She would prove to the Pegasus, who claimed it was victory or death, that her own fighting spirit was no less fierce!
The strongest miler Uma Musume, Frankel, her exquisite, jade-carved profile seemed perpetually sharpened by a blade's cold edge—a warrior caught in the storm's heart.
The only one universally acknowledged as worthy to challenge the Pegasus, the final hope to thwart the Pegasus's myth surpassing Eclipse, was her!
This was the chance: the last representative of the Sea family seeking vengeance against the Pegasus, to seize the ultimate glory for herself and her trainer. All in this race. There would be no second opportunity!
Caught in the storm?
No, this warrior was whispering...
—She was the storm!
--+--
[(Hunter's Moment): When in the latter half of a race, slightly reduces stamina consumption, slightly increases speed, and slightly improves physical strength.]
[(Call Me King): Can calmly plan the race, unleash strength at the final moment, and increase speed.]
[(Unending Will): Depending on the intensity of the will to fight, increases (stats) from a small to moderate degree...]
[(Supremacy of the Strong): ...]
--+--
Frankel's terrifying domain underwent what seemed like an evolution. Originally powerful enough to overwhelm ordinary world-class Uma Musume, it now surged far beyond its previous state!
Behind her, some of the other Uma Musume, like the anxious Cirrus des Aigles and Winx, had already activated their own domains, not daring to hold back, striving to close the gap.
But in an instant, Frankel's domain, now unleashed for the second time, caused her acceleration to climb again. With an aura that seemed capable of crushing everything, it easily suppressed the domains of many others outside the [Pegasian Sight].
That leap, that gallop, that domain!
All proclaimed her the undisputed monarch of mile races. Frankel, like the Pegasus's shocking front-running, was swift, formidable, and awe-inspiring.
This was... the peak beyond limits that Frankel displayed after abandoning all race tactics, completely following her instinct to chase victory, sparing no cost to challenge and even defeat Platinum!
The current Frankel had already surpassed her idol, the mile legend Brigadier Gerard. But regrettably... barring any surprises, her lead wouldn't be that extensive.
If a Uma Musume embodying Brigadier Gerard were to appear in the future, she might well rival Frankel, perhaps even surpass her.
That was something Frankel refused to accept.
And the arrival of the Pegasus, Platinum... was the best, the [only] chance!
For herself, for the Sea family's honor, for offering her retiring trainer one final, glorious gift!
For this... Frankel possessed the resolve to burn everything to ashes!!
Without such determination and preparation, how could she be worthy of facing the Pegasus, whose legend rivaled Eclipse's?
In Frankel's view, Platinum's desire for this victory, her will to defeat Frankel... must be burning just as fiercely as her own.
Platinum, without a doubt, was just as willing to sacrifice everything for victory.
"Come, Pegasus!!"
"If defeating you means retiring right here, gravely injured, I'll pay that price!"
Without a moment's hesitation!
Frankel's cold, solitary figure, and the domain under her full command, were like a sharp sword long sheathed within a scabbard, finally drawn. Even facing the strongest foe, she showed not a trace of fear!
The number and quality of the domain skills she activated were terrifyingly high, combined with her exceptionally superb physical condition...
That power had surpassed the imagination of countless professional Uma Musume on the track and in the stands!
Across the vast course, most Uma Musume were being left in the dust by that silver-white girl. Only this dashing, proud, and fiercely determined legendary girl possessed the qualification to display the strength for a direct confrontation!
Transforming here, her acceleration under the front-running style was more than a step faster than the Uma Musume behind who had activated their domains and were chasing with all their might.
That soaring spirit, that obsession, that hope, all transformed into the blazing fighting spirit fueling her desperate sprint. Frankel's super-high-speed gallop finally showed a glimmer of hope—slowly closing the gap with the Pegasus freely leading the charge at the front!
The strongest—only one is needed, not two.
"Platinum, our duel will be etched into mile... no, into the entire turf history as a legend!"
"But this victory... I'll be taking it—!!"
