[Race Reward: Custom Zone Music, Maturation Progress +15%]
[Custom Domain Music: As race earnings increase, new tracks will be gradually added to the library. You may select any track from the library to serve as your domain BGM.]
[Music Library: Radiant, Star Platinum Execution Theme]
The brief text appeared on the system panel visible only to the silver-haired girl, causing her to freeze for a moment.
Huh?
Custom selection… so that's what it meant?
Platinum had assumed it would present two or three music options, and she'd have to pick just one to be her Zone music from then on.
She never expected it to outright give her two tracks, letting her choose which one to "equip" and switch between later, just like gear.
And those two… they were both incredibly famous!!
No need to even mention Radiant—that's Nearl the Radiant Knight's EP theme, blazing like light and lightning, illuminating the shadows!
Even though the transformed Platinum, Centaurea, is a Kuranta like Nearl… they're pretty different, right?
But at least, both are original tracks from Arknights, so whoever uses them shouldn't matter…
But what's up with this Star Platinum Execution Theme?? This was the one that really caught Platinum off guard.
How did we jump from Arknights right over to JOJO?
'Platinum using the Star Platinum Execution Theme… kinda makes sense, I guess?'
'Anyway, the other Uma Musume probably won't recognize it, so it shouldn't feel too out of place.'
After her brief surprise, the Pegasus stopped overthinking it.
After all, there'd be more tracks added later.
Winning race prizes wouldn't just enhance her race effects—it would even expand her sound library!
Platinum could already imagine it: after another year or so of hard fighting, she might even be able to play a whole album or something…
Songs like Haruhikage and Deja Vu… who's to say she wouldn't get the chance to unlock them someday?
As Platinum finished her thoughts, the text on the system panel in front of her changed again.
[Current Maturation Progress: 50%]
[Note: Once Maturation Progress reaches 70%, the special effects, field effects, and music will change from "Visible Only to Uma Musume" to "Visible to the Entire World."]
?!
Platinum: "??"
The silver-haired girl jolted, completely caught off guard.
Wait, it can do that?!
'Hold on, does that mean someday, in front of everyone…'
'I'll be summoning divine apparitions to surpass and pierce through my opponents?!'
From aura to domain, these had always been exclusive to Uma Musume—only other Uma Musume could perceive them.
That's why, during her earlier campaigns in Europe, the British Uma Musume commentators had to describe the special effects they saw to the audience.
But now… not only would domain music become audible, but soon, it would be elevated to a level where everyone in the world, even ordinary people, could see it??
From then on, it wouldn't just be Uma Musume who'd be stunned!
It was easy to imagine: once the special effects became fully visible to ordinary people, it would deliver an unimaginable, massive shock to countless Uma Musume fans across Japan and the entire world!
Until now, the Uma Musume domain—the shift in the atmosphere of the entire venue—had been an absolute mystery to ordinary people. They could only speculate, or rely on commentary from retired Uma Musume to fill in the gaps.
But the problem was, a race lasted only a few short minutes. With constant updates on the race situation and the conditions of popular competitors, how much time was there for explanations? Often, it was just a sentence or two, or sometimes not even mentioned at all.
Thus, for countless Uma Musume fans worldwide, the so-called Uma Musume Zone was an utterly inaccessible mystery.
But now… once Platinum unlocked worldwide visibility, she would become the world's first—and only—Zone Uma Musume whose effects could be seen by ordinary people!
And compared to the Zones of regular Uma Musume, which merely altered the atmosphere and slightly changed the field, Platinum's ability to summon the vast Colosseum of Kazimierz was on a completely different level of grandeur. It would far exceed—no, utterly shatter—all past fantasies the audience might have had!
By then, headlines in major Uma Musume newspapers across the globe would instantly feature [Pegasian Sight]!
'My Maturation Progress has finally reached the halfway point!'
'At this rate, after running the Japan Cup or the Arima Kinen, I should hit 70% Maturation Progress, and the effects will become visible to the public.'
Thinking this far, a flicker of anticipation crossed the young Platinum's exquisite face.
Even though she usually disliked "work," she found herself unusually looking forward to the next Japan Cup.
Japan Cup, come quickly!
It wasn't that she liked working—she just loved the "paycheck" she got afterward!
So many games make money off skin effects! After all, who doesn't love flashy special effects?
And who wouldn't love showcasing their hard-earned, upgraded super effects and music in front of a mesmerized crowd?
