Outside the Meydan Racecourse, venue of the Dubai World Cup.
A line of spectators from diverse backgrounds—jet-black hair, golden locks, and everything in between—stretched out, all waiting eagerly to enter.
Among them were many Uma Musume distinguished by their tails, also queuing up as part of the audience.
Plenty of these Uma Musume didn't have the potential for racing and never became professional racers, but that didn't dampen their enthusiasm for the competitions.
At the Dubai World Cup, the crowd was massive—several hundred thousand strong. In fact, over half the spectators, from ordinary folks to regular Uma Musume and even many retired racers, had come specifically to watch the one and only Pegasus Platinum!
Keep in mind, the World Cup was set to host several international Grade 1 races all in a single day!
Altogether, around a hundred Uma Musume were set to compete, most of them star racers with global reputations.
That a single Uma Musume could attract such intense interest amid such a luxurious, heavyweight lineup was a testament to Platinum's terrifying influence!
Of course, not every spectator present was necessarily a Platinum fan.
Many had never seen a Uma Musume's unique special effect in person. After being utterly stunned by online recordings, they simply had to witness it live!
Normally, that kind of hype might only last a short while—a few races could be enough to make it fade.
But if Platinum's performance could shock and captivate these hundreds of thousands—or even more—spectators…
Those spectators would turn into fans. And that heat, that influence, wouldn't fade—it would only grow, lasting forever!
But all of that hinged on one condition…
In this Dubai World Cup, the Silver-White Pegasus would have to soar far beyond everyone's expectations!
"Finally, I get to see an Uma Musume's special effect live! Are the legendary [Lunar Eclipse] and [Pegasus] really as incredible as they say?"
"This is the first [World Tour] race where the Lunar Eclipse Pegasus will showcase her effect! I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I missed this!"
"Who would've thought it would rain in Dubai of all places? Not sure if that's good or bad for Platinum. Personally, I'm leaning more toward Montjeu."
"Yeah, Platinum's already proven she isn't afraid of any track condition, not even heavy going. But… every one of her top rivals here is also a master of heavy tracks!"
"One is Montjeu—the demon of heavy ground, winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the rain! The other is Urban Sea's daughter, Galileo—a former Arc champion and another heavy-track demon!"
"Feels like it's two powerhouses and one underdog. This is gonna be Montjeu and Galileo's [Clash at the Summit]!"
Among all these discussions, the number of spectators favoring Platinum was about even with those backing Montjeu, while Galileo trailed somewhat behind.
After all, being beaten twice by the Pegasus didn't look too good on her record.
Compared to Galileo, who was the "daughter of the former heavy-ground demon," Montjeu was the "current heavy-ground demon" herself!
Plus, with a bona fide Arc victory under her belt, no one questioned Montjeu's dominance on heavy tracks.
In reality, up to this point, Platinum had only won one overseas G1—the Epsom Derby.
To think that with just a single overseas G1 win, and as an Asian racer often considered an underdog internationally, she could be regarded almost equally alongside Montjeu—a multiple international G1 winner with a formidable reputation…
That alone was pretty outrageous and proved just how extraordinary her popularity had become!
Yet, among Montjeu's fans, some believed the Pegasus's unbeaten streak might finally come to an end here.
But those who thought that…
Definitely didn't include the two little horse girls standing in line!
Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black, their small fists clenched tight, buzzed with anticipation.
These weren't your average young Uma Musume—both came from prestigious families and had traveled all the way here just to chase their idol.
After all…
Compared to some boring, utterly unremarkable Osaka Cup, the Dubai World Cup promised to be far more exciting.
"Ms. Platinum's second overseas campaign is definitely going to be a huge success!"
"Even a heavy track can't stop a soaring Pegasus!"
"Not even against a terrifying monster like Montjeu—that demon of heavy ground, an Arc champion in the rain!"
Kitasan Black declared with passionate conviction.
There was a time when Kitasan Black would worry during major races—would Platinum lose against powerful opponents?
