[What's this?]
[This is...]
[This is a Great Escape! It's Margaret Nearl breaking from the gate in a massive Great Escape!!]
[Truly unbelievable! In a debut race to determine a single winner, we're witnessing the most extreme runaway strategy—one that even veteran Uma Musume struggle to execute!]
[And she's doing it right in front of that legendary pegasus in the stands, the one renowned worldwide for both her devastating late charges and runaway leads!]
[Without a doubt, this is destined to be an spectacular race, one that could very well contend for the title of Debut Race of the Year!]
The commentator's voice soared with excitement.
Up in the commentary box, the young announcer couldn't hide his astonishment, his gaze darting back and forth between two points in sheer exhilaration.
One direction was towards the front rows of the spectator stands, where an expressionless, silver-white teenage pegasus sat, her emotions unreadable.
The other was towards the track itself, where a golden figure was charging ahead at the very front!
As a rookie commentator with little seniority, stuck covering the numerous—often over a dozen a day—seemingly insignificant debut races, he usually had to maintain a calm demeanor.
Normally, even after commentating on nearly a hundred such races a week, until he was practically numb, he might not once call a debut for a future graded stakes champion.
But now, the presence of that Silver-White Pegasus was like a clear announcement to the world...
This race contained a super rookie that had captured even her interest!
Even if this newcomer might not yet match the famed Eclipse, or the Silver-White Pegasus known as Platinum, in terms of raw talent or ability...
Even being a step below Platinum—no, even two or three steps below—could still mean an Uma Musume capable of winning a G1 race!
How could any rookie commentator stay calm calling such a race?
Even after working for three, maybe five more years, he might never encounter a super debut like this, one that was likely to go down in history!
Utterly stunned, the young commentator looked on with excitement and reverence at the dazzling golden figure streaking far ahead, executing her runaway lead with breathtaking freedom.
Another phrase escaped his lips.
One that would follow [Margaret Nearl] throughout her career, a glorious title always sung in her praise!
[That is—she is the 'Golden Pegasus'!!]
--+--
On the dirt track!
The atmosphere was growing tense, even white-hot, despite the race not even reaching the halfway point yet—all because of that glittering golden figure at the front! The gap between her and the chasing pack was widening at an unbelievable rate!
Sixteen lengths!
Seventeen lengths!
Eighteen lengths!
In the first half of this short 1200-meter race, where the pace was already expected to be fast, she had opened up a lead approaching a 'super large margin'.
The few dozen spectators watching this debut race couldn't help but erupt into discussions as heated as if there were hundreds present, each person exclaiming in awe.
"'Golden Pegasus'? Sounds like a perfect fit for that golden-haired Uma Musume flying out there in that runaway lead, Nearl!"
"That legendary Dual-Surface Pegasus... she must have come specifically for this Nearl, right?"
"It has to be her! The turf specialist known for Great Escapes, here to see a dirt specialist who also excels at the Great Escape?!"
"Almost twenty lengths now, and we're only at the midway point! There's still the second half to go!!"
"Could this be... another [Secretariat]? A [Second Coming of the Pegasus]??"
Amid the numerous discussions and gasps of amazement, Nearl's name was mentioned alongside Platinum and Secretariat.
This was, in fact, praise and admiration of the highest order.
Those two names were arguably the most famous superstars in American dirt racing today.
After all, the reputations of turf legends like Sea the Stars or Dahlia couldn't possibly surpass that of the Pegasus Platinum, on American soil.
And here was Nearl, in just her debut race, freely displaying what seemed like limitless potential!!
--+--
At the front of the main pack!
The group of front-runners and pace-pressers gritted their silver teeth, eyes wide as they watched the scene unfold before them.
This was supposed to be an impossibly short 1200-meter race!
Half the distance of famous events like the Belmont Stakes, the Japanese Derby, or the Epsom Derby!!
In a race where the pace was inevitably fast and the test of stamina shouldn't be extreme, how had this unknown Margaret Nearl managed to build such a massive lead by the halfway point?