"No one can stop my skin showcase!"
"Japan Cup, bring on any monsters you've got!"
--+--
Europe, Nighttime.
A stunningly beautiful girl named Galileo had just finished training and was resting in her room.
At the moment, she was sitting at her desk, watching a Japanese race on the large screen.
The Kikuka Shō! The final leg of Japan's classic triple crown!
The European broadcast was flooded with comments and live chats, clearly indicating that a significant number of European viewers were also tuned in.
"Huh? 31 lengths?!"
"As expected of a Japanese monster who won the British Derby by a huge margin. She's really strong!"
"I heard the second-place Japanese Uma Musume also has domain power and isn't weak either. She's a rare monster in Japanese classic races. Without her, Platinum probably would've won by 40 lengths, right?"
"No, no. Beating weaklings by 40 or even 50 lengths isn't as impressive or shocking as defeating a strong opponent by 31 lengths!"
"That's terrifying. If we're talking about Platinum, she could probably compete for World Horse of the Year even here in Europe, right?"
"America's Dahlia, Japan's Platinum… gotta admit, Europe's absolute monopoly on turf racing is gradually fading!"
--+--
Galileo skimmed through the barrage of admiring and astonished comments, not particularly surprised.
In truth, from official racing bodies and competing Uma Musume to ordinary viewers, Europe had an almost innate arrogance toward the Japanese Uma Musume scene and Japanese Uma Musume themselves.
After all, over the past few decades, bold Japanese Uma Musume had occasionally ventured to challenge European and American races, but the results were always the same: utter defeat and miserable returns. Coupled with the exorbitant entry fees, they were almost synonymous with "charity donors."
Take, for example, one of Japan's top Uma Musume families, the Symboli family. Their star Uma Musume, "Speed Symboli," after achieving numerous honors in Japan and being hailed as the strongest active racer and one of the greatest in history, embarked on overseas campaigns.
In the many European and American races Speed Symboli challenged, the scoring systems at the time often only recorded rankings for the top ten, so her performances frequently went unrecorded.
After crushing defeats, Speed Symboli would return to Japan and dominate effortlessly, only to go abroad again and suffer another defeat, then come back to Japan and crush everyone again…
Even after repeated failures, that obsession with European and American races was passed down to future generations of the Symboli family—specifically, Symboli Rudolf and Sirius Symboli!
The final result? A complete wipeout. This family, full of top-tier G1 Uma Musume in Japan, collectively didn't win a single European or American G1 race. They didn't even place in the top few more than a handful of times—utterly embarrassing.
Thus, the Symboli family was Japan's earliest prestigious house to become obsessed with overseas competitions, but their results never improved. And nearly all other Japanese Uma Musume who ventured abroad shared the same fate.
For a time, in the eyes of European and American viewers, Japanese Uma Musume were perpetually "pointing toward the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe," with every year being "the most promising year." But looking back over decades, they barely had any top placements…
Under these circumstances, how could the European and American public possibly care about or think highly of Japanese Uma Musume?
But all that changed a few months ago, after the British Epsom Derby concluded. That stereotype was shattered in one fell swoop, and Platinum became famous in Europe.
The general consensus in Europe now was: "Japanese Uma Musume? Not great. Platinum? Exceptionally great!"
Therefore, this Kikuka Shō, as Platinum's next G1 race after completing the Irregular Triple Crown, attracted considerable attention in Europe.
"If some unknown Japanese Uma Musume won by a huge margin of over ten lengths, many European viewers would dismiss it, thinking any top European Uma Musume could do the same, right?"
"But Platinum not only won the British Derby by a huge margin but also achieved a super dominant victory of 31 lengths in the Kikuka Shō—both are undeniably terrifying results!"
"To gain overseas recognition through domestic G1 performances… she truly lives up to being a Pegasus."
No longer harboring arrogance, Galileo's expression turned serious and grave.
After her devastating defeat in the British Epsom Derby, she redoubled her efforts and fighting spirit, going on to win the Irish Derby!
Even though she still won a Derby, it wasn't the one she wanted most… that one had already been taken by Platinum!
Now, Galileo wanted revenge!
"Should I challenge the Japan Cup…" Galileo gently stroked her chin, lost in thought.
Soon, she made her decision without much hesitation.
"I'll go!"
Anyway, she was no longer undefeated—her first loss had already been taken by that little Pegasus…
How could she give up challenging again just because she feared another defeat?
