The champion of the first Dream Cup, an ancient myth from a century ago, is here in person at the racetrack!
As Eclipse's words fell, this news effortlessly transcended all languages and reached every nation.
Even many ordinary people who knew little about or paid no attention to Uma Musume races heard it in an extremely short time.
After all, the widely spread saying, "Eclipse First, The Rest Nowhere," was originally born as a famous phrase praising Eclipse's own power.
And now, the very first myth among Uma Musume, the one endlessly sung as the "Strongest Uma Musume in History" throughout the long years, was appearing before everyone's eyes at this very moment!
How was this any different from a myth becoming reality? It was even more unbelievable than King Arthur being a woman, or the existence of Fuyuki City in Japan with its frequent high-intensity gas leaks.
This was straight-up myth replaying itself!
Just that single line of self-introduction from Eclipse had already surpassed any thousand words from a top-tier Uma Musume.
The aftershock it generated far surpassed even that of the world's once-greatest race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Up in the stands, after a good long moment of silence, once the audience collectively processed it, the place erupted into utterly boiling bedlam!
Eclipse! It's the Eclipse who eclipsed all other Uma Musume!!
"Eclipse!! Eclipse!! I always believed you existed!"
"The legendary Eclipse… and she's the commentator for this? Truly an unprecedented, super-sized spectacle."
"This is too lucky. Not only do we get to witness the birth of the strongest dirt track Uma Musume in this Dream Cup, we even get to see the legendary Eclipse."
"Eclipse, and Platinum, who surpassed Eclipse, both in the same frame… What kind of dream am I having?"
"The winner of the first Dream Cup is commentating on the second Dream Cup?! Unexpected, yet it makes perfect sense!"
From the stands, from the most casual Uma Musume fans to the professional ones like Frankel, Ruffian, Sea the Stars, and Sham—all were wide-eyed and stunned, uttering their own utterly suppressed gasps of amazement.
Then, in the next moment, suddenly, the charming black-haired young lady from the Sea family, Galileo, gently stroked her chin as if she'd thought of something.
"Wait, then the winner of this second Dream Cup…"
"Could it be that in the future, just like Eclipse, they'll become the commentator for the third Dream Cup, appearing before everyone once again?"
The highly imaginative Galileo mused to herself, and her words undoubtedly reached the ears of the other Sea family girls around her.
First was Sea the Stars, her pupils contracting sharply.
"Looking at the pattern—first was turf, second alternated to dirt—if they really hold a third Dream Cup in the future, it should switch back to turf, right?"
"If Big Sister's guess is correct… then when the time comes… could it be Nearl or Man o' War standing at the commentary box of a future Dream Cup, commentating on my race?"
For Sea the Stars, the peerless mid-distance hegemon, if the next Dream Cup were on turf, her place among the [Turf TOP20] of decades past was an indisputable fact.
If it were held, she would undoubtedly be a strong contender for the next Dream Cup, competing against seniors like Brave Dancer and Seabird, as well as the Pegasus Platinum.
But the prerequisite… was that a third Dream Cup actually had to exist.
"But it's still early. Who can say for sure about the future?"
"Between this first Dream Cup and the second, over a hundred years passed."
Then, a trace of fear, incredibly rare for her, flashed in Sea the Stars' eyes.
Yes, even when facing the Pegasus Platinum at her peak and suffering an unprecedented, crushing defeat in the end, Sea the Stars had never felt fear. But now, this feeling emerged.
The reason was simple: the gap between the first two Dream Cups was just far too long.
After Eclipse, and before the older generation legends like Seabird, Dancing Brace, and Ribot—who were a notch older than Platinum and Sea the Stars—there was a gap of several decades, even over a century.
Remember, while Uma Musume differ from humans in physical attributes and appearance, their lifespans aren't much different. They can't all live those triple-digit long lives.
Therefore, there must have been Uma Musume capable of ranking in the historical TOP20 who, before this, had already lived out their lives and passed away!