A meteor, seemingly capable of burning everything, was in that instant returning to the periphery of the Pegasus's vision, attempting to reclaim the advantage and overtake!
[One major characteristic of the Queen Anne Stakes is its distance of only 1600 meters, yet it features a considerably long homestretch, thus testing the contestants' control over the race's pace even more.]
[But—!]
[We can almost hear the Pegasus's whisper: 'Pace? You still need to control it?']
[Just after the second turn, she had already opened up a gap over the third-place Winx, who was behind Frankel, to nearly a 'large difference' extent.]
[Remember, this isn't a middle-distance or long-distance race, but a mile race, hundreds of meters shorter!]
[The legend of the Pegasus's overwhelming front-running continues, even in her first mile race, the Queen Anne Stakes!]
The commentator's voice had already unconsciously focused entirely on Platinum.
Even though this was a race where three Uma Musume were employing a front-running strategy.
Even though the lineup was luxurious, with G1 winners making up 100% of the participants.
Only the leading Uma Musume could firmly capture everyone's attention!
Finally...
The next moment, the commentator continued, her tone rising as she reported on another legend.
[And the only other favorite, the mile legend, would never let Platinum dominate the race unchallenged. Frankel... has activated her domain at full power.]
[Wait a moment, her acceleration is so fast?! The gap that Platinum, with her wings unfurled and domain dominating, had opened from half a length to two or three lengths... is starting to be closed?!]
[As expected of Frankel, as expected of the most outstanding opponent Pegasus Platinum has ever faced.]
[In the past, even Harbinger and Sea the Stars couldn't close the gap with Platinum, but Frankel is actually managing it!]
[Three lengths! Two lengths! Soon it will be...]
While reporting the situation and positions, suddenly—the commentator's voice, initially exorbitant and surprised, and the collective stunned reaction from the audience seats!
It seemed something even more shocking than Frankel's terrifying full-power comeback was completely revealing itself!
That was...
The silver-white girl, having her interest significantly piqued, had likewise chosen to activate a new domain skill!
The ability to unleash a second wave of domain skills wasn't unique to Frankel alone!
The freely galloping silver-white girl, with her keen senses, perceived everything around her even while sprinting at high speed.
For so long, Platinum had almost never experienced the feeling of being caught up to. She did not like being chased down.
Any assassin would dislike the feeling of being pursued; it was almost synonymous with death's arrival.
But Frankel was hardly Death itself! She was no knight of the Nearl family, nor was she the Armorless Union's Lazurites or Darksteels!
Then she would shake her off, throw her down hard!
"Armor On."
Along with the whisper from the very front, the silver-white girl's voice reached Frankel's ears.
Platinum's signature white racing outfit transformed into cold, aesthetically pleasing knight's light armor!
From behind the knight's light armor, a silver-grey cape manifested, swaying freely at her super-high sprinting speed, creating an extreme contrast of light and dark, positive and negative, with the black wings on her back!
Some time ago, Platinum, just like the Radiant Knight Nearl, had also obtained a second racing outfit, enabling her to "don armor" and "remove armor" on the track.
Now, at this very moment, was the time for the ultimate display!
Simultaneously, it was the perfect time for her to initiate her transformation and unleash her full-power final kick!
--+--
[(Blazing Dawn): ...]
[(Hunting Spree): ...]
[(Eternal Hunt): ...]
[(True Silver Slash): ...]
[(Twilight): ...]
[(Sweeping Stance): ...]
--+--
Without a moment's thought or hesitation, Platinum decisively chose... a head-on confrontation!
Since Frankel had drawn her sword, she would draw hers too!
"My sword is plenty sharp itself!"
Under the full dominion of the Pegasus's View, the Pegasus girl, utilizing her new domain skills as she flew across the turf, managed to push even further—before the final homestretch!
The sight of Pegasus Platinum racing as if flying just above the ground completely captivated everyone behind her, and the tens of thousands of fans in the stands!
Along with the countless viewers worldwide watching the live broadcast, all were so shocked they found it impossible to look away for even a second.
