A scorching heatwave, almost enough to melt a person, instantly swept across the racetrack with the cursed blade's Zone.
The European Uma Musume, already stunned by Mr. C.B.'s speed, now felt their pupils tremble violently.
Under this terrifying aura, like a sea of blood from the realms of hell, every inch of their muscles trembled uncontrollably.
Before they could even process the situation, an instinctual sense of danger screamed through their nerves, making them subconsciously veer off their line, narrowly avoiding the blazing crimson light about to engulf them.
Yet, even as their instincts drove them to evade, when that red streak of light, wrapped in a gale-force wind, slashed past their sides, they still felt the illusory sensation of a blade's edge grazing them.
Shreds of turf cut across their cheeks like knife blades, while the scorching sweat flowing over their skin felt like blood itself.
Every drop that fell brought these Uma Musume an unsettling, profound sense of weakness.
They couldn't even muster the will to grit their teeth and push for more stamina.
It was as if the cursed blade had severed their connection to their own bodies—their flesh no longer obeyed their will.
To those watching outside the track, it looked as if they had been utterly torn asunder by that streaking red light.
Forget about regrouping or reforming their defensive line; they couldn't even maintain their previous speed. All they could do was watch helplessly as Dream Weaver broke through their ranks.
"It's Dream Weaver! Following Mr. C.B., Dream Weaver is accelerating now! She too has pierced through dozens of Uma Musume single-handedly! This blazing, razor-sharp brilliance is the very charm of the grand path!"
Commentator Kimura shouted fervently as he watched the red light cut through the field.
His partner, Commentator Matsushita, seated beside him, flushed with excitement at the intense scene and cried out, "Exactly! And the power she's displaying is even more astonishing than Mr. C.B.'s earlier show!"
"If Mr. C.B. used sheer speed to leave those European Uma Musume unable to react, then Dream Weaver is like wielding a blade, cutting through them openly and honorably!"
"Under that scorching crimson light, they can only meet with utter defeat!"
Amid the commentators' unrestrained, exhilarated shouts, Tokyo Racecourse erupted once more.
Tens of thousands of spectators roared Dream Weaver's name, their combined voices creating a wave of sound powerful enough to feel like it might lift the entire stadium off its foundations.
--+--
In the VIP room, Shinzan gazed at the track with a complex expression.
As the Uma Musume present with the most honors, her experience across countless races allowed her to see the truth more clearly than anyone.
"To think I underestimated you…"
Her focus wasn't on Dream Weaver, but on Mr. C.B., who was single-handedly challenging the Zones of five Triple Crown Uma Musume. She murmured the words softly to herself.
In the past, Shinzan, like many others, had assumed that after Mr. C.B. withdrew from the training camp, she had stepped out of the ranks of the elite for good.
After all, common sense dictated that an Uma Musume who couldn't handle the pressure of the training camp could hardly become a true powerhouse.
But no one could have predicted that Mr. C.B. would deliver such an astonishing performance in the Japanese Derby.
Breaking through a defensive line formed by over a dozen European Uma Musume, challenging the Zones of five Triple Crown winners single-handedly, even managing to create a tiny flaw in their seemingly impregnable formation.
Yet, even as Mr. C.B. performed so brilliantly, Shinzan let out a soft sigh.
'To think you've managed to come this far.'
She watched the track with a complicated gaze, her eyes following the approaching red streak of light.
What Dream Weaver faced was a Zone jointly forged by five Triple Crown Uma Musume. Even with a flaw, it was a flaw only someone of Shinzan's caliber could perceive.
She didn't believe Dream Weaver could find it, much less use it to win the Japanese Derby.
'You are all extraordinarily gifted Uma Musume, but you're still too young…'
Shinzan closed her eyes, resolving in her heart that after the Japanese Derby, she would use her own power to protect Dream Weaver and the others.
They were the future of Japanese Uma Musume Racing. Even if it meant relinquishing the hard-won power she had seized from the European racing world, she would do so without hesitation.
--+--
CRASH!
In another VIP room, Anthony had just hurled his glass to the floor—again. He'd lost count of how many glasses he'd shattered.
He'd already broken one when Mr. C.B. broke through earlier. Before the attendant beside him could even refill his champagne, Dream Weaver's performance made him fling the next glass across the room.
"Damn persistent! Why can't they just learn to give up?! Struggling in a situation that's absolutely impossible to break through—it's utterly infuriating!"
With no glass left in hand, Anthony simply drove his fist into the bulletproof glass window. A loud THUD echoed, and his hand immediately swelled from the impact.
"Because they are just that tenacious!"
Richard didn't even have the composure to adjust his glasses anymore. His eyes were glued to the track outside, his tone grim.
Against a defensive line forged by over a dozen European Uma Musume, under the immense pressure of five Triple Crown-level Uma Musume joining forces—they still had the audacity to fight back!
Richard had just begun to feel the urge to vent his frustration like Anthony beside him, but seeing Anthony's clearly swollen hand and twisted expression, he silently lowered his own raised right hand.
He took a few heavy breaths, barely calming the turmoil within before speaking.
"It's fine, it's fine. Their tenacity was expected. If they weren't utterly audacious, how could they have declared war on the European racing world so directly?!"
"Remember, even Shinzan had to hide her ambitions, waiting until after winning the Triple Crown before beginning to maneuver against the European Racing Association. Yet these few Uma Musume dared to declare war outright—is there anything they wouldn't dare do?!"
He repeated the sentiment twice, as if trying to convince himself. After muttering it once more, Richard patted Anthony's shoulder.
"But they're only bold, that's all. If they had chosen to bide their time like Shinzan did, we might truly have been at a loss.
"Fortunately for us, they foolishly chose to face the European racing world head-on!"
Narrowing his eyes, he watched the red light on the track and whispered sinisterly, "So what if she's reached the Triple Crown Uma Musume? I refuse to believe that Dream Weaver can actually break through their defensive line!"
Anthony immediately chimed in, "Right! There's absolutely no way she can defeat five Triple Crown Uma Musume!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.