A searing pain shot through her chest. The gleaming dagger dripped with fresh blood, each drop hitting the ground with a soft plip-plip.
Eyes wide, Maruzensky stared at the pale blade piercing through her torso.
The hidden weapon, concealed for so long, had finally been drawn.
Blood trickled from the corner of her lips.
Maruzensky knew it was all an illusion conjured by her senses—but even knowing changed nothing.
The dagger had already sunk deep into her flesh.
Her blood, her muscles, her very thoughts twisted in agony as the blade churned inside her.
A fatal strike, mercilessly severing Maruzensky's lifeline.
And yet, even now, she couldn't sense the presence of the one behind her.
That invisible blade seemed to have been thrust out of thin air.
Unseen.
Unheard…
This feeling—she'd experienced it once before.
Not long ago, during that simulated race.
Green Grass, who had been right on her tail, suddenly vanished.
Her form, her sound—everything disappeared from Maruzensky's perception, as though she'd never been in the race at all.
But the next instant, that hazy, intangible feeling was gone.
At first, Maruzensky thought it was just her own nerves playing tricks on her.
But still… but still…
What if, she wondered, it wasn't her imagination at all?
To vanish from the track, to accomplish what came next.
The green assassin, forever the dark horse.
"…Green Grass."
The whisper barely left her lips. Maruzensky stiffly turned her neck—and her eyes slowly widened.
A dark figure had already appeared behind her, silent as a shadow.
In her hand, she gripped that sharp dagger firmly.
Shink—
Withdrawing the blade, the girl flicked the blood off with a swift motion.
Her golden eyes held no emotion, as though everything she'd done was as natural and effortless as breathing.
Emotionless killing was far more terrifying than any act born of malice.
Blood continued to flow.
Maruzensky's strength rapidly faded.
She knew the strategy to counter this state—all she had to do was focus her mind completely—
But the pain…
It was too much…
She couldn't do it!
A burning agony tore through her mind. Blood dripped steadily onto the grass, painting a vivid red trail across the turf.
In an instant, the entire racetrack fell into a graveyard silence, as though cast under a heavy shadow.
"Gulp…"
Someone swallowed.
That tiny sound echoed clearly throughout the silent stadium.
Then, more and more people began to feel short of breath, an indescribable chill creeping over their bodies.
It wasn't an aura emanating from the dark figure—it was the sheer horror of what that black Uma Musume had done, a dread that seeped into them from within.
Terrifying, chilling, bone-deep cold.
That dark form standing behind Maruzensky—that emotionless, indifferent Uma Musume—had cast a lingering shadow over every heart present.
Her Zone had been shattered.
"This…"
A bewildered voice broke through the dead silence over the broadcast.
"Wh-what—what in the world just happened?! So fast—I didn't see a thing! She passed Oguri Cap, overtook Narita Brian, blew past Tamamo Cross—The Black Phantom has appeared behind Maruzensky—!"
The commentator's eyes were wide with shock.
She appeared—just like that! Out of nowhere.
--+--
"That posture…"
"Green Grass?"
In the stands, Ten Point and Tosho Boy both turned to look at the petite girl beside them, the one with the leaf-shaped hair clip.
On her face was an unmistakable, deeply satisfied smile.
The moment the others accelerated, the conditions had been met.
In that split second when everyone's attention shifted, the dark horse who had melted into the crowd emerged from an imperceptible position and surged onto the track.
Silent, shadow-like.
Everything they had seen before was a disguise.
This blade, once drawn—
Would shock the world—
--+--
On the track, Maruzensky was slowing down.
Sweat beaded on her forehead; her breathing grew ragged and labored. None of her earlier elegance remained.
Intense pressure wore down her will; her rhythm had been completely broken.
Almost glued to Maruzensky's back, those golden eyes watched her without feeling.
"Hey, hey… no way…"
The crowd finally realized something was terribly wrong with Maruzensky.
It was as if the race's beginning had been flipped on its head!
The Black Phantom's steps were swift and rhythmic, while Maruzensky looked utterly exhausted.
What had happened…
What had happened to cause such a drastic shift on the track?!
They hadn't taken their eyes off the race for a second, yet they still couldn't comprehend how things had turned out this way.
"She's fading!? With just a hundred meters to the finish—Maruzensky is fading—!!"
The commentator's cry was full of disbelief. It seemed impossible—over nine races, Maruzensky had never faltered like this!
She always had the race firmly under control—no one could surpass her!
In the viewing room, Symboli Rudolf's fingers dug into her own arm.
Beside her, Air Groove slowly closed her eyes.
You were right, President Rudolf…
How could I have seen a reflection of myself in her?
How foolish.
The audience, the stage, the lights…
This one… she's the Uma Musume who abandoned the whole world.
"Go—!!"
A shout broke the stillness in the stands.
It reminded everyone—aside from Maruzensky, Oguri Cap and the others hadn't even shown their full strength yet.
They still had a chance!
"Go, Oguri Cap!!"
"Pass her, pass her—!!"
"Narita Brian!!"
Cheers rose one after another, voices uniting to support every Uma Musume on the track—except the dark one.
As long as she didn't win—
As long as that one lost—!
Anyone else, just… hurry up and pass her! Go, now!
People shouted at the top of their lungs, but on the track, Narita Brian and the others couldn't close the gap.
They couldn't see it.
The spectators couldn't see it!
Only the racers on the field could feel it.
Blades…
Rows upon rows of blades, countless sharp edges, standing across the track like a mountain range.
A single touch would draw blood.
And amidst that chilling gleam, everyone watched wide-eyed as the dark figure, drenched in blood, climbed that mountain of blades.
"They can't reach her, they can't get close! She's passed Maruzensky, moving forward, still going!! No one can overtake her—what sharp footwork, what terrifying speed! The Nameless Black Phantom—with unstoppable strides—is tearing through the track—!!"
First place—across the line.
--+--
T/N: Honkai: Star Rail fanfic up!
--+--
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.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.