Even more unbelievable—
The golden-haired girl, head held high, seemed to be... sprinting with the calm ease of a leisurely stroll! Yet she continued to widen that terrifying gap!
This dark horse named Nearl appeared to be merely out for a walk, yet she kept leaving them further and further behind?!
Just how... was this possible??
Almost every horse girl on the track held their breath. None dared to underestimate this runaway monster, and none held out hope that Nearl would tire and fade.
The development of the Uma Musume racing scene in America was no less advanced than Europe's! Both were first-rate, merely focusing on dirt and turf respectively.
Thus, these dirt racers still held onto their pride as American Uma Musume!
"What... what kind of monster is this?"
"Hmph, an American Uma Musume can't lose to some nobody from Poland! My debut victory belongs to me!"
But voices filled with disbelief and shock still rose up.
"Isn't this just cheating? How did I end up in a debut race against a super rookie who should be preparing for G1 preludes or the American Triple Crown?"
"Seriously, where did this girl even come from? How can some minor foreign family produce a dirt monster of this caliber?"
"Shit!!"
"Fine, I can't match your early speed, but that doesn't mean I can't beat you in a final sprint! I'll catch you in the homestretch!"
"My trainer is watching from the stands! I have to defeat that Nearl, right in front of Platinum Senior and my trainer!"
And there wasn't just one or two voices filled with fighting spirit and refusal to yield!
Some Uma Musume chose to maintain their own comfortable pace; others quickened their strides, fearless of burning out too early, wanting to close the gap with Nearl sooner.
The white-hot phase of intense competition seemed about to begin early!
--+--
Meanwhile, on the road to an Uma Musume Hospital.
In a car, the driver... was an Uma Musume radiating an elegant yet mature presence.
Seabiscuit felt a thread of worry in her heart.
She was speeding towards the hospital, wanting to understand the extent of Sham's injuries.
The legendary Seabiscuit, after retirement, had taken up a high-level official role within the racing association, striving to promote dirt racing and nurture outstanding successors for the discipline.
Not long ago, at the just-concluded Belmont Stakes, she had served as a guest commentator, personally calling Secretariat's magnificent victory—a performance worthy of being called the [Battle of the Century]!
To Seabiscuit, the only regret was... an Uma Musume had gotten injured, and one of immense talent at that—a super genius like Sham, who in any previous era would have been a guaranteed dual classic winner at minimum, with a shot at the Triple Crown!
So, after finishing her commentary duties, she had hurried to the hospital where Sham had been taken.
The risks of challenging and chasing the Big Red Monster, Secretariat, were terrifyingly high!
Perhaps Secretariat, like that Japanese Pegasus Platinum who was causing more and more rivals to avoid her, would make America's finest Uma Musume view her with fear and awe.
One intimidating all of America, the other dominating Japan!
"Secretariat... is truly an unprecedented super monster."
"I hope Sham's injuries aren't too severe, that she can return to the track smoothly."
As she sighed with a touch of regret, Seabiscuit's phone rang—a call from her association assistant.
Focused on driving, Seabiscuit ignored it, until...
She pulled into the parking lot of the target hospital and quickly answered.
"Ms. Seabiscuit, Platinum is here!!"
The moment the call connected, Seabiscuit was hit with this information-packed statement.
Who??
Platinum?
That Dual-Surface GOAT who had surpassed Dubai Millennium, the Japanese silver-white Pegasus she so desperately wanted to bring over for dirt races?
"Didn't she announce she was preparing for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe? Why is she in America?"
"Did she enter some dirt race? Or is there another reason?"
Her curiosity piqued, Seabiscuit pressed for details immediately.
The female assistant sent over a live broadcast link.
"Ms. Platinum... she looks like she's grown taller!!"
"She appeared at a dirt debut race, one that didn't have any famous Uma Musume entered."
Hearing this, Seabiscuit's pupils constricted sharply. Even someone as steady as her couldn't help but immediately click the link, opening the live stream of that race.
The moment it loaded...
On the screen, there was only one figure: an Uma Musume shining like Radiant Gold, the sole focus of the broadcast, sprinting with breathtaking freedom!
