Time flew by, and the Winter Cup arrived as scheduled.
Myriad Dreams finally secured her ticket to this high-profile G1 event, entering as the third favorite by popular vote.
The Winter Cup had a history of being a packed house, with crowd enthusiasm often surpassing even that of the Classic Triple Crown races.
The stands were a surging sea of people, with countless eyes focused on this gathering of legends.
Symboli Rudolf, Oguri Cap, Maruzensky, Narita Brian, Fuji Kiseki... one shining name after another had assembled here.
As Myriad Dreams stepped onto the turf wearing her racing outfit, the cheers of tens of thousands of spectators washed over her like a tidal wave.
"Now entering the track is the third favorite, Myriad Dreams!" the announcer's voice rang through the stadium.
"She is the only non-legendary Uma Musume in this race. One wonders what kind of performance this dark horse will show us?"
While waving to the crowd under the spotlight, a memory quietly surfaced in Myriad Dreams' mind.
Not long ago, frustrated by her inability to break through the "Zone" bottleneck, she had visited that powerful senior once more.
"Senior Senbonzakura, why is it that even though I've inherited your factors, I still can't awaken my own Zone?"
At that time, Senbonzakura gave a gentle yet slightly helpless smile.
"A Zone is an ultimate skill that awakens only when an Uma Musume finds her own unique path, or when she is pushed to the absolute brink."
She paused, her tone growing deeper.
"More importantly, a Zone is a reflection of each Uma Musume's soul, it has little to do with whose factors you inherit."
This answer had left Myriad Dreams in even deeper confusion.
Despite working so hard, why was she still trapped in the embryonic stage of a Zone, unable to make the breakthrough?
Seeing that she still didn't understand, Senbonzakura sighed helplessly and spoke more bluntly.
"Then, Myriad, what do you think you are running for?"
Myriad Dreams paused, her expression faltering, before finally saying, "Probably... I want to make Yaeno-san show a genuine smile from the bottom of her heart."
Senbonzakura didn't seem particularly satisfied with this answer and shook her head. "And besides that?"
Myriad Dreams thought for a moment.
'If it wasn't for Yaeno-san, then...'
"I also want to be the pride of my mothers. I want them to see me standing on the world's highest racing stage."
Senbonzakura: "Is there anything else?"
After thinking it over, Myriad Dreams shook her head. It seemed there were no other special reasons.
Senbonzakura finally nodded and smiled.
"I think I understand. When you learn to run for yourself, that is likely the day you will awaken your Zone."
With that, Senbonzakura had sent her back.
Back on the racecourse, her thoughts returned to the present.
"A reason to run for myself..."
Myriad Dreams let out a sigh and walked toward the gate.
Off-track, the members of Team Spica were incredibly nervous.
"Trainer-san? Will Dreams-chan really win?" Special Week asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, Spe-chan. We have to believe in her. After all, she was voted in by fans across the country." Okino replied, though the lollipop in his mouth wouldn't stop trembling, he was just as anxious.
He knew that Myriad Dreams was technically the strongest of her generation, but she was currently facing the strongest of previous eras.
"Dreams-chan..."
Silence Suzuka was deeply concerned.
As a former member of Team Rigil, she understood better than anyone the sheer intensity of the Zones possessed by the likes of Rudolf and Maruzensky.
If a miracle didn't happen today, Myriad Dreams' chances in this race were slim.