Two lengths!!
Three lengths!!
In an instant...
After the third turn, Platinum, facing a fully serious and powered-up Frankel, reclaimed her previous lead in terms of lengths.
That domain, that Uma Musume, was so powerful, dazzling, and intense like a meteor—it was the first time Platinum had felt such surprise at an opponent's terrifying strength.
But instead! It only ignited the fighting spirit of Pegasus Platinum to an unprecedented degree!
Thus... she began her own unique front-running, throwing away so-called legends like Frankel, establishing a pace solely her own!
And that famous praise from Eclipse—"Eclipse First, The Rest Nowhere"—was being demonstrated most vividly at this very moment!!
The audience seats were already boiling over, utterly baffled by the successive accelerations from Frankel and Platinum.
A second acceleration after a front-running pace—no matter how many races they watched, they had never seen anything like it on the turf.
Such unheard-of monsters,who should have missed each other in different eras, were now gathered here, as if in a dream cup for mile races!
As for the winner, only one would emerge!
"What incredible acceleration! She's really surpassing all the other Uma Musume, including Frankel?"
"Wh-what a terrifying monster. Platinum... I feel like her title isn't really [Pegasus], her race is [Pegasus]!"
"Go, Frankel! You have to chase her down! You mustn't be defeated by Platinum!"
"You're Europe's last glory! You can't lose to an outsider!"
Amidst the thousands of astonished discussions...
There was shock, bewilderment, and also... amazement and worry!
Of course, that worry wasn't for Platinum, but from the trainer Henry, for his charge, Frankel.
"How is this possible... to be this strong?"
As an experienced trainer on the verge of retirement, Henry's eye was exceptionally sharp.
And precisely because of his strong judgment, he, a top-tier trainer, didn't set any specific race tactics for Frankel.
Against such a Pegasus, any plan was laughable. After all, could any plan compare to the [illegal blockade] involving four Uma Musume from the Coolmore group back then?
And Coolmore's reputation and honor had only ended up as shattered fragments at the foot of the Pegasus's statue, engraved into the turf history's pillar of shame!
So, from the very beginning, Henry believed that arranging so-called race tactics was simply asking for humiliation.
It might instead cause Frankel to focus too much on executing the plan, potentially affecting her running condition and increasing the likelihood of defeat.
The only method was to believe in Frankel, to rely on that absolute strength to compete!
But what was this?!
Just as Frankel was going all out, pushing her hidden domain to its absolute limit, and only then managing to slowly close the length gap with Platinum...
Pegasus Platinum, meeting the challenge head-on, also sprinted with full power, completely unleashing her own domain as well.
"When Little Frankel activates her domain at full power and unleashes everything... the rate at which she closes the gap is actually that slow?"
"And after Platinum also maximizes her domain, she instantly pulls away from Little Frankel again? How is that possible!"
Henry drew a sharp breath, his smile completely frozen stiff. His gaze had already shifted from Frankel, unconsciously, to the figure of the freely sprinting silver-white girl at the very front.
"It's as if she's transcended the upper limits of the Uma Musume species, ascending to the level of a true Pegasus?!"
But he saw that Frankel remained silent, simply accelerating relentlessly!
Legends never die!
As the sole mile legend of this era, Frankel would not bow to anyone. She continued to accelerate, to run.
"Make Platinum remember that you are the strongest opponent she has ever faced!"
"Charge, Frankel!! Regardless of victory or defeat, leave no regrets!!"
That dazzling figure, those absolute footsteps!
Enabled Platinum, as if soaring and overlooking the field, to once again, with absolute dominance, surpassing Frankel—the favorite who had just returned to the periphery of her vision, back to a position not far from her side!
Three lengths!!
Four lengths!!
The gap was gradually widening, almost imperceptibly.
Immediately, Frankel's pupils constricted, as if she had never anticipated Platinum's acceleration and full-power domain could be this powerful, and then she was firmly surpassed.
Right then, behind Frankel, the third-place Winx had already been left behind by this mile legend by seven or eight lengths, approaching a 'large difference' extent.