But now, she had completely transformed from a rational fan into an utterly devoted, wildly passionate superfan!
Even so, her fervor paled in comparison to that of the slightly smaller Uma Musume beside her, Satono Diamond.
"No…"
Satono Diamond paused, uttering a word that left Kitasan Black stunned.
"Huh?"
"Diamond, don't tell me you've lost faith in Ms. Platinum?"
"No! I've said it before—even if she were up against Eclipse herself, shining like the moon, Ms. Platinum would never lose!"
"Then what did you… mean by that?"
Kitasan Black tilted her head in confusion.
Calmly, Satono Diamond brought up another race.
"Dubai Millennium."
"Maybe… Ms. Platinum's real target is that one?"
In terms of imagination and sheer belief, what Satono Diamond suggested went far beyond what most Platinum fans dared to think!
Kitasan Black, who already thought she was wildly overestimating the Pegasus by being certain she'd crush Montjeu, was shocked to hear her best friend say something so unbelievable.
Not beat Montjeu, but win against Dubai Millennium?
That two-surface GOAT was an absolute monster on dirt too, wasn't she?!
Only the most fanatic of fans would even dare to imagine that!
"Gwah, Pegasus will definitely crush Dubai Millennium!!"
--+--
Inside the vast, luxurious racecourse.
There wasn't just one waiting area for the Uma Musume.
After all, this World Cup was hosting several international G1 races in a single day. The tracks themselves were different, including both turf and dirt courses.
With racers coming from all over the world, spanning multiple countries, some were bound to arrive early.
So, the competing Uma Musume could choose to come early to their designated waiting area, warm up ahead of time, or watch the races scheduled before theirs.
In the waiting area marked Dubai World Cup...
A tall, sleek bay-haired girl stood proudly, her curvaceous figure held with the regal bearing of a queen on her throne.
Her racing silks exuded an aura of immense power and pride, with a striking blend of white and red draping behind her.
Her name—Dubai Millennium, the reigning monarch who dominated dirt and looked down upon turf, widely acknowledged as the strongest dual-surface racer in history!
Perhaps she still had a long way to go before reaching legendary status.
But even legendary Uma Musume might not be able to effortlessly conquer two completely different racing surfaces like Dubai Millennium could—that was her pride and joy.
At this moment, the dual-surface queen cast a slightly bored glance at the large screen in the waiting area, listening to the commentator's incessant chatter.
"Seems like she's avoiding the challenge…"
"How dull."
Several days prior,
Dubai Millennium had noticed that the Pegasus Platinum—who'd displayed her special effect and made headlines all the way to the U.S.—had entered not only the Dubai Sheema Classic on turf but also the Dubai Millennium on dirt.
Being a turf specialist herself, Dubai Millennium knew all too well how terrifyingly dominant Platinum was on grass.
On firm turf, Platinum was practically guaranteed to win the Sheema Classic. Even if Dubai Millennium chose to run on turf, victory against Platinum would be far from assured.
In Dubai Millennium's eyes, every move the Pegasus made was likely deliberate, not reckless. She might genuinely be considering a challenge on dirt!
So, perhaps the target of the Pegasus's hunt wasn't Montjeu after all, but rather… herself!!
Faced with this possibility, Dubai Millennium actually felt a spark of anticipation rather than nerves—a strong interest in meeting a worthy rival.
Want to snatch the glorious title of [Dual-Surface GOAT] from her?
'—Come and take it, if you dare!'
That was what Dubai Millennium had thought, her fighting spirit ignited.
As a true champion, how could she fear a challenger as young as that?
If anything, as a peerless monarch standing atop the world, this was her destined role.
Surpass past kings, take their place, stand at the summit. Then face challenges from new-era talents, in an endless cycle… that was just how things were.
But Dubai Millennium didn't consider herself an ordinary world-class Uma Musume. She'd faced down talented newcomers not just once or twice before.
Yet here she remained, widely recognized as one of the best, still standing tall on her throne—proof enough of her strength and fearlessness in the face of any challenge.