Having made up her mind, Galileo immediately closed the video and opened the official website for race entries.
After searching for a while, she finally found the internationally open G1 race: the Japan Cup.
Clicking in, Galileo saw the current list of entrants.
[Tokai Teio]
[Fantastic Light]
[Platinum]
At the very bottom of the list, the most recent entrant, who had signed up just half an hour ago, was Platinum.
Just as she expected—Platinum, that battle-hardened monster, wouldn't miss out on Japan's only middle-distance international G1 race, known for its high prize money and prestige!
"Wait, Fantastic Light?"
Suddenly, as she looked through the list, Galileo noticed a familiar name in the middle.
"If it's her… it's not surprising she'd challenge the Japan Cup."
Fantastic Light, a turf powerhouse from Europe, was famous for her battle-hardened experience, excellent adaptability, and campaigns across various regions.
In Europe, most Uma Musume stayed within the continent since there were plenty of G1 races locally.
For example, after losing the British Derby, Galileo could turn around and win the Irish Derby next door. Europe also had plenty of other G1 races like the French Derby, offering many options.
But leaving Europe to compete in Asia, America, and other regions came with the risk of poor acclimatization. Only those with good environmental adaptability could succeed.
Fantastic Light was a representative top competitor with excellent adaptability. She had campaigned across Asia and even America from Europe, achieving stable and outstanding results while traversing continents!
Therefore, it was no surprise that such a monster would set her sights on the Japan Cup, known for its incredibly generous prize money and historically manageable difficulty.
"This is getting interesting…"
"In the past, the Japan Cup wasn't particularly difficult. Many European top competitors could contend for victory even with poor acclimatization."
"Not to mention, Fantastic Light's adaptability isn't bad at all. She definitely won't struggle too much with the conditions. Her choice makes sense."
"But—this year's Japan Cup is different."
"Platinum is stronger than any Japanese Uma Musume who has ever appeared in the Japan Cup!"
Galileo crossed her legs and smiled faintly.
She didn't think Fantastic Light, who traveled the world, would be unaware of Platinum's strength. A battle-hardened monster touring everywhere wouldn't let her guard down.
That was a world-class champion who campaigned across the globe, consistently achieving great results in G1 races!
In other words… was this the confidence of a true powerhouse?
"Well, then I just have to join!"
If it were one-on-one, a pure Zone vs. Zone clash… Galileo still wouldn't feel too confident.
But with Tokai Teio and Fantastic Light—two unexpectedly strong competitors—also in the mix, things were different.
Whether Tokai Teio had a domain or not, Galileo didn't know. But since she was once considered one of Japan's top active racers, she probably had one.
Fantastic Light? No need to even ask—she definitely commanded a domain!
That meant at least three powerhouses clashing, three different domains in conflict, not just a pure one-on-one test of raw strength!
"Platinum hasn't had much experience in multi-powerhouse battles, has she?"
"She's always crushed opponents one-on-one but hasn't faced multiple domains at once! This is… the best chance for revenge!"
This unprecedented battle might be the perfect opportunity to blind that Pegasus's vision and achieve revenge. There was no reason not to go!
Immediately, Galileo lowered her head and typed, completing her entry.
A moment later, after finishing her registration, the charming girl pondered for a bit.
"I heard Japan' turf courses are gradually becoming firmer? Differing from European turf now?"
"To avoid acclimatization issues and fight at full strength, I'll have to head to Japan early to adapt to their turf…"
"I'll set out in the next few days! That way, I can even find a few local Japanese geniuses and have some practice races with them!"
"You're the one, Daiwa Scarlet!"
--+--
The next day.
Japan, a certain infirmary at Tracen Academy.
"Dr. Lin, thank you for the treatment! This is a gift—please accept it!"
"Dr. Lin, can you make a contract with me and become my personal doctor?!"
"Me too! Dr. Lin, can you be my personal doctor?"
"It smells so good… as expected of the legendary Dr. Lin—handsome, great-smelling, and an amazing healer!"
Not just one, but multiple young Uma Musume voices rang out within the infirmary.
Soon, a gentle and dignified young man's voice responded, politely declining their offers.
"Lately, more and more Uma Musume need treatment."
"As they say, 'a doctor's heart is kind.' I can't, when so many Uma Musume still need care, switch to focusing on individuals."
"I have no plans to enter into a contract anytime soon. My apologies!"
Immediately, disappointed sighs filled the room.
A short while later, the sound of a door closing echoed.
