With only two categories remaining in the URA Finals—the Long-Distance and Dirt divisions—both Rampage and the URA stood in absolute agreement: if any divisions were to be expanded next, it had to be these two. Leaving the long-distance distance capped at 2500m while splitting medium-distance into 2000m and 2400m felt incomplete, and ignoring dirt was simply impossible given how wildly its popularity had surged in recent times.
"That bratty British girl complained to me too, saying I don't understand the beauty of long-distance racing at all," Uranus mused, settling into a plush seat in the Tokyo Racecourse VIP suite to watch the action. Her heart raced with excitement at the intense struggle unfolding on the track below. At the same time, her mind drifted back to the bold, headstrong British horse girl who had confronted her, even though Uranus had come to Japan under the guise of studying race management.
"Listen here, brat—if you want things done your way, go do it in your own country. Is bluster and lack of manners the British way now? Unfortunate for you, I have no intention of dropping to one knee to hear you out. If you want to force me down, you'd better overcome the Tyrant first."
"I must admit, I've grown quite wicked myself... Heh heh. I wonder if this is your influence?" Uranus chuckled softly.
"Now you're gonna blame me for that? Talk about wicked, U-chan," Rampage replied smoothly.
She stood right beside Uranus, radiating an utterly peerless aura. Having reclaimed the strength etched into literal legend and stacking her current power on top of it, one could only wonder just how high her ceiling had risen.
"I do think she's a fine woman, though," Rampage added. "If you want to build up a nation or achieve something grand, she's top-tier material... Even if it's an undeniable fact that she's an unmanageable wild child."
"And you have the nerve to say that about someone else?"
"Hey, I'm safe because I actually have enough common sense to keep my manners and attitude in check when the situation calls for it~ At the very least, I don't casually leverage my close ties with His Majesty the Emperor just because I have them~ I'm terrified of getting canceled online."
"You are afraid of backlash?"
"When it's just about me, sure, whatever. But I hate dragging other people into my mess."
"You are such a troublesome child."
"'...But that's what makes you great,' right?"
Uranus couldn't refute it. For better or worse, her people suffered from a national character that was hesitant, fearful, and lacking in initiative—and this exact spark was what they craved. Perhaps that very trait was the source of Rampage's undeniable charisma.
"Sato-chan, good luck out there today~!!"
"Shiv-chan, same to you!"
Down on the turf, the long-distance race of the URA Finals was about to begin. Though some claimed long-distance races lacked popularity, countlessly many fans still held the division in high esteem, heavily tied to the prestige of Japan's legendary G1 events. Stepping onto this grand stage once more was Satono Lucifer, returning as the reigning, inaugural champion.
For the next generation of Satono horse girls... and the next, and the next, and the next after that... I will connect my run to their future.
With countless intertwined emotions, the gate doors swung open.
Watching with intense concentration from the stands was another observer—a British horse girl who had come not only to absorb the operational know-how of the Finals, but out of pure fascination with what kind of running Japan's long-distance turf had to offer.
"The URA Finals Turf Long-Distance 2500m is UNDERWAY!! A clean break for the entire field! They're bunching up through the first turn, but wait—someone is breaking away with sheer aggression!! The brave runner taking the lead in this brutal long-distance battle is—Imamiya Arrow, hailing from the local circuits!! The single arrow shot from Osaka becomes the signal flare marking the start of this endurance war!!"
"This race is MINE to win, ya hear!?"
It was a brilliant, explosive start, but could she possibly sustain that pace? Her break was so reminiscent of Rampage's aggressive style that anyone would assume she was bound to collapse... yet as her shadow overlapped with the lingering aura of legendary frontrunners, doubt rattled the minds of those behind her. Several runners felt compelled to push forward early.
"Chasing after Imamiya Arrow is the elite core of the Central circuit—Hammer Rush, Gray Ghost, and Daio Road follow in close succession! A bit further back, we have Neige Fleur, Steel Haze, and Talisman, leading the international contenders!!"
"This stage really tightens your resolve, doesn't it?" Steel Haze muttered under her breath. "I couldn't make it in time for the Legend Race, but I still have things I must accomplish here."
Having re-entered the tournament, Steel Haze stood on the turf once more, carrying gratitude toward Rampage and a vow for revenge. Truthfully, she had intended to enter the legendary stage... but after quitting her team in sheer disgust over dealing with a certain troublemaker, she had missed the deadline. Still, considering she could walk this path alongside her cherished comrades, she considered it a cheap price to pay.
"Fleur, Garuda... what about you two? What do you seek to accomplish on this stage?" Steel Haze called out.
"Steel, you run so cool~!! So cool, so cool!! But Fleur isn't gonna lose~!!"
"As for me, I intend to enjoy this to my heart's content."
"Right... That was a foolish question to ask. My apologies—let's enjoy this!!"