Such a monster as Frankel, before Platinum, couldn't even [maintain] the same position, let alone overtake her?
The Uma Musume were sweating profusely, Winx among them!
"Wh-what fast acceleration and explosive force?!"
"It's... it's over! Winx, who's just a bit ahead of me, and ahead of her is the overwhelmingly powerful Frankel... and even Frankel is being opened up to such a large gap by the Pegasus?"
"Ugh, is this really an opponent I can surpass?"
"No way, just how... can anyone defeat a Pegasus?!"
"That hopeless gap... I feel like raising my hands and surrendering already!!"
Meanwhile, the silent, snow-white maiden, Winx, was also filled with unease.
She had already reached the halfway point of the third turn, and the Pegasus she was focused on, Platinum, was about to be the first to set foot on the final homestretch.
Since she couldn't catch Frankel at all, didn't that mean... second place was slipping away!!
While the other Uma Musume were despairing at Platinum's strength, Winx was still thinking about [securing second and aiming for first], so she had intended to overtake Frankel first.
Under the circumstances of that silver-white Pegasus running wild in a massive lead, and the meteor-like Frankel chasing madly, all the other Uma Musume seemed to have completely become part of the background.
The vast racecourse, as the Pegasus Platinum alone reached the homestretch, erupted as if the finish line had already been crossed, igniting a wave of feverish excitement from the countless spectators.
"Platinum!! Platinum!! Platinum!!"
"Go, go! The myth of surpassing Eclipse is right before your eyes, can you maintain it to the end?"
"Pegasus Platinum, just how incredible is she? It's truly unbelievable."
"Fly, fly! Let the whole world see just what the limits of the peak Miss Platinum's prowess look like!"
"Getting a ticket was so lucky."
--+--
Turf, Final Homestretch.
This position symbolized the final, white-hot stage of the race! Yet only a single figure of silver-white radiance was running wild there.
Behind her, even Frankel, the closest second place, had unknowingly been left behind by a whole five lengths... and the gap was still widening to an absurd degree.
This scene had long since stunned the many Uma Musume! They were so dumbfounded it seemed they didn't even qualify to set foot in the Pegasus Hall!
And second place... wouldn't be satisfied. Frankel, on the contrary, had no desire to enter any Pegasus Hall!
Thud—!
On the homestretch, the second visitor finally arrived.
"Don't think you can shake me off that easily, Platinum!!"
Frankel's powerful legs easily dug into the ground. Even on the European turf, famous for its softness and extreme demand on strength, it was easily trampled, clods of grass and mud flying out.
"Among Europe's mediocre talents, few are my equal, even fewer my better."
"You alone... are worth fighting!!"
The roar from Frankel behind her, carried by the howling wind, reached the ears of the silver-white maiden, causing this Platinum sovereign to unconsciously curl the corners of her lips slightly.
A breeze brushed past the quiver behind Platinum's back, now long empty. The Pegasus, having led from the start, had pierced through all the Uma Musume, including Frankel behind her.
Clearly already surpassed, already hunted, Frankel could still display an utterly terrifying speed.
The Pegasus's wanton display of a third acceleration had indeed stunned Frankel, making her grit her teeth, but even now she remained unyielding, straining to wring out every last bit of potential from her body, even if it meant an overload that might be difficult to fully recover from after the race.
'If I yield here, easily changing my goal to second place... then there was no point in me participating in this fight!'
'This will be my peak battle. Regardless of victory or defeat, I must display the prowess I ought to have!'
The maiden named Frankel could still maintain her soaring fighting spirit.
She held her head high, absolutely refusing to bow to the silver-white Pegasus under the twin moons of Terra, still supporting her high-speed run.
The rising blood pressure caused slightly labored breathing, as if her lungs were about to burst—precisely the result of the high load from running at ultra-high speed.
Even so, Frankel absolutely would not admit defeat.
But that originally aloof and confident maiden's face was now contorted, her silver teeth clenched so hard her lips showed traces of blood.