The black-haired young man in a white coat sat back down at his desk.
On his table lay some snacks, gifts of gratitude.
Lin Anran's expression was calm and composed; he seemed to be growing accustomed to turning down these energetic, young Uma Musume's invitations.
Over the past few months, Lin Anran's treatments of Tokai Teio and Agnes Tachyon had made him famous throughout Tracen Academy.
After all, one was the heir to the "Emperor," an Undefeated Dual Crown winner, and the other was the highly popular "Phantom Triple Crown" winner.
Moreover, Tokai Teio's injury was a near-incurable—or semi-incurable—fracture. Agnes Tachyon suffered from what was widely recognized as an Uma Musume's incurable ailment: tendonitis!
From fame and influence to the severity of their conditions, Tokai Teio and Agnes Tachyon were at the top of the list… which made Lin Anran, who had only been in Japan for a few months, extremely well-known.
As more and more young Japanese Uma Musume, curious about his growing reputation, sought him out after injuries, they received Lin Anran's treatment.
Under his broad, gentle care, these young Uma Musume were easily charmed, one after another!
They'd breathe rapidly as if inhaling something enchanting, then leave in a daze after successful treatment!
Thus, lately, Lin Anran's "business" had been booming, and his reputation was excellent.
Both Tokai Teio and Agnes Tachyon regularly came to him for check-ups, and even return customers were increasing!
By all measures, it was going more smoothly than he could've imagined.
But what he found slightly regrettable was that he still hadn't found a suitable candidate for an exclusive contract.
"Sigh, it's a pity these are all small fry…"
"At the very least, it should be someone who can consistently place in G1 races, battle-hardened and frequently competing."
"Otherwise, the returns wouldn't even match Agnes Tachyon's."
For this unscrupulous young doctor, having turned down Agnes Tachyon, his current benchmark was her.
But unfortunately, Agnes Tachyon's glass legs were similar to those of certain other racers—incapable of enduring frequent competitions.
After sighing regretfully, Lin Anran leisurely turned his attention to the computer screen, browsing recent Uma Musume news on the URA official website.
[Unbelievable! A surge in Uma Musume entering dirt track races recently!]
[Genius Uma Musume Kurofune entering dirt track races?]
[Food for thought: Many Uma Musume who raced against Platinum are switching to dirt tracks?!]
[Platinum: The biggest contributor to dirt tracks in recent years! Her contributions to dirt racing far exceed those of the URA! She has successfully funneled numerous talented Uma Musume to dirt tracks!]
Huh?
Funneling talent to dirt tracks?
After reading these headlines, the unscrupulous young doctor almost spat out the water he'd just drunk.
Even Lin Anran found it both laughable and exasperating.
But… it kinda made sense. The URA was notoriously obsessed with turf middle-distance races.
From the 2400m Japanese Derby, to the 2400m Oaks, to the 2400m Japan Cup… and even the most obsessive, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was also 2400m.
For other turf race distances, the URA didn't care nearly as much. For example, mile and sprint races combined didn't get as much attention as middle-distance.
As for dirt tracks, they received even less attention than sprint races.
If Japanese turf racing was considered second-rate globally, then dirt tracks were at best third-rate…
Who would've thought that now, to avoid Platinum, a group of talented Japanese Uma Musume were actually switching to dirt tracks?
Could something like this really happen??
After his initial surprise, Lin Anran continued reading other news.
Soon, a major headline caught his attention.
[World-class Uma Musume, Irish Derby champion Galileo enters Japan Cup!]
[European genius charm girl crosses oceans for revenge against Platinum?!]
[World Horse of the Year contender Fantastic Light enters Japan Cup, issuing a challenge!]
[Super luxurious Japan Cup lineup! Tokai Teio, Platinum, Galileo, Fantastic Light?]
Seeing the top trending news on the front page, Lin Anran was taken aback.
"Huh? Galileo again?"
"And Fantastic Light? Two outstanding European talents?"
Just looking at the lineup, it seemed like they'd come to Japan to crush the competition and rake in the prizes!
"Well then… this Japan Cup is going to be interesting."
In the eyes of this unscrupulous young doctor, a sharp glint gradually appeared.
The prizes from the Japan Cup… how could he let others take them?
That absolutely couldn't happen!
So… how to deal with these opponents?
'Defeat them, and unlock the worldwide visible special effects!'
'For the Japan Cup, what racing style should I choose to respond?'
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.