[(Big Red Monster): Judges the average strength of all Uma Musume on the field. The greater their strength, the more her fighting spirit rises, the more stamina she recovers, and the faster her speed increases.]
[(Call Me Sovereign): When in a "serious" state, she becomes highly strategic about the race, significantly boosting her momentum and slightly enhancing the effects of all her Domain skills. During the latter half of the race, she recovers a small amount of stamina and gains a speed increase.]
[(Eternal Dominion): Moderately increases fighting spirit and slightly boosts speed. Can designate one target Uma Musume, judges the difference in their strength, and suppresses two of the target's Domain skills to a small, moderate, or large degree.]
[(Path of the King): When the race is in its first half…]
--+--
The Domain emanating from Man o' War already displayed what could be called peerless power, further accelerating her already incredibly swift footsteps.
Man o' War had made her choice: to accelerate even now!
Far, far from even the halfway point, she began her… [Second Acceleration]!
In Man o' War's view, one of the advantages she currently held was that her opponents didn't know her true strength and might not dare to stick close to her.
But there was one… one absolute and unique exception: The Radiant Knight, Nearl.
In that case, she would fully display an ultra-conventional acceleration never before seen in any of her past race recordings! She would fight it out with Nearl until the very end!
"Will the Pegasus choose to follow?"
Hailed as the strongest of the first generation, the Big Red Monster completely ignored the proud, pursuing Northern Dancer, her eyes fixed solely on Nearl as her rival.
She would prove with absolute power that she was worthy of the title 'strongest'.
[—All shall know, what true supremacy means!!]
And Man o' War's own Domain intensified step by step, climbing to its peak and easily sweeping across the entire field.
The other monsters on the track, Northern Dancer and Flightline, had already activated their own Domains, yet they were overwhelmingly suppressed by Man o' War's dominance!
The storm that once swept the American dirt tracks now covered the racecourse once more! The monster who once reigned supreme over all America seemed to be declaring her return!
In an instant, that crimson figure at the very front pulled further and further away, leaving the second-place runner far, far behind!
Third place: Secretariat, Northern Dancer.
These two Uma Musume were gradually forming a side-by-side, high-speed running formation, both along the inner path.
The smaller, more loli-like Uma Musume, Northern Dancer, narrowed her eyes as she accelerated, staring ahead with shock and disbelief.
As the national treasure of Canada, a Hall of Fame Uma Musume in both Canada and the United States, she never believed she was inferior to anyone.
In the past, she had lost, ultimately achieving the great feat of two crowns and one second place, because her focus had been locked on a single rival, allowing others to seize their chance.
She had been just one step away from that most difficult American Triple Crown!
This… was Northern Dancer's glory, and also the reason she couldn't let go, the burning desire to prove she was no less than any Triple Crown Uma Musume.
She, not a Triple Crown winner, wanted to defeat Triple Crown Uma Musume, just as the two-crown champion Man o' War had once defeated a Triple Crown winner one-on-one, just as Seabiscuit had also defeated a Triple Crown winner!
But the era Northern Dancer lived in didn't see the birth of a once-in-a-decade Triple Crown winner. She never got that chance, right up until her retirement.
But now, the Dream Cup was what Northern Dancer believed to be her best opportunity. Triple Crown Uma Musume were everywhere here! She even had the chance to challenge the strongest ones, Nearl and Man o' War herself.
Already brimming with fighting spirit, seeing Nearl and Man o' War on the same inner path activate their Domains right out of the gate and accelerate to lead, Northern Dancer could no longer restrain her burning passion.
She wanted to accelerate, to chase, to catch up.
But—!!
"So… so fast!"
"Man o' War… she actually dares to start her second acceleration… before even the first turn?"
"And Nearl… she's still managing to keep up without being left behind?"
Northern Dancer had already realized that even after activating her own Domain, barely managing to reach third place, seemingly finally closing the gap a bit with Nearl and Man o' War…
In the blink of an eye, her Domain was completely suppressed, and then Man o' War just left her in the dust!
One length!
Two lengths!
The first turn hadn't even arrived yet! Northern Dancer, who had accelerated early, was already being opened up on by such a massive gap, and it was still growing?!
