On that ever-changing turf track!
A truly astonishing spectacle was unfolding before tens of thousands of spectators and no fewer than a dozen competitors!
Starting from an unfavorable outside position that made it difficult to reach the front, to now overtaking every other Uma Musume and launching a commanding lead from the front—it all happened far too quickly. There was still nearly half a straightaway left before the first turn.
In the eyes of Harbinger and Youmzain, they could only watch helplessly as that white figure, who should have been battling beside them, surged ahead and flew into the distance.
The figure of the young Pegasus girl became a distant silhouette at the very front, her white cape fluttering and dancing before the eyes of almost every Uma Musume!
That breathtaking scene etched itself deeply into the minds of all the Uma Musume on the track, the spectators in the stands, and the countless fans watching the live broadcast.
At this moment, Youmzain gazed at the constantly swaying cape and the flowing white hair of Platinum as she raced ahead, feeling her own heart sway slightly in response.
'So dazzling!!'
'But... no matter what, I absolutely won't admit defeat easily.'
Youmzain, having placed second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for two consecutive years, had no obvious weaknesses in her overall strength and was filled with the seasoned experience of a veteran Uma Musume.
A situation with one dominant force and several strong contenders? She'd seen it before.
But this time... it didn't seem to be just one dominant force—it was Harbinger and Platinum, two super-powered Uma Musume!
Not only that, but the extent of their superiority was downright excessive!
This level of difficulty, even for Youmzain, was an unprecedented nightmare.
This situation, these absurdly strong opponents... she was seeing it for the very first time!
'Platinum's already making her move, cutting diagonally from the outside to seize the lead on the inside!'
'Next, we'll have to wait for Harbinger to make her move.'
Having witnessed Platinum's explosive lead, Youmzain now waited for the second super Uma Musume to make her move.
On paper, Youmzain, with her outstanding record—second only to Platinum—was the second favorite to win.
But Youmzain knew in her heart that the second of the 'two supers' wasn't her—it was Harbinger! That G2-winning Uma Musume, whose strength far surpassed her popularity, was the true contender capable of facing the Pegasus Platinum head-on.
The clash between those two powerhouses would also be her best opportunity!
'When that happens, it'll be the most intense moment—the moment I must seize!'
Youmzain, positioned near the front, found herself almost eagerly anticipating the sharp, formidable presence behind her.
And ahead of her, the Silver Pegasus was already approaching the first turn.
Three lengths!!
Four lengths!!
Five lengths!!
In an instant, Platinum had already begun a magnificent, unprecedented Great Escape!
Under the fading sun and the glow of twin moons, the previously sparse winds seemed to quicken, whistling alongside her runaway dance, transforming into the accompaniment on this grand stage!
That commanding posture, that dominant runaway lead from the outside—it was as if she was issuing a challenge to every top Uma Musume on the track.
—If you can catch up, then come!
—The championship? If you have what it takes, come and take it!
This scene burned itself into the eyes of Harbinger, Youmzain, and every other Uma Musume behind her!
--+--
In the spectator stands.
Countless spectators were utterly captivated, their eyes locked on the figure racing at the front.
Behind that silver light, eleven of Europe's most renowned top Uma Musume were in pursuit, yet falling further and further behind.
Many watched in stunned silence, unable to tear their eyes away from Platinum at the front.
Even Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black, who had grown from little girls into young ladies, from ordinary Uma Musume into racers—now, just like during Platinum's debut race against Daiwa Scarlet, their faces were filled with anticipation.
They had just passed the first turn, and the race wasn't even halfway over, yet she was already leading by five or six lengths and heading toward a massive margin?!
Satono Diamond clenched her small pink fists, unable to hold back her amazement.
"I still remember Platinum's debut race, where she effortlessly crushed the favorite Daiwa Scarlet—touted as the 'successor to Agnes Tachyon'—by five lengths."
"Back then, after the initial shock, I thought that margin must be the limit for Japanese Uma Musume."
"But who could've imagined... those five lengths were actually the smallest margin Platinum has ever won by since her debut! Now, starting from a terrible outside position, she's already matched that debut margin before the race is even halfway over!"
"Platinum is like... a true Pegasus from myth, shining brilliantly!"
Beside her, Kitasan Black nodded without hesitation, agreeing with her friend's words.
But Kitasan Black noticed something else.
The number of sculptures in the Pegasus Hall of Fame seemed to be increasing?!
Wait, why were so many of the ones in the back row unfamiliar... European Uma Musume sculptures?