The once casual and unrestrained running had now transformed into a desperate sprint, desperately trying to make herself accelerate further!
This race, this showdown with Pegasus Platinum... was worth her throwing everything into it, transforming her painstakingly honed, proud body into the flame of a meteor, using it as kindling to ignite the torch!
In the next moment—!
A scene near miraculous presented itself to the rear pack, and even the countless spectators on both sides witnessed it with astonishment.
The figure in second place actually erupted with a visible burst of acceleration, striding proudly onto the homestretch, accelerating here to a degree almost on par with that silver-white maiden's form.
Accelerate, accelerate, accelerate again!
That was... the third acceleration unleashed by a supreme legendary Uma Musume, one who was [using her very body as the torch], staking her entire career!!
Regardless of cost, sparing no cost, Frankel surpassed her past self.
"This is me—"
"My career-staking acceleration!!"
--+--
Homestretch, Halfway Point.
That pursuit, that extreme closing in, the fighting spirit displayed had been transmitted to Platinum's heart.
Platinum knew that if Frankel's acceleration advanced one step further, it might possibly close the gap again.
In terms of both strength and resolve, she was the strongest opponent Platinum had ever faced! It even stirred the interest of the silver-white assassin maiden, kindling her own fighting spirit.
But now, for the first time after surpassing all the other Uma Musume, Platinum found her battle spirit ignited.
Good—
Worthy of being the final boss of her [Mission Schedule], worthy of the title Great Demon King!
"If you were too weak, it'd be boring."
"I'm glad my final opponent in the Mission Schedule is you."
The next moment!
That silver-white maiden, her waterfall-like cascading hair and cloak fluttering from the high-speed run, suddenly pulled away into the distance once more.
In the final half of the homestretch, the Pegasus maiden raising her jet-black wings, under the illumination of Terra's twin moons, solitary, moved further and further away towards the finish line.
Instantly—!
Accelerate!
Accelerate!
ACCELERATE!!
Clearly she was in a massive lead, employing an extreme, exhaustive running style famed for burning out everything one has, yet she seemed as relaxed as if taking a stroll, spreading her wings as if ambling in flight!
But unlike usual, within that pair of amber eyes, it seemed a blazing flame of fighting spirit had ignited, declaring that the Platinum of this moment was definitely not adopting a lazy, casual attitude.
Platinum's white cloak swayed and fluttered before the eyes of almost all the Uma Musume! Leaving no hope, bestowing only despair upon all the Uma Musume on the field!
A pair of jet-black wings manifested behind her, creating a contrast with her petite, sacred silver-white body. And Platinum's footsteps no longer matched the powerful stomping from before, instead becoming... light!
That kind of dash was less like a forceful sprint, and more like—[Skimming the ground in flight]!
Spreading those jet-black wings, the silver-white maiden, like an arrow shot from a bow, completely began to flee into the distance towards the finish line not far ahead!
That was... an acceleration that could be called unbelievable, formidable to the extreme. As a front-running Uma Musume, after successive accelerations, she could still unleash a so-called [final kick] on the homestretch!
That speed was so exaggerated that behind her, the legendary Frankel, who could firmly leave all past mile-specialist Uma Musume in the dust, at the closest point had only been within [five lengths]...
Then, in the very next moment, behind Platinum, Frankel's excellent final-kick run seemed to slow down, as if she had lost speed.
No, that wasn't slow—Winx behind her was falling even further behind Frankel! It was that Frankel's final kick couldn't outrun Pegasus Platinum's!
Because Platinum was faster, creating a visual effect!
That proud, unyielding maiden in second place, Frankel, willing to pay any price to break her limits, witnessed an extremely shocking, incredible scene.
Her own... all-out run under her domain, after Platinum waved her wings and activated her own domain, actually started falling back instead of advancing?
In an instant, cold sweat unconsciously trickled down Frankel's cool, confident cheek. She gritted her silver teeth, continuing to strive to increase her speed, to catch up to Platinum's footsteps ahead.
