Regarding her own talent and ceiling, Galileo had expectations but never considered them her ultimate trump card.
What she truly took pride in… was her unique [Domain: Monarch of Charm]!!
Galileo remembered how her mother, Urban Sea—a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner—had once evaluated her with astonishment and absolute certainty.
"Your domain is captivating enough to enchant all living beings! Even record-breaking Uma Musume would struggle to resist it when you unleash your domain."
"Not even I at my peak could break free from it. At best, a historically significant Uma Musume's domain might achieve a stalemate against yours."
Urban Sea, who had once shocked the world as a dark horse to win the Arc de Triomphe in her prime, firmly believed that her own domain fell far short of her eldest daughter Galileo's.
Such was the formidable power of Galileo's domain!
Indeed, a rare few unique domains possessed truly terrifying traits—for instance, [Hall of Fame Killer: Proof], whose domain skill could even elevate her to the level of contending with legends under the right conditions.
And now, after being successively "put through the wringer" by the two legends, Platinum and Sea the Stars, Galileo had improved so rapidly that she was even stronger than in her classic season days.
Galileo wouldn't proudly declare, "I think I've caught up to her!" like a certain Haruno Sakura might.
But she wanted Platinum to know that she, too, had grown!
This European prodigy had always been in the spotlight, and she was practically a "horse mint"—almost innately gifted with a disposition that made other European fillies feel relaxed and eager to befriend her.
And that very disposition, when her domain was activated on the racetrack, intensified into a unique trait, reaching a level that could astonish even world-class and historic monsters!
That assessment wasn't exaggerated in the slightest, because the "horse mint" disposition that made Uma Musume feel intimate was already incredibly rare in itself.
The number of Uma Musume was far smaller than that of the most ordinary humans, and among Uma Musume, only a tiny fraction could become professional racers.
After all these layers of selection, the likelihood of a professional racer also possessing the horse mint disposition was virtually negligible.
Given that, how many Uma Musume could possibly resist the enchanting domain of Galileo when facing it?
"Come, it's time to let the Pegasus witness my domain once more."
"The moment of redemption has arrived!!"
As Galileo went all out!
In this historic Breeders' Cup Turf, which also served as the grand stage for both Platinum and Galileo's retirement race, she would unleash her domain to establish [Domination]!
Something unbelievable happened right then.
From aura to the peak manifestation of aura in a domain, most Uma Musume had only ever seen two or three colors of aura before.
Typically, it was the nightmarish [black], the oppressive crimson [red], or the brilliant and haughty [gold]. But when Galileo activated her domain, it turned… pink!
It was a sweet, almost love-struck hue, seemingly harmless and devoid of any lethal power or oppressive pressure.
Domains generally fell into two types: those that weakened and suppressed opponents, securing victory at any cost; or those that made the user stronger, breaking all limits to overcome powerful foes.
And now, with her domain active, Galileo's strides visibly quickened as she accelerated—a clear example of a self-enhancing domain.
It seemed to impose no dreadful restrictions on her opponents, nor did it make the other Uma Musume feel as if their legs were weighed down, struggling to move.
That seemingly sweet, enchanting, irresistibly tempting pink domain… what could its [true nature] possibly be?!
Behind Galileo, from the other front-running Uma Musume to the several in the chasing pack who had been overtaken by the Pegasus…
Almost as one, their attention was forcibly redirected. Many who had been staring in awe at the silver-white Pegasus now turned their gaze toward Galileo in second place.
And that exquisite black-haired beauty was now being watched by nearly every Uma Musume on the track.
Originally, holding second place right behind the leader and having unleashed her domain, Galileo was already flaunting her power unabashedly!
Normally, she should have been feared and closely marked by every rival on the track.
But now… though she was still "marked," the emotions in the eyes of these American turf Uma Musume were entirely different—devoid of the hostility and wariness one should have toward a competitor.
"Kgh… I was so focused on Platinum that I didn't even get to appreciate Galileo in the race?"
"Her racing form is so beautiful, almost as stunning as the moment the goddess in the Pegasus Hall shot an arrow through my heart!!"
Nearly all of them couldn't help but shift their focus to Galileo. Even the other popular, powerful American Uma Musume, brimming with fighting spirit and formidable aura, were no exception.
Almost every Uma Musume's pace slowed noticeably. Under the suppression of the [Monarch of Charm] domain, their fighting spirit was sapped, leaving little will to battle.
"Gwaa, I want to share the winner's stage with Galileo and Platinum!!!"
"She's so adorable, I just want to keep watching her run from behind, yeah!"