Taking in the scene, Seabiscuit understood instantly.
From her experienced eye, for a single Uma Musume to dominate the main broadcast view like that, she must have left the rest of the field behind by at least seven or eight lengths.
In America and even Europe, super talents emerged from time to time. Wins by large margins, even truly massive ones, weren't exactly rare.
Theoretically, seeing one capable of this in a debut race—a few emerged like this every year—shouldn't be too shocking.
But... the race had just passed the halfway point! And judging by that incredible speed, the lead probably wasn't just a barely-maintained seven or eight lengths—it was likely far greater!
The top right corner of the stream displayed the race info: [Dirt · Debut Race · 1200M]!
"A short 1200-meter race, and she's leading by maybe over ten lengths by the halfway point??"
Seabiscuit's eyes fixed deeply on the golden figure streaking freely across the screen.
Without a doubt, this was a true "super rookie"!
And in the details Seabiscuit noticed...
That golden form was radiant, dazzling like the sun, inspiring involuntary awe and admiration.
Nearl's tall, steadfast, and shining physique boasted smooth, powerful muscle lines. Her taut muscles resembled a drawn longbow, storing immense power in a charging posture, all while continuing her relentless, free sprinting!
The golden-haired girl named Margaret Nearl, her powerful legs pounding the dirt, sending sand flying.
The patches of dirt her hooves had touched were visibly slightly depressed, a clear testament to her outstanding strength.
Opponents?
None Visible, Absolutely Zero!
The next moment—
The broadcast director knew exactly what the flood of viewers pouring into the stream and watching on TV most wanted to see.
So, the side screen focused on Nearl was scaled down to show more.
Ten lengths! No one behind!
Seeing this, Seabiscuit's expression remained calm.
Twelve lengths! Still no one.
Seabiscuit raised an eyebrow, her gaze intensifying.
Fifteen lengths! Still empty.
"This... no wonder the Pegasus Platinum came to watch in person!"
Eighteen lengths!
This finally made Seabiscuit take a deep breath, her well-proportioned figure noticeably rising and falling with the inhalation.
Twenty lengths!
This finally made the legendary Uma Musume admit it: this was absolutely the caliber of an Uma Musume who, like Easy Goer, Sham, or Sunday Silence, you could tell at a glance was destined to win G1 races.
Twenty-three lengths!!
Even zoomed out to show this enormous gap, the second-place Uma Musume was still not visible?
Right, this was absolutely world-class horse girl strength! And she was just a rookie filly?!
"This, this..."
Seabiscuit's voice trembled slightly.
The last time an Uma Musume had provoked such a reaction in her was only one!
It was... the contemporary dirt legend, already reaching her own heights, not far from the historical GOAT status of a warrior like [War Admiral? Man o' War?]—the Big Red Monster, Secretariat!!
"Right, Secretariat's true rival... has descended upon the world!!"
She could already predict the scene next year: Margaret Nearl, entering her classic year, facing off against Secretariat in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the premier dirt race, in another [Battle of the Century]!
Only at a twenty-four length lead did the second horse girl finally appear on screen.
With her incredibly sharp eye, the moment Seabiscuit saw the second-place runner, she seemed to discern a crucial, unbelievable piece of information.
It wasn't that she recognized the second-place finisher as some blue-blood descendant, but rather...
"No signs of being suppressed?"
"Uma Musume who master the [Zone] are either near-world class or world-class and above!"
"This current Nearl absolutely possesses strength not inferior to a world-class Uma Musume. She must have mastered the supreme [Zone]!"
If Nearl definitely possessed a Zone early, like Secretariat and Sea the Stars, then why did it seem like the entire field wasn't affected by her aura or Zone pressure?
Just what level of physical prowess was this?!
Realizing this, Seabiscuit didn't hesitate. She activated a split-screen function, watching the live stream while simultaneously sending a text to her assistant.
[Seabiscuit: I want all the information on Margaret Nearl within three minutes!!!]
--+--
On the Racetrack!
