"A stellar start for all! From the inside, Ikuno Dictus surges forward, with Agnes Flora hot on her heels! But from the outside—Metjiro Rampage! Metjiro Rampage rockets to the lead! She's out front again, but today's different. Known for her relentless great escapes, Rampage has unleashed an even bolder one!"
The G1 Elizabeth Queen Cup. In history, Metjiro Ramone claimed the Triple Tiara, including this race. In this world, Ramone conquered the Shuka Sho and this Queen Cup to secure her crown. Could Rampage, undefeated, seize this G1 and surpass even Ramone? Amid soaring expectations, the Elizabeth Queen Cup began.
"She's already five or six lengths ahead! So early in the race, is this reckless or a master plan? Agnes Flora trails Ikuno Dictus by two lengths, but Ikuno's running strong. Wait—Metjiro Rampage is picking up the pace! How far will she go!?"
Despite the field marking her, Rampage blasted forward, shrugging off their efforts. Everyone thought her pace was unsustainable, yet she charged on, undaunted.
"Still… still so far ahead!" Rampage gasped.
The memory of her defeats burned in her mind, projecting a phantom figure ahead—Maruzensky, the electrifying Uma Musume she'd battled daily. Even after their training ended, that shadow drove her forward.
"She's escaping! Past the halfway mark, still breaking away!"
"If this looks like escaping, you've got it all wrong!" Rampage growled.
She poured strength into her legs, accelerating. She wasn't fleeing—she was chasing. Katsuragi Ace had taught her: for an escape artist, the ultimate skill is to escape and then surge again. Not a desperate reacceleration after fading, but a controlled burst from a reserved pace.
"Here's my sprint!" Rampage shouted.
"Here's mine!" Ikuno called back.
"Agnes Flora and Ikuno Dictus are making their move! They're closing in on the blazing Metjiro Rampage! This pace must be grueling—wait, no! The gap isn't closing! Despite their sprints, Metjiro Rampage holds the lead!"
The crowd roared. The trailing Uma Musume widened their gap from each other, but none could touch Rampage. The reason was simple: as Flora and Ikuno sprinted, Rampage accelerated further.
"Metjiro Rampage runs alone! She's untouchable, leaving Agnes Flora and Ikuno Dictus behind! What an Uma Musume! She's evolving, growing stronger by the stride! Escaping and surging—the Dictator of the Turf! Metjiro Rampage crosses first! Agnes Flora takes second, eight lengths back, and Ikuno Dictus third! Following Metjiro Ramone's path, she's run it flawlessly, undefeated! A true queen is born!"
Crossing the finish line, Rampage felt the thrill of victory, but also frustration—she hadn't caught that distant peak, Maruzensky's shadow.
"Rampage-san… what kind of training did you do?" Ikuno panted. "I couldn't catch you at all."
"Simple," Rampage said. "I imagined someone running ahead, and I chased them."
"So, you were escaping and chasing?" Ikuno asked.
"Yeah," Rampage said. "It fires me up more than just leading."
She was chasing Maruzensky's phantom. To surpass it, she'd need to evolve further. Only when she overtook that shadow would she truly feel her growth.
"Complete defeat," Ikuno said. "But I got a feel for it. The running style Ace-san taught me worked better than expected. If I perfect it, I'm certain I can beat you."
"Big talk," Rampage grinned. "I've got Monsny-san's style too. I won't go down easy."
Agnes Flora watched, wiping sweat from her brow. They're untouchable, she thought. She'd outrun Ikuno, a sign of her own growth, but it wasn't enough. To defeat the so-called Dictator of the Turf, she needed more.
"Gotta train harder," Flora murmured. "Escape and surge… surge, huh?"
Taking second in the Elizabeth Queen Cup, Flora faced reality but looked forward. Her trainer, Tojo, had no complaints—she'd fought well. Her pacing and sprint were flawless, but Rampage's run was otherworldly. Words failed him.
"Training with Maruzensky really paid off," Tojo said. "No countering that yet. We need to find Flora's ultimate running style."
"Metjiro Rampage, congratulations on your victory!" a reporter called. "How do you feel?"
In the post-race interview, Rampage stood as the one who'd surpassed Ramone. Ramone had moved to the Dream Trophy League after the Classic Arima Kinen, a rare skip of senior races. Rampage, undefeated, had now eclipsed her in the Twinkle Series, drawing a media frenzy.
"What's your next race!?" another reporter shouted.
"The Arima Kinen, against Metjiro Ryan!?" a third pressed.
The reporters were fixated on a showdown with Ryan, the Classic Triple Crown winner. A year-end clash in the Arima Kinen was too tantalizing to ignore.
"Not that I haven't thought about it," Rampage said. "But I don't have time to prep for that."
"What do you mean!?" a reporter gasped.
"My next race," Rampage declared, "is the Japan Cup."
A storm of camera flashes and murmurs erupted. Few had expected her to pivot to the Japan Cup instead of the presumed Arima Kinen. Unfazed, Rampage continued.
"Minami-chan, no turning back now," she said. "You ready? I am."
"Been ready forever," Minamisaka replied. "Got the schedule all planned out."
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