"Is Tacit Accord still going?"
"Tacit Accord charges toward Barbatos!!!"
Within her blurry vision, Tacit Accord could see Barbatos slowing down.
Trapped inside her own Zone, she couldn't hear any outside noise.
The only thing on her mind was overtaking Barbatos and winning this race.
Just one more length!
Only one more length and she'd pass Barbatos. Her body had to hold on!
Enduring the sharp, searing pain in her legs and hooves, she pushed forward, aiming for the finish line just beyond Barbatos.
But then, in the next instant…
In her vision, the hazy figure of Barbatos turned around and looked right at her, still in her running form.
Turned around…?
How could anyone turn around mid-race, especially in the final stretch? There was no space for that.
Was Barbatos not running anymore?
She couldn't see the finish line behind Barbatos anymore.
But it was right there just a moment ago.
The silence around her gradually faded, and the roar of the crowd seeped into her muddled mind. The whole stadium was chanting one name—Barbatos.
And Barbatos was now standing right in front of her, looking slightly surprised.
Her gradient-colored twin braids swayed gently in the Tokyo Racecourse breeze, like an unbeatable Uma Musume.
So… Barbatos hadn't slowed down at all.
She had already crossed the finish line back then.
"I lost..."
Her lips moved, but no sound came out—only the rush of wind and the thick, metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
The spirit and will that had driven her this far shattered in that moment. The pain in her legs became unbearable.
Carried by her own momentum, she stumbled forward, her world fading into darkness.
Right then.
Barbatos, who had felt something was off right after finishing, took a quick step forward.
She reached out and caught Tacit Accord before she could crash onto the track. The force of the impact sent Barbatos stumbling back two steps—it was no less than being hit by a car going 30 miles per hour.
"If you'd fallen just like that, you might never have run again," Barbatos muttered.
Her arm and the side of her body were numb from bracing the fall.
Good thing she had [Dead Man's Plate] or she might've ended up with a minor fracture herself.
Her jersey was now stained with Tacit Accord's blood.
Seeing just how much she was bleeding, Barbatos couldn't help a slight shiver. How had she kept going like this, even entering the Zone?
Looked like something straight out of a horror movie.
She couldn't help but feel a sliver of respect for the other's willpower.
From the stands, a young woman in a suit and two other Uma Musume leaped over the railing and rushed onto the track.
"Accord!"
Barbatos recognized the young woman—she was Tacit Accord's trainer, interviewed before the race. The other two were probably her teammates.
She passed Tacit Accord carefully into her trainer's arms.
"Barbatos, thank you so much!"
If not for Barbatos, not only would Tacit Accord have been unable to run, but collapsing in that state of high-tension release could have cost her her life.
Even if her speed had already dropped by then.
"Don't mention it. Any Uma Musume would've done the same."
The racecourse medics were already hurrying over with a stretcher.
Watching Tacit Accord being carried away on it, Barbatos murmured, "You... truly had the right to measure yourself against me."
Without minding the blood staining her clothes, after seeing Tacit Accord off, Barbatos raised her arms, bathing in the glory of victory. The applause and cheers around her surged like a tidal wave.
--+--
Up in the commentary box.
Akasaka Misato rubbed her nose. "I never expected to witness such an intense duel in this race."
To her and her partner Hosoe Junko, the concept of the Zone was no secret.
They had clearly seen Tacit Accord enter the Zone—otherwise, given her condition in this year's Takarazuka Kinen, she wouldn't have been able to burst forth with such speed.
But even with the Zone activated, against Barbatos, she still fell just a little short.
The Zone, after all, wasn't some protagonist power-up from light novels or manga—it couldn't truly bring about a qualitative leap in speed.
In that situation, facing Barbatos who had also activated her Zone, defeat was almost inevitable.
Even so, Tacit Accord's perseverance and tenacity had left a deep impression on them.
And an even greater shock came from Barbatos.
The ability to activate the Zone so freely—was she really an Uma Musume who had just debuted two months ago?
Akasaka Misato gripped the microphone.
Her voice spread through the speakers to the live audience and the broadcast.
"Barbatos has once again demonstrated the same running style she used against the White Lightning on the track."
"Facing Tacit Accord's relentless pursuit, she displayed an even higher level of strength. Truly, her reputation is well-deserved!"
"The title of 'Prodigy of Our Time' fits her perfectly!"
"This is Barbatos, the Wind God!"
As Akasaka spoke, chants of "Wind God" united across the spectator stands, and the livestream chat was flooded with those very words, replacing all others.
In that moment, everyone witnessing this race saw the birth and recognition of a "Prodigy of Our Time."
In that moment, almost all who watched believed that the name "Wind God" would soon stand among legends like the "Emperor" and the "Monster."
Almost all who watched believed the name "Wind God" would resound across the world!
And some wondered—after the rise of the "Wind God," how long would it take for the "Monster Bird" to claim her first G2 victory?
--+--
At "The Favorite" Beef Bowl.
King Halo sat with a noticeably full belly, though it didn't seem to bother her.
The hidden menu item, the "King's Large Bowl" beef rice, which the owner had just served, was already nearly gone, devoured at startling speed.
"King, are you... alright?"
Though mesmerized by Barbatos's race, McQueen had no idea King Halo could eat this much.
Was it really okay to eat so much?
"Of course! As Barbatos's rival, how could I stop now?!" King Halo radiated fighting spirit.
But... you're not even on the same field. She was running, you're just eating.
McQueen held back the remark.
Just then, Miss Ines stared at the TV screen, listening to the rising and falling chants of "Wind God" from the broadcast.
Her lips parted slightly, a hint of grievance in her voice.
"Then what about me?"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, 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.