Compared to the puzzled Shuta An in the stands, the one who felt the greatest shock was Tony Bianca, running on the track itself. As the Uma Musume with the most decorated record—hailed as the strongest contender in this Japan Cup—Tony Bianca had accepted Symboli Rudolf's invitation, thoroughly studied the turf of Tokyo Racecourse, analyzed every opponent, and even prepared strategies tailored for each one. Naturally, Obey Your Master had been included in that list.
But in all her simulations, all her expectations—Obey Your Master had never shown anything like this.
"A—a 'Zone'!!! Obey Your Master can enter a 'Zone'?!" Tony Bianca's eyes trembled.
"And counting her—that makes four Uma Musume in this Japan Cup who can use a 'Zone,' including me?! Is this really a G1 held in Japan?! Four 'Zone'-users—this lineup is on par with this year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe!"
Shaking off her disbelief, Tony Bianca sharpened her focus. "The final straight only this last stretch remains! I'll begin my assault as well!"
As they entered the ultimate straight of Tokyo Racecourse, Tony Bianca radiated an overwhelming pressure—something even greater than the auras released by Obey Your Master and Tamamo Cross. Now that both had shown their trump cards, the one officially acknowledged pre-race as "the strongest in raw ability" would naturally unleash her full might to obliterate anyone who dared challenge her.
"Tony Bianca is coming as well," Shuta An murmured flatly. "Five hundred meters left. With three 'Zone' users besides Oguri already revealed—honestly, I wouldn't even be surprised if another one pops up."
"It should only be Oguri Cap," Symboli Rudolf added. "But even I find it surprising that Obey Your Master—whose overseas record wasn't particularly remarkable—can manifest a 'Zone.'"
"'Zone' isn't exclusive to Uma Musume from the Pioneering Era," Shuta An replied, lips curling. "It's a blessing—granted by the Three Goddesses—to those who push past the limits of their own flesh."
"I see—" Symboli Rudolf shifted her gaze to Oguri. "Speaking of which—under five hundred meters now. Why hasn't Oguri Cap accelerated yet?"
"Don't rush," Shuta An said, confidence flickering in his eyes. "It might look like the mark training was pointless, but maybe it wasn't."
Just then—Obey Your Master, who'd been charging neck-and-neck with Tamamo Cross, suddenly cut inward. Since she was originally on Tamamo Cross's left, and the rest of the field had been left far behind, her diagonal move affected no one.
"Is that diagonal move supposed to mean anything? Isn't she just wasting stamina?" Tony Bianca's brow furrowed as she noticed the shift—then her pupils widened. "No—she's a genius. She really is!"
Even Tamamo Cross was taken aback.
"Is she avoiding me? That doesn't make any sense—In a physical clash, I can't beat her. Why would she dodge?"
In the owner's box, Berno Light frowned. "Trainer, why is Obey Your Master avoiding Miss Tamamo Cross? Even if she doesn't want a collision, wasting energy here seems unnecessary—"
"That move is absolutely necessary," Shuta An said without hesitation.
"Huh??" Berno was dumbfounded.
"One reason Tamamo Cross performs so incredibly is her talent. The other…is her fierce, unyielding will. That 'refusal to bend' is what dragged her from rock bottom all the way to the top."
"But there's a condition for her fighting spirit to ignite," Shuta An continued, raising a brow. "I only noticed after the Autumn Tenno Sho—Tamamo Cross needs a rival running right beside her in the final sprint. That side-by-side push forces her into a state beyond her limits."
In other words, running beside a strong opponent for a stretch was necessary to ignite her 'Zone.'
"This is unbelievable—to even catch something like that—you really are a Trainer" Berno Light whispered.
"I haven't told Oguri. For her, Tamamo Cross pushed to her limit is the best whetstone. Oguri's own fighting spirit is strong too," Shuta An shrugged.
"But speaking of Oguri—" Berno Light glanced down. "She's moving forward, but still not in her full sprint. Is she really okay?"
"Trust her," Shuta An said softly—but his fingers were gripping the railing so tightly they trembled.
"At this point, her lane should be clear. Is she waiting to enter her 'Zone' before accelerating—like Tony Bianca and Tamamo Cross?" His brows knitted. "That's backwards, Oguri!"
Meanwhile, on the track—
Oguri Cap was lost again.
"The labyrinth—it feels even stranger than last time. And this time, I can't see Ann!"