The Dream Cup gathers the outstanding historical figures still among the living, regardless of age or physical condition, allowing them to briefly return to their peak. It doesn't summon the departed back from the river of time!
In other words, if the gap before the third Dream Cup is the same as before the second… Sea the Stars definitely wouldn't live to see it.
To have the achievements and the strength, but not the lifespan… was it all for nothing?
Wouldn't that be like holding a winning lottery ticket, but the only place to redeem it was closed, making it impossible to claim the prize?
The mere thought of such a possibility, and one with no small chance, sent a wave of panic through the usually lazy and confident Sea the Stars.
"Hah… I can only hope the third Dream Cup opens within my lifetime!"
Sea the Stars clenched her silver teeth, whispering softly to herself.
Under her gaze, the spectral figure of the maiden Eclipse continued, raising her voice in an ethereal yet authoritative song.
[Contestant Number One, Margaret Nearl!]
[Praised as The Radiant Knight, Nearl is skilled in all running styles and a favorite to win. She has drawn gate number one.]
[The strongest active racer, a prodigy ranked among the best in history, just one step away from becoming the strongest in dirt track history.]
[Let us wait and see the shining demeanor of the Dirt Pegasus!]
As Eclipse's voice faded, the scene on the live large screen abruptly switched.
Suddenly, there she was: the golden-haired maiden knight, clad in her victory outfit, bearing her most iconic sword-spear, stepping forward.
It was the Pegasus Nearl, who showed no fear even when facing the many famed senior Uma Musume of the past!
And now, this was the battle that would completely prove she surpassed all other dirt track Uma Musume!
Or perhaps one could say… her ascension to godhood!
"Since this is the final battle… I absolutely cannot lose!"
--+--
[Contestant Number Two, Northern Dancer.]
[A rare double Hall of Fame genius, Canada's national treasure, the overlord who seized two crowns and one second place in the American Triple Crown.]
[Her heroic grace finally reappears before Canada, and indeed, the world.]
In one section of the audience sat a group of Canadians.
Most of these Canadian spectators were middle-aged men and women. They watched the large screen's close-up of the familiar Northern Dancer, as dashing, majestic, and constant as ever.
The development of the Uma Musume world in Canada wasn't particularly strong, lagging far behind first-tier countries like England, Ireland, and the United States.
Heck, even second-tier Japan was constantly developing and improving, while the Canadian Uma Musume scene remained stagnant. There were very few Canadian Uma Musume who could make a name for themselves on the world stage.
Northern Dancer was someone even the proud and exclusive American Uma Musume world acknowledged as great, inducting this outsider who snatched two Triple Crown wins and a place into their Hall of Fame.
One could say, crowned as Canada's national treasure, she was without a drop of moisture. She was the ultimate glory supported and cheered by the entire nation, just like Platinum's status in Japan!
Every single Uma Musume in the Dream Cup had carved their own legendary feats into history, earning their qualification for this battle!
--+--
[Contestant Number Three, Man o' War.]
[The Triple Crown winner who defeated another Triple Crown winner! The original Big Red Monster!]
[For her, reclaiming the title of strongest in history and solidifying her own myth also hinges solely on this battle!]
Eclipse's introductions didn't follow the usual order based on popularity, as in conventional races.
The specific order was… by the drawn gate number, from the innermost outwards. Gate number one, the innermost lane, was The Radiant Knight Nearl! Now it was the turn for the occupant of gate number three, Man o' War.
And this time, just as Eclipse's soaring announcement began, merely upon uttering that name—
Instantly, countless spectators from different countries around the world erupted with a fervor so passionate it immediately far surpassed that for Northern Dancer.
"Man o' War!! Man o' War!! Man o' War!!"
"The original Big Red, prove that 'The older, the stronger' saying right! You must be stronger than the second Big Red, the third Big Red, and the Pegasus!"
"I-It's Man o' War!! I've seen her in history textbooks so often, watched her early race recordings countless times… and now I finally get to see her peak performance live!"
"Finally, we get to see you, the legendary Man o' War!"