Further back, the three front-running Uma Musume, followed by seven or eight more positioned behind them, were all stretched taut like violin strings.
Nearly every horse girl felt anxious and intensely aware of the crisis.
That dazzling golden figure on the runaway lead had already reached the third turn! Nearly thirty lengths ahead!
"If we don't start chasing now... it'll be impossible to catch up!"
"To hell with it! Even fading from pushing too hard is better than accelerating too late."
"At least I can't lose too disgracefully. I need to become the [Second Daiwa Scarlet]!"
"Charge, charge, charge! My trainer and my idol, the Pegasus, are watching! I have to win!"
Instantly, the majority of the Uma Musume began their all-out acceleration in a massive surge!!
Meanwhile, at the very front, that golden, brilliantly shining figure charged forward with an indomitable will.
Nearl's expression showed no trace of the race's tension, anxiety, or nervousness.
She remained utterly composed.
It was less like she was competing, fighting tooth and nail against a dozen other rookie horse girls for a single chance to debut...
And more like a Knight, setting foot on a new stage for the first time, familiarizing herself with her footing, adapting and acclimating to the dirt track with the ease of a leisurely stroll!
A Fight?
A Competition?
No, this was clearly a solo dance!
With Nearl's Great Escaping steps, she flew towards the fourth turn, advancing towards the final homestretch.
And this tall, Golden Maiden, her breathing remained long and steady, showing no sign of the tension that should accompany the white-hot final stages.
Her expanding advantage didn't excite or delight the Golden Maiden.
Nearl's current goal was simply to swiftly conclude this, secure victory, and complete her debut!
As for aura? Zone?
Currently Nearl didn't plan to activate them yet. She sensed no danger; her extremely sharp hearing detected no Uma Musume approaching.
To be precise, the gap was simply too vast. Their slow acceleration didn't warrant notice or alertness.
In Nearl's view, rather than employing those things other Uma Musume lacked, it was better to compete fairly and face them head-on!
She was willing to continue running normally, using her attention to properly familiarize herself with this dirt surface, so different from turf.
"Let's finish this quickly!"
"Then, I'll set my sights on the American Triple Crown!"
Just as the American fillies behind her, filled with crisis and gritting their teeth as they began their desperate, early explosive accelerations, finally managed to close the gap by two or three lengths—still nearly despairing at the twenty-plus, nearly thirty-length deficit...
The Golden Knight using this [Debut Race] as her training ground, in the next instant! Her sprinting pace quickened once more!
It was precisely like—an arrow released from its bow!
Accelerate! Accelerate!! Accelerate!!!
As if the previous free-spirited Great Escape hadn't been strenuous for Nearl at all!
That dazzling golden figure at the front accelerated again and pulled away, causing the American Uma Musume behind, who were gritting their teeth and erupting with full power just to avoid falling further behind, to widen their eyes in utter shock.
Despair... flooded their hearts.
"Kgh, it's over!!!"
--+--
From the sparsely populated spectator stands, sounds of astonishment and shocked reactions continuously erupted!
"Wh-what a terrifying horse girl! The others behind have started their final kicks, so why can't they catch up to the runaway leader?"
"Why have we never heard of such an amazing rookie horse girl before? Where is she from? Which famous family?"
"Right, she was the lowest favored entry among the twelve, the last one to sign up."
"Probably only hellish training could lead to this level of skill, right?"
After all, the [Great Escape] was famously a difficult strategy to win with.
Moreover, those who used it often burned themselves out completely, sometimes even injuring themselves and retiring early.
But the Golden Maiden on the big screen still breathed with long, steady, cool focus, her bearing heroic and dazzling.
Burned out? No, that flame had perhaps only just been lit, far from reaching its fully ignited state.
And as the discussions continued...
Just a short while later, the young maiden Nearl was the first to set foot on the final homestretch!
By now, she led the constantly accelerating Uma Musume behind by no less than... thirty-one lengths!
But the race wasn't over yet.
The Golden Maiden, now on the [Homestretch] for the first time! Her tall, perfect body shot forward like lightning, spectacularly swift!