Pegasus Platinum?
The Eclipse?
Just another young Uma Musume about to taste defeat!
Then, Dubai Millennium's proud head turned slightly, a hint of regret in her movement as she gazed out the window at the still lingering dark clouds and the beginning of a rainfall.
The current race had reached the [Dubai Sheema Classic], and the commentator had already mentioned Pegasus Platinum's name.
That Pegasus was about to enter the track and approach the starting gates, yet she hadn't shown up in Dubai Millennium's [Dubai World Cup] waiting area.
It seemed Platinum had withdrawn from the Dubai World Cup.
"Entering both races meant she intended to choose one to compete in."
"She's probably put a lot of effort into adapting to dirt recently, maybe even made solid preparations."
"But… weather is unpredictable. This heavy rain seems to have scared her off dirt and back to turf."
Dubai Millennium felt a twinge of disappointment. She'd thought she might finally encounter another [Dual-Surface Uma Musume] who could surprise her.
But it couldn't be helped. Having only recently left her classic year, adapting to dirt in such a short time was impressive enough; adapting to heavy dirt was likely impossible.
So you could say—this rain shattered Platinum's dirt dream?
She could only hope for a future chance to race against Platinum, but it definitely wouldn't be at today's Dubai World Cup… right?
"Later on, I'll give that little Pegasus a lesson."
For now, let's see whether Montjeu or Platinum comes out on top!
--+--
Shortly after.
In the waiting area for the [Dubai Sheema Classic], a silver-white girl was the first to step out.
The moment Platinum made her entrance, the large screens around the racecourse and broadcast feeds worldwide immediately zoomed in for a close-up.
Instantly, the roaring cheers of over a hundred thousand spectators erupted throughout the venue!
The Silver-White Pegasus, carrying her iconic bow and empty quiver, strode confidently toward the starting gates!
[Let's give a warm welcome to the undisputed super favorite, the top pick—Platinum!]
[Hailed as the 'Pegasus' and crowned with the moniker 'Eclipse' after the Arima Kinen, can she maintain her unbeaten record on Dubai's turf?]
[The world-renowned Platinum, the only Uma Musume alive capable of displaying special effects, is destined to deliver a memorable and unforgettable performance for all spectators!]
[Everyone, stay tuned!!]
The commentator's voice brimmed with excitement and anticipation, matching the crowd's fervor.
After all, this was the most popular and influential horse girl in the history of the Dubai World Cup, bar none!
An outstanding performance from the Pegasus could elevate the Dubai World Cup to unprecedented heights, much like the Japan Cup and Arima Kinen before!
Under the watchful eyes, cheers, and the sheer enthusiasm of the massive crowd, the Silver-White Maiden advanced calmly toward her assigned gate.
And then—
The second to appear was none other than the eye-catching Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, Montjeu.
A tall, powerful yet elegantly noble blonde beauty.
She walked with a graceful smile, her demeanor calm and elegant even without showing cold fighting spirit, her presence far surpassing that of ordinary horse girls.
This was an Arc champion, a world-class contender at her peak!
But now, this incessant rainfall…
Would transform this already top-tier monster among world-class Uma Musume, like a wolf in a sheep's pen, unleashing power rivaling historical greats!
[Next to enter is the second highest voted Uma Musume, the demon of heavy ground, Arc Champion—Montjeu!!]
[Will this continuous rainfall bring her back to peak form?]
[Let's anticipate outstanding performances from this super Uma Musume!]
--+--
A short while later, all Uma Musume had entered the starting gates.
This time, the silver-white girl wasn't unlucky enough to draw an outside post—she got a middling gate six.
[10!]
[9!]
[8!]
The countdown began, signaling the race's imminent start.
The girl, Platinum, looked around with interest. The sheer number of spectators… stirred a rare surge of excitement within her.
Suddenly, Platinum recalled that she was the top pick for the first turf race, but only second favorite for the dirt race.
