There are some things that students simply shouldn't know.
Because of the virtual immersion devices and elixirs provided previously, Liberty Island and Hishi Miracle held absolute faith in Agnes Tachyon's capabilities.
They took it for granted, without a shred of doubt, that their teacher, Dream Weaver, had truly returned to her prime through the power of science.
But Sugar Lights, a scientist herself, wasn't so easily deceived.
The fundamental principle of any enhancement drug is usually to stimulate the body's latent vitality.
For young Uma Musume like Hishi Miracle and Liberty Island, who possessed infinite potential, such stimulants were beneficial and harmless.
But what about Dream Weaver? After a lifetime of war on the turf, her body was likely riddled with hidden injuries rather than untapped potential. At the end of the day, she was no longer a young girl.
Time cannot flow backward, and no medicine can restore a peak state without exacting a price.
The cost of dragging Dream Weaver back to her zenith could never be limited to the fleeting sting of a needle.
Sugar Lights knew Agnes Tachyon was hiding something, but Tachyon would only deflect, answering time and again with vague talk of "possibilities."
Standing in the tunnel, Dream Weaver tied her red ribbon. She had performed this movement countless times; it was as fluid and natural as breathing.
"System, open status window," Dream Weaver murmured in her mind. With a flick of her thoughts, a translucent blue screen shimmered into existence before her.
--+--
[Uma Musume Training System — Scenario Panel]
Character: Dream Weaver
Speed: SS+ [Supreme Grade] [Limit Broken]
Stamina: SS+ [Supreme Grade] [Limit Broken]
Power: B [Elite Grade] [Locked]
Guts: SS+ [Supreme Grade] [Limit Broken]
Wit: B [Elite Grade] [Locked]
--+--
Adaptability: Turf A, Dirt C
Zone: [The Divine Blade]
Skills: Intuition (Epic), Nirvana (Epic), Kindling Flames (Epic), Seeing the True Self (Epic), The True Monster (Epic)
[Hidden Skill: Tokyo Swift (Epic)]
[Scenario Skill: Cursed Star (Epic)]
--+--
By using the concoctions provided by Agnes Tachyon, she had recovered the peak stats she once held in the real world—but that was the extent of it.
Life force is a finite resource. If an old person and a young person suffer the same cut, the youth might feel the itch of healing by the next day.
An elderly person, however, might face a life-threatening decline as the wound fails to close, leading to weakness and blood loss. The difference lies in vitality.
Under extreme conditions, a youth can tap into a surge of adrenaline to exert unprecedented power and only feel weary afterward. For the old, that same surge might be a death sentence.
In a way, Dream Weaver's Kindling Flames acted as a manual adrenaline trigger.
Normally, in a body free of old wounds, the fire could burn hot and the youth of the body would eventually allow for a full recovery. But now, the wellspring from which she drew power had shrunk.
It wasn't just age; it was Tachyon's medicine.
Returning to one's prime in a single month carries a heavy toll. The price Dream Weaver paid was a permanent reduction in her maximum life force.
Of course, for an average Uma Musume, this reduction wouldn't mean much—especially since Dream Weaver had told Tachyon this was her final race.
Provided she ceased the medication immediately after her final dance at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, she would be fine.
But it wasn't the kind of thing one said lightly. That was why, when Sugar Lights pressed for answers, Tachyon could only offer evasive words.
What Tachyon didn't know was that Dream Weaver possessed a technique like Kindling Flames that actively burned life force for power.
With her "fuel tank" already shortened by the medicine, the cost of the skill brought Dream Weaver one step closer to a dangerous precipice.
Dream Weaver, however, wasn't thinking of that. She looked at her panel and nodded with satisfaction. Then, she began to check her equipment.
The crown accessory earned after defeating T.M. Opera O slightly increased the pressure she exerted on other racers.
The hexagram ornament from Orfevre granted a small resistance against other Zones.
The black gloves won from Narita Brian increased her intimidation factor on rainy days.
And finally, the crucifix ring exchanged after defeating Shinzan slightly boosted her own Zone.
To ensure victory, Dream Weaver donned every accessory that offered an advantage. After confirming her kit, she hesitated for a moment before pulling out a final item: the Star of Stars.
It was a star-shaped ornament, given to her by a version of Dream Weaver from a distant future. It was an exact replica of the star on the chest of her current racing silks.
It seemed to be nothing more than a memento, devoid of any stat boosts, but Dream Weaver took it out anyway, replacing the original star on her chest with this one.
As she finished her preparations, the announcer's voice drifted in from the stadium. She couldn't understand the French commentary, but her name was pronounced with a Japanese inflection.
With the star securely in place, Dream Weaver stepped out toward the track of the Arc de Triomphe.
The moment her hoof touched the turf, the latent power of her items surged through her.
As the "First Favorite" of this race, the Proof of Ovation granted her a massive boost in strength. Paris was drowning in a torrential downpour today; the heavy ground triggered the stamina buff of the Flag of Countercurrents.
The Triple Crown Proof provided a flat boost to all attributes for every G1 race.
Furthermore, because this was her comeback at the Arc de Triomphe, the crowd had reached a historic peak, satisfying the second condition of the item and further bolstering her stamina and power.
Finally, the third effect was triggered. When a formidable rival—one truly worthy of the title—appeared, Dream Weaver would receive a massive surge in Guts and Speed.
Her opponent was Sea the Stars. Naturally...
[Check successful.]
Another wave of power washed over her.
The French announcer seemed eager to see the top two favorites meet on the field. Not long after Dream Weaver appeared, he called out the other name.
The name wasn't translated into French.
As "Sea the Stars" echoed from the speakers, the cold, systemic chime that usually followed such a moment failed to ring in Dream Weaver's ear.
The Challenger's Badge did not trigger.
Under the weight of her numerous artifacts, Dream Weaver's attributes had already risen to stand equal with Sea the Stars.
--+--
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.