Here it was, the final, extremely short straight!
The World's Second Coming of a Pegasus!
The Golden Pegasus fully embarked on the first step of her vast journey!
On the spectator stands flanking the track, the viewers couldn't bear to even blink, afraid of missing any detail of this surely historic debut race's finale.
It was a sprint for victory! A run, a gallop beyond the reach of ordinary people!
The moment her hooves touched the homestretch, she seemed to transform into an existence of a completely different caliber compared to the other Uma Musume around her!
In the blink of an eye, the already astonishing super large margin wasn't narrowed by the panicked, gritting, desperately accelerating horse girls behind...
On the contrary, the gap continued to widen! Under the amazed gazes of the spectators and even the commentator, the dignified, tall Knightly Maiden freely displayed her immense power!
Thirty-three lengths!
Thirty-five lengths!
Thirty-seven lengths!
That could be called an awe-inspiring, heaven-defying gap... kept growing!!
And all the Uma Musume behind Nearl wore expressions of utter shock, astonishment, and bitterness, seemingly unable to believe their luck in encountering this monster who could still unleash a final kick while in a runaway lead.
No matter how fighting-spirited or passionate a rookie Uma Musume was, even yelling about friendship and bonds, witnessing that thirty-plus length gap, seeing their all-out final sprint fail to close it even a bit... would eventually breed despair!
[The resplendent Golden Pegasus on her runaway lead has gained an absolute advantage under the gaze of the Silver Pegasus!]
[Without a doubt, this is a powerful Uma Musume that even next year's Triple Crown Contenders like Easy Goer and Sunday Silence will need to be wary of!!]
[The challenger to Secretariat has arrived!]
The commentator in the high booth passionately and excitedly delivered the final accolades, praising this unparalleled debut race!
By now, the commentary... just like the audience, could no longer suppress its excitement, the voice thrillingly fervent!
The nearly hundred live spectators, the commentator in the high booth, the countless viewers flooding the stream who regretted not being there, the legendary Uma Musume Seabiscuit staring wide-eyed at her phone—they all simultaneously watched the Maiden Knight worthy of the title "Golden Pegasus" approach the finish line in her final sprint!
[Nearl continues to lead by a huge margin!! She's practically... 'flying'!!]
[Thirty-eight lengths! Thirty-nine lengths!]
[First place is the most dazzling Nearl! Second place is… nowhere to be seen!!]
[This is a record-breaking, dominant debut victory in American history! Let us celebrate, a new Dirt Monster has descended upon America!!]
The Golden Pegasus! The Maiden Nearl crossed the finish line and won!!
From this step forward, she officially debuted as an American rookie Uma Musume... successfully!
Even though it was a small-scale race with very few viewers, barely a hundred, the enthusiastic cheers that erupted the moment Nearl crossed the finish line... rivaled the heat and volume usually found with an audience of two or three thousand!
It was as if every spectator, including the commentator, had been instantly converted into fans of this rookie Uma Musume, Nearl.
This alone showed just how much awe Nearl's performance in this race had inspired in those who witnessed it!
Having successfully won the race and completed her debut, Nearl's face was as calm as a still lake, without a ripple, as if victory was entirely within expectations.
Even more unbelievable...
After crossing the line, Nearl, without any noticeable buffer or deceleration, simply came to a stop from her super-high-speed run!
The dazzling knight stood tall upon the earth under the shining sun.
On the exquisite, heroic form of The Radiant Knight Nearl, no sweat seemed to appear.
These Uma Musume... weren't enough to make her sweat!
Even though Nearl had just achieved a thirty-nine-length dominant victory in a mere 1200-meter race!
The standing Radiant Knight paused, as if she had just noticed something interesting.
[Debut Race: Victory]
[Race Reward: Maturation Progress +5%]
[Current Maturation Progress: 5%]
Huh?
So... she had raced without any Maturation?
(Right... can I go get my Victory Uniform now?)
What would her Victory Uniform, her weapons, and her special effects be like?
--+--
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.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.