"Two hundred meters to go! The two leaders haven't slowed a single bit—could a new record be on the horizon—!?"
The announcer's voice rang out, feverish with excitement as the race entered its final stretch.
Three thousand meters… a full three thousand meters, and they'd maintained this breakneck pace from start to finish—a Great Escape duel for the entire race.
An achievement unmatched in the entire history of Japanese Uma Musume Racing.
No fading, no slowing, no change in strategy. They hadn't even glanced at the other Uma Musume.
This was a race that belonged only to the two of them.
How many lengths…
Just how many lengths had they opened up on the field? Fifteen… seventeen? At this point, measuring the gap was meaningless.
To put it simply, an insurmountable chasm now lay between them and the rest.
The very word 'effort' seemed laughable in the face of such a divide.
This wasn't just a gap in ability.
It was a difference in realm.
It was over.
One final step.
In the curtain of misty rain, people gripped the railings, straining their necks.
Who? Who would it be?
Who would emerge victorious?
Would it be Narita Brian? Or that unknown contender?
Their curiosity burned.
"Victory…"
Did it even matter?
Watching the two figures on the track, Silence Suzuka spoke softly.
From the very beginning to now, these two had never truly seen each other.
Their eyes held no opponent, no racetrack.
If there was any contest between them, it was a test of whose obsession ran deeper, whose will burned stronger.
Here it comes.
Silence Suzuka's gaze remained fixed on the track.
And then.
A howl rose from the crowd.
"Once more… at the last possible moment, Narita Brian is accelerating again! Unbelievable… utterly unbelievable!"
"Who could have imagined the Great Escapee still had reserves left! It's Narita Brian! Maintaining that terrifying speed, she's closing in with those peerless legs of hers! Closer! Even closer! Narita Brian is reeling her in!!"
"WOOOOOOHHHHH—!!"
Deafening roars surged across the venue like a tidal wave.
This was Narita Brian!
Even after her unfortunate defeat in the [Tenno Sho], she could return to the track in a form far beyond the ordinary!
Thud!
A hoof slammed heavily onto the ground.
Amidst the cries of the pack, Narita Brian drew up to her prey.
"You got away from me earlier. To run this fast with such severe injuries… you really are something…"
She looked down at the prey lying motionless on the ground.
The strong prey on the weak. Survival of the fittest.
That was the way of this world, driven by boundless desire.
So—
It was time to savor the feast.
Narita Brian slowly closed the distance.
Hands stained with blood from the struggle reached for the other's neck.
She needed the other's flesh and blood to warm this body drenched by the rain.
Ah…
Narita Brian opened her mouth, baring sharp fangs.
Just as her teeth neared the other's throat…
Flash!
A piercing light shot across Narita Brian's arm, a searing heat scorching her skin.
Pain!
Instinctively, she snatched her hand back.
She looked up at the sky.
Then, her yellow pupils contracted to pinpricks.
The sun…
A sun crimson as blood burned violently in the storm-laden sky.
Under its scorching hot glare, the dark clouds churned and boiled.
A wave of heat that would scorch everything assailed this hunting ground.
Under such heavenly might, Narita Brian's body couldn't move an inch.
She stood frozen in place.
And then, Narita Brian saw it…
A crescent of blackness nibbled at the edge of the sun, growing larger and larger until the whole world seemed draped in shadow, its colors draining away into gloom.
Slowly, the blackness moved to the center, leaving only a faint ring of light glowing dimly.
So dark.
She couldn't see anything.
In Narita Brian's heart, a primal, pure fear rose—fear of an existence she could not defy.
Fear of a natural disaster.
That ring hung in the sky like an eye, watching her calmly.
Ah… I see.
Narita Brian understood.
It was something loftier than biological instinct.
It was the rule of all things cycling and repeating.
It was the fundamental principle on which this world turned.
That was 'Nature,' which no living being could defy.
Looking at that 'Eye' in the sky, Narita Brian bowed her head.
This race… she had lost.
--+--
"Put me down."
In Eclipse's arms, the black-haired girl stirred.
"Awake already, are you?"
"The race isn't over."
"You fainted."
"I know… but I can still run."
Eclipse tightened her grip.
The struggling dark-haired girl had the feeble strength of an infant.
"Mhm, you can still run," she replied.
"You know, the name Eclipse… it means to block out the sunlight."
To block the sun in daytime.
That meant the arrival of night.
"And you, little one, you give me that feeling."
"What…"
"The night sky, or the starry sky. Those stars in the dark of night, beautiful, brilliant."
Eclipse looked at her.
"Maybe the two of us are quite alike."
As if we were both part of 'Nature.'
"I'm not…" the girl protested.
"This race has no winner. Someday in the future, when we both return here, let's race again. How does that sound?"
The girl gave a soft 'hmph.'
"Then, so I know what to call you next time, could you tell me your name now?" Eclipse asked.
A few seconds passed.
"Sunday Silence…" the girl murmured.
"My name is Sunday Silence."
With that, leaning against the young woman's shoulder, the girl who had just awoken fell into a deep sleep once more.
Tap, tap, tap…
From behind Eclipse came crisp footsteps, drawing nearer and nearer.
The sound passed right by her, racing off into the distance.
Huh…
Eclipse's eyes widened slightly.
She looked down at the girl in her arms.
To think I let you slip past me…
--+--
"Narita Brian! Narita Brian is about to overtake her opponent! Fifty meters to the finish!"
"Could this unprecedented Great Escape duel end in victory for Narita Brian?! Almost there! Still accelerating, Narita Brian is still accelerating! She's about to overtake—"
The voice cut off abruptly.
The announcer's microphone hung frozen in his hand.
What… happened?
It had unfolded right before his eyes, yet his mind couldn't process it.
Narita Brian, who had been on the verge of overtaking, was suddenly two lengths behind her opponent.
When did she fall back there?!
The announcer couldn't comprehend it.
The spectators couldn't comprehend it.
Across the entire venue, only a handful understood.
"Our eyes were deceived."
Symboli Rudolf hugged her own shoulders tightly.
Narita Brian… she had never actually gotten close to her at all…
The rain poured down.
The first place runner crossed the finish line.
--+--
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.