After all, Northern Dancer was the glory of Canada, with some fame in the US.
But Man o' War… She was the glory of the entire dirt track Uma Musume world! Before Secretariat and Nearl showed their results, she was the undisputed strongest, a peerless powerhouse known even to turf enthusiasts.
Under the gaze of the entire world, the large screen abruptly switched to the dedicated camera shot of another entering Uma Musume.
It was yet another stunning beauty with a hot figure, sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, radiating an aura of domineering strength. Her crimson red hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her deep red victory outfit swayed slightly as she walked with an air of casual confidence.
Man o' War, the original Big Red Monster, had arrived! Like Nearl, she stood as one of the top contenders in history, a favorite to win the Dream Cup!
"Finally… the time has come."
The tall, majestic crimson beauty's eyes were cold and sharp as lightning. She drew closer and closer to her inner gate.
The momentum steadily rising within Man o' War's heart had already surpassed the level of domination exerted by a so-called world-class Uma Musume. And this was merely her warming up, adjusting and entering her zone before the race.
In terms of track record, in terms of pure strength, Man o' War was utterly worthy of being a Dream Cup favorite.
Man o' War had long dominated the tracks of the past, defeating Triple Crown-winning Uma Musume. After her one-on-one victories in earlier days, she had even issued challenges to other historical-grade champions, forcing them to shy away and avoid the confrontation.
Thus, retiring undefeated yet lacking worthy rivals, Man o' War retired with regret.
She regretted that there were too few opponents, she regretted that her opponents were too weak.
But now, the regrets of her early retirement were utterly washed away.
In this era, the elite dirt specialists remembered by history—even the Pegasus Platinum, the strongest dual-surface specialist—would have their chance to face her!
"Having tasted a lifetime of glory…"
"At last, the moment has arrived—a showdown with the new generation, the ultimate test to prove who is the strongest!"
The next moment, as Man o' War stepped into the starting gate, her gaze swept across the surrounding track.
Unnoticed, the number of Uma Musume introduced by the commentator Eclipse had already surpassed twenty.
--+--
Until the final participant.
As if the grand finale, this last introduced Uma Musume closing the procession didn't have a dirt track record as shockingly formidable as Number One Nearl or Number Three Man o' War.
[Welcome, Contestant Number Twenty-Two, Platinum.]
[Hailed as the Pegasus… one could even say, the true Pegasus—Platinum! A peerless prodigy who qualified for the Dream Cup in the fewest races.]
[Dirt record: two races, two wins!]
The grand finale, the last hurried entry—Platinum—took her calm, measured steps.
The blazing cheers erupting for her actually rivaled those for the top favorite Number One Nearl and the favorite Number Three Man o' War!
On paper, the most outstanding records belonged to Nearl and Man o' War, followed closely by Secretariat—they were the "Big Three of Dirt" based on achievements, undeniably the top favorites.
But in popularity, Platinum, who was essentially racing on foreign ground, actually surpassed Secretariat slightly, matching even Nearl and Man o' War in the Dream Cup dirt race!
"Platinum!! Platinum!! You must be the strongest on dirt too!"
"Finally, I get to see the legendary turf Pegasus. Let me see what the 'Dual-Surface GOAT' is really made of."
"Miss Platinum!! Miss Platinum!! I wanna be your dog!!!"
"I took days off work, flew all the way from Japan just to see Miss Platinum's final race live—can't miss the Dream Cup!"
The shouts from Platinum's fans were voiced in an astonishing variety of languages.
Japanese and English made up the bulk, but there was also French and various other tongues, proof enough of Platinum's unprecedented global fan reach!
Even within English, differences existed—the supportive shouts mixed both American and British English.
Clearly, this stemmed from her past conquests: winning over picky British audiences during the Epsom Derby and the King George VI Stakes, and stunning American crowds with her Breeders' Cup double.
Platinum's past battles and efforts were now being repaid in part by the fervent support of her fans!