But more shocking than being easily outpaced, what truly caused the great heart within Northern Dancer's petite frame to feel a sliver of dread was… Man o' War, that peerless beauty, was doing it all with such effortless ease, as if this second acceleration, this absolute domination and enhancement from her Domain, was merely testing the waters.
For other top-tier monsters, a second acceleration, even if not their full power, would still be a significant burden, making it impossible to maintain such composure.
And beside Man o' War, that golden-haired maiden knight who shared the lead… was still not being shaken off? She was running as if on a casual stroll!
This earth-shattering, horrifying scene was laid bare right before Northern Dancer's eyes.
Deeply shaken, the petite loli Uma Musume forced a smile uglier than crying.
So… is the gap between ordinary two-crown kings, Triple Crown kings, and The Radiant Knight Nearl, the first-generation Big Red Monster Man o' War, really this vast? It's like a fundamental difference in their very caliber.
If two-crown and Triple Crown Uma Musume are the kings who dominate their era, then Nearl and Man o' War, both peerless monsters firmly ranked as arguably the top two in dirt track history, are—[The King of Kings]!
"But… I still won't admit defeat! Nothing in a race is absolute!"
Her fighting spirit still burning, Northern Dancer gritted her silver teeth and chose to maintain her current acceleration, not adapting to the frantic pace set by Man o' War and Nearl by initiating her own second acceleration.
After all… this was a super-long 2400-meter grand race! The final straight was also somewhat short, favoring Uma Musume with excellent late speed.
As long as the gap opened by The Radiant Knight and the Big Red Monster wasn't too large, there was still a possibility of catching up in the latter half!
Around and behind Northern Dancer, most of the other Uma Musume, like Flightline, made the same choice.
"Bide my time, avoid the initial edge!"
At the very front, almost imperceptibly, what was originally Nearl and Man o' War neck-and-neck, with Secretariat and Northern Dancer extremely close, had completely evolved into…
—A one-on-one duel belonging solely to Nearl and Man o' War!!
--+--
[What an intense start, beyond everyone's expectations!]
[Even Secretariat, who displayed such talent leaving the gate, has already been left behind by Man o' War!]
[Nearl! Only Nearl has shown the resolve not to yield, accelerating head-on to keep pace!]
[This legendary showdown is being displayed here and now in its entirety. But… this might not be the struggle that decides the champion.]
[Because on the wide outside track, the strongest on turf is looking down on all sides, watching this duel on the inner path. The victor will become Platinum's hunting target!!]
Along with Eclipse's murmur, viewing it with her perspective as a mythical existence and the previous Dream Cup champion.
To the surprise of many spectators, even Platinum's most devoted Japanese fans, her appearance on the Dirt Dream stage was an unexpected delight.
In the eyes of Pegasus enthusiasts, Platinum was an Uma Musume with only two dirt track races under her belt—barely more experienced than a rookie—yet she was about to face twenty of the most legendary dirt track Uma Musume in history. The challenge was immense.
Thus, many Japanese fans and spectators secretly hoped… just making it into the top ten would be a success for Platinum!
But who could have imagined? The re-emerged Eclipse, a true mythic figure herself, would speak so highly of Platinum, declaring that the winner between Man o' War and Nearl would be the one to face Platinum?!
In an instant, Eclipse's commentary swept through the stands like a storm. Fans of Platinum from all over the world, gathered in those seats, broke into surprised and delighted smiles.
"Could it be… Miss Platinum actually has a chance?"
"To be rated so highly by Eclipse—and on a dirt track, no less??"
"It's unbelievable. I thought it would be tough enough for Miss Platinum just to place in the top ten, but in Eclipse's eyes, is she truly a contender for the championship?"
"Finally, we get to see Miss Platinum again. This must be her final race, right?! She must not only place, but also stand on the winner's podium!!"
Among the many Platinum fans, the Japanese locals reacted most intensely.
Even Satono Diamond, who had always trusted her idol Platinum implicitly, hadn't been confident that Platinum would definitely place.
In the past, for a long time, the expectation for Japanese Uma Musume competing overseas in G1 races, both among Japanese audiences and the athletes themselves, was often… placing was success! Or, placing was considered an excellent performance!
This mindset stemmed from Japanese Uma Musume's overseas campaigns decades ago. In some international G1 races, like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at the time, the rankings and times of Uma Musume finishing outside the top ten weren't even recorded.
