Star Dancer took a deep breath. Somehow, ever since entering the starting gate, she had felt an inexplicable pressure weighing on her.
It even seemed to shake the focus she had just managed to find, but thankfully, she steadied herself quickly.
"Guess I'm still nervous…"
Star Dancer murmured to herself.
And that was only natural. After all, winning this Satsuki Sho would propel her into the heart of the European circuit, putting her in direct competition with the continent's true prodigies.
Under such circumstances, not feeling nervous would be the strange thing.
"It's fine, it's fine…"
"I've memorized all the data on the Triple Crown contenders. Even that Mr. C.B., who stepped outside the usual training system, poses no threat."
"I can win this."
"I… will win this!"
Taking several more deep breaths, Star Dancer felt the pressure in her chest ease slightly.
Her gaze was locked on the starting gate before her, peering through its narrow slits at the emerald-green turf track beyond.
Every tactic, every running style the Triple Crown hopefuls might employ flashed through her mind—one by one, the flawed strategies were discarded.
Until finally, a flawless, perfect path to victory slowly began to crystallize in Star Dancer's thoughts.
Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.
Her heartbeat suddenly accelerated, like a furnace roaring to life, surging heat flooding through her veins to every limb.
Every muscle in Star Dancer's body tensed instantly, the instincts carved into her very bones through countless training sessions now fully awakening.
The perfect route. The perfect condition. Star Dancer had pushed herself to her absolute limit. She believed that even now, facing those European core prodigies, she could put up a fight.
"Come on! Let this victory in the Satsuki Sho become the stepping stone to climb higher!"
BANG!
The moment that thought solidified, the starting gates burst open!
Eighteen surges of energy cut through the air like blades, a roaring wave of sound instantly sweeping across the course, tearing apart even the curtain of pouring rain.
For an instant, the world seemed to freeze—only those sprinting figures became the sole protagonists under this sky!
Star Dancer charged to the front, paying no attention to the other Uma Musume. Right now, she was completely immersed in her own world.
The Satsuki Sho was only two thousand meters, with a final stretch of a mere three hundred and ten meters—far too short for a true come-from-behind strategy.
What she needed to do was break free from the pack the instant the gates flew open, securing a forward position.
That way, she wouldn't get boxed in later in the race, and she could start her final sprint earlier, aiming straight for the homestretch.
The most crucial part of this strategy was the start. But Star Dancer had long since committed the habits of most Uma Musume to memory, easily finding the perfect breakout path!
'I should be in the lead now. This position is too risky. Since I've broken free from the pack, there's no need to draw unnecessary attention.'
'Reduce speed appropriately, conserve stamina, then accelerate just before the final stretch!'
In a flash, Star Dancer had decided on her next move. But after slowing slightly and waiting a few moments, she still didn't see anyone catching up from behind.
This anomaly made her frown.
Aside from that Uma Musume who had declined the European invitation and herself, every other runner here was Triple Crown contender level.
Uma Musume of that caliber… how could they lack the courage to fight for the lead?
Something strange was happening; there must be something on the track she hadn't noticed!
Star Dancer's mind raced frantically, trying to deduce why the others weren't charging forward.
But neither the rainy weather nor the tricky track conditions could explain it. The more she thought, the more uneasy she became.
Anomalies on the track always had a reason. If she couldn't find it, it could only mean this anomaly was beyond her imagination!
Anomalies brought variables. Variables changed outcomes.
Under the growing unease, Star Dancer's carefully laid plans were shaken, on the verge of crumbling.
Pressing her lips together, Star Dancer lowered her head and kept running with all her might.
If she couldn't find that so-called anomaly, then she'd let her strength do the talking!
She forced down the disquiet in her heart and pushed on. And just then, a flicker of eerie crimson light swept past the corner of her eye.
It seemed to come from the other side of the track. There was still a curve ahead of her, so that red light could only be coming from outside the course.
Infrared? Lights? Countless explanations flooded Star Dancer's mind. She had every reason to convince herself.
But she couldn't deceive her own heart. She couldn't deceive an Uma Musume's instinct on the track.
So, she turned her head.
She shifted her gaze toward that crimson light.
In that instant, only three words remained in Star Dancer's mind.
Impossible!
Impossible!
Impossible!!
How could any Uma Musume be that fast? They were all from the same generation, they'd all trained for the same amount of time. How could someone develop that kind of speed in this timeframe?!
It doesn't make sense! According to the data analyzed by the trainers, this kind of power shouldn't exist at this level!
Did another Triple Crown winner enter the race?!
That was the first explanation Star Dancer thought of, but she dismissed it the next second.
No, impossible. She had memorized every opponent in this Satsuki Sho. There were no Uma Musume from other generations here!
But that red light! What in the world was that ominous crimson glow?!
Every Uma Musume here was a Triple Crown contender, the finest, most rigorously honed prodigies from their respective regions, handpicked from tens of thousands. Even Star Dancer, born in Europe, was the top genius of her Tracen Academy.
How could anyone in this world be faster than us?!
The sheer, overwhelming shock nearly crushed Star Dancer's spirit. She almost lost her stride.
But at that very moment, the iron will forged through years of brutal, competitive training in the European camp steadied her.
She couldn't lose. Having entered this Satsuki Sho, determined to use this glory to ascend to a higher tier, she had forfeited the right to fail.
No matter how physically superior her opponent might be, that was absolutely no excuse for cowardice or retreat!
She had to accelerate. She had to catch up!
Her own honor, her family's honor—everything was riding on this race!
Disregarding stamina consumption, Star Dancer unleashed another burst of formidable power in an instant. She was treating this moment as the final sprint.
Under this ferocious surge, she almost left the other Uma Musume behind her, and that crimson light finally moved from the periphery of her vision back to the very center.
Her heart hammered, her muscles screamed, but Star Dancer gritted her teeth, charging forward desperately, trying to close the gap with that red light.
But just as she pushed nearly all her remaining stamina to draw near that crimson glow, a terrifying, awe-inspiring pressure suddenly slammed into Star Dancer.
By her ear, she heard a sound like a blade being drawn from its scabbard—a sharp, resonant hum.
"Zone?!!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 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.