Yet this Platinum, with her exceptionally sharp hearing and vision, paid little attention to the sacred track of the Dream Cup, nor did she glance toward the countless fans. Instead… much like Man o' War, she was focused on the track ahead.
The sharp assassin wasn't being lazy or careless!
For this Dream Cup, since Belmont Park had been temporarily upgraded from its original foundation, it was no surprise that even the track itself had changed.
Many Uma Musume had anticipated this possibility, seeing it as an expected feature of the event.
After all, the Dream Cup's greatest characteristic was Fairness! To create the most equitable environment possible for all the top-tier super Uma Musume, thereby crowning the most exceptional winner.
If they had simply copied Belmont Park directly, imbalances would inevitably arise, putting some Uma Musume at a disadvantage.
For instance, the favorite, the original Big Red Monster Man o' War, like Northern Dancer, was a Dual Classic Winner.
The difference was, Man o' War didn't lose the third leg; she outright abandoned the challenge for the third crown.
Transportation infrastructure back then was far inferior to now. For Uma Musume from very early eras, international travel was nearly impossible, so foreign campaigns didn't exist.
In a large country like the U.S., with early transportation difficulties, just crossing state lines could involve factors like acclimatization.
Amid these intertwined factors, persuaded by her team and family, Man o' War gave up the challenge for one of the American Triple Crown races, thus remaining a Dual Classic winner.
Similar cases existed among Dream Cup participants—those from earlier eras completely unfamiliar with Belmont Park. They were certainly present, and not just one or two—an inevitable consequence of their time.
In contrast, Secretariat and Nearl were active racers who had both competed multiple times at Belmont Park; their extensive experience went without saying.
If Nearl or Secretariat won, but without a massive, commanding lead, there would likely be murmurs suggesting the retired legends lost due to disadvantages like total unfamiliarity with the track…
For fairness, to ensure the winner received absolute, deserved glory, and to select the most outstanding, most worthy successor—even temporarily changing the track layout made perfect sense!
"2400 meters, outermost gate."
The silver-haired maiden, carrying her longbow, strolled to the starting gate. Her gaze, cold and sharp as an arrow, decisively scanned the vast track, missing not a single detail.
"Short uphill after the first turn."
"Long uphill after the third turn, followed by a long downhill before the fourth turn?!"
"The final sprint stretch… slightly short."
Platinum then lowered her head, stamping the turf inside the gate with considerable force.
Instantly, her expression remained calm, almost freezing, revealing a will to win devoid of any smile.
Platinum was already certain—
The outermost gate wasn't always a bad thing.
'Then, bring it on!'
The outermost gate, drawing gate number 22, Platinum entered last as the finale… which also signaled the start of the Dream Cup's final countdown.
[10!]
[9!]
[8!]
--+--
Inside the various starting gates.
The twenty-plus Uma Musume had collectively shifted their focus from the track conditions, looking ahead, listening to the countdown.
Man o' War, returning to the track after a long absence, let out a long, deep breath; her strong heart remained remarkably calm even now.
She had thought that after years in retirement, she'd merely be a symbol of a bygone era, watching Secretariat replace her.
But now, on the dirt, monsters that stirred her excitement had emerged—not just Secretariat, but also Nearl and Platinum!
Even the chance to reclaim the [GOAT] title, to rival Eclipse or the turf Pegasus Platinum herself, was right before her.
This stunning beauty with a fiery figure, sharp eyebrows, heroic eyes, and peerless majesty listened to the final countdown with a dominating demeanor.
"The Dream Cup, a one-time chance to clash."
"Come at me, Big Red and Pegasuses!!"
[7!]
[6!]
[5!]
--+--
Uma Musume name: Secretariat.
Original name: Big Red.
Tall and fiercely competitive, she would chase revenge even after defeat—a lone, proud hunter!
[3!]
'Half a month ago, I just lost to Nearl at the Breeders' Cup.'
The final countdown made Secretariat's heart race, her focus locking onto the innermost gate position.
The Radiant Knight Nearl—the most formidable opponent in her eyes!