"Galileo—this is my first time seeing the rumored super-popular Uma Musume in the circle. She really is incredibly perfect and beautiful!"
"N-No good! This is a race, I should be watching Platinum, not just some Galileo…"
These top-tier American turf competitors, in this very race vying for the Breeders' Cup victory, found their thoughts briefly hijacked by Galileo!
[Charm]—this was the domain effect of Galileo's extreme horse mint disposition, transforming affinity into enchantment once her domain was activated!!
Only those who also possessed the horse mint disposition stood a slight chance of resisting and avoiding such severe effects.
As Galileo's domain powered up at full strength, nearly every Uma Musume on the track was affected.
Except… ahead of her, an anomaly existed.
And the one Uma Musume whose expression Galileo couldn't see… was the silver-white figure far ahead, having opened a massive lead.
Only that silver-white Pegasus still raced with icy determination, devoid of any blazing passion!
The sharp-eyed assassin girl, her amber eyes focused, remained locked on the long stretch of course ahead, paying no mind to what was behind.
The so-called Monarch of Charm had no effect on the cold, relentless pace of the Platinum position—no fluctuation, no impact. Only battle intent remained, not a trace of attachment.
As a Pegasus, as the Platinum position, how could she be swayed by mere "horse mint"?!
As a Kuranta from that land, tempered through blood and iron in the Armorless Union, the will of this Platinum position was truly transcendent!
Thus, Platinum instantly saw through everything and instead took it as a challenge to herself.
"So you're activating your domain to challenge me?"
"Very well, I, Platinum, will respond with my full power."
The sharp, merciless assassin girl actually accelerated further atop her already blistering speed.
It was nothing less than—a super flight on top of her flight!!
In the next instant, the sweet pink that had blanketed the course no longer held sway, instantly eroded by another radiance.
--+--
[(Apollyon): Completely dominates the course, immune to most suppression and weakening effects from opponents' domains, partially immune to charm, and can seize a portion of enhancement effects from opponents' domains.]
[(Marksman): Speed increases faster the closer she is to the Uma Musume ahead. When no Uma Musume is ahead, slightly reduces subsequent stamina consumption.]
[(Unvented Wrath): Slightly drains stamina from Uma Musume with weaker aura than her and slightly reduces their speed…]
[(Blazing Dawn): …]
--+--
The moment Platinum's domain activated!
Her swift reflexes and dramatically quickened strides created a stark contrast with the other Uma Musume, who were half a beat slower and barely struggling free from Galileo's domain.
From decision-making to accelerating, it all took time. The strength of Galileo's domain lay precisely in its near-forced charm, which would be infinitely magnified at critical moments.
But… Platinum was like an uncontrollable blade, silent yet unleashing explosive dawns!
At this very moment!
—Platinum remained unaffected.
Of all the Uma Musume on the track, only Platinum's speed increased instead of decreasing.
Thus, Galileo's control instead… allowed Platinum to widen the gap even further between herself and the other American Uma Musume!
[Twenty lengths! Twenty-one lengths!]
[What an incredible super flight? With the second turn still some distance away, the Pegasus has already secured a "super large margin" lead.]
[Even more unimaginable is that Galileo's immensely powerful domain, which suppressed nearly every Uma Musume on the track, causing their momentum to collectively weaken, has had no such effect on the leading Pegasus…]
[Not only has Platinum not slowed down, she's actually accelerating!]
[Who would have thought that Galileo, with her domain active, would still see the gap widen against the Pegasus! Platinum, with her second acceleration, is charging toward that unprecedented record!!]
As the commentary box echoed with tones of disbelief, describing the extraordinary scene unfolding.
With the commentators explaining the situation, the over 100,000 spectators in the stands almost universally focused on the two figures on the inner course.
The top favorite, Platinum the Pegasus!
The second favorite, Galileo the Monarch of Charm!
Instead of evolving into an intense clash or duel, it had become a one-sided affair, with Platinum's unrestrained flight further extending the already super-sized lead!
Twenty-three lengths!
Twenty-four lengths!
This spectacle left many in the stands, including active Uma Musume and retired veterans, utterly dumbfounded.
"Only halfway through and she's already over twenty lengths ahead?"
"Too terrifying, this is Platinum running over 4000 meters! Just how strong is her body?"
"This?! Galileo's domain is incredibly powerful; even a historic Uma Musume shouldn't gain an advantage against it. How is it having no effect on Platinum?"
"Wait, just how many lengths will Platinum win by?"
It was fair to say they were all baffled, and utterly astonished.
Approaching the second turn, nearly halfway through the race.