Taken aback by the international duo's lighthearted responses, Steel Haze let out a quick laugh. Why did she still carry that heavy burden, like a phantom limb lingering long after the weight should have been thrown off? If she wanted to shake it off for good—she had no choice but to pour her entire soul into her stride.
"Trailing right behind them are Mejiro Tsar and Saint-Prière!!"
"A runner from Russia, though her name certainly raised a few eyebrows! She has no official relation to the Mejiro family, but one can't help but feel a familiar aura around her!"
"They call her the Empress of Russia—it will be exciting to see what she brings to the track! Meanwhile, our inaugural champion, Satono Lucifer, has settled into an ideal position! Ever since winning the first Finals, she's stated her dream of using her success to support future horse girls and produce G1 winners from the Satono family. Expectations are high for a run that will inspire the champions of tomorrow!!"
Even at top speed, Lucifer's mind operated with icy precision. Mapping out the location of every single runner, she dialed her five senses to maximum, constantly ingesting and processing data from her surroundings. She kept a sharp eye on the closers lingering in the back as well.
"Aurum Ala, Bullet Train, Massive Road—when will the rear pack make their move!? Meanwhile, Imamiya Arrow at the front shows no sign of backing off! Is she genuinely planning to runaway with this entire 2500m race on her own!?"
"I'm taking this race, no matter what!! And that prize money is MINE, BABY!!"
Her spirit was fiery, but she was overextending. Fuchu's 2500m layout was a completely different beast compared to Nakayama's 2500m. Bit by bit, Arrow's pace began to wither—yet the momentum of the three runners who had chased her down began to falter as well. In a twist of fate, Arrow's inconsistent rhythm had acted like a phantom lure, draining the stamina of those directly behind her.
"Now then... let's dance with the angels!!"
"I may not have much racing experience... but for her sake, I refuse to lose!! Flames of purification, consume my body and grant me strength!!"
"Talisman has begun to accelerate!! Saint-Prière is surging forward alongside her!!"
As Talisman broke away, Saint-Prière exploded from behind to join the clash. Seeing the brilliance of their surge, Steel Haze couldn't help but smile in admiration—yet her own eyes blazed with renewed competitive fire.
"Not yet... The one who will fly the highest... is ME!!"
"Steel Haze surges forward with incredible speed!! Heading into the final corner, the lead has CHANGED to Steel Haze!! Imamiya Arrow has hit her limit and is falling back rapidly!! The tide of battle has completely turned!!"
"Time to begin!! The fun, magical ball of the Snow Flower Fairies starts NOW!!"
"Neige Fleur fights back from the inside to claim third!! The first to enter the home stretch is Steel Haze!! Can Steel Haze claim her revenge from last year!? Charging from the far outside is Bullet Train, while Aurum Ala squeezes through the innermost lane up to sixth!! It's a chaotic brawl!! The rear pack is surging forward while the frontrunners kick away, bunching into a single violent pack!! Mejiro Tsar is closing in on Steel Haze!! Just one length between them—can Steel Haze hold on!!?"
A brutal war of attrition erupted in the center of the field. Maintaining just enough distance to avoid clipping hooves, the runners slammed their pressure and fighting spirit into one another. Even for seasoned veterans, holding form inside such a chaotic pressure cooker was nearly impossible. Just as Steel Haze's stride flickered slightly under the relentless onslaught—a runner pulled up directly alongside her.
"From here on out... this is MY street fight!!"
"S-SATONO LUCIFER!!! Satono Lucifer surges into the lead all at once!! Steel Haze and Satono Lucifer are head-to-head!! Squeezing through a needle-thread opening in the dense pack, the reigning champion claims the front!! Satono Lucifer OVERTAKES Steel Haze!! Steel Haze stretches her stride with everything she has left!! But the Morning Star answers back, extending her own lead!! This is the star that lights the way for Satono's future!! LUCIFER CROSSES THE FINISH LINE!!! SATONO LUCIFER SECURES BACK-TO-BACK VICTORIES IN THE URA FINALS LONG-DISTANCE DIVISION!! Second place goes to Steel Haze, falling short by a heartbreaking half-length!! Third place is Neige Fleur, fourth is Mejiro Tsar, and fifth is Talisman!!"
"I... didn't reach her, huh... I don't have the face to meet my comrades now..." Steel Haze muttered softly, casting her eyes downward in defeat.
Yet, she forced herself to look up immediately and offer warm, genuine applause for Lucifer. The victor deserved praise; only the worthy could stand as true champions.
As Steel Haze clapped, Lucifer smiled brightly and pointed a finger behind her. Standing there were her friends.
"You looked so cool, Rusty."
"Ah, a magnificent run. Hold your head high, Rusty. Word has it someone is rolling up their sleeves to cook a grand feast for you tonight."
"My comrades... Ah, to me, that is... the greatest honor of all."
Tears welling in her eyes, Steel Haze felt a warm hand pat her back, while Lucifer proudly thrust her fist straight toward the sky.
"This brawl... IS MY WIN!!!"
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