Yet she found her legs felt as heavy as lead, and trying her utmost to lift them for greater speed had become difficult to achieve!
Is this... the true full power of a Pegasus?!
--+--
"She can still accelerate like that while leading from the start? No way, just how monstrous are they?"
"Legendary Uma Musume, are their bodies made of iron? Aren't they afraid of losing speed, their bodies giving out?"
"So scary, I originally wanted to try for second and aim for first... sob, just making top three is success."
"It's over!!"
Those numerous cries of despair continuously rose.
The pack behind, who had all started their final kicks early, nearly felt utter despair.
Platinum's speed was extremely fearsome.
Frankel's speed after her burst was equally terrifying.
Their one-on-one death match was simply too extravagant for the rear pack!
And Frankel, her eyes only on the Pegasus far ahead, ignored the sounds of all the Uma Musume behind, continuing to gaze fixedly at Platinum.
Unconsciously, Frankel looked into the distance, her gaze shifting from astonishment to shock, then to disbelief.
Finally, within that bewildered gaze, her pupils constricted, looking towards the silver-white maiden's back in the far distance.
Why?
Why, even like this, can I still not catch up to Platinum?
Pegasus... is she truly a Pegasus?!!
Even in a final-kick duel after a massive lead, there's still a gap?
The Pegasus, raising her jet-black wings, bursting forth with her final kick, her figure was simply completely, utterly out of reach!
Even now, Frankel, who had left Winx behind by a ridiculous large margin, found the figure of Platinum ahead visible but unattainable!!
Frankel felt her breath catch, her large heart beating faster and faster, a near-suffocating sensation spreading through her body. Her face turned pale, bloodless, and she could only helplessly watch that thunderous, dazzling figure be the first to reach the homestretch, striding towards the final finish line.
Proud and unyielding, maintaining her fighting spirit until the very last moment, Frankel, feeling her body's exhaustion reach its peak, still stretched her legs in a flying dash, continuing to run.
A legend... a legend, could only look up, gaze at the back of that Pegasus!!
[In the duel of massive lead versus final kick, Platinum wins again! Skimming the ground as if in flight, she wasn't reeled in by Frankel, even managing to widen the lead again.]
[In second place, Frankel, already leading the third-place runner by a large margin, still couldn't close the gap to Platinum one bit?!]
[Seven lengths! Eight lengths!]
[Pegasus Platinum, less than a hundred meters from the finish line on the homestretch!]
The commentator's voice, in the final moments of the homestretch, as the race was about to conclude, continuously expressed amazement.
[Without a doubt, Frankel is a legend great enough, a monster capable of opening large margins against any mile-specialist Uma Musume.]
[But this time, her opponent is a Pegasus!]
[Rivaling Eclipse... no!]
[Look! Witness! That is clearly the 'next strongest turf Uma Musume in history' who will leap over the myth of Eclipse!]
The vast spectator stands had completely boiled over into extreme uproar.
The celebratory cheers, the support, reached a fever pitch early! Countless figures stood up collectively, raising the support boards in their arms.
Even Daiwa Scarlet was utterly immersed, watching in anticipation, clenching her pink fists. In the eyes of the countless spectators, they were fortunate to witness a dream-like scene.
That foremost silver-white Pegasus maiden, in the next moment...
Fair and square, dashed across the finish line as if flying!
[No matter who it is, even a legend, can only chase after the back of the Pegasus Platinum under those jet-black wings!]
[Ten lengths! A Pegasus who surpasses legends, what should we call her?!]
[Rejoice!! This race destined to be recorded in history... no, a mythical legend enough to be passed down through the ages!]
[I never saw the races of Eclipse, or Man o' War, but now I feel no regret!]
[Because, I saw Platinum with my own eyes!!]
--+--
Future generations would eventually have history books inscribed with the legendary deeds of Platinum.
[Pegasus Chronicle (Part One):]
[Year Three: Platinum defeated the legendary Uma Musume Frankel in the Queen Anne Stakes.]
[Thereby, surpassing Eclipse.]
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.