Just how powerful is Dream Weaver now?
So overwhelmingly powerful that even in this torrential downpour, in such abysmal conditions, she can blaze ahead in a front-running style, leaving everyone else in the dust.
First, there's the boost from her gear. The [Tidal Roar Badge] allows Dream Weaver to enhance her stamina to a certain degree in unfavorable conditions.
Naturally, as a spring event, the Satsuki Sho triggers the effect of [Proof of Spring and Autumn], further strengthening Dream Weaver's endurance.
Then, there are skill bonuses. The hidden skill [Tokyo Swift] grants Dream Weaver yet another stamina boost amidst the rain.
Under this triple reinforcement, although her stamina hadn't been pushed to its limit before, Dream Weaver—who had experienced unrestricted potential in the Northern Family's scenario—could keenly feel it.
At this moment, her stamina was undoubtedly no lower than A-rank.
This allowed her to unleash her speed even more recklessly, charging ahead at the front.
But beyond all these factors, Dream Weaver's inherent attributes were even more terrifying.
Because the majority of her skills and gear only truly shine when she's at a disadvantage. And in this scenario, Dream Weaver, who had just entered her first G1 race, clearly couldn't fully utilize the effects of the [Tidal Roar Badge] yet.
So, more than the support from her gear and skills, what truly allowed Dream Weaver to surpass these Triple Crown contenders, to leave Star Dancer bewildered in her resolve to reach greater heights, and to send the perpetually cynical Anthony into a furious rage—was her base attributes.
The [Super-Type Gravity Suit], the [Grim Reaper's Training Shoes], the [Victory Bandana]—three highly specialized training tools had been insanely boosting Dream Weaver's training efficiency over these past few months.
And even more outrageous was perhaps because she had once reached this level in her third scenario world, whenever she trained toward that goal again, Dream Weaver always found the knack faster.
Under such compounded effects, Dream Weaver's already followed perseverance and speed had been honed to a terrifyingly formidable level.
--+--
[Uma Musume Training System – Scenario Panel]
Character: Dream Weaver
Speed: S+ [Crown Tier] [Limit Broken]
Stamina: S+ [Crown Tier] → B [Elite Tier] [Locked] → A [Legendary Tier] [Post-Boost]
Power: B [Elite Tier] [Locked]
Guts: S+ [Crown Tier] [Limit Broken]
Wit: B [Elite Tier] [Locked]
Affinity: Turf A, Dirt C
Zone: [Cursed Blade]
Skills: Intuition (Purple), Nirvana (Purple), Kindling Flame(Purple), Pilgrimage of Pain (Blue)
[Hidden Skill: Tokyo Swift(Purple)]
--+--
This was Dream Weaver's current stature.
There was a time when Orfevre, hailed as possessing world-class physical talent, only had A-rank attributes during the Satsuki Sho.
Only after Dream Weaver pulled her out of her confusion did she fully unleash her innate gifts, achieving S-rank by the time of the Japanese Derby.
And now, Dream Weaver's speed was even a small tier higher than Orfevre's at that Japanese Derby.
So, in this Satsuki Sho—no, in this entire generation—there was no Uma Musume faster than her.
Not to mention her Cursed Blade Zone. Forged through numerous clashes with powerful rivals and tempered under extreme pressure, this Zone was far from its initial state—which merely imposed a threatening presence and, even when fully unleashed, only drained stamina.
In her last battle with Narita Brian in the scenario world, Dream Weaver could already draw the cursed blade multiple times, striking at her opponent again and again.
This was not a level reachable upon just entering a Zone. Although it still lacked a proper name, Dream Weaver's Zone now far surpassed its state when it first awakened.
Faced with this, how could Star Dancer—who hadn't even managed an initial Zone awakening yet—possibly withstand it?
She couldn't even force Dream Weaver to draw the blade once before being utterly broken, her fighting spirit shattered by a mere wisp of sharpness seeping from the sheath.
With a gap as vast as an insurmountable chasm, neither the Triple Crown contenders from other regions nor the meticulously groomed European prodigies had any answer for Dream Weaver.
Just as Anthony had furiously reasoned earlier.
Dream Weaver and they were no longer Uma Musume of the same caliber.
And for such a Dream Weaver, victory was assured from the moment she set foot on the Nakayama Racecourse.
When that blinding crimson light tore through the rain curtain and crossed the finish line, and her name flashed across the giant screen, the entire Nakayama Racecourse was filled with a roaring, tsunami-like wave of cheers.
Even the gloomy sky seemed on the verge of being torn asunder, with a few golden beams of light piercing through the dark clouds.
In this world where everyone believed the European racing industry's training system was inherently superior, where pursuing the Triple Crown meant first embracing Europe's methods—
Even the legendary Uma Musume Shinzan, who had won the Triple Crown three consecutive times, had shown exceptional talent from a young age and trained in Europe for years before returning to claim her crowns.
Europe's arrogance was well-known, yet they undeniably possessed the world's most advanced training system.
So, no matter how much resentment simmered within, to secure honors for their own Uma Musume, one had to swallow their pride and bury those feelings deep.
Though no one voiced this thought openly, a shared notion quietly sprouted in the public's subconscious:
What if… what if an Uma Musume could seize the Triple Crown without relying on Europe's system?
Then, would those aloof, arrogant figures finally lower their proud heads and admit defeat?
Under years of such pressure, this idea grew like wild grass in the public's heart, waiting only for a single spark to ignite a prairie fire.
Remember, Triple Crown contenders were already the strongest Uma Musume each region could produce under the shadow of Europe's dominance.
Trained within the European system, each was destined to become the strongest in their own region.
Yet Dream Weaver had left them all far behind with a terrifying margin.
Did this mean she held the hope of surpassing the European system, of shattering these chains?
So, naturally, she became that spark, igniting the blazing fire in people's hearts.
Amidst the jubilant stands, many recalled the reports they had seen months ago—her first appearance in the public eye.
Gazing at the crimson figure on the track, thinking of the words Dream Weaver had spoken during the trials, they unconsciously tightened their fists.
The two commentators, stunned into speechlessness by Dream Weaver's performance, finally regained their composure.
They took a deep breath, chests heaving, struggling to calm their racing hearts.
Then, gripping their microphones tightly, they let their voices resound throughout Nakayama Racecourse.
"The winner of this year's Satsuki Sho is—"
"Contestant number eighteen, Dream Weaver!"
--+--
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.