That last realization panicked her far more than the darkness.
"No—calm down! Ann is in the stands! I just can't see him right now!" Oguri bit her lip hard, using the sting to steady herself.
"All I need is to accelerate. Overtake everyone. Claim the Japan Cup. Prove myself against the world!"
She shifted to the outermost lane. "If I accelerate from here—!"
Then—
"I see it!!"
A path of white snow unfurled before her eyes—pure, dazzling, cutting through the black labyrinth.
"This is the way!" Oguri lowered her posture and plunged into the snowy road.
The live commentator, who had been focused entirely on Obey Your Master vs Tamamo Cross, caught sight of Oguri Cap's sudden surge.
"Oguri Cap is closing in! Can she catch them?!"
Then—he noticed something else.
"Tony Bianca has accelerated—but she's clearly not at full power?! Something's wrong!"
Tony Bianca gasped—her legs felt off. "What—why won't they go?! I won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe! I can't lose here! I—"
She pushed once more—
And pain shot through her.
"No!!!"
Her speed dropped sharply. Though she continued passing the front pack, everyone could see it—Tony Bianca had withdrawn herself from the battle for the crown.
In the owner's box, Symboli Rudolf's expression stiffened. "What happened?"
"Looks like a fracture…" Shuta An said quietly. "Should she withdraw? Running anymore will make it worse."
"She can't stop." Symboli Rudolf shook her head. "If it were me—even if it meant retiring afterward, I would still run."
"I understand," Shuta An said, voice faint.
He turned back to Oguri.
"One hundred meters left! Oguri Cap is one length behind Tamamo Cross, one and a half behind Obey Your Master! Can she catch them?!"
To the commentator it was a question—To Shuta An, it was certainty.
"She will."
Oguri was still blind to the real world—trapped in the labyrinth—but her heart was unwavering.
"As long as I follow this path—I will win!"
She focused solely on running. Nothing else mattered. Like an arrow loosed from the bowstring—Oguri blasted forward, her next stride landing on Obey Your Master's shadow.
"Last fifty meters! Oguri Cap is exploding forward! She's half a length behind Tamamo Cross! Inches from Obey Your Master! Will she do it?! Will she seize four G1 titles this year?! Will the local circuit's monster conquer the Japan Cup?!"
Shuta An's heartbeat thundered.
"That's it! That's the speed—At this rate, she'll catch them all!"
Behind them, Running Free had already fallen back—a blessing compared to Mejiro Durren and Shady Heights, who had completely collapsed into the rear.
"Still no win at Tokyo Racecourse?! Why!" Running Free raged.
Her Trainer sighed helplessly. "I told you not to run here—especially against that lineup…"
But none of that mattered. Oguri Cap was still accelerating.
"Twenty meters left! Who will rule Japan today?! The West Coast dark horse?! The white lightning of Central?! Or the local monster?!"
Oguri couldn't hear a thing. If she had, she would've answered immediately:
"I must."
Her legs burned; her lungs ached—But she didn't slow. She pushed harder.
Obey Your Master lowered her center of gravity, gambling everything— "I prepared everything for this! I refuse to take second!"
Tamamo Cross felt a shock ripple through her world of pure focus.
"This—this isn't the same as the Autumn Tenno Sho. OGURI! what is this?"
From the outside lane—A gray streak carved its way forward.
"Surpass opponents. Surpass prejudice. Surpass common sense. I can win any race! Nothing will stop me! I'll prove I am Japan's strongest runner!"
The dark labyrinth shattered—Light flooded Oguri's vision. There were no more opponents ahead.
Symboli Rudolf stood, Maruzensky covered her mouth, her eyes wide.
And Shuta An clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles whitened. "Don't get hurt—and overtake them! Take the victory that belongs only to you! No more shared glory—this one is yours alone!"
One heartbeat later—
"THEY'VE CROSSED THE LINE!!"
The commentator roared.
"FINALLY! FINALLY, THE MONSTER BORN FROM THE LOCAL CIRCUIT SWINGS DOWN THE HAMMER!"
"THE FINAL TWENTY METERS—SHE MAKES A WALK-OFF HOME RUN!"
"THIS TIME THERE IS NO DEAD HEAT! THE LOCAL STAR STANDS ATOP JAPAN! SHE BECOMES A HERO THIS YEAR"
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