Three Uma Musume tore across the Metjiro family's private racecourse—a sight that, in any other context, might seem ordinary. Uma Musume running was common in this world, but these three were legends, a spectacle only the Dream Trophy League could rival.
"Let's crank it up!" Maruzensky shouted, blazing ahead.
"Still as fast as ever!" Katsuragi Ace called, trailing closely.
Leading was the Supercar, Maruzensky, with Katsuragi Ace, the Soaring Horse, drafting in her slipstream to minimize wind resistance. Maruzensky had dominated the Twinkle Series with unmatched strength, and Katsuragi Ace kept pace effortlessly. Chasing them was the modern Triple Tiara, Metjiro Rampage.
"What kind of pace is this!?" Rampage gasped.
Even she, a master of the great escape, was stunned by Maruzensky's blistering speed. She could follow but couldn't close the gap. As they hit the final straight—
"Here we go, full throttle!" Maruzensky cheered. "Can you keep up with my pedal-to-the-metal style!?"
"No way I'm looking weak in front of a junior!" Katsuragi Ace replied.
Maruzensky accelerated, as if her earlier breakneck pace was mere restraint. Katsuragi Ace matched her, surging forward.
"No way… they've got more!?" Rampage shouted. "I'm not losing!"
Unleashing the running style Monsny had taught her, Rampage pushed past pacing herself, running flat-out. She closed the gap—three, maybe four lengths—but no further. A moment's lapse would see her left in the dust. Holding her ground was all she could manage.
"Goal!" Maruzensky exclaimed, crossing first with a radiant grin. "Nothing beats running!"
"Terrifying," Katsuragi Ace said, half a length behind. "And you're retired?"
Rampage clung to third, four lengths back, barely holding on.
"It's been a while since I ran a proper race," Maruzensky said.
"I don't buy it," Katsuragi Ace replied. "Your top speed's dipped, but your technique's sharper."
"I've been hitting the mountain passes with my Countach," Maruzensky said. "A friend there taught me some cornering tricks I've adapted."
"Why's she applying car techniques to running?" Rampage muttered, incredulous.
The idea of Maruzensky tearing through mountain passes in her Countach was wild enough, but hearing her full-throttle run was slower than her prime? Unbelievable. This was the Maruzensky who, in history, misjudged the third corner in the Japan Short Wave Award (now Radio NIKKEI Sho), slowed down, and still won by seven lengths.* [Note: It's said Maruzensky mistook the slowdown for the finish, thinking the course check was the goal—a testament to her intelligence, as the announcer noted her pausing.]
"You okay, Rampage?" Katsuragi Ace asked.
"I… I'm losing confidence," Rampage admitted. "That was my all, and…!?"
"Don't sweat it," Katsuragi Ace said. "Maruzensky's speed is freakishly off-the-charts. Add her experience-honed technique, and even Rudolf or Seabiscuit would struggle to beat her."
That made sense, but Katsuragi Ace's ability to keep up made her just as daunting to Rampage.
"I've run with her plenty," Katsuragi Ace said. "I know her style."
"And that's the gap!?" Rampage exclaimed.
"Her speed isn't even intentional," Katsuragi Ace explained. "She's just that fast."
Maruzensky's raw talent was otherworldly. Even without refined technique, her sheer power dominated. Now, with her prime speed slightly faded, her experience-driven technique kept her just as formidable.
"We've got Twin Turbo on our team, a reckless escape artist," Rampage said. "But this… she's not even breathing hard!"
"It was a blast!" Maruzensky said, flashing a thumbs-up. "You're awesome, Ran-chan!"
Rampage couldn't fully revel in the praise. Katsuragi Ace patted her shoulder.
"That's why I'm here," she said. "Asama likely wants you to see Maruzensky as a stand-in for international Uma Musume. I'm here to teach you technique—Maruzensky's not exactly teacher material."
"Rude!" Maruzensky huffed, puffing out her cheeks and turning away.
Katsuragi Ace pointed at her, and Rampage had no counter. Maruzensky's antics spoke for themselves.
"You're undeniably strong," Katsuragi Ace said. "Your undefeated Triple Tiara proves it. But what you lack is a crushing defeat."
"Defeat?" Rampage echoed.
"Not just losing," Katsuragi Ace clarified. "Defeat shows you what's missing, forces you to evaluate yourself objectively. Winning hides flaws; losing makes you dissect them."
Her words hit home. Rampage's undefeated streak might've blinded her to weaknesses. Asama had paired her with Maruzensky, an undefeated legend, to deliver a humbling loss, and Katsuragi Ace, a Japan Cup victor, to guide her growth toward global competition.
"It's like what Flora did, training with the Emperor and Seabiscuit," Rampage said.
"Seabiscuit mentioned that," Katsuragi Ace said. "She stepped up for a junior named Flora. This is similar. Don't worry—we'll give you breaks before you collapse."
"It's already decided I'll collapse?" Rampage asked, half-joking.
"Oh, especially with Maruzensky's training," Katsuragi Ace said. "Got any lateral G-force tolerance?"
"Uh… what?" Rampage blinked.
"Here's the ultimate cornering technique I honed on the passes!" Maruzensky shouted.
"Why are we training on a mountain pass!?" Rampage yelled.
"Playtime's over—now for the real Countach drift!" Maruzensky declared.
"No Initial U nonsense!" Rampage screamed.
Thus began a training session that could only be described as hellish.
"How does that teach cornering?" Rampage panted afterward.
"Fear dulls, so you adapt," Katsuragi Ace said.
"…Makes sense, somehow," Rampage admitted.
"Teehee!" Maruzensky chirped.
Training Results:
Stamina: -20
Speed: +10
Power: +10
Guts: +20
"Arc Line Professor" Hint Level: +4
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