'This time, not only a chance for revenge, but to prove myself to Senior Man o' War!'
[2!]
[1!]
Instantly, the entire field burst forth together.
The initial momentum far exceeded outside expectations; the vast majority of the Uma Musume displayed exceptionally sharp starts.
After all, the so-called once-in-a-decade historical-grade Uma Musume… were all gathered here in this race, including legendary monsters like Man o' War and Nearl who defied conventional standards!
Under that immense pressure, Secretariat, positioned at gate six—relatively close to the inside among the twenty-two contestants—also displayed a flawless start and acceleration.
Even during the gate countdown, the cold, proud Big Red Monster had decided she couldn't afford to cede any potential advantage; even if she couldn't gain one, she absolutely couldn't start at a disadvantage.
In the past, after being bumped by the Uma Musume in the next gate in her debut race, and confident she could win regardless, she had often habitually taken a cautious, slightly slower start.
But this was the Dream Cup!
Inside her were Nearl and Man o' War; outside, Platinum was watching like a hawk.
With these three as rivals, Secretariat wasn't arrogant enough to think she could beat them while giving them a head start.
Such a thing… probably not even Eclipse, the temporary commentator, if she returned to her peak, could manage—recovering from a slow start against peak-condition Nearl, Platinum, and Man o' War would be nearly impossible.
So, not a single mistake could be made. Only by delivering the most flawless performance could she seize the chance to win! Secretariat firmly believed this!
"Then bring it on, a showdown of titans!"
"Huu…"
The tall crimson girl stood like an unshakable mountain, her breathing deep and steady, her expression imposing.
Secretariat, her brilliant red figure peerless and proud, burst from the starting gate, flying freely—a perfect, overwhelmingly powerful start!
The moment the gates flew open, the entire race immediately entered an unusual and peculiar phase. Most of the Uma Musume collectively froze in astonishment because of one particular racer's start.
But—!
What was happening now?
The stunned gasps filling the venue weren't for Secretariat, who had achieved a perfect start, but for… another equally tall, majestic Empress clad in a crimson robe.
The original Big Red Monster, Man o' War!
That Man o' War, who had also completed her setup, was accelerating with such ferocity it reached an utterly unbelievable level.
--+--
[Domain: Deploy!!]
[Passive: When Domain is active, moderately increases momentum intensity, slightly reduces effectiveness of opponent's skill suppression, and improves Mile and Middle Distance aptitude.]
[(The Strong Get Stronger): During the initial break, briefly increases explosiveness and slightly boosts acceleration. When obtaining the lead position, additionally slightly increases power.]
--+--
That supremely dominant super-powerhouse was activating her Domain the instant the gates opened!
It wasn't about going all out immediately; it was to seize the inside lead for a front-running escape, deploying a special and powerful break-start skill!
Both her supremely confident break and her Domain activation combined to create an astonishingly effective start for Man o' War, one that even managed to shake off Secretariat, who had a near-perfect break!
This game of "senior and junior" needed to end.
If Secretariat wasn't a match for Nearl, then she would take matters into her own hands!
"Might as well do it myself!"
Since she could display her prime, peak condition here in the Dream Cup, it was time to prove to the whole world just what her true strength was!
"2400 meters, inside gate number three—the advantage is mine!"
To the outside world, an Uma Musume from an older era like Man o' War, having been away from racing for so long, might seem at a slight disadvantage.
That was precisely why the Three Goddesses had given a full 14 days of preparation time before this Dream Cup. Some even thought these two weeks might be a bit short.
But in Man o' War's eyes, she actually held a certain advantage.
The reason was simple: precisely because her era was long past, detailed and accurate data on her was extremely scarce.
Even if some data existed, factors like the different times and the evolution of modern track conditions made its accuracy very low.
Conversely, in this modern, high-information age of technology, for the top-tier Uma Musume, even their latest, most detailed training data could probably be found.