The black-haired girl's pupils were trembling uncontrollably.
The super large margin she had been trailing by… was still growing?
She had gone all out, even unleashed her prized domain at full power, yet not only had she failed to close the gap by even a fraction, Platinum had pulled even further ahead?
A scene more terrifying than any Uma Musume's worst nightmare was unfolding before Galileo.
Her hair stood on end.
Cold sweat poured down.
Logically, when two Uma Musume both activated their domains, they should engage in a period of fierce contention.
Usually, domains were evenly matched, often maintaining that balance right up to the finish line.
Galileo had faced off against her family's legendary Uma Musume, her younger sister Sea the Stars, in multiple training races.
Even when a gap existed, it should only appear after hundreds of meters of proper, head-to-head struggle.
Since when did a gap form in an instant?!
"This… is completely different from what I expected and planned!"
As Galileo gritted her teeth, her mind reeling from the shock.
She could only watch as the silver-white figure ahead raised jet-black wings, her victory cloak whipping sharply in the wind at super high speed.
The Pegasus Platinum, majestic and alone, soared into the latter half of the course, advancing further toward the race-ending finish line.
"It's already… over twenty lengths?!"
This staggering gap was hard for Galileo to accept.
The good news: Platinum had met her pre-race expectations, truly showcasing her [full power] in this retirement race.
The bad news: The Pegasus's full power was a tad beyond what she had imagined.
Encountering a fully powered Pegasus in the race, giving her all but still unable to win!
"No, I can't… I mustn't give up easily."
"I didn't come here to lose."
Throughout her career, the highly talented and much-watched Galileo had never been overly driven by the desire to win.
After all, she had her Arc de Triomphe-winning mother Urban Sea ahead of her, and a younger sister Sea the Stars whose talent dwarfed her own by who-knew-how-much.
At the same time, mile legend Frankel was among her admiring juniors.
In this golden age, after losing to Platinum, Galileo could already see her own ceiling clearly—she would be one of the supporting characters mentioned by name in this great era, remembered by posterity.
A fulfilling and happy career, but no amount of effort could make her a legend.
But this final dance of her retirement race, this American turf contest, ignited a fierce, blazing fighting spirit in Galileo that she had never felt before.
"This is Platinum's retirement race, but isn't it mine as well?"
"Dr. Lin… is watching me here too, right?"
"I'll give everything I have, I can't let Platinum pull away so easily. Even if I get injured, even if I break a bone, it doesn't matter!! Worst case, I'll go to him for treatment after the race!"
That's right, she would show her very best self.
Since this was her retirement race, there was no need to worry about her body—and besides, Dr. Lin was right there in America!
With no lingering concerns, the Uma Musume known as Galileo was willing to burn herself to ashes. Gritting her teeth, she seemed to undergo a metamorphosis; even with her Zone already active, she unveiled another level of acceleration, surging forward.
In an instant, Galileo left the pack of American Uma Musume far behind her.
"You think you can shake me off that easily, Platinum?!"
[What a terrifying burst of speed! This is truly the Pegasus retirement race the whole world has been waiting for!]
[We're past the halfway point, and Platinum is the first to approach the third turn—the final stretch hasn't even begun yet. The pace, which should be set by the front-runners and the leading group, is being utterly dominated by the Pegasus Platinum.]
[And Galileo has shown acceleration beyond imagination. It seems she's already opened up a significant gap on the third-place front-runner, but still…]
[This isn't a 'rivalry,' not a 'duel'—even someone as brilliant as Galileo is chasing the Pegasus's shadow!]
[Twenty-nine lengths! Thirty lengths!]
[Look up and behold! The soaring Pegasus has stretched her lead to an overwhelming margin, leaving the talented girl who gave her all far behind—utterly and decisively!]
Fueled by the commentator's rising excitement, every word seemed to circle back to the great name of Platinum.
What about the other Uma Musume? Was there any chance of a dark horse emerging? A potential second "Sea the Stars"?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
From the commentators to the race officials, from the Uma Musume themselves to the retired racers and spectators beyond the track—most were already convinced: victory was assured!!
--+--
In the stands, the young Japanese lady of the Satono family, Satono Diamond, clutched her cheering board, trembling with excitement.
"We've only just reached the third turn, and Miss Platinum's lead is already… thirty lengths?!"
"Just earlier, she finished an intensely demanding dirt mile race against the Triple Tiara winner, Ruffian. She should be exhausted, her performance dropping significantly."
"Yet the form she's showing now is countless times more overwhelming than in any of her previous races?!"