Why did the Japanese Uma Musume sculptures seem to be placed closer to the front??
It couldn't be that Japanese Uma Musume are superior to European ones, could it?
--+--
The discussion wasn't limited to that small group of Japanese Uma Musume.
On the other side, among the Uma Musume from the Coolmore group, there was a uniquely complex emotion stirring within them—a mix of shock, awe, and something else entirely.
An indescribable feeling!
"Guh... that second-to-last one is my sculpture!!"
"The third from last is mine, damn it..."
"Hey, at least you made it up there. I was third in that last G2 race—I didn't even qualify for the Pegasus Hall."
No fewer than three or four Coolmore Uma Musume couldn't help but speak up.
That's right—the majority of the sculptures in the back row were Coolmore Uma Musume!
Before this King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes began, a certain Platinum, feeling a bit bored and finding her break a tad too long, decided that since she had nothing better to do, she might as well put in a little extra work.
When selecting G2 races with higher prize money, Platinum prioritized those where Coolmore had a strong presence or were the favorites—and began her blockade.
Platinum, a single Pegasus, blockading the entire Coolmore group's recent G2 races!
And since G2 races were less demanding than top-tier G1 races, the languid Platinum treated them as warm-ups, effortlessly winning by thirty or forty lengths.
Thus, the back of the Pegasus Hall of Fame was nearly lined with Coolmore Uma Musume sculptures.
Among the Coolmore Uma Musume in the stands, many of them victims, watched with a mix of astonishment and awkwardness as they looked at their own sculptures in the Hall.
Some, who had placed third, weren't sure whether to feel relieved or regretful.
But Fame and Glory, positioned in the middle, wasn't looking at any of the sculptures in the back. Instead, her gaze lowered slightly, focusing on the shattered fragments on the ground behind the Hall.
Those fragments were from the race where she had been blockaded—as the second-place finisher, she had been deemed unworthy of even having a sculpture, struck down by an arrow from that Phantom Maiden Goddess.
Now, those fragments were little more than decorative rubble in the corner of the Hall?
A punishment striking enough, for sure.
"If you don't want to be a defeated sculpture, why not trade places with me?"
Fame and Glory said softly.
Her words first made the other Coolmore Uma Musume stiffen, then they collectively shook their heads like rattled drums, awkwardly declining Fame and Glory's "kind offer."
"Being a sculpture... is still pretty good."
--+--
[Ten lengths! Eleven lengths!]
[The Pegasus's lead has reached a massive margin, and this is only after the first turn, with still some distance to the halfway point. Her pace is still accelerating.]
[If this continues, in this 2400-meter King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, just how exaggerated a lead will Platinum build before the other Uma Musume start to accelerate?]
As the commentator's voice rang out, something unusual was happening toward the back of the field...
In the mid-pack, a change was taking place.
Harbinger, a powerhouse known among top Uma Musume circles.
To the average spectator, she was just a G2 champion, whose pre-race popularity barely scraped into the top five.
Now, this dashing young girl seemed to have made an important decision.
Harbinger's expression sharpened, her body leaning forward, adopting the signature posture of a Uma Musume known for her powerful finish!
In the next instant, her legs erupted with astonishing power, and she charged without hesitation toward the distant silver-white light at the front!
—If I cannot go faster, I cannot fight!
—If I cannot grow stronger, I cannot surpass!
The girl named Harbinger was, for the first time, unleashing her full power!
In mere moments, she left the surprised pack of stalkers behind, and Uma Musume like Youmzain came into her view.
That leap, that sprint, was as breathtaking and shocking as the Pegasus's stunning Great Escape earlier.
This was... the true full power of Harbinger, a super monster making her G1 debut, surpassing any so-called world-class contender!
[What? The race isn't even halfway over, and already an Uma Musume can't hold back?]
[It's not Youmzain, nor any other G1 champion—it's... Harbinger, whose wins are only in G2 races?]
[Wait, her acceleration is incredible?! She's flying past the stalker group, reaching the front runners!]
From the commentator's excited, astonished voice to the stunned reactions in the stands, everyone was reacting to Harbinger's acceleration.
No spectator could resist the thrill of a race where expectations were defied, and after the initial surprise, many erupted into even more intense discussion.
Where did this unexpected challenger come from?!
How had they never heard of her? Such explosive power?
What incredible acceleration—she's actually passing everyone behind her and closing in on the Pegasus?
Amid the thousands of astonished voices...
Harbinger was not satisfied.
