"The vibrant autumn blooms of the Shuka Sho! Who will shine brightest on this stage and claim the crown of the final Tiara!?"
"In gate 6, number 12, Agnes Flora, the third favorite, aims to seize the last Tiara!"
"Second favorite, gate 4, number 8, Ikuno Dictus! Silver medals in the Sakura Sho, Oaks, and Rose Stakes—will she lead the rebellion against the tyrant!?"
"Carrying the hopes of the roaring stands, the tyrant strides toward the pinnacle of her generation! The top favorite, gate 2, number 4, Metjiro Rampage! Undefeated in eleven races, will this Double Crown Uma Musume claim the final Tiara and etch her name in history!?"
Kyoto Racecourse brimmed with a crowd rivaling the Japan Derby, their expectations and dreams converging on the racers at the gate.
"All Uma Musume are in the gates, ready to race!"
The moment had arrived—the day Rampage had been waiting for, the culmination of her relentless effort. The mounting pressure from the crowd was suffocating, but she brushed it aside. I'll run my race, she told herself, steeling her resolve as she awaited the signal.
"They're off! A slightly uneven start, but Metjiro Rampage surges ahead! Wait—no one's letting her go! The field is hot on her heels, determined to deny the tyrant her solo stage! What a scene! It's Metjiro Rampage against the entire field, a rebellion rising to challenge her reign!"
It was an extraordinary sight. Rampage, who usually bolted to a five- or six-length lead, was hemmed in, barely holding a two-length gap. Her rivals had marked her from the start, refusing to let her break away.
"Knew it'd be tough," Rampage muttered. "Fine, run how you want. I'll do the same."
Ikuno trailed directly behind her, Flora to her left-rear, boxing her in with nowhere to go but forward. Her signature bewildering escape was impossible—any attempt would see her swallowed by the pack. She had to keep running, no pauses, no breathers. The race had become a grueling test of endurance under relentless pressure.
"This is brutal," Minamisaka said, sweat beading on his forehead. "No room to rest, no chance to breathe… running under this pressure is excruciating."
Ikuno and Flora were expected to mark Rampage, but the entire field had joined in, moving in sync without prior coordination. Their collective goal: stop the Triple Crown. Rampage could sustain a lead, but this pressure was crushing.
"Go, Ran! You too, Ikuno!" Turbo shouted.
"Come on, Onee-sama!" Rice cheered.
"Both of you, give it everything!" Nature called.
"Go, senpai!" Ticket roared.
The Canopus team's desperate cheers rang out, hoping to lend even a sliver of strength. But Rampage was under siege, battered by the psychological weight of her rivals' pressure. Even a small burden could wear her down over time.
"Into the third corner, Metjiro Rampage still leads, but the gap is only two lengths! Is this the weight of the tyrant's crown? The pack is closing in, hungry for the kill!"
"Here we go!" Flora shouted, shifting gears as they hit the uphill. "This is it!"
In a shocking move, Flora surged forward at the third corner's climb, her acceleration reminiscent of the legendary Triple Crown Uma Musume, Mr. C.B. She unleashed everything she'd gained from training camp, but Ikuno wasn't about to let her steal the moment.
"Sorry, but I'm right here," Ikuno said, matching her pace.
"Fine by me!" Flora shot back. "I've gotta beat you before I can take down Rampage!"
"Agnes Flora accelerates! Ikuno Dictus follows! They're climbing, climbing, closing in on the tyrant's throat! One length to go as they approach the fourth corner—can they catch her on the downhill!?"
At Kyoto's infamous Yodo Hill, Ikuno used her honed power to counter the centrifugal force, accelerating through the turn. Rampage did the same, but a third figure joined them—Flora, charging down the slope with equal ferocity. Her training with Triple Crown legends had forged an unbreakable spirit.
"I won't lose!" Flora roared.
"Agnes Flora clings desperately! Ikuno Dictus is right there—closing, closing, they've caught her! The two have drawn level with the tyrant, Metjiro Rampage, as they hit the final straight! The pack surges behind them! Is this the end of the tyrant's reign!?"
Conquering fear to make a daring move was the only way to challenge a Triple Crown Uma Musume. Flora's fearless charge down Yodo Hill brought her level with Rampage, the pack's pressure closing in. All she had to do was pass her.
"Go, Flora!" Tojo's shout echoed from the stands. She can win! She will win!
Flora overtook Ikuno, then Rampage, seizing the lead.
"Agnes Flora! Agnes Flora takes the lead! The rebel who's fought so long—will she finally topple the tyrant!?"
The pressure had weighed Rampage down, giving Flora her chance. The stage where she was most marked was her moment to strike. Your reign ends today, Flora thought. Just reach the finish line!
"…Got it," a voice said from behind. "That's how it is, huh?"
It was Rampage, her tone calm, almost amused—not a trace of panic, only exhilaration. Not resignation, but a spark of something greater.
"This is it—the moment I, we, shine. Time to run wild, shake things up, break free—"
Let's rampage together, lost soul.
In an instant, a ferocious gust swept through. To Flora's shock, the tyrant surged past her, reclaiming the lead. How!? I was ahead! But it wasn't just speed—Rampage's running was unlike anything Flora had seen. Not just her legs—her entire body moved as one, every part synchronized, kicking the ground with boundless power. She shrugged off the crushing pressure, charging forward with the regal air of an untouchable king.
"I can't… keep up!?" Flora gasped. "No, I won't lose!"
She wasn't finished. She was still running, still fighting. Don't give in! Turn it around! But the pressure she'd ignored now clawed at her, weighing her down.
"Why… now, Rampage!?" Flora shouted.
"You gave me this pressure," Rampage called back, grinning. "I'm just using it my way. I'm the tyrant of the turf!"
"Metjiro Rampage! Metjiro Rampage surges ahead! She shakes off Agnes Flora, accelerating faster and faster! No mercy, no equal—she claims the right to etch her name in history! Rewriting the past, seizing all glory! The second-ever Triple Tiara is born! Metjiro Rampage achieves the undefeated Triple Tiara, the first in history! Following Metjiro Ramone, the Metjiro family claims another Triple Tiara! A historic triumph!"
A new legend was carved. Rampage, the tyrant who made it happen, exhaled with a triumphant smile. Agnes Flora took second, Ikuno Dictus third. Despite her defeat, Flora's face held no regret.
"…Completely outclassed," Flora said, her gaze one of awe. "You're incredible, Rampage-san."
Even in the face of overwhelming odds, Rampage had turned the pressure into strength, charging to victory. Flora could only acknowledge it: Rampage was the Uma Musume destined to claim every Tiara.
"…That was perfect," Rampage said, her voice soft but satisfied. "The best race I've ever run."
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