Before she knew it, Satono Diamond's gaze shifted—along with many around her—toward the [Pegasus Hall].
This time, she wasn't looking at the vast hall itself, nor at the phantom image of the maiden goddess firing an arrow to judge those left behind.
She wasn't looking at the sculpture of Daiwa Scarlet at the forefront, or the numerous sculptures of Galileo.
Instead… her eyes settled on a spot further back in the Hall.
"I remember—Senior Manhattan Cafe was beaten by thirty-one lengths by Miss Platinum in the Kikuka Shō, and was once cast into the shadowy corners of the [Pegasus Hall]."
"That is, until Miss Platinum went on her European campaign, tearing through the Coolmore Group! She went on to hunt down other Coolmore Uma Musume in successive battles."
"And so, with several Coolmore sculptures to her name, and by shattering that thirty-plus length record, she now stands at the very edge of the shadows in the Hall's corner."
Satono Diamond's voice brimmed with excitement, as if recounting her favorite story.
She remembered every detail of her idol, the Pegasus Platinum's many feats!
"Now, Senior Manhattan Cafe's length deficit is about to be—no, it's already been surpassed!"
"Next, we'll see if Miss Platinum can break her own record for the widest winning margin, whether she can surpass that [thirty-plus lengths]!!"
Unbelievable!
The final stretch hadn't even arrived, yet her fans were already "popping champagne at halftime," eagerly anticipating the length margin as if recounting cherished lore!
"Soar, Miss Pegasus! This is your final dance—you must win in the most legendary way possible!!"
--+--
On the turf track, within the pack further back.
"It's over. We're only in the second half, and we're already this far behind—how are we supposed to catch up?"
"Looks like we're just spectators in this race now!"
"I knew Platinum was strong, but this isn't even her home turf, and she just ran a 1600-meter dirt race… How… how can she still run like this?"
The American turf-specialist Uma Musume were utterly stunned.
Thirty-four lengths!
Thirty-five lengths!
And that was just the gap between Platinum and the second-place Galileo, who was putting on an impressive performance themselves. The rest of the pack was even further behind.
The relentlessly widening margin left her rivals bewildered, teetering on panic.
"Was there ever any chance at all?"
"Waaah, I won't even make it into the Pegasus Hall now. Should I just aim for third place?"
"I've already started accelerating, so why does it feel… hopeless? The gap is still growing, just a little slower."
"If I'd known she was this strong, I wouldn't have even come!"
From the front-runners and pace-setters to the mid-pack closers, most were plunged into despair.
That kind of lead was just too much!
But none of their reactions, none of their efforts, drew even a flicker of attention from the Pegasus dancing alone at the front of the race, from that figure already driving toward the final stretch.
Thirty-seven lengths!
Thirty-eight lengths!
A soul-crushing margin, one that froze the fighting spirit of some Uma Musume solid, and it was still growing.
A few of the racers were already on the verge of giving up, their gazes lifting almost reverently toward the distant, shining silver-white figure pulling further away with every stride.
They muttered to themselves, the words escaping almost involuntarily.
"This is just cheating. How can a Uma Musume like this even exist?"
"It's like… watching a goddess run?!"
[There's still a fair distance to the final fourth turn, but the Pegasus Platinum is about to reach the homestretch!]
[Incredible! The ever-accelerating Pegasus has firmly left even the pursuing Galileo behind! Galileo continues to fight on relentlessly, but she can only watch as the gap between them widens.]
[Th-this is forty lengths now? How can a Uma Musume, running two championship races in one day, when she should be exhausted, achieve such an overwhelming advantage?!]
[Platinum is about to enter the homestretch! She's launching her final, monumental assault on an unprecedented record!]
[Don't miss a single moment! This will surely be a mythical battle, the kind a spectator witnesses only once in a lifetime—a Pegasus surpassing Eclipse is no mere fantasy!]
As the commentator's voice grew increasingly fervent, the entire stadium—tens of thousands of spectators—felt their hearts racing.
The giant screen showed no one but Platinum.
The massive screens at the venue, and countless viewers watching the live broadcast around the world, along with the innumerable spectators on-site, could only watch Platinum, witnessing the Pegasus open up an incalculable lead!
Finally, Platinum set foot in the homestretch. Ahead of her lay only the final stage of the journey!
The cheers and support for Platinum reached a boiling point, filling the vast Colosseum of Kazimierz.
"Platinum!! Platinum!! Platinum!!"
Even Secretariat, currently in the rest area, watched with wide-eyed astonishment.
"The undefeated Pegasus… so this is her full power?"