Clearly, most people didn't have high hopes for her dirt performance and didn't believe she could handle it.
'In that case… I'll save the [Hall of Fame Special Effect] for the next race, give Dubai Millennium a little surprise all to herself.'
Platinum wondered what Dubai Millennium's reaction would be when she saw her appear in that hall during the next race.
That moment would surely be amusing!
So, wrap this up quickly and prepare for the second race!!
Ms. Pegasus believed her return, her second appearance, would give quite a few people… a surprise?!
Once Platinum made her decision, the countdown entered its final moments.
[3!]
[2!]
[1!]
The next instant, all gates flew open, and the Uma Musume burst out almost simultaneously.
Only the girl in the middle, Platinum, was a step slower, with a late start in the pouring rain…
The lazy Ms. Pegasus had chosen a come-from-behind running style, planning a powerful late charge.
Positioned dead last, her running under the dark rain clouds once again revealed a dazzling rainbow path, painting a breathtaking picture amidst the pouring rain!
Even with a slow start, merely running normally, Platinum's Rainbow Path special effect instantly drew screams and booming cheers from the hundreds of thousands of spectators!
This delayed start wasn't a random choice but a calculated decision.
Montjeu was notoriously skilled at marking and sticking close to strong opponents, overtaking at the right moment.
A demon of heavy ground with unrivaled performance on such tracks, adept at draining tactics and marking—Platinum saw no need to engage in a prolonged battle with her.
Wait for the right moment, then blow past everyone to win!
After all, the Silver-White Maiden's eyes weren't solely on Montjeu; she was most focused on another monster in the second race, the Dubai World Cup!
Platinum didn't yet know her own limits, but to maximize prize money, this assassin didn't want to take unnecessary risks. So she opted for her late charge style to conserve energy for the next race.
As for the Great Escape, she'd save that for the dual-surface GOAT in the second race!
Having decided, Platinum's eyes sharpened like lightning. Even at the very back, she remained calm and composed.
Even as the rain continued to fall.
The relentless raindrops soaked her long white hair, yet her body felt no significant heaviness!
The slightly more challenging movement through the ground didn't pressure her much either.
Even powerful Uma Musume could maintain strong, swift strides, but cornering and finishing kicks on heavy ground posed significant challenges.
What the frontrunners, pleased by Platinum's slow start, didn't know was that this Silver-White Pegasus seemed to be… running as if on firm ground!!
--+--
"Platinum, she had a late start?"
"If this monster starts late and can't get a good position, forced to come from behind… that's good news."
"On an energy-draining, power-testing heavy track, someone actually dares to hold back?"
"Seems that Pegasus can't fully adapt to non-Japanese heavy turf? Then the ones to worry about are Montjeu and Galileo!"
The mid-pack runners, even the frontrunners and pace-setters, felt a surge of relief.
Only Galileo felt a faint unease.
Of all the dozen or so Uma Musume, she was the only one with prior race experience against the Pegasus.
She'd been overtaken by Platinum both with a late charge and an all-out lead!
In other words, she was used to being overtaken…
So used to it that—no one understood the Pegasus better than Galileo!
In Galileo's view, Platinum wasn't a [front-runner] or [pace-setter] reliant on securing inside positions or leading early.
'This girl… can't possibly be struggling to adapt, right?'
'Dubai's turf is somewhere between European and Japanese grass. A monster who can lead all the way on heavy ground in Japan and dominate the Epsom Derby in England—how could she be off form?'
But why, with a decent gate position, didn't Platinum choose her more suitable pace-setting or all-out lead?
Instead, she lingered at the very back, where she'd typically expend more energy. Aside from avoiding traffic issues, there weren't many other advantages, were there?
From a front running style, the risk-reward ratio was usually disproportionate!
Galileo instinctively sensed something was wrong!
Why would Platinum, with absolute strength and the freedom to choose…
The next instant!
A tall, golden figure flashed into the corner of the black-haired girl's vision.