In other words, failing to place in the top ten meant you basically didn't exist. Japanese fans couldn't even find the race results of their own Uma Musume who had ventured abroad.
Often, Japanese fans would only see a cold, impersonal line from the overseas racing authorities after the race:
Namely… Outside the top ten, not ranked!
Even Symboli Rudolf's senior family member, the strongest Uma Musume of that era, Speed Symboli, who had won the Arima Kinen and served as a former president of Tracen Academy, faced this.
After she ventured overseas, there were many times her results couldn't be found, or she was recorded finishing in double-digit positions.
Yet, upon returning to Japan, Speed Symboli would resume her winning streak, even securing another Arima Kinen victory!
One could say, the better Speed Symboli's domestic record was, the more it filled Japanese audiences with a sense of despair. After all, this was their strongest Uma Musume, yet she could barely even place in foreign races…
And now, Platinum, born a Japanese Uma Musume, a turf specialist with only two dirt races in her entire career, was being hailed as a definite [championship contender] by Eclipse, a figure from myth?!
This was something Satono Diamond wouldn't even have dared to dream of, yet Eclipse stated it with absolute certainty.
While the outside world was reeling from Eclipse's words, on the vast racecourse, in the innermost lane, an intensely fierce showdown was beginning!
--+--
The frenetic first half of the race was underway!
The tall, crimson figure and the dazzling golden knightly maiden moved in tandem, their forms intertwining.
Behind The Radiant Knight, Nearl, sacred, gleaming wings of light materialized. Her commanding presence, the unleashed second burst of her runaway speed...
It was a clear, outright challenge to every single Uma Musume on the field, including the greatest dirt track talents in history like Man o' War and Secretariat!
—"Can you keep up?"
—"Are you worthy? Perhaps not!"
In second place were Secretariat and Northern Dancer.
But Secretariat's gaze remained locked on the two figures nearly neck-and-neck far ahead, paying no mind to Northern Dancer beside her.
Platinum in the inner lane, instead of guarding against her, had chosen to directly confront Senior Man o' War, who was trying to build a lead with her runaway tactic?!
The brilliance of the direct duel between Man o' War and Nearl easily overshadowed all the other Uma Musume, turning this gathering of stars into their own private [one-on-one showdown]?!
In an instant!
A sense of latent intensity, rising into a palpable feeling of crisis, began to spread through Secretariat's body.
This scene sent the feeling of crisis skyrocketing in the hearts of the many G1 champion geniuses further back!!
"That's… that's some incredible acceleration!"
"They've both chosen a Great Escape, maintaining that insane pace is one thing, but… a second burst of speed?!"
"A decision has to be made. Do we follow their pace or not… The final stretch isn't long. We have to preserve enough stamina and finishing kick."
At this moment, Secretariat's mind wavered briefly, suddenly recalling the race from just half a month ago.
Back then, she, like Man o' War now, had chosen to challenge Nearl directly in a Great Escape duel.
But the result was… a crushing defeat by five lengths!
Now, ahead of her, not only was Nearl still there, but the original Big Red Monster, Man o' War herself, was locked in battle with her.
If Secretariat accelerated now to chase them, the intensity… would be far greater than in that previous Breeders' Cup Classic!
And Secretariat—she was no fool, no Uma Musume who just charged ahead without thinking.
Although she ignored Northern Dancer beside her, Secretariat suddenly remembered how Northern Dancer had lost her third crown!
It was precisely because the two "undisputed championship favorites" fought it out at the front, becoming too focused on their duel, expending too much energy, and were overtaken in the final stretch by an overlooked dark horse.
The Dream Cup's final stretch was deliberately set a bit short, inherently increasing the importance of a powerful late burst of speed.
And wasn't this now the perfect chance to replicate the scenario of Northern Dancer's defeat in that third crown race?!
In a flash of insight, Secretariat made her decision. She suppressed her burning desire to accelerate early and challenge Nearl again, and chose to maintain her current pace.
Not far behind Secretariat, the large group of super-talented girls qualified for the Dream Cup were certainly no ordinary opponents.
Many had already noticed that both Secretariat in the inner lane and Platinum in an outer lane were sticking close to the dueling Nearl and Man o' War, yet not attempting to overtake.