Faced with a choice between familiar monsters and an unfamiliar senior, racers like Flightline would definitely prioritize marking the ones they knew better—Secretariat, Nearl, and the others!
By the same logic, Nearl should also choose to mark the highly threatening Secretariat and the outside-track Pegasus, Platinum.
It wasn't that Man o' War wasn't strong enough, but because she was a complete unknown, most Uma Musume would instinctively focus their attention on other equally outstanding rivals.
So, Man o' War would seize this advantage, starting her front-running escape right from the break!
In an instant, Man o' War flashed a wildly confident, arrogant smile. Her steps were swift and fierce, almost immediately creating a gap with the entire field, accelerating at the very front along the innermost track.
[It's happening! It's happening!]
[Right in the break phase, Man o' War's Domain is already deployed! She's seizing the lead position!]
[But—! In the very next instant, no coincidence, another Domain is rising.]
[From The Radiant Knight, Nearl, a Domain unfolds, equally fearless.]
[Nearl from gate one, Man o' War from gate three—they are advancing neck and neck, surpassing the other Uma Musume as they accelerate!]
The voice of the commentator, Eclipse, rang out.
The attention of the international fans in the audience was drawn to the inside track, watching the initial clash between the two super-monsters from the inner gates one and three.
It was a breathtaking sight!
The crimson, majestic, and domineering presence, vast as a mountain range, came from Man o' War charging under her Domain. The golden, sacred, and absolutely dazzling radiance, pure as a deity, belonged solely to The Radiant Knight Nearl spreading her wings in flight.
--+--
[Pegasus Form (Passive): Moderately increases Short Distance, Mile, Middle Distance, and Long Distance aptitude. Moderately increases power and acceleration, greatly increases…]
[Pegasus Form (Wings of Light): Deploy Light Wings to set sail. Moderately increases Turf and Dirt aptitude, slightly increases stamina consumption, and assesses the average strength of all Uma Musume on the field. When the average strength is higher…]
--+--
From Nearl's back, a pair of brilliant, sacred light wings had unfurled!
For the first time in so long, Nearl was activating her Light Wings right from the start of a race.
No, in Nearl's view, even this wasn't enough!
The Dream Cup gathered the most top-tier monsters from decades of Dirt racing. Without a doubt, this race would definitively crown the strongest.
So, these opponents were the strongest rivals she could possibly face on dirt. There couldn't be a more spectacular, more worthy lineup of Uma Musume.
On paper, this was 2400 meters, the distance closest to the nightmare of long distance, testing both endurance and explosiveness. A front-running escape might not seem the wisest choice here.
Secretariat was right nearby in the sixth inner gate, and Platinum was out wide, unpredictable and hard to mark. Choosing to seriously challenge Man o' War now might seem unwise and risky.
But… it was the most confident stance, the regal posture of holding nothing back!
Her magnificent Domain activated instantly, meeting the domineering Man o' War head-on, without a shred of retreat!
--+--
[Domain(Flaming Sun's Obeisance): Activate]
[Domain duration is infinite, greatly reduces Domain stamina consumption, moderately increases power…]
[Injuries sustained while racing, by oneself or opponents under Domain influence, are reduced by one level. During Domain activation, Domain skills and acceleration are slightly…]
--+--
Following the unfurling of her Wings of Light, Nearl also activated her perpetual Domain, Flaming Sun's Obeisance.
She wasn't the only one flying forward now!
In the blink of an eye, Nearl's relentless strides carried her forward, making her the only one to reach Man o' War's side.
--+--
Outer position, dirt track.
The silver-white girl, carrying her signature longbow on her back, moved with a leisurely, calm grace, her expression utterly composed.
Platinum, in her rightful place, had returned to the trailing hunting style most suited for an assassin.
Amused, her gaze remained firmly locked on the inside track.
"Hmph, trying to run away?!"
Arrows were loaded to maximum capacity in her quiver.
Out of the twenty-two Uma Musume on the field, excluding herself, the number of arrows gathered in her quiver was…
—Twenty!
"Let the execution begin!"
--+--
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.