In that moment, Galileo seemed to finally understand.
The exquisite black-haired girl, after a moment of stunned silence, clenched her silver teeth, finally grasping the Pegasus's strategy.
So… that's it?
'Montjeu, this one has never personally experienced the Pegasus's seemingly endless stamina and terrifying field vision that surpasses even my [Monarch of Charm] Zone!'
'And Montjeu, this demon of heavy ground, excels precisely on such tracks and at marking strong opponents.'
'Platinum, she had a late start on purpose! That way, Montjeu's second choice is… me!!'
'Since when did that Pegasus become so cunning??'
On the surface, the extra energy cost of a slow start seemed disadvantageous.
But if it meant avoiding intense battles and energy drain for over half the race… wouldn't that actually be the most energy-efficient, cost-effective strategy?
How cunning!
Galileo's eyes widened, filled with complicated feeling.
Frontrunners could just focus on running their hardest, but the Pegasus in the back had to consider many things.
And Platinum's intentional slow start likely meant…
'Does it mean that against me, it was too easy, didn't require using her brain, so she just ran casually?'
'And now, facing a historical heavy-ground demon like Montjeu, she's playing it safe, conserving energy?'
Currently, she was already locked in by Montjeu, not far away.
Those hawk-like sharp eyes from Montjeu had identified her as prey, temporarily disregarding the Pegasus at the very back.
"Hmph, I'm not some soft target to be easily handled."
"[Secure second, aim for first]—the mission objective must not fail!"
--+--
Everything, going smoothly!
No, even exceeding expectations, almost too smoothly!
On the inside track, a tall, golden figure secured an excellent position!
Not the innermost, most convenient path for turns—the inside wasn't ideal on heavy ground. She chose a spot slightly outside the innermost path.
A position somewhat inside but with open vision, able to monitor the outside, completely free from being blocked by other inside runners! In Montjeu's view, it couldn't get better than this!
Looking at her [inside] position, Montjeu felt immensely satisfied. The very inside was good for comfortable turns, but… the risk was simply too high.
With rain falling steadily for the past hour and still continuing, the soft turf was bound to be soaked.
On this extremely heavy track, certain patches would undoubtedly turn into complete mud. Racing through mud… forget about contending for victory; it could even pose significant danger to their bodies!
On normal middle or slightly outside paths, the concern was maintaining good speed for the finish. But stepping into the muddy innermost path on a super heavy track… whether they could even sprint became a question.
So, choosing the muddy innermost path for slightly better turning speed carried far too much risk.
Once stuck in the muddy innermost path, it practically meant handing victory away; even finishing in the top five would be difficult.
The potential reward wasn't necessarily high, but the risk definitely was! Even this demon of heavy ground didn't dare take that risk and pressure.
Unless an Uma Musume galloping through the muddy innermost path possessed unparalleled, dominating terrifying power, it was simply impossible!
What pleased Montjeu even more than her smooth start and positioning was Platinum's lagging at the very back!
She'd certainly seen recordings of Platinum's races, but Japan's firm tracks were incomparable to Dubai's softer, heavier turf conditions. The negative impact of a slow start here was undoubtedly significant.
So… time to change marking targets.
The dark clouds blanketing the sky and the relentless downpour felt like Lady Luck waving at Montjeu.
'Galileo, you're next!'
Unable to mark Platinum in the back, Montjeu without hesitation stuck close to Galileo!
The situation became tense shortly after the start.
Under the rain, over a dozen Uma Musume raced fiercely forward!
In the stands, many spectators eagerly watched the very back.
Quite a few couldn't wait to witness the legendary Pegasus special effect.
But on heavy ground, there likely wouldn't be any front-runners setting a blistering pace. The race rhythm wouldn't be fast, so logically, they shouldn't see Platinum, with her come-from-behind style, overtaking opponents anytime soon.
But even just one of Platinum's major special effects—the Rainbow Path while running—was reason enough for their hearts to race and satisfaction to grow as they watched!
