Sea the Stars sensed the faint trace of indifference drifting through Dream Weaver's words, but she didn't care.
As a world-class Uma Musume, she possessed a mountain of pride; she believed that Dream Weaver, a peer of her own caliber, must surely possess the same.
The best way to answer that pride wasn't to howl in the rain like some loud-mouthed villain, but to use pure strength on the turf to force the opponent to look at no one but her.
Unlike before, Sea the Stars was no longer impatient about finally standing on the same track as Dream Weaver.
The race was right before them.
Very soon, she would make it so Dream Weaver had eyes only for her.
The eyes of both girls were as black as the midnight sky, their gazes obscured by the hazy grey mist and rain.
Standing face to face, the only things clearly visible were the most vibrant colors on their persons: a gold-and-red cape and a sea-blue skirt.
These two colors seemed to represent their shifting emotions, swaying gently amidst the torrential Parisian downpour.
Sea the Stars said nothing more, and Dream Weaver felt no need to respond. They silently gathered their strength within the veil of rain.
The sheer pressure radiating from these world-class Uma Musume split the entirety of Longchamp Racecourse into two distinct territories.
There was no physical collision, no verbal sparring, yet it exerted an unimaginable, suffocating weight on the Uma Musume following behind them.
Ordinarily, not a single Uma Musume standing on this stage for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe alongside Dream Weaver and Sea the Stars would be considered weak.
They were either long-renowned powerhouses or rising stars, each having achieved brilliant results on the world stage.
But now, facing the terrifying aura of these two world-class monsters—an aura that threatened to swallow Longchamp whole—they could only lower their heads and bow their backs.
They were forced to admit that the outcome of this Arc no longer had anything to do with them.
Their state of mind was much like the G1 competitors who had discovered the monstrous nature of Equinox during the Japan Cup a month prior.
The only difference was that for these girls, there wasn't just one monster.
Sea the Stars had defeated the world's elite single-handedly just last year, and most of them had witnessed Dream Weaver's legend with their own eyes before they had even begun their racing careers.
Unlike Equinox, who had only started revealing her true nature this year, no Uma Musume would misjudge the power exploding from these two genuine monsters.
However, this was something felt only within the eye of the storm.
Those outside the track could only see the Uma Musume standing still after their entry, unable to feel that invisible, metaphysical pressure due to the distance.
If the audience in the stands felt this way, it was even more pronounced for those thousands of miles away, watching the livestream through a screen. Because they couldn't feel the oppressive atmosphere of the venue, a certain disconnect had formed in the public's perception of Dream Weaver.
Just as Sakurako Kazehaya had feared when she chose to avoid the forums, the mockery of Dream Weaver was incessant in the Arc's streaming chat rooms.
Calling it the "Curse of the Arc" was considered polite at this point. After all, Dream Weaver hadn't participated in an official race for two years; anyone would assume her condition had plummeted.
In the official streams, the ridicule was limited to the scrolling comments, but in the rooms of independent streamers, the insults came from the hosts themselves.
Due to broadcasting rights, these streamers couldn't show the race footage directly. They could only show vague, placeholder graphics while telling their viewers to open the official stream simultaneously.
This lack of official status allowed these streamers to mock Dream Weaver without restraint.
Among them was Shotaro Akutsu, notorious for his sharp tongue and reckless commentary. This style had naturally earned him plenty of hate, but it also made him famous.
During the relatively dull phase where the Uma Musume were entering the gates, he had plenty of time to let loose.
"Does anyone actually think Dream Weaver can win? Don't make Star-sis laugh."
"What do you mean Dream Weaver is a 'Star-sis' too? In this racing world, there's only one Star-sis, and that's my girl Sea the Stars!"
Akutsu laughed as he read the chat. Suddenly, as if he'd just thought of a hilarious joke, he looked into the camera with an expression of barely contained glee.
"Let's just call her Dream-sis. After all, she's so 'charitable,' we should show some respect."
"Anyone who wants to win the Arc has to ask Dream-sis for permission. So many Uma Musume asked her before, and she said 'yes' every single time. She's basically the Patron Saint of the Arc at this point, isn't she?"
"Who called her a 'Big Match Choke Artist'?! Hey, I didn't say that! If her fans storm this stream later, don't drag me down with you."
"A champion of clout is still a champion. She's the Permanent Vice-Champion of the Arc!"
He put on a show of "scolding" the comments, but everyone knew it was just another way to poke fun at her. After sharing a few more "Arc jokes," Akutsu coughed slightly, feigning a serious tone.
"Alright, jokes aside, Dream Weaver really did have talent back in the day."
"But she hasn't raced in two years. As for what happens when someone who's been a trainer for two years suddenly decides to make a comeback... heh, well, do I even need to say it?"
"Sea the Stars beat the best in the world at the Arc just last year. After a year of growth, she's only gotten stronger. She's in a different league compared to a washed-up racer like Dream Weaver."
"So, if you ask me, this Arc is just an exhibition match for Dream Weaver's official retirement ceremony. She's already trained two G1 winners; what's she even running for? She can't keep up with the youngsters anymore. She should just confirm her retirement and focus on being a trainer."
Mocking Dream Weaver had become a trend online.
Even when long-time fans, moved by her past performances, tried to defend her, they were immediately drowned out by the influx of Sea the Stars and Equinox fans.
To these fans who had only started following the sport because of the newer stars, a racer who had already become ancient history was fair game for ridicule. There was virtually no risk.
Could she really win the Arc? Not a chance.
If she couldn't do it back then, there was no reason she'd suddenly do it after a two-year hiatus.
With that same mindset, Akutsu, who had been joking for ages, glanced at the official stream on his other monitor.
Seeing that all the contestants were entering the starting gates, he quickly adjusted his posture.
"Alright, enough talk. Let's watch. If Dream Weaver can even break into the top five—no, the top ten—we'll call that a success, okay?"
--+--
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.