In the next moment, an even more terrifying aura erupted from her body.
It was... a pressure that overwhelmed the entire field, leaving every Uma Musume wide-eyed and deeply strained—a pressure that condensed into her [Zone]!
The pinnacle of heart, skill, and body—the Supreme Zone—was something Harbinger had naturally mastered long ago!
The dashing, determined young girl, whose goal was to be unbeatable, had always had her sights set only on the Silver Pegasus at the front.
Catching up now... was incredibly difficult. If it wasn't enough, then she would go all out!
[Zone: Activated]
[(First Light): When participating in G1 races, slightly increases acceleration and moderately restores stamina. When participating in a G1 race for the first time, slightly enhances Zone strength and acceleration.]
[(Shooting Star): Boosts fighting spirit, slightly increases power and track adaptability. The longer it is active, the greater the physical strain; prolonged use carries injury risks.]
[(Fleeting Moment): ...]
[(Aura of Might): ...]
Without the slightest hesitation!
Her Zone, wielded at full strength, was like a sword in the hands of a master—Harbinger had absolute confidence in herself and her blade, fearless and resolute!
The number and quality of Zone skills she activated were terrifying, and combined with her exceptional physical prowess...
That strength surpassed the imagination of even the most professional Uma Musume on the track or in the stands!
Across the vast course, the vast majority of Uma Musume were being left far behind by that silver-white girl—only this spirited, battle-ready Uma Musume showed she had what it took to give chase!
Having long mastered her Zone, this was her first G1 race, the first time she was unleashing her full power!
In truth, Harbinger's situation was similar to that of a certain dirt specialist—even without any serious injuries, she couldn't sustain such extreme, all-out running for long.
Her legs had excellent racing talent, but her body couldn't handle the ultra-intense campaigns of Platinum, Secretariat, or Sea the Stars. Her ceiling was high, but her floor was low.
So, after understanding Harbinger's body and her Zone, her family gave her two very different pieces of advice.
First: No need for intense campaigns, no need to go all out, no need to maintain that extreme desire to win. Just consistently secure small margins of victory in every race.
This way, winning several G1s a year would be effortless, ensuring a long career and stable, high popularity.
But the cost would be transforming into just another typical world champion—long-lived, consistently produced every year. Highly popular during her active years, but gradually forgotten after retirement.
Second: Hone herself to the utmost, reserving her full Zone power for the right moment, not easily challenging G1s—like a swordsman who sharpens his blade for years, never drawing it against ordinary opponents.
But for most of her career, she would remain an unknown, ordinary Uma Musume.
Only in top-tier G1s, surrounded by strong rivals, would she draw her blade for the first time!
Would she choose to win many safe, ordinary G1s, becoming a popular, stable world-class star with consistently high popularity?
Or would she choose to challenge the highest epic difficulty, etching her name into history in a single race, remaining unknown until then?
Faced with these two choices, Harbinger didn't hesitate for even a second—she without hesitation chose the latter.
Her answer at the time was: "I don't want popularity; I only want to be first when it shines the brightest."
Those so-called champions with many G1 wins but who are a dime a dozen in Uma Musume history... compared to the glory of the Pegasus or the radiance of great rivals, they pale into insignificance!
The spirited young girl never complained about her body. She believed that having excellent talent and a powerful Zone was already a gift from the Three Goddesses.
Wasn't it precisely because her body was fragile that she should, within her limited career, become a dazzling shooting star, unforgettable to all?
And Harbinger craved that chance to shake the world, even if only for one race!
Therefore, Harbinger was grateful for the Pegasus's arrival. Win or lose, she was filled with gratitude, eager to witness both Platinum's and her own peak power!
No matter who won or lost, as long as it was brilliant and dazzling, it would be worthy of being an Uma Musume!
[—This moment, right now, is the ultimate moment!]
That fervor, that determination, that hope—transformed into a blazing fighting spirit as she raced with all her might, beginning her pursuit of the Pegasus freely leading the way.
She, or Platinum—one of them would from now on embark on the path to invincibility!
"Platinum, our duel will become a legend etched into the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes."
"But the unbeatable one will be me—"
That radiant figure, those absolute footsteps, allowed Harbinger to effortlessly overtake Youmzain, the second favorite, beside her!
As Youmzain's pupils contracted—as if she had never anticipated Harbinger's acceleration and Zone to be so powerful—she was firmly left behind.
In an instant, even the second-place frontrunner was left far behind by Harbinger's pace.
