full fury of the storm. Forged in the heart of the tempest, she sought to sever the very lightning itself.
Black and white clashed at the forefront, their relentless duel shaping the race. Dicta Striker's dark will pressed relentlessly onward, but Mejiro's reputation was no empty boast. Thunderous harbingers echoed as the White Chariot surged anew, once more transforming into a streak of living lightning. She proclaimed to the world that turns held no terror for Mejiro.
Each strike was decisive; the Elite's mane fluttered in the wind.
"Damn! She's strong!"
Dicta Striker witnessed McQueen's cornering technique for the first time. It was a thunderous, relentless sprint, a feat only one horse could accomplish.
Anyone who saw it would marvel, "Truly worthy of the title 'Heavenly Horse!'"
The Twins command all—heaven and earth.
Trailing behind, Kousei watched the clash unfold as McQueen once again left her opponent in the dust.
Perhaps you've heard of the Twins' reputation, but until you witness them in action, you can never truly grasp their overwhelming power.
Kousei gazed ahead, her eyes filled with envy. "If only I had such talent..."
At times like these, she couldn't help but imagine:
If I were there, I'd box McQueen in. Using the momentum from breaking out of the restricted zone, I'd feint an attack to draw her defense. Then, I'd switch to the opposite side and strike. But McQueen would surely see through such a simple feint.
Still, she's already been led here. Her goal from the start was the turn. Relying on her zone-breaking power, she's hugging the inner rail, racing through the curve. This turn is where she can catch up to Thunder. As long as she stays within the restricted zone... as long as she stays within the restricted zone...
Kousei's figure shimmered into clarity, her imagined self locked in a strategic battle with McQueen. Side by side, they raced at the forefront of their generation.
-
"Are you sure you want to keep running?" the Umamusume physician asked, glancing thoughtfully at the report in her hand.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
After a moment of hesitation, the physician spoke. "Based on your test results, we've determined that your potential as an Umamusume is limited. Even with rigorous training, you likely won't reach top-tier levels.
"You probably suspected this yourself. Your background isn't exceptional, and your innate talent and potential were largely predetermined from birth. I'm sorry to have to tell you this.
"It's harsh, but as a professional physician and former trainer, I have a responsibility to be honest with you. This is my final assessment.
"Do you still want to continue running as an Umamusume?"
-
"Kousei lost again... She works so hard."
"It's kind of sad. Why doesn't she choose an easier path?"
"Yeah, if Kousei took another path, she'd definitely have an easier time."
"If it were Kousei..."
If it were Kousei...
"I know my own limitations better than anyone. That's why I work twice as hard, train diligently, never complain, day after day.
What others consider grueling training has long since become routine for me. Everything I do is for the sake of stepping onto this racetrack.
I understand that the world is never short of geniuses.
I don't resent them. I just occasionally wonder why I'm so ordinary. Sometimes, when I see those prodigies, I can't help but think, 'If only I had that kind of talent.'
But reality won't change. I will always be me.
And that's fine. I understand and accept every part of myself.
I... I won't run away."
A muffled growl, like the distant breath of an ancient god, echoed from the silent rear. The two leaders spun around, sensing a presence both alien and hauntingly familiar.
Footsteps as light as falling raindrops.
She's here. "She" has arrived.
Emerging from the rain-soaked mist—
Who is this newcomer?