But… this was the Dream Cup! It gathered the absolute top talents from decades of dirt track racing.
There were still Uma Musume who chose to accelerate fully, hoping to seize the lead, like Northern Dancer and others.
However, even pushing almost to her limit, Northern Dancer found it impossible to close the gap on Nearl! Her face flushed red with disbelief!
In just the first half of the race, the situation had shifted as unpredictably as clouds in a storm, leaving countless spectators in the stands wide-eyed, unwilling to even blink for fear of missing a single moment.
Countless viewers were certain that this race would not only go down in history but would also become a textbook example of duels between all Uma Musume, destined to produce countless iconic scenes.
Without a doubt, this was... a legendary clash for the ages, a peak showdown no less epic than the Eclipse Dream Cup!
--+--
After the first turn, a short uphill stretch.
The golden-haired maiden knight, her crimson eyes blazing with a fighting spirit as intense and boiling as magma.
Beside her, the Man o' War, displaying such incredible speed and relentless acceleration that even Nearl couldn't help but take notice.
Since her showdown with Secretariat in the Breeders' Cup Classic, this was the first time Nearl had encountered an opponent worthy of her full strength!
She could keenly feel the sheer power emanating from her rival.
Truly, this was a Uma Musume who had lived up to the title of "Greatest in History" for many years!
"The legends about the Big Red Monster are indeed well-founded!"
"Excellent, a rival worth fighting."
On Margaret Nearl's exquisitely calm face, there was not a trace of smile or excitement, only... an intensely ignited will to fight.
A knight who chases victory shows no smile when craving triumph!
And then, Nearl's gaze was completely captured by the track ahead.
After the first turn, the course featured a specially designed, notably steep short uphill slope!
Racecourse slopes are usually long, designed to enhance the spectacle. Short slopes, however, are far less common.
The reason is simple: if it's a short slope, the incline has to be significant, or else why bother? Even top-tier Uma Musume could be affected, let alone ordinary ones a step below in skill.
And racecourses around the world rarely design tracks specifically for the spectacle of a single top-tier race.
Typically, a racecourse hosts everything from international GI grands prix down to OP-level races that aren't even graded stakes, and even lower-tier debut races by the dozens.
So, while a course might hold only a handful of top GI races a year, it could host thousands of mid- to low-level races.
Naturally, this makes challenging, steep short uphill slopes a relatively rare sight.
But the Dream Cup... doesn't care about any of that! It exists to let the monsters show their best, to crown the greatest dirt-track Uma Musume in history!
So, whether common or rare, long slopes or short, this race has it all!
Now, as Nearl approached the first turn, she faced a choice regarding the slope.
A slope of this intensity would not only drain stamina considerably but could also disrupt her rhythm.
The Man o' War at her side!
The short slope after the turn ahead!
A critical decision lay before Nearl.
Option one: maintain her current momentum, continue the protracted duel with Man o' War after ascending the slope.
This would ensure she conserved enough stamina to handle Secretariat later, or... that other self—[Pegasus Platinum]!
But if Platinum or another Uma Musume performed exceptionally well, and she expended too much energy against Man o' War, it could affect her final straight sprint.
Still, it was the safe choice—stable, almost guaranteeing a top-three finish, even securing second with a shot at first.
Option two: go all out right here, accelerate again, and settle the duel with Man o' War before the second half even began.
The sooner she surpassed Man o' War, the better her condition would be for the final stretch, making her fearless against any dark horses or assassins lying in wait, greatly increasing her chances of victory.
But if even accelerating couldn't overtake Man o' War, she'd be dragged into an exhausting battle of attrition. Then, forget winning—she might even fall out of the top two, just like that one runner-up Uma Musume who battled Northern Dancer to the brink.
If the first option was the epitome of steadiness—secure second, aim for first—
Then this second option was domineering and confident, practically a—[Victory or Death] choice! Either win it all, or fail to even make the top three and the victory stage!
Not a shred of hesitation remained!
In an instant, the golden-haired maiden made her decision.
As she entered the turn and approached the slope, Nearl's charging posture... actually accelerated further! Transforming into a leap that defied all, she boldly faced the slope with a presence that grew rather than diminished!
[First defeat the Big Red, then battle Platinum!]
--+--
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.