As the race approached its final stage, the cheers from the audience grew ever louder.
"Two thousand meters cleared! Time: one minute fifty-nine seconds—!"
The announcer's voice echoed across the center of the racetrack.
"One minute fifty-nine seconds!?"
Hearing that time, Toujou Hana's eyes widened.
That was close to the record for an Autumn [Tenno Sho]!
And since the machines couldn't properly record it, that dark-hued Uma Musume running ahead of Narita Brian must have clocked an even faster time.
But even Narita Brian, running in second, was moving at a speed that could shatter the [Kikuka Sho] record.
To attack a three-thousand-meter race at a two-thousand-meter pace… for an Uma Musume, that was practically suicide!
This surpassed physical limits. Their bones, muscles, nerves—the strain on them was increasing exponentially with every passing second.
Even Narita Brian's thoroughly trained physique couldn't possibly endure this kind of speed.
She would break!
The audience didn't understand just how severe the toll of a Great Escape was on an Uma Musume.
Their legs were constantly at risk of snapping.
Silence Suzuka was the prime example.
She had to undergo regular check-ups precisely to monitor the condition of her legs.
But even for Suzuka, two thousand meters was her limit, with her ideal Great Escape distance being around eighteen hundred meters.
This was the [Kikuka Sho]—a full three-thousand-meter [Kikuka Sho]!
Even if Silence Suzuka were running here, even with a Great Escape, she could never complete it.
A distance like this would consume her body entirely.
Toujou Hana's brow furrowed tightly.
In her eyes, this was no longer racing.
It was burning one's very life away.
Having passed the two-thousand-meter marker, Narita Brian's speed still hadn't dropped. She clung closely behind that dark figure.
Why? Why go to such lengths just to catch her?
Toujou Hana didn't understand.
No one could answer her question.
Not even Narita Brian herself on the track could provide an answer.
'Chasing'—that act wasn't Narita Brian's goal.
'Racing'—that word had already slipped from her mind.
What lay before Narita Brian now wasn't an opponent, nor an enemy, nor prey.
She was gazing at a flickering spark, ignited by lightning amidst a thunderstorm.
Her emotions swayed like crackling flames, restless and unsteady.
Something so insignificant, yet it changed the entire primitive world.
Narita Brian reached her hand toward that flame.
A warm sensation melted the chill that had seeped into her skin.
Humankind—from fire, desire was born, and from desire, the world was changed.
One could say humans were the very epitome of desire.
They craved. They conquered.
They were natural hunters.
And I… I am merely one among them who desires more, who is more relentless.
Narita Brian clenched her fist, grasping the spark in her palm.
What's wrong with that?
She looked up at the sky.
--+--
Indeed…
"We have a habit of complicating simple matters."
In the viewing stands, Symboli Rudolf watched Narita Brian with heavy eyes.
"But that doesn't mean we have a taste for making things difficult for ourselves."
On the contrary.
Rudolf placed a hand on the window.
We keep adding layers, one upon another, just so we can adapt to a complex and ever-changing environment.
Truth often isn't found in lengthy sentences, but in something incredibly brief.
A few words. A line or two.
You don't even need to think—it just spills out.
Yet, precisely because it's so brief, it becomes harder to bear.
In the very beginning, all Uma Musume were front-runners.
They were placed on the track with no rules, no regulations—just run full speed to the finish line and compete.
Back then, there were no strategies about how to take turns, how to find the right moment, how to drain an opponent's stamina.
Racing was far more brutal than it is now, and far simpler too.
Over countless races, people gradually accumulated experience. Using the only running style as a blueprint, they deconstructed it, developed different tactics, forming the system we have today.
Reckless, ignorant, heedless of consequences…
That's not it at all.
Rudolf shook her head.
They were simply returning to the beginning, to the era when Uma Musume were first born.
An era without tricks, without mind games, where strength reigned supreme—savage, yet pure.
The era of 'Truth.'
We've piled too many useless things on top of it. That's our way of protecting ourselves.
And now…
It's time to peel away this gorgeous outer shell.
"All contestants have entered the final stretch! Still leading is the unidentified runner who barged onto the track! Close behind in second is Narita Brian! A gap of two lengths separates them—!"
As for the runners behind Narita Brian…
Frankly, no one cared anymore.
This race had completely become a two-Uma Musume show. The speed they maintained from start to finish down the straight, and the overwhelming distance over the third-place runner…
Everyone knew no other contestant could close that gap while those two held such a pace.
Yes, as long as they kept up this speed…
Victory would surely smile upon them.
--+--
"Do you still have the stamina…?"
A voice reached the girl's ears.
Her golden eyes quivered faintly.
How far had they run already?
A few hundred meters? Several thousand? Or perhaps… already over ten thousand.
She didn't know, nor did she care.
She just wanted to overtake that fiery red figure ahead.
If she just kept running, the other would eventually run out of stamina.
Yes, just keep running…
The girl's eyes remained fixed ahead.
Child, are you sure about this?
Glancing back slightly, Eclipse watched the girl.
Your body won't hold up.
Her complexion was as pale as snow.
Eclipse knew her stamina was completely spent.
Beyond five thousand meters, even Uma Musume from her own era would begin to falter.
But this child… was still running.
Her speed hadn't dropped from beginning to end. Even with her stamina exhausted, she showed no sign of falling back.
As if she would never stop, no matter where she ran, no matter how far.
As if rules and laws no longer applied.
Like a ghost.
Like someone flying endlessly through emptiness.
That form… moved her.
But even a spirit would one day be worn down by the world.
Eclipse stopped running. She turned to face the girl.
The girl was still charging forward.
She didn't stop just because Eclipse had.
Tap, tap, tap—
The crisp sounds crossed the endless grassy plain, dissolving into the air.
"It ends here."
Six thousand meters—a full race's distance.
Even without a finish line, Eclipse knew.
The race was over.
The girl reached Eclipse's side.
Just as she was about to overtake her, the bright light in her eyes finally dimmed at that moment.
The speed that had never once faltered… came to an abrupt halt.
The ground vanished from her sight.
The girl's foot met empty air.
Her body pitched forward, falling straight down.
Even limits eventually meet their end.
Even if her will surpassed her body, it was finally worn down now.
Darkness swallowed her vision. The girl lost consciousness.
As if she had expected it, Eclipse opened her arms and caught the girl against her soft belly.
That frail body was frighteningly hot.
Eclipse knelt down, cradling her close.
"Child…" she said.
Come with me.
--+--
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.