The racetrack was a different world.
That impression, seared into Dream Weaver's heart by the blazing whirlwind of her debut race, remained.
So, every time she stepped onto the track, she would unconsciously transform into another version of herself.
Off the track, she could encourage her rivals, joke around with friends.
But the moment she set foot on the course, the blade named 'God-Slayer' would once more appear in her grasp.
Of course, facing these Uma Musume who had debuted less than a year ago, Dream Weaver naturally wouldn't go all out, much less unleash her 'Zone.'
Yet, that unstoppable, razor-sharp aura had long since been etched into the blade's edge through battle after battle, like dried bloodstains.
Even without any deliberate effort, an intimidating, overwhelming presence naturally radiated from her.
This aura was enough to make even first-rate Uma Musume hearts quail, something that even Triple Crown-level runners had to treat with utmost seriousness.
And so, at this moment, on December 23rd at Nakayama Racecourse, under the brilliant sun in a clear blue sky, every Uma Musume present encountered the most terrifying opponent of their lives.
No, 'opponent' was no longer the right word.
When the gap between foe and self was a vast chasm, when merely a wisp of the other's natural aura could make your legs tremble, when you looked up and couldn't even fathom the height they stood at—
They were no longer worthy of being called opponents.
Shakira Gray had estimated the greatest gap between herself and Dream Weaver as that of an ordinary person facing a world champion boxer.
But only when she truly stood before Dream Weaver did she finally realize what she was facing was never anything that simple.
A thick, cloying scent of blood, as if carrying the wails of countless fallen, flooded her nostrils.
The confusion in Shakira Gray's eyes plummeted, layer by layer, into sheer terror.
In her vision, that glaring red in her peripheral view seemed to truly morph into a blade, swinging down to cleave her.
Shiiing—
An illusion, like the ringing hum of a sword, pierced her ears, forcing Shakira Gray to instinctively squeeze her eyes shut and stumble backwards.
Several seconds, or perhaps several dozen minutes later—in her state of extreme fear, she could no longer tell—when she finally realized she hadn't actually been cut in two, the voice from outside the track already echoed across the turf.
"All contestants, please enter the track!"
Gasping for air, Shakira Gray stared blankly at the ground beneath her feet.
What… what had just happened to her?
She wanted to glance towards Dream Weaver's direction one more time, but the roaring fear in her heart forbade it, making lifting her head an impossible task.
This absurd, almost laughable fact left Shakira Gray's mind utterly blank.
This isn't right, is it?
The Hopeful Stakes shouldn't be like this.
We've all debuted within the same year.
Even if there's a gap, it shouldn't be like this.
We should be shouting about youth and passion, chasing victory together!
But… but why? Why did things turn out this way?
No one could explain it to her. Like Shakira Gray, every Uma Musume on the field trembled from the terrifying aura Dream Weaver had just revealed.
Even Sakura Yamato, who considered herself mature and capable of putting up a fight, was already drenched in cold sweat.
This was not their battlefield. It should never have been their battlefield.
Facing Dream Weaver, they were like a band of primitive humans, bare-handed, foolishly trying to challenge a lightsaber-wielding Jedi Master.
Nearly half a minute had passed since the announcer's call to enter the starting gates, yet on the track, aside from Dream Weaver, not a single soul had moved.
They were all still paralyzed by the recent terror.
And in the stands, some were beginning to sense something was amiss.
Among Dream Weaver's friends were many powerful Uma Musume, and naturally, they had all come to witness her first G1 race.
Seasoned veterans of the track themselves, their expressions turned grave at the sight.
"They're terrified," Symboli Rudolf stated with certainty, frowning as she watched the nearly frozen figures on the track, her heart filled with bewilderment.
"But this shouldn't be happening. The speed Dream Weaver showed at the Niigata Nisai Stakes was at most touching G2 level. How could she possess such oppressive pressure after just four months?"
"Could it be her Zone? I watched her debut race. Even then, Dream Weaver showed the embryonic form of a Zone."
Mejiro Ramonu suddenly spoke up from beside her, her own gaze fixed on the track, brows knitted so tightly they resembled mountain peaks.
"Impossible. Awakening a Zone requires specific circumstances, a specific state of mind, and certain standards from one's opponents."
"If during her debut race, someone like Teio could pressure Dream Weaver enough for her to perceive her Zone… that would be exaggerated, but I might believe it a little. But the Niigata Nisai Stakes…"
Rudolf shook her head. "There couldn't possibly have been an Uma Musume there capable of making Dream Weaver awaken her Zone."
She fell silent for a long moment before speaking slowly.
"Ramonu, in the world from your memories, what level of strength did Dream Weaver display?"
Without hiding anything, Mejiro Ramonu, vaguely guessing Rudolf's line of thought, replied immediately.
"In that world, she only began to show her talent around September of her second year, at the Kobe Shimbun Hai. By then, she already displayed the caliber to compete for G1 victories."
"In the following month's Kikuka Sho, she even used her Zone to defeat Narita Brian head-on." Mejiro Ramonu paused before continuing.
"It's different from the world in your memories… isn't it?"
Symboli Rudolf nodded upon hearing this, closing her eyes to recall everything from that other world's experiences.
"In my world, Dream demonstrated a level equivalent to a G2-class Uma Musume even before her debut."
"I thought that was already incredible enough…" Rudolf had previously compared the differences between the real world and the 'script' world.
Aside from the obvious differences in worldview, the most glaring was Dream Weaver's own innate talent.
In the real world, the strength Dream Weaver showed in her debut race would at most let her compete in OP-level graded stakes.
While terrifying for a debut, it still couldn't compare to the jaw-dropping level of that other world.
She had thought Dream wouldn't be so exaggerated in the real world…
"It seems Dream's talent varies across different worlds," Rudolf mused. "Although we don't yet understand why, one thing is certain—"
"The Dream of this real world… might just be the strongest Dream Weaver there is."
Mejiro Ramonu nodded in agreement, her tone filled with profound wonder. "Incredible…"
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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.