"Gwah, getting to see a top-tier special effect up close—even if I die, it's worth the ticket price!"
"Platinum with a late start?"
"Seems we might only see the overtaking special effect and domain effect during the final straight sprint…"
"All her opponents are so strong. I hope the Pegasus can win!"
--+--
The race progressed, growing increasingly intense, completely undampened by the rain.
After the second turn, symbolizing the halfway point!
The black-haired girl maintained her front position, still marked by Montjeu, unable to shake her off.
'From the start, the pace hasn't been fast, but it's not slow either.'
'This Montjeu really can't see who the real monster to worry about is…'
Galileo inwardly snorted, feeling a faint unease.
She was already accelerating slightly, overtaking some of the surrounding pace-setters.
But that proud Arc champion remained visible in her peripheral vision, not shaken off at all, the distance between them almost unchanged.
That clearly… required extremely strong control and observation skills, not to mention terrifying adaptability to heavy ground.
Moreover, Montjeu was intentionally applying psychological pressure, making sure Galileo saw her!
If she accelerated further, it would only lead to a grueling battle, most likely ending in defeat against Montjeu's specialized tactics.
'Can't play into Montjeu's rhythm; that way, even second place would be lost.'
'In that case, then… unleash my Zone, completely disrupt the race rhythm!'
All this time, her Zone had only been useless against that Pegasus. Every other Uma Musume was inevitably affected!
'Bring it on, Montjeu!'
'This time, I'm at least taking second place!'
'Don't even think about taking it from me!'
The striking black-haired beauty made her decision, the intensity in her eyes skyrocketing the next moment.
Then, from within her, a pink aura manifested and rapidly expanded across the entire track!
[Domain (Monarch of Charm): Activated]
[Passive (Auto-Sustain): Slightly increases stamina consumption during activation. Greatly reduces the fighting spirit of all Uma Musume, slightly reduces their will to win, and slightly lowers their speed, acceleration, and power.]
[Note: Effectiveness is reduced against opponents with strong Horse Mint affinity.]
[Once-in-a-Century Unconventional Legend: Own charm moderately enhanced…]
This was the Zone known as the [Monarch of Charm], a uniquely powerful Zone even in the history of Uma Musume!
Behind her, the tall blonde Uma Musume, Montjeu, who'd been closely following, immediately faltered in her swift stride!
Her confident, fierce fighting spirit significantly decreased. Montjeu, suppressed by the Zone, had her pupils constrict, feeling the pressure.
A Zone?
And… such a strong, terrifying Zone?!
Even Montjeu was instantly affected by the [Monarch of Charm], frowning slightly and slowing her acceleration.
'Is my marking really making her this nervous?'
'What is Galileo so afraid of?!'
Could it be the one at the very back…
The [Pegasus]?!
--+--
Last place, the Silver-White Maiden raced along the continuously dazzling Rainbow Path.
Her exquisite face showed no signs of pressure from the heavy track or her slow start.
That calm, composed, almost leisurely demeanor made it seem like she was training on firm ground!
The next moment, as Platinum saw the sweet yet deadly pink hue blanket the entire track, thoroughly suppressing most Uma Musume!
The lazy calm in her amber eyes vanished, replaced in an instant by infinite authority.
The work-for-hire assassin Platinum, aiming to conserve energy for her second shift, had finally found the right moment to accelerate!
Horse Mint? Charm? She felt none of it!
'Now's the time!'
The moment Galileo's domain, which covered the entire field, activated, was her signal to accelerate.
Suddenly, the silver-white figure boldly stepped onto the Rainbow Path and in the next second performed…
A diagonal move?!
No, to be precise, Platinum was fiercely charging toward the innermost muddy path, claiming the inside lane for her powerful late charge!
The Pegasus was about to sharply accelerate from the inside, overtaking a dozen in one go!!
--+--
T/N: Ironically, this feels less like an Uma Musume fanfiction and more of a horseracing fanfic with Uma Musumeified horses.
--+--
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.