Bathed in the deafening cheers of the entire crowd, Xingyun Liuge reveled in the praise and glory pouring down upon her.
She raised both arms high. On her left hand, a single index finger pointed skyward. On her right, she held up her index, middle, and ring fingers, declaring her American Triple Crown achievement to the world.
Streamers rained down. The audience screamed Xingyun Liuge's name until their throats went raw. Some beat their chests, some tore off their shirts, some passionately kissed the people beside them—everyone was venting their excitement in whatever way they could.1GaL2
Because they had witnessed a historic moment.
Because they had just seen a legend rise before their eyes.
If the organizers had not enforced strict security, someone probably would have brought a gun into the venue, and by now celebratory shots would already be ringing out.
But human joy and sorrow are not shared.
While one person stood drenched in cheers, glory, and celebration, another could only struggle in the dust.
Looking at Risen Star kneeling on the ground, her whole body seemingly trembling, Secretariat carefully approached and asked in a soft voice, "Star, are you all right? Can you hear me?"1GaL2
In her eyes, Risen Star's condition was strange.
After forcing out an incomplete Starfall in a state of total exhaustion, and then being struck from every possible angle, Risen Star's mental state should have been terrible.
For all Secretariat knew, the next moment Risen Star might raise her head with blood pouring from all seven orifices.
She was deeply worried, yet she waved away the medical team she had already called over, because she could sense it clearly: Risen Star's vital signs were still stable.
No—more than stable, they were unexpectedly steady.1GaL2
According to Secretariat's expectations, Risen Star should have lost consciousness already and needed to be rushed straight to the ICU. Even a few seconds' delay might have cost her life.
But Risen Star now…
Well, relatively speaking, she was in decent shape.
So Secretariat slowly wrapped her arms around the junior who had suffered such a heavy setback, wanting to listen to the voice hidden in the girl's heart.
Risen Star's condition really was not bad. Other than being a little drained, she was mostly fine. Her lungs and breathing were gradually recovering too, nowhere near as terrible as during the race.1GaL2
But her heart ached.
Even after giving everything she had and running as though staking her life on it, she still could not beat Xingyun Liuge.
And in the critical moment, Xingyun Liuge had even saved her.
Risen Star knew her own situation better than anyone.
At the moment she used Starfall, her mind had already been at its absolute limit. She still had some stamina left, but it no longer meant anything. The instant that last taut string snapped, she would have collapsed face-first to the ground and died on the spot.1GaL2
The only difference would have been whether she fell to her own Starfall, or to Xingyun Liuge's ultimate technique. That was all.
But right then, Xingyun Liuge's ultimate skill had descended quietly and poured a new surge of vitality into her, allowing her to survive, and even continue the race to settle the outcome with Xingyun Liuge.
It had been nothing short of a miracle.
Whose Domain could be used to save an opponent?
Risen Star had never heard of such a thing, never seen anything like it. But the truth was right in front of her, and she had experienced it personally. There was no reason to doubt her own judgment.1GaL2
And precisely because of that, she felt even more unwilling to accept it.
Not toward Xingyun Liuge.
Toward herself.
She was deeply grateful that Xingyun Liuge had saved her, and she sincerely admitted defeat, acknowledging the gap in strength between them.
She just felt that… she was utterly useless.
She had recklessly used a power she had not yet mastered, pushed herself into mortal danger, and in the end still lost so miserably.1GaL2
If Xingyun Liuge had not saved her, she would definitely have died right there—beyond any hope of rescue.
And Xingyun Liuge would only have gotten an even better result in the race.
That was why Risen Star had dropped to her knees and burst into tears. She felt she had let down the expectations of her family and friends.
Worse, she had even become a burden to Xingyun Liuge.
Looking at Risen Star like this, Secretariat found herself speechless, because she knew that what the girl needed right now was not comforting words, but a warm embrace.
So she simply held Risen Star in her arms, gently stroking her back without saying a word.1GaL2
Then, choking on her sobs, Risen Star said, "Senior… I… I'm too weak."
She clung tightly to Secretariat, face buried against her shoulder, not even noticing that her tears had already soaked through Secretariat's clothes.
Too weak…?1GaL2
Secretariat looked up at the distant big screen.
It showed that second-place Risen Star had finished thirteen and three-quarter lengths ahead of third place.
If Xingyun Liuge had not existed, then this Belmont Stakes would undoubtedly have ended in a landslide victory for Risen Star.
And if that had happened, the crowd probably would have called her "Secretariat's supreme masterpiece."
But unfortunately for her, she had run into Xingyun Liuge.
Even after staking her life and giving everything she had, she still could not win. In the end, she had even been saved by Xingyun Liuge herself.1GaL2
To put it bluntly, Xingyun Liuge might even find her behavior bizarre.
It was just a footrace, after all. Was coughing up blood really necessary?
Secretariat gently rubbed Risen Star's back, and in the end, she could not hold it in any longer. She whispered, "Star, you already worked hard enough."
There was no shame in losing to an opponent who could not be beaten.
Risen Star's reaction reminded Secretariat of her own glorious younger days.
Back then, among her generation, there had also been a genius horse girl who could have dominated an era and carved out her own legend—
only to run into Secretariat and become the stepping stone beneath her feet.1GaL2
Then, as now.
Only this time, it was her own junior who had become someone else's stepping stone.
Secretariat lowered her eyes and softly stroked Risen Star's hair, doing what little she could to comfort the heartbroken child.
At the same time, though, she thought to herself:
They had to thank that girl.
Xingyun Liuge had crushed Risen Star underfoot and created a legend of her own. That was simply a difference in raw ability; there was nothing more to say about it.
But she had also saved Risen Star by some unknown means, sparing the girl from disaster.
That was a debt they absolutely had to acknowledge.1GaL2
Secretariat instinctively began searching for Xingyun Liuge's figure.
And then she saw that girl surrounded by friends and companions, hemmed in three layers deep from every direction.
Wearing a helpless expression, Xingyun Liuge held Qianzao Yui in front of her and said in a proud tone, "Yui, why are you crying? I only smoothly won the American Triple Crown and completed one small goal. This journey overseas isn't even halfway done yet. You're already this excited now? What are you going to do later?"1GaL2
If anyone else had said that, people would only have thought them unbearably arrogant.
But Xingyun Liuge had walked out of Japan with no one believing in her, raced across America's dirt tracks, and claimed the American Triple Crown.
Because of her, there was now absolutely no chance that any other horse girl would take the British Triple Crown this year.
She had every right—and every reason—to be proud.1GaL2
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 155)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter200)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter110)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter230)
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Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 200
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 180
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/5
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 230
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 220
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/30
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 120
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 135
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 110
I Can Copy Unique Skills 100
Summoning an Evil God, but the 70
Supernatural Multiverse 100
My Harem Is Indescribable 90
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 95
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 68
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
Still playing traditional Honk 69
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 80
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 70
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 75
Checking In in Demon Slayer 80
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 85
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 70
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 65
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 70
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 70
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 65
Why did they assign me to Uma 65
MYGO Beauties 65
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 55
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 65
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 45
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 45
The Uma Musume Who Became 40
I'm Definitely Not the King of 45
After Maxing Out Every Class 45
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