"And they're off! No stumbles at the gate! Mejiro Rampage takes the lead, but Narita Eagle, Amazing Dina, and Lady Saber are hot on her heels! Just like the February Stakes, they're all chasing Rampage!" the announcer roared.
In Spica's clubroom, Okino watched the Teio Sho on TV. Normally, this dirt race at Ooi wouldn't air on a major channel at this hour, despite its G1 status. Yet today, the afternoon movie was preempted for it. Okino sighed at the network's whims.
"Trainer, what's on—oh, Ran's Teio Sho!" a Spica member exclaimed.
"Rare for this time slot and channel," another's voice cut in.
"Undefeated nine-time champ. That's why," Okino replied dryly.
Harsh but true. Spica's members settled in, eyes glued to the race.
"Rampage's pulling her usual great escape," one noted. "But dirt races don't usually have this many front-runners, do they?"
"Dirt favors early leads to avoid sand, but this is extreme. They're gunning for Ran," another answered.
Maruzensky's speed made her a natural front-runner, but Rampage's blistering pace forced other escape artists into mid-pack roles.
"Rampage leads! Narita Eagle slips inside, Lady Saber on the outside, Amazing Dina right behind! She's practically surrounded, yet she charges forward!" the announcer shouted. "Greatest King now in fourth!"
"She's serious about escaping," Okino said.
"You can tell?" a member asked.
"Seen every race of hers. This ain't her feint escape. She's all-in," Okino confirmed, stopwatch in hand. No slowdown. A true great escape, like Twin Turbo's Japan Cup triumph. No pacing, no reserve—just raw speed.
"Past the halfway mark! Rampage still leads, two lengths ahead of Narita Eagle, with Lady Saber and Amazing Dina four lengths back. This Teio Sho is unreal—Rampage hasn't shaken them! They're locked in her range!" the announcer bellowed.
"Don't let her go!" one Spica member cheered.
"She's got this!" another yelled.
"Come on!" a third groaned.
"Stop messing around!" another snapped.
Rampage, despite her bravado, felt the heat. Her rivals hadn't fallen for her feint escape tricks. From the start, they'd gone all-out, not with strategy but sheer power, aiming to outrun her in a head-on clash.
"Two ways to beat Rampage: outsmart her or overpower her. They chose the latter," Okino noted.
"But she's won against heavyweights—Triple Tiara, Elizabeth Hai, Japan Cup," a member countered.
"True, but this race's intensity is unreal," Okino said.
The crowd's roars were deafening, Ooi packed to capacity. The fans' fervor pushed everyone forward. Rampage, newer to dirt, faced rivals fueled by pride and experience.
"Their obsession to dethrone her, their dirt-born grit—it's amplifying their strength. Fourth corner's near, and nobody's fading. This pace is insane," Minami warned.
As predicted, the Teio Sho was a relentless sprint. Rampage never slowed, yet her rivals clung on, forming a tight pack of fifteen as they hit the final straight.
"This is it! Dirt makes my blood boil, my flesh dance! Last stretch—keep up if you can! Let's do this!" Rampage roared, shifting gears like in the February Stakes, pouring every ounce of strength into her run. A salute to her rivals, a defiant challenge. They should be spent after this brutal pace, yet their eyes burned with life.
"No way we let you win!" Narita Eagle shouted.
"This dirt's our race!" Lady Saber bellowed.
"I've trained for this—to beat you!" Amazing Dina cried.
A chorus of defiance rose. They shared one goal—topple Rampage—but fought as individuals, each vying to be the one to end her streak in this brutal battle royale.
"Into the straight! Rampage fights to hold the lead! Narita Eagle and Lady Saber close in from the inside, Amazing Dina from the outside! Is Rampage struggling? No, she won't yield! The king's pride holds firm! Greatest King surges from behind! Half a length to go! Rampage clings to the lead! She won't let go! They can't pass her! The invincible king proves her might! Mejiro Rampage takes first!" the announcer screamed.
"Hah… hah… damn…" Rampage gasped, spent.
"So close…" Greatest King muttered.
"She escaped…" Lady Saber sighed.
Half a length separated Rampage from Greatest King, with Eagle, Saber, and Dina even closer. A razor-thin victory, no room for words.
"That's her second dirt G1! Ten total G1 wins—a ten-crown legend! Turf or dirt, she dominates!" the announcer declared.
"Dominate, my ass," Rampage muttered. Her closest win yet, rivaling Ryan's narrow margins. Hardly overwhelming.
"You're… unreal," Lady Saber panted.
"That's my line, idiots! All of you chasing me like that—what the hell!" Rampage shot back.
Her exhausted words drew smiles. They hadn't won, but they'd pushed Mejiro Rampage to the brink. That felt more valuable than any victory.
The proof? A race time of 2:01.9—a new record.
Note on Records: Smart Falcon's 2:01.1 is faster, and her 2:00.4 at the 2010 Tokyo Daishoten is bonkers. World record's under two minutes? Utterly insane.
-------------------------------
Want to read the latest chapters before everyone else?
Support me on Patreon!
You'll get early access to the next 30-40 chapters and this can help me continue translating the story regularly.
👉 [patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you for your amazing support! ❤️