Moreover, Secretariat noticed that in the close-up shots, Platinum's expression wasn't its usual relaxed or plain self, nor was it the cold, focused look of a ruthless assassin.
It was—
Something almost severe!
For the first time in as long as anyone could remember, Platinum was racing with a look of intense gravity on her face.
It reminded Secretariat of a saying:
'When you truly want to win, you won't see a smile.'
A smile? There was none of that.
The assassin-like maiden had transformed into a soaring Pegasus, a knight going to war. Her coldness had turned to solemn focus as she poured her entire being into this final acceleration.
"The Dream Cup… she's absolutely locked in as the favorite to win!"
The Pegasus Platinum lived up to her name!
I wonder what kind of spectacle the dirt-track Pegasus I'll have to face next will be?!
I hope she won't be too far below Platinum's level.
--+--
On the homestretch.
The silver-white Pegasus maiden was the first to set foot upon it!
Fighting with an intensity never seen before, she wasn't ignoring her surroundings; her keen hearing was acutely tracking the footsteps behind her.
Platinum could clearly sense Galileo's form behind her, accelerating continuously, charging forward with desperate courage.
That soaring spirit, that tenacity, that hope—it all fused into a blazing will to fight, propelling Galileo's desperate flight.
But…
"This alone is far from enough."
In Platinum's view, since this was her retirement race, since she'd already undertaken the challenge of two championships in one day…
Then this final race should naturally be a test of her limits, of her body's full potential.
Otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste of this body, strengthened through her Maturation?
"Watch me, Galileo. This isn't even my full power yet!"
The next moment, Platinum's flight reached another level. She unleashed an absolute acceleration, effortlessly covering the first half of the homestretch.
The silver-white maiden's black wings seemed to beat even faster!!
The homestretch, brief and beloved by closers, was just another stage for the Great Escapee Platinum to dominate effortlessly.
As a front-running specialist who had activated her Zone from the start, this was now the third burst of acceleration she was unleashing, this time on the homestretch!
In an instant, Platinum's form, with her black wings raised high, became a dashing, swift whirlwind that seemed to sweep everything before it. She alone held the certainty of victory as she soared down the remaining track.
Accelerating!
Accelerating!
Still accelerating!!
The Pegasus spoke not, only accelerated!
A scene that would spell despair for any Uma Musume unfolded before the eyes of the pursuing Galileo.
Forty-four lengths.
Forty-five lengths.
Forty-six lengths.
'How… how is this possible?'
'She can still accelerate? Why can Platinum still accelerate?!'
Back when she was at the midpoint of the homestretch, Galileo had seen it clearly. Even though she had accelerated with all her might early on, even though she had pushed her Domain to its limit, she still couldn't catch Platinum's second acceleration. She had already known then that victory was hopeless.
But now… why? How could Platinum run a Great Escape within a Great Escape, accelerate on top of acceleration?!
The fighting spirit drained from Galileo's face, her delicate features instantly paling.
At that moment, a thought flashed through her mind: 'So close, yet so far.'
It was as if a goddess were running under the name Platinum!
She suddenly felt her breath catch, a near-suffocating sensation spreading through her body.
Driven by a fierce competitive spirit and a will to win, Galileo—who commanded a powerful Domain that even historical-class Uma Musume found daunting—could not close the gap by even a fraction.
The finish line was… suddenly, almost there.
Under the gaze of the entire world—
The silver-white Pegasus knight, clad in shining, sharp knight-armor racing silks, blazed with an unprecedented passion and radiant glory!
Amid the most fervent cheers and celebrations!
The commentator's triumphant cry erupted, boiling over and spreading throughout the stadium stands and to the ears of viewers in every corner of the globe!
[Galileo, Europe's superstar genius, has been left behind by an uncountable number of lengths, unable to make up the ground!]
[In the Breeders' Cup Turf, the Pegasus who surpassed Eclipse—here, her race concludes!!]
As those words rang out, captured in a tight shot on the screen, the silver-white Pegasus maiden crossed the final finish line.
[The legend continues, the dynasty is established!]
[A legend among legends! A myth within myths!]
[The Pegasus Platinum flies to victory! And the winning margin is… a super-massive fifty lengths?!]
The Pegasus now stood atop the world!!
Thus, the great Platinum achieved two championship victories in a single day, concluding her career with glorious perfection.
--+--
The Pegasus Chronicle:
[Debut Race: 2nd place, Daiwa Scarlet. Won by 5 lengths!]
[Retirement Race: 2nd place, Galileo. Won by 50 lengths!]
--+--
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.