Only then... did some Uma Musume, who knew Harbinger was strong but not to what extent, become utterly shocked.
"S-so fast! What acceleration and explosive power?!"
"This... besides Sea the Stars and Frankel, there's another unknown monster like this in Europe?"
"I knew she was strong, but I didn't expect her to be this strong."
"If she's this good, why hasn't she made a name for herself in other G1s before going all out here in the King George?"
"Ugh, is this really an opponent I can surpass?"
The sweating Uma Musume, Youmzain included!
She knew Harbinger was strong, but she never imagined... she could be this unbelievably powerful.
As a two-time runner-up in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Youmzain now had a sinking feeling, even in the slightly less prestigious King George.
Second place—was slipping away!!
Under the Silver Pegasus's unchecked lead and the meteor-like Harbinger's frantic pursuit, the other ten Uma Musume seemed thoroghly reduced to background characters.
On the vast course, not even halfway through the race, it seemed to have prematurely reached a [one-on-one] showdown!
--+--
After the second turn, marking roughly the halfway point of the race.
Thud—!
At the very front, those legs dug into the ground. Even on the famously soft yet demanding European turf, she tore through it effortlessly, sending grass and mud flying.
The freely galloping Silver Maiden, with her keen senses, could perceive everything around her even at full speed.
Someone was closing in!
That Zone was so powerful, blazing like a meteor—it was the first time Platinum had felt such startling intensity.
So this was... the super monster Harbinger that Galileo had warned about before the race, the one Sea the Stars was wary of?
'This trip was truly worth it!'
For so long, Platinum had almost never experienced the feeling of being caught up to.
Because historically, Uma Musume activated their Zones on the final straight. Even if stimulated by her runaway lead or come-from-behind tactics, that usually happened around the third turn.
Occasionally, a very few might activate their Zones earlier, but none dared go all out, fearing they'd fade. Those incomplete Zones were even more vulnerable before the Pegasus.
Plus, the vast gap in physical strength meant that even without activating her Zone, Platinum's maintained speed was no less than that of top Uma Musume using partial Zone skills.
But now!
At merely the halfway point, there was actually a Uma Musume—completely disregarding the risk of fading, willing to become a fleeting firework—activating her full Zone power so early, and accelerating with everything she had?!
Thus, the first Uma Musume to show she could chase, gritting her teeth as she closed the gap to within ten lengths of the Pegasus Platinum... was born!!
Even though... Platinum hadn't even begun to use her full Zone, let alone partial Zone skills or her Pegasus form.
That pursuit, that extreme pressure, conveyed a fighting spirit that reached Platinum's heart.
In terms of both strength and resolve, this was a top-tier opponent Platinum had never faced before! It stirred even her, an assassin, into a fighting mood.
"Let's settle this, Platinum!!!"
That roar, carried on the whistling wind, reached the silver-white girl's ears, making this Platinum couldn't help but curve her lips into a slight smile.
A breeze brushed over the quiver on Platinum's back—empty now, having already struck down every other Uma Musume on the field.
But now, for the first time after surpassing everyone, Platinum felt her fighting spirit ignited.
Good—
This was truly a worthy opponent, one who made her formally step onto the track for a real duel after those few G2 warm-ups.
"In that case, I'll start taking this seriously too!"
[Pegasus Form (Passive): Greatly increases power and acceleration, significantly enhances presence. Randomly seals opponents' skills based on presence disparity...]
[Pegasus Wings (Active): Spreads wings, slightly increases stamina consumption. During activation, moderately boosts explosive power and judges the average strength of all Uma Musume on the field...]
[Pegasian Sight(Passive): Slightly reduces own speed, moderately increases power and enhances stride frequency...]
[(Unexpended Wrath?): Slightly drains stamina from Uma Musume with weaker presence...]
[(Rapid Shooter): When no Uma Musume is ahead, slightly reduces...]
[(Knight Slayer): The more Uma Musume overtaken...]
[(Dawnlight): ...]
[(Pegasus Hoof): ...]
[(Overdrive Mode): ...]
[(Eternal Hunt): ...]
[(Blazing Dawn): ...]
That Silver Maiden, her waterfall-like hair and cape flowing behind her as she raced at high speed, suddenly shot even further ahead, leaving Harbinger's sight!
It was no longer just powerful strides against the ground—it was as if she was... skimming the surface in flight!
"Let me see if you're a [Firework] or a [Shooting Star]!!"
--+--
T/N: Nah